Second COVID wave could stall Macron’s relaunch

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Social Unrest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Communication ◽  
Deficit Reduction

Significance However, the second lockdown in October and November, coupled with persistent uncertainty about the pandemic’s trajectory, threatens to undermine the effectiveness of Relaunching France ahead of the 2022 presidential election. Impacts A bleak employment picture would seriously affect Macron’s re-election prospects. Debt and deficit reduction will likely not be reprioritised this side of the 2022 presidential election. Effective and consistent government communication over the COVID-19 vaccine is essential in order to encourage sufficient uptake. A prolonged economic downturn could reignite the Yellow Vest movement and trigger social unrest.

Four disintegration risks may threaten the EU’s future

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Euro Area ◽  
Presidential Election ◽  
The Political ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Political Uncertainty ◽  
National Front ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Marine Le Pen ◽  
Decisive Victory ◽  
The Eu

Subject Four European disintegration risks. Significance After the French presidential election, which saw the decisive victory of Emmanuel Macron over National Front leader Marine Le Pen, a sigh of relief could be heard in European capitals: the worse had been avoided; the EU would thrive again. This relief could be premature. At least four disintegration risks are still threatening the EU. Impacts Even though its economic prospects are positive, the euro-area remains fragile and could plunge back into chaos if left unreformed. An economic downturn would benefit Eurosceptic populist parties. The political uncertainty of a caretaker government in Germany will increase its officials' reluctance to agree to any euro-area reforms.

Belarus leader espouses patriotism to ensure survival

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Central Issue ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eurasian Economic Union ◽  
Political Relations ◽  
Union Leaders ◽  
Economic Union ◽  
Vladimir Putin ◽  
Constitutional Changes

Subject Soft versus hard versions of nationalism in Belarus. Significance Under pressure from Moscow to make concessions on energy and political relations, President Alexander Lukashenka is trying to turn this to his advantage by presenting himself as the sole effective defender of Belarusian independence. The opposition is warning Lukashenka not to submit to Russian expansionism, making this a central issue for a presidential election due by August 30. Moscow may consider backing an alternative to Lukashenka, but pressing too hard might be counterproductive. Impacts A sudden economic downturn caused by oil supply problems could provoke apolitical and less controllable protests. Constitutional changes in Russia reduce the likelihood that Vladimir Putin wants to head a unified Russian-Belarusian state. Lukashenka will try to rally support from other Eurasian Economic Union leaders in his campaign for better trade terms with Russia. The president will use US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit and EU engagement as a partial balance against Russia.

Economic woes to mark succession preparation in Cuba

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Reform ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Social Unrest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
Step Down ◽  
The Eu

Subject The Cuban economy. Significance Less than three months before President Raul Castro is due to step down from the state leadership, Cuba’s economy is in decline and its reform process has stalled. Castro’s heir apparent, Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, is keeping a low profile and promising continuity. An emerging independent media is causing concern in government circles but has not yet led to a crackdown. Impacts The economic downturn will strain society but an outburst of social unrest remains unlikely for now. As US pressure and domestic tensions rise, Havana will strive for cohesion, even if this stalls economic reform. Trump's confrontational politics force Havana to seek foreign investment elsewhere and to maintain good relations with the EU and Canada.

France’s regional results intensify presidential race

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Republican Party ◽  
Social Unrest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pension Reforms

Significance Neither Macron’s La Republique en Marche (LREM) nor Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) managed to win any of the country’s 13 regions. The main winner was the centre-right Republican Party (LR), to the extent that it hopes to overhaul Macron in the first round of next year’s presidential election. Impacts If internal party pressure forces Le Pen to adopt a more hard-line stance, she risks alienating centre-right voters. Electoral considerations will make Macron wary of imposing future COVID-19-related restrictions. While pursuing pension reforms prior to 2022 could improve Macron’s reformist credentials, it risks provoking more social unrest.

Tunisia's risk of default will rise

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Informal Economy ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Social Unrest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social

Significance The social unrest is partly the result of rising unemployment and poverty, worsened by the COVID-19 crisis. Political gridlock has also prevented the country from undertaking difficult reforms. Impacts Unemployment is likely to stay high, and until the informal economy can resume it will remain a cause of unrest. The release of multiple vaccines should lift some pressure from the health crisis before the end of 2021. The presidency and parliament need to solve the current gridlock in order to implement reforms in due course.

scholarly journals A turbulent time: government sources post-2016 presidential election

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-142
Author(s):  
Alicia Kubas
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
The Political ◽  
Government Information ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
Content Type ◽  
2016 Election ◽  
Democrats And Republicans ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose Since the 2016 presidential election, hyper-partisanship has become a regular facet of the political landscape with Democrats and Republicans in