COVID-19 global climate impact may be brief

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Global Climate ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Transport Activity ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Business Travel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Scale Of Response ◽  
Global Population

Subject COVID-19 and climate. Significance The speed and scale of response to the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. One-quarter of the global population is now in lockdown, with governments worldwide declaring emergencies, mobilising extra funding and demanding drastic behavioural changes from citizens to stem the spread of the virus. Year-on-year carbon emissions are likely to decline notably in 2020 as a result of prolonged disruptions to economic activity. The longer these persist, the deeper the short-term carbon impact will be. Whether this is a blip, however (as seen in the 2008-09 financial crisis), or the start of a longer-term decline, will depend on the economic policies that governments assemble in response to the disruptions. Impacts Social distancing-induced remote working for white-collar jobs may trigger longer-term changes in business travel practices. Reduced industrial and transport activity will improve local air quality, potentially easing pollution-related respiratory illness. Climate-focused social movements will have to adapt to new forms of organisation in the absence of traditional mass protests.

The development of HR support for alternative international assignments. From liminal position to institutional support for short-term assignments, international business travel and virtual assignments

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-270
Author(s):  
Joost Bücker ◽  
Erik Poutsma ◽  
Roel Schouteten ◽  
Carolien Nies
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
International Assignments ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Business Travel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
International Hrm ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Specific Working

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explain how and why HR practitioners perceive the need to develop international HRM practices to support short-term assignments, international business travel and virtual assignments for internationally operating organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors interviewed 29 HR practitioners from multinationals located in the Netherlands.FindingsAlternative international assignments seem not to belong to the traditional expatriate jobs, nor to regular domestic jobs and show a liminal character. However, over the last few years we have gradually seen a more mature classification of the Short-term Assignment, International Business Traveler and Virtual Assignment categories and more active use of these categories in policymaking by organizations; this reflects a transition of these three categories from a liminal position to a more institutionalized position.Research limitations/implicationsFor this research, only international HRM practitioners were interviewed. Future studies should include a broader group of stakeholders.Practical implicationsInternational HRM departments should take a more proactive role regarding alternative forms of international assignees. Furthermore, HR professionals may develop training and coaching and consider rewards and benefits that could provide allowances for specific working conditions that are part of international work.Originality/valueThis study is among the first to relate the framework of institutional logic and liminality to explain the why of HR support for alternative international assignees.

Turkish economic policy will be inconsistent to 2019

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Policy ◽  
Financial Markets ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Capital Inflows ◽  
Policy Uncertainty ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
The Eu

Subject Economic policy to 2019. Significance In a climate of global monetary tightening, domestic and international political tensions, and brittle ties with the EU, investor-friendly economic policies would help secure continued capital inflows and investment in Turkey, thus keeping the lira stable and maintaining a tenuous economic recovery. However, economic policy has recently been geared towards achieving a short-term boost rather than longer-term stability and competitiveness. Impacts The AKP may not regain the confidence of international financial markets, which once saw it as a 'safe pair of hands' for the economy. Sharp variations in exchange rates, interest rates, prices and demand are likely given global conditions and unpredictable policy-making. Economic policy uncertainty will add to the complexity of the environment for doing business.

Economic orthodoxy will face challenges in Argentina

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Structural Reforms ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
High Poverty ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Social Unrest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fiscal Adjustment ◽  
Primary Deficit

Significance The 2021 budget implies a significant fiscal adjustment, with the primary deficit falling from 7-8% of GDP in 2020 to 4.5% in 2021, mainly due to the end of the pandemic relief package, a reduction of energy and transport subsidies and slower pension increases. These measures are in line with recent moves towards more orthodox economic policies. Impacts More prudent policies could ease fears of populism, but investors will remain reluctant to increase their risk exposure. Given high poverty rates, austerity may drive social unrest, affecting the government’s prospects in 2021 mid-term ballots. While fiscal adjustment and structural reforms could aid medium-term sustained economic growth, they will cut short-term growth.

What we can learn from the parallels between the COVID-19 and the future climate change crises

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubén D. Manzanedo ◽  
Peter Manning
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Substantial Portion ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
The Future ◽  
Behavioral Norm ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Global Population

The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak pandemic is now a global crisis. It has caused 1.6+ million confirmed cases and 100 000+ deaths at the time of writing and triggered unprecedented preventative measures that have put a substantial portion of the global population under confinement, imposed isolation, and established ‘social distancing’ as a new global behavioral norm. The COVID-19 crisis has affected all aspects of everyday life and work, while also threatening the health of the global economy. This crisis offers also an unprecedented view of what the global climate crisis may look like. In fact, some of the parallels between the COVID-19 crisis and what we expect from the looming global climate emergency are remarkable. Reflecting upon the most challenging aspects of today’s crisis and how they compare with those expected from the climate change emergency may help us better prepare for the future.

