EU drought response may focus on short-term fixes

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Drought Response ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Policies

Significance The resulting drought in many parts of the continent and its impact on agriculture have highlighted the threat posed by climate change to future food production. It has also raised questions about the role of EU policies in exacerbating or mitigating this threat. Impacts Weather conditions in Europe and elsewhere will increase the prices of many agricultural commodities. Higher food prices will affect poorer households disproportionately. Reforming EU agricultural policy will remain a secondary consideration, after the priorities of producers and wider budgetary battles.

Saudi demographics may ultimately drive discontent

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Brain Drain ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Role ◽  
Role Of Religion

Significance This means the leadership must manage a significant social change, catalysed by an engaged and 'globalised' youth segment. At the same time, the economy has to accommodate population growth even as its hydrocarbon base faces uncertainties from climate change. Impacts Beyond major urban centres such as Riyadh and Jeddah, much of the country will remain closed and conservative. Moves to curb the influence of the clerical establishment will persist, but the central role of religion will prove resistant to change. In the short term, women’s rising economic role will disrupt familial norms only among the elite. The current shrinking space for expressing discontent could contribute to a brain drain from the kingdom. By 2035, there will be a higher likelihood of protests, both virtual and physical, especially in rural areas.

Purchasing behaviour and supplier base evolution – a longitudinal case study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Dubois ◽  
Lars-Erik Gadde ◽  
Lars-Gunnar Mattsson
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Supplier Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Purchasing Behaviour ◽  
Time Periods

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to describe and analyse the evolution of the supplier base of a buying firm and the reasons behind these changes. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a case study of the changes over 52 years in a sub-set of the supplier base of a firm manufacturing fork-lifts. Findings The study shows that some relationships feature substantial longevity. However, the duration of one-third of the total relationships is shorter than five years. There was considerable variation over time in the dynamics of the supplier base in terms of entries and exits of suppliers. Owing to this variation, research findings and conclusions in short-term studies are heavily dependent on the specific conditions at the time of the study. Finally, no less than one-fourth of the terminated supplier relationships were reactivated later. Research limitations/implications The study was designed in a time when purchasing was considered entirely from the perspective of the buying firm. Further studies, therefore, must increasingly emphasise the role of suppliers and the interaction in the buyer–supplier relationships, as well as the embeddedness in networks. Originality/value The findings of the study are unique in two ways. First, they are based on systematic observations over more than 50 years. Second, the study involves the purchases of 11 components representing different technical and economic features. The (few) previous studies are based on much shorter time periods and involves fewer suppliers/components. Moreover, the findings regarding re-activation of terminated relationships represent unique contributions.

Labor lawsuits and debt maturity

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omer Unsal
Keyword(s):  
Chief Executive ◽  
Debt Maturity ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Debt Market ◽  
Legal Fees

Purpose This paper aims to investigate how firms’ relationships with employees define their debt maturity. The authors empirically test the role of employee litigations in influencing firms’ choice of short-term versus long-term debt. The authors study employee relations by analyzing the importance of the workplace environment on capital structure. Design/methodology/approach The author’s test hypotheses using a sample of US publicly traded firms between 2000 and 2017, including 3,056 unique firms with 4,256 unique chief executive officer, adopting the fixed effect panel model. Findings The authors document that employee litigations have a significant negative effect on the use of short-term debt and a significant positive affect on long-term debt. Employee litigations, along with legal fees, outcomes and charging parties, matter the most in explaining debt maturity. In addition, frequently sued firms abandon the short-term debt market and use less shareholders’ equity to finance their operations while relying more on the longer debt market. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the role of employee mistreatment in debt maturity choice. The study extends the lawsuit and finance literature by examining unique, hand-collected data sets of employee lawsuits, allegations, violations, settlements, charging parties, case outcomes and case durations.

The role of short-term weather conditions in temporal dynamics of fire regime features in mainland Spain

2019 ◽  
Vol 241 ◽  
pp. 575-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Jiménez-Ruano ◽  
Marcos Rodrigues Mimbrero ◽  
W. Matt Jolly ◽  
Juan de la Riva Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Short Term

scholarly journals Perspectives of artist–practitioners on the communication of climate change in the Pacific

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Capstick ◽  
Sarah Hemstock ◽  
Ruci Senikula
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Climate Change Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Change Communication ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Research Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of the visual arts for communicating climate change in the context of the Pacific islands, through the perspectives of artists and climate change practitioners. Design/methodology/approach As part of an “Eco Arts” project carried out in Fiji, semi-structured research interviews were undertaken with artists and climate change practitioners. Findings Participants’ motivations to produce art reflected their personal concerns about, and experiences of, climate change. There was an intention to use art-based approaches to raise awareness and promote action on climate change. The artwork produced drew on metaphors and storytelling to convey future climate impacts and aspects of climate change relevant to Fijian and Pacific communities. Research limitations/implications The study reports the perspectives of participants and discusses the potential uses of arts communication. Conclusions cannot be drawn from the findings regarding the effectiveness of specific artwork or of arts communication as a general approach. Practical implications The research offers suggestions for the inclusion of creative approaches to climate change communication within education and vocational training. A consideration of the perspectives of artist–practitioners has implications for the design and conduct of climate change communication. Social implications The involvement of artist–practitioners in the communication of climate change offers the potential for novel discussions and interpretations of climate change with individuals and within communities, which complement more formal or scientific communication. Originality/value The present study identifies the motivations and objectives of artist–practitioners involved in climate change communication. The authors highlight the role of personal experience and their use of artistic concepts and creative considerations pertinent to the geography and culture of the Pacific region.

