Russia's Armata tank will be formidable but expensive

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Content Type ◽  
Modern Equipment ◽  
New Family ◽  
Reform Plan ◽  
Defence Spending ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Will Force ◽  
Ukraine Crisis ◽  
The Military ◽  
Spending Cuts

Subject Russia's Armata tank programme. Significance Russia's military is currently undergoing a 700 billion dollar rearmament programme, with Moscow aiming to supply the military with 70% modern equipment by 2020. The reform plan is looking to upgrade Russia's armoured formations with a new family of vehicles collectively called Armata. The Armata tank variant will be far superior to any tank operating in Russia's neighbours as well as many NATO armies. However, it is costly and the Defence Ministry is actively trying to force down the price. Impacts Defence spending has been largely protected from 10% spending cuts but budgetary pressures will remain. It will take time to bring defence and procurement spending in many NATO members up from current low levels below 2% of GDP. The Ukraine crisis will force Russia's defence industry to produce weaponry domestically with less reliance on foreign supplies.

Angola leader could rescind his 2018 retirement pledge

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Protests ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Military ◽  
Spending Cuts

Subject Political outlook for Angola. Significance President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, in power since 1979, recently announced that he would relinquish the presidency in 2018. While Dos Santos is believed to favour a transition to one of his own children or to Vice-President Manuel Vicente, neither option will find favour in the ranks of the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) or the wider public. Impacts The military will be immune from major spending cuts given its critical role in ensuring the longevity of the regime. Rising repayment burdens on Chinese loans (estimated to total 25 billion dollars) will further undermine budgetary resources. As social protests rise, the government will respond by clamping down on critics and tightening rules governing civil society groups.

Russia's budget reflects caution on future spending

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Budget Deficit ◽  
Public Spending ◽  
Oil Price ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Education Spending ◽  
Monetary Policies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Spending Cuts

Significance A three-year budget cycle is intended to create predictability after a year in which the initial budget had to be revised as the oil price outlook grew gloomier. Spending cuts are envisaged to continue beyond 2017 as revenue predictions are modest amid low rates of economic growth, and the objective is to cut the budget deficit progressively. Impacts The diversion of reserve money to sustain public spending will undermine economic modernisation programmes. Low levels of health and education spending will harm human capital in the medium-to-long term. The Central Bank is unlikely to relax monetary policies significantly prior to 2018, and then only if inflation recedes to the targeted 4%. Tight monetary policy will restrict credit growth and thus economic recovery.

Mounting provincial debt will add to Argentina risks

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Global Markets ◽  
Fiscal Discipline ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Debt Burden ◽  
Comprehensive Reform ◽  
Will Force ◽  
Spending Cuts

Subject The outlook for provincial debt. Significance On September 3, Moody’s downgraded the debt rating of ten sub-national jurisdictions. Since the 2016 deal with holdout creditors, most provinces have been active debt issuers in local and global markets. Thus the debt ‘reprofiling’ announced by the central government in late August, and the higher debt burden due to the combination of recession and devaluation, are raising concerns about their ability to keep servicing their debt. Impacts In the event of a new debt restructuring, limited access to capital markets will force provincial spending cuts. If the financial crisis deepens, provincial debt could again be bailed out by the central government. A more comprehensive reform of provincial finances will be needed to improve fiscal discipline in the long term.

Myanmar opposition cannot defeat regime militarily

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Recognition ◽  
Will Force ◽  
The Military ◽  
Ordinary Citizens

Significance The NUG announced the formation of a People’s Defence Force (PDF) in May. It urges PDF combatants and ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) embroiled in long-running conflicts with the military to attack targets linked to the regime. Impacts The NUG will continue to press for international recognition. Military-imposed restrictions on telecoms and opposition attacks on related infrastructure will further damage the business environment. Panic buying among ordinary citizens will force up the price of household goods and worsen food insecurity.

Russia will ignore fear of China for tactical success

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Strong Ties ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Military ◽  
Spending Cuts

Significance With many Western leaders staying away from the event as a result of Russia's annexation of Crimea and increasing support for separatist forces in Ukraine's Donbas, the visit of Xi added extra significance. The military parade proved to be the largest ever, with 16,000 troops participating including a Chinese unit. During Xi's visit, Russia and China signed a number of major multi-billion dollar agreements ranging from finance through to infrastructure. Impacts Russia-Chinese bilateral trade is likely to reach 100 billion dollars in 2015. Russian infrastructure projects that have been affected by 10% spending cuts will receive a boost from China. Russia will need to balance strong ties with China with its warm relations with other Asia Pacific partners such as Vietnam.

Tsai will strengthen Taiwan's defence capabilities

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mainland China ◽  
The United States ◽  
Democratic Progressive Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Defence Budget ◽  
Defence Spending ◽  
Defence Policy ◽  
Major Shift ◽  
The Taiwan Strait ◽  
The Military

Subject Taiwan's defence policy. Significance Taiwan's new president, Tsai Ing-wen, has signalled a major shift in national defence policy. She aims to boost the overall defence budget to 3% of GDP (from 2% currently) and strengthen the domestic arms industry. Tsai hails from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which traditionally favours permanent de jure independence from mainland China. Impacts Tsai will tread carefully on sensitive sovereignty issues, trying to avoid provoking China even while raising defence spending. Chinese pressure will constrain Taiwan's ability to secure investment and cooperation on defence projects (except from the United States). Washington will press Taiwan for higher defence budgets and offer access to advanced technologies and weapons. The military balance in the Taiwan Strait will shift further in China's favour. Taiwan will find more support in Washington and Tokyo for inclusion in regional defence architecture.