Short-term effects of milkshake containing polydextrose and maltodextrin on subjective feelings of appetite, energy intake and blood glucose in healthy females

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
İsmail Mücahit Alptekin ◽  
Ece Erdoğan ◽  
Aylin İşler ◽  
Esma Cansu Yanalak ◽  
Funda Pınar Çakiroğlu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Postprandial Blood Glucose ◽  
Dietary Fibers ◽  
Analog Scale ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Desire To Eat ◽  
Healthy Females

Purpose Previous studies have reported that dietary fibers such as polydextrose and maltodextrin can reduce food intake; however, the studies on the differences of this effect are insufficient. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effects of dietary fibers maltodextrin and polydextrose on alterations of short-term satiety, energy intake and postprandial blood glucose in healthy females. Design/methodology/approach This study was designed as a randomized, crossover and double blind research. For this purpose, 21 healthy females consumed a milkshake containing 0 g (control), 15 g polydextrose (PDX) and 15 g maltodextrin (MDX), and an ad libitum lunch meal was served 150 min later. Subjective appetite scores (hunger, satiety, prospective food consumption and desire to eat) were measured using a visual analog scale. Appetite scores and blood glucose were measured before preload and once per 15 min after milkshake consumption. Findings Visual analog scale scores showed that PDX had an improved effect on satiety and hunger feelings. Compared to the control, dietary fiber increased the Area Under Curve (AUC) scores of satiety (p < 0.001) and decreased the AUC scores of hunger (p < 0.001), prospective food consumption (p < 0.001) and desire to eat (p < 0.001). Energy intake during ad libitum meal was significantly lower in PDX (Control: 862 (54.3) Kcal versus PDX: 679 (35.4) Kcal and MDX: 780 (49.3) Kcal. Moreover, the blood glucose levels were significantly lower in MDX. Originality/value This study conducted with healthy females demonstrated that PDX was more effective in inducing satiety during subsequent food intake, and that postprandial blood glucose were within more healthy levels in MDX.

Revisiting the Krakatau 1883 Volcanic Aerosol Dispersal 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Castro ◽  
Tushar Mittal ◽  
Stephen Self
Keyword(s):  
Climate Model ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Global Climate Model ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Volcanic Plume ◽  
Quasi Biennial Oscillation ◽  
Aerosol Cloud ◽  
Pinatubo Eruption ◽  
The Impact

&lt;p&gt;The 1883 Krakatau eruption is one of the most well-known historical volcanic eruptions due to its significant global climate impact as well as first recorded observations of various aerosol associated optical and physical phenomena. Although much work has been done on the former by comparison of global climate model predictions/ simulations with instrumental and proxy climate records, the latter has surprisingly not been studied in similar detail. In particular, there is a wealth of observations of vivid red sunsets, blue suns, and other similar features, that can be used to analyze the spatio-temporal dispersal of volcanic aerosols in summer to winter 1883. Thus, aerosol cloud dispersal after the Krakatau eruption can be estimated, bolstered by aerosol cloud behavior as monitored by satellite-based instrument observations after the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. This is one of a handful of large historic eruptions where this analysis can be done (using non-climate proxy methods). In this study, we model particle trajectories of the Krakatau eruption cloud using the Hysplit trajectory model and compare our results with our compiled observational dataset (principally using Verbeek 1884, the Royal Society report, and Kiessling 1884).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In particular, we explore the effect of different atmospheric states - the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) which impacts zonal movement of the stratospheric volcanic plume - to estimate the phase of the QBO in 1883 required for a fast-moving westward cloud. Since this alone is unable to match the observed latitudinal spread of the aerosols, we then explore the impact of an&amp;#160; umbrella cloud (2000 km diameter) that almost certainly formed during such a large eruption. A large umbrella cloud, spreading over ~18 degrees within the duration of the climax of the eruption (6-8 hours), can lead to much quicker latitudinal spread than a point source (vent). We will discuss the results of the combined model (umbrella cloud and correct QBO phase) with historical accounts and observations, as well as previous work on the 1991 Pinatubo eruption. We also consider the likely impacts of water on aerosol concentrations and the relevance of this process for eruptions with possible significant seawater interactions, like Krakatau. We posit that the role of umbrella clouds is an under-appreciated, but significant, process for beginning to model the climatic impacts of large volcanic eruptions.&lt;/p&gt;

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.

Florida voters react to Biden's Caribbean policy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
The State ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Connections ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The Government

Significance Many areas of the Caribbean have trade, investment and family connections with communities in Florida. As the state now plays a pivotal role in US electoral politics, crises in the region can take on added political importance for parts of Florida’s electorate. Impacts Forecasts of short-term economic recovery for Florida remain highly uncertain given the continuing impact of the pandemic. Clashing interests across the Caribbean may demand greater coordination of US policy than the government can currently offer. Healthcare and disaster relief capabilities within the state are severely overstretched and could be overwhelmed by a new crisis.

The chicken and egg story of a call centre in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Alan Fun-Foo Chan ◽  
Keng-Kok Tee ◽  
Thanuja Rathakrishnan ◽  
Jo Ann Ho ◽  
Siew-Imm Ng
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Call Centre ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Technologies ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Key Account ◽  
Substandard Performance ◽  
Alternative Solutions

Learning outcomes After attempting the case, users are able to: analyse issues and problems faced by a call centre in Malaysia. Determine the root causes of the problems faced by call centre employees and generate alternative solutions to solve the problems faced by the company and to ensure the sustainability of the business. Case overview/synopsis This case was about the challenges faced by Daniel, the General Manager of an integrated security protection system company, Secure First (SF). Despite investing in the latest security technologies, conducting a major overhaul of the procedures, introducing an enhanced digital system at the call centre and providing training to the call agents, it was on the verge of losing its important long-term client due to its substandard performance. The client experienced major losses due to break-ins. After a thorough investigation, the problem surfaced in their call centre. Most of the staff were not familiar with the newly adopted system. The circumstances worsened when many of the call centre’s senior employees were tendering their resignations. The case discusses the aspect of employee satisfaction, staff performance that led to the turnover issue amongst employees in a call centre. The case explores what short-term and long-term strategies could Daniel suggest to change the call centre’s course to retain SF’s key account in times of desperation. Complexity academic level This case has a moderate level of difficulty and may be used in undergraduate students. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 6: Human resource management.

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