US corporate duty of care faces reappraisal

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Public Good ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Duty Of Care ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Remote Workers ◽  
Legal Challenges

Significance With the advent of President Joe Biden's administration, the country's experience with COVID-19 is becoming part of a new debate over whether healthcare should be a public good and about the role of the company in society. Impacts Efforts to require vaccination as a condition of employment or of returning to workplaces will face legal challenges. The emergence of devices and apps for workers to report their emotional state to management will raise privacy concerns. Tech solutions, such as 'virtual commutes' for remote workers, will do little unless accompanied by effective support for employees. As remote working encourages employee relocation to cheaper locations, it will raise new issues around local pay inequalities. The Biden administration needs support from business to achieve its social justice, climate change and sustainability ambitions.

Paradoxical tensions of the COVID-19 pandemic: a paradox theory perspective on the role of management control systems in helping organizations survive crises

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph Kober ◽  
Paul J. Thambar
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Management Control Systems ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Paradox Theory ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper presents paradox theory as a useful theoretical lens for researchers exploring crises such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The authors argue that paradox theory, which emphasizes a “both/and” as opposed to an “either/or” approach, is ideally suited for management control systems (MCS) research on crises.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt a revelatory case approach to provide empirical examples of the insights that paradox theory can provide.FindingsThis paper highlights how MCS can be used to simultaneously manage short-term/operational and long-term/strategic objectives to navigate a crisis. Furthermore, it highlights how MCS can be mobilized during crises to identify and embrace opportunities.Practical implicationsThis paper illustrates the importance of MCS focusing on not just the short-term, but also the long-term, and managing multiple objectives in assisting organizations to survive crisis.Originality/valueThis paper highlights the benefits of using paradox theory to understand the role of MCS in helping organizations manage crises and to use a crisis as a source of opportunity.

Can food production diversity influence farm households’ dietary diversity? An appraisal from two-dimensional food diversity measures

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1597-1608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dare Akerele ◽  
Adebayo Musediku Shittu
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Farm Households ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Farm Production ◽  
Food Diversity ◽  
Production Diversity

Purpose Emphasis on the potential roles diverse farm production systems could play in enhancing food consumption variety and nutritional well-being in rural developing countries has increased in recent times. However, there are paucities of empirical works connecting diversity in agricultural production and dietary diversity in Africa, and Nigeria in particular. The purpose of this paper is to, therefore, examine, among others, the causal link between farm production diversity and consumption of varied diets among farm households in Nigeria using a nationally representative panel data. Design/methodology/approach Unlike the simple food count measure, the authors adopt two-dimensional indices to assess food diversity, and estimated both fixed and random effects versions of panel data econometrics models with the two-dimensional indices as regressands. Findings Results show that food production system is less diverse with an average farm household consuming fairly varied foods across seasons. All the econometrics models estimated consistently established positive and statistically significant influence of farm production diversity on household dietary diversity. Higher food prices, especially rice and roots and tubers could substantially reduce dietary diversity with the negative effects likely to be more devastating for low-income farm households. The specificity of household being a net food seller had positive, although weak influence on dietary diversity. Originality/value The findings accentuate, among others, the need for strategies to promote farm production diversity, transform farm households to net-sellers of foods and enable them take advantage of food price signals to boost farm incomes as important pathway for diet quality improvement and reduction of food insecurity, malnutrition and related diseases in rural Nigeria

Chile drought may prompt water management rethink

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Consumer Confidence ◽  
Southern Chile ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Prolonged Drought ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

Subject The impact of the current drought on water management proposals. Significance Chile is divided as to whether a severe and prolonged drought that now extends to almost all the country is a result merely of the El Nino oscillation or also of climate change. However, it presages the latter's expected effects and has highlighted deficiencies in the management of water resources. Impacts Climate change forecasts suggest that rainfall in agricultural southern Chile could fall by 40% over the next 15 years. The drought's impact on food prices will hamper recovery of consumer confidence, currently at its lowest level since 2008-09. Conflicts over water use are likely to increase, particularly between farmers and mining companies in northern Chile.

Zimbabwe's military will entrench its influence

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Military Intervention ◽  
Structural Constraints ◽  
Tight Control ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Electronic Money ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Sectors ◽  
Democratic Change ◽  
Robert Mugabe

Significance Since coming to power following November's military intervention and ouster of former President Robert Mugabe, Mnangagwa and his government have promised an overhaul of the economy, including reversing controversial indigenisation policies. However, unresolved structural constraints in key sectors, including the military’s ongoing influence, limit the potential for success. Impacts The opposition is likely to fracture further as a succession struggle takes hold within the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T). The military's influence over agricultural policy will allow tight control and repression of the rural electorate ahead of polls. A de-dollarisation of the economy is unlikely in the short term; a mix of US dollars, bond notes and electronic money will still be used.

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