Nigeria’s Saraki may grow in influence

Significance Senate President Bukola Saraki, an ethnic Yoruba from north-central Nigeria, is believed to be a key member of the new grouping. Saraki occupies the third most powerful position in Nigerian politics and is viewed as a potential presidential contender. Impacts A medical professional, Saraki has championed reforms to improve governance and regulation in health, environmental and fiscal policy. The clearing of corruption charges against Saraki will further bolster claims of a partisan anti-graft campaign by Buhari's government. A Muslim from the 'Middle Belt’ Kwara State, Saraki is well placed to bridge north-south divisions. Were Saraki to rejoin the opposition PDP, this could complicate Buhari’s re-election prospects in several north-central states.

Subject 2015 economic outlook. Significance According to the Ministry of Finance's Fiscal Policy Office, GDP growth slowed to between 1.2% and 1.7% in 2014 from 2.9% in 2013. Data released by the Bank of Thailand on December 30 suggest that the final figure is likely to be at the lower end of the range. Recovery in the fourth quarter was modest (at an estimated 1.0%) against 0.6% in the third. The military-backed government forecasts 4.1% GDP growth this year, assuming more tourists, higher domestic demand, export growth and rapid implementation of infrastructure plans. Impacts Sluggish growth will intensify calls for elections, but the junta will not relent, especially until the royal transition has been secured. The 2014 coup may not be the last; this will maintain the long-term contractual risks for investors. Political instability could return by end-2015, dampening household consumption.


1987 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter A. Hall ◽  
L. Dade Lunsford

✓ Since computerized tomography (CT) scanning became available at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh in July, 1975, 17 patients have undergone removal of colloid cysts of the third ventricle by transfrontal, transcallosal, or stereotaxic surgery. All patients presented with symptoms and signs of increased intracranial pressure; CT scanning proved to be the best neurodiagnostic test to define the colloid cysts. Since the development of CT-guided stereotaxic surgery, the authors have preferentially performed stereotaxic aspiration in seven patients; three of these subsequently required craniotomies to remove residual cysts producing persistent symptoms. The viscosity of the intracystic colloid material and/or displacement of the cyst away from the aspiration needle were reasons for unsuccessful aspiration; the CT appearance did not correlate with the ability to aspirate the lesion by the stereotaxic technique. Postoperative patency of the ventricular system was documented by intraoperative CT ventriculography performed during stereotaxic surgery. Removal of the cyst wall was not necessary. Because of the low associated morbidity rate, percutaneous stereotaxic aspiration is recommended as the initial treatment of choice for colloid cysts of the third ventricle. If stereotaxic aspiration fails and symptoms persist, craniotomy should be performed.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hala Messai ◽  
Salim Meziani ◽  
Athmane Fouathia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight the performance of the Chaboche model in relation to the database identification, tests with imposed deformations were conducted at room temperature on 304L stainless steel specimens. Design/methodology/approach The first two tests were performed in tension-compression between ±0.005 and ±0.01; in the third test, each cycle is composed of the combination of a compression tensile cycle between ±0.01 followed by a torsion cycle between ±0.01723 (non-proportional path), and the last, uniaxial ratcheting test with a mean stress between 250 MPa and −150 MPa. Several identifications of a Chaboche-type model were then performed by considering databases composed of one or more of the cited tests. On the basis of these identifications, the simulations of a large number of ratchet tests in particular were carried out. Findings The results present the effect of the optimized parameters on the prediction of the behavior of materials which is reported in the graphs, Optimizations 1 and 2 of first and second tests and Optimization 4 of the third test giving a good prediction of the increasing/decreasing pre-deformation amplitude. Originality/value The quality of the model's predictions strongly depends on the richness of the database used for the identification of the parameters.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Saleh Badawi ◽  
Moustafa Battor ◽  
Saeed Badghish

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore relational aspects of key account management (KAM) in terms of social capital and relationship quality. The second objective was to identify the main dimensions that shape social capital and relationship quality within the KAM context. Finally, the third objective was to explore how relational KAM is practiced in the Middle Eastern context. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative methodology and a multiple case design. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with a sample of senior executives from large Saudi firms. Findings The results highlight the importance of relationship quality and social capital to KAM implementation. A multiple case study was used to build a relational framework for KAM in the Middle Eastern context. Practical implications Three strategies were identified for use within the context of KAM in the Saudi market. The first strategy consisted of a means of attracting potential customers. The second strategy involved communication, aimed at maintaining frequent contact with key accounts. Finally, the third strategy was concentrated in maintenance to help sustain the relationship with key accounts. Originality/value This study extends understanding and the application of KAM to the Middle Eastern context, contributing to social capital, relationship quality and the KAM literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Marianne Matthee ◽  
Albert Wöcke