Petrobras Brazil plan opens more queries than answers

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Management Plan ◽  
Oil Price ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Car Wash ◽  
Will Force ◽  
Oil Company ◽  
Spending Cuts ◽  
Business And Management

Subject The outlook for Petrobras. Significance Following the steep fall in the oil price and impact of the 'Car Wash' corruption scandal, state-controlled oil company Petrobras has announced a scaled-back 2015-19 business and management plan. Credibility is a major issue: Petrobras has missed its annual production targets since the Workers' Party (PT) came to power in 2003. Impacts Petrobras's spending cuts will conflict with government efforts to stimulate the struggling economy. The announcement of the new plan suggests that the new CEO will adopt a more realistic strategy. Reduced refining investment will force Petrobras to continue importing refined products, sold at a loss.

Guinea-Bissau’s political turmoil will linger

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Constitutional Amendment ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Election Result ◽  
Apparent Loss ◽  
Defence Spending ◽  
Military Support ◽  
Regional Leaders ◽  
Political Turmoil ◽  
The Military

Significance The country's political crisis has worsened over the past week, with rival administrations claiming power and the military appearing to throw its weight behind Embalo, a former general who was ‘inaugurated’ despite the Supreme Court failing to certify December’s election result. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which previously accepted Embalo’s victory, has urged the military to refrain from involvement in the crisis and allow the court processes to be completed. Impacts Pereira’s apparent loss, coupled with Embalo's party's growing popularity, could see the PAIGC’s historical dominance in jeopardy. Should his victory be certified, Embalo will likely look to increase defence spending to ensure continued military support. Embalo will probably try to organise another inauguration ceremony this year, with regional leaders in attendance, to legitimise his rule. Pereira and the PAIGC will resist any constitutional amendment that would alter the largest party’s right to appoint the prime minister.

Economic Growth and Defence Spending: An Efficiency Analysis of Romania’s Conscription Suspension

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-51
Author(s):  
Alin Teodor Huseraș ◽  
Andrei Ciprian Spînu
Keyword(s):  
Graphical Analysis ◽  
Defense Spending ◽  
National Defense ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
External Funding ◽  
The Public ◽  
Defence Spending ◽  
Key Sectors ◽  
The Military ◽  
Theoretical Issues

AbstractNational defense is one of the key sectors responsible for maintaining national security, being considered at the same time an element of great importance and strict necessity of the public sector. The performance of defense functions and missions are closely linked to the military capabilities of this sector, which in turn depend on the budget for defense spending. This paper deals with some theoretical issues in the economic field of defense, regarding the size of defense spending in GDP and their social effects. It is also trying to carry out an analysis on the efficiency versus inefficiency in the use of defense resources, to finance the two types of recruitment systems, namely: by conscription or voluntary will. In order to be able to achieve the above, graphical analysis methods and calculation dermination method were used. The efficiency of spending public funds depends on both objective factors such as: distribution of a certain share of GDP to a certain area; attracting internal and external funding, as well as subjective factors, like: allocating resources to certain categories of expenses; allocating resources to certain defense programs; effective management of these resources by the competent structures. Therefore, for a program to be considered effective, it must meet the requirements of the collective needs of society, be rationally implemented and be sustainable.

When do job insecure employees adapt to change?

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi N. Lavigne ◽  
Victoria L. Whitaker ◽  
Dustin K. Jundt ◽  
Mindy K. Shoss
Keyword(s):  
Job Insecurity ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Adaptive Performance ◽  
Work Behaviors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Tasks ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between job insecurity and adaptive performance (AP), contingent on changes to core work tasks, which we position as a situational cue to employees regarding important work behaviors. Design/methodology/approach Employees and their supervisors were invited to participate in the study. Supervisors were asked to provide ratings of employees’ AP and changes to core tasks; employees reported on job insecurity. Findings As predicted, changes to core tasks moderated the relationship between job insecurity and AP. Job insecurity was negatively related to AP for those experiencing low levels of change, but was not related to AP for those experiencing high levels of change. Counter to expectations, no main effect of job insecurity was found. Research limitations/implications This study employed a fairly small sample of workers from two organizations, which could limit generalizability. Practical implications The study identifies changes to core tasks as a boundary condition for the job insecurity–AP relationship. Findings suggest that organizations may not observe deleterious consequences of job insecurity on AP when changes to core tasks are high. Originality/value Few researchers have examined boundary conditions of the impact of job insecurity on AP. Furthermore, inconsistent findings regarding the link between job insecurity and AP have emerged. This study fills the gap and expands upon previous research by examining changes to core tasks as a condition under which job insecurity does not pose an issue for AP.

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