Subject area Macro-Economics. Study level/applicability Undergraduate and MBA. Case overview The COVID 19 pandemic-related restrictions devastated South Africa’s economy in 2020 and although the restrictions were generally less damaging than in 2020, the government had to budget for vaccinations and rebuild the economy. Public service unions had just announced that they were demanding an increase of 4% above inflation for their members and that they were preparing for a strike. They were bitter about the fact that the South African Government had withdrawn from the last year of a three-year wage agreement in February 2020 and their members had not received an increase for the two years. These demands and Finance Minister Mboweni’s response to them had to consider the structural and cyclical impact on the fiscus and economy. Expected learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: understand the general objectives of fiscal policy and stakeholders’ interests; understand the tradeoffs in fiscal policy and the implications of taking a position; and make recommendations based on reasoned judgements about those recommendations. Complexity academic level Undergraduate and MBA level courses on Macro Economics. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 10: Public Sector Management.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Eren Yıldırım ◽  
Mete Dibo

PurposeThis study analyzes the impacts of income inequality after direct taxation on the gross domestic product as a fiscal policy tool in the development process.Design/methodology/approachThe model of the study is based on Munielo-Gallo and Roca-Sagales (2013), which examined the fiscal policy, income inequality and economic growth simultaneously. The study uses two models to analyze the relationship between income inequality and gross domestic production under direct taxation by employing autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model for selected emerging market economies.FindingEmpirical results reveal a negative long-run relationship between variables in some countries in line with the literature, despite a positive relationship in others. Moreover, the results exhibit the negative impact of income inequality after direct taxation on the gross domestic product decreases.Originality/valueResults of the study highlight the importance of direct taxation on income inequality concerning the reflects on economic growth. It suggests that when the income distribution is fairer, it may positively affect the gross domestic product. The study provides a new perspective to the related literature by investigating the role of income inequality under direct taxation for gross domestic product.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 818-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lanying Sun ◽  
Xiaoyan Li

Purpose The purpose of this paper is under the analysis framework of the system theory, analyzing the optimal contract mode of agricultural supply chain to guarantee the stability of agricultural supply chain and the equilibrium of agricultural product market, to analyze the effect of farmers’ risk attitude on the selection of contract modes and to find the way to encourage farmers’ productive effort and to avoid farmers’ hitchhiking behavior, to guarantee the stability of agricultural supply chain. Design/methodology/approach Under the guidance of the system theory, using the Stackelberg model and the nonlinear programming theory, this paper comparatively analyzes farmers’ effort (productive effort and sales effort), farmers’ income and the stability of agricultural supply system of four types of contract modes between farmers, third-party organizations and market. Findings First, in the agricultural market, market-type contract cannot maximize farmers’ income. The main reason is that farmers do not have enough ability to avoid market risk and to bargain. Second, for farmers of risk seeking, choosing a market-type contract and secondary-income contract can increase their income. Third, under the fixed-purchase price contract, the hitchhiking behavior would happen. Fourth, when farmers’ productive efforts are the same, farmers’ income under the secondary-income contract is higher than under the fixed-purchase price contract. Because under the secondary-income contract, farmers have the opportunity to obtain the secondary distribution of benefits, farmers’ hitchhiking behavior could be avoided. Originality/value Analyzing the contract modes between farmers and the third-party organization in the agricultural market could reduce the influence of price fluctuation, avoid the uncertainty of the relationship between the supply and demand, stimulate the productive effort of farmers and provide theoretical guidance for establishing efficient and stable agricultural supply system.


Kybernetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 854-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaiying Cao ◽  
Qiushi Bo ◽  
Yi He

Purpose This paper aims to study whether the recycling of a third party competes with the trade-in service of a manufacturer, and explores the optimal trade-in and third-party collection authorization strategies for the manufacturer. Design/methodology/approach According to whether to authorize a third party to collect its used products, the manufacturer has two choices: one is not authorization (NA); the other is authorization (A). This paper uses profit-maximization model to investigate the optimal decisions of the manufacturer and the third party under NA and A, respectively, and then explores which choice is better for the manufacturer. Findings It is observed that there is a competition between trade-in service and third-party recycling when the durability parameter of the used product is relatively small. Moreover, when the durability parameter of the used product is relatively large, A is always better choice for the manufacturer; otherwise, NA is a better choice except for the case that the unit trade-in subsidy is low and the salvage of the used product is high. Practical implications These results provide managerial insights for the manufacturer and the third party to make decisions in the field of recycling. Originality/value This paper is among the first papers to study the competition between trade-in program and third party’s collecting program under government’s trade-in subsidy policy. Moreover, this paper presents the conditions under which the manufacturer should authorize or not authorize the third party to collect its used products.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-311

The Third Biennial Seminar on Prematurity will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, February 22-23, 1969. Guest speakers will be Dr. Thomas K. Oliver, University of Washington, Seattle; Dr. Arnold J. Rudolph, Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Dagmar Cechanek, R.N., Stanford University Hospital, Palo Alto, California; Dr. Mildred Stahlman, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; and Mrs. Rose Grobstein, MSW, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California. Registration fee, $7.50. For information write: Frederic W. Baum, M.D., Director, Maternal and Child Health Division, Goodrich Building, 14 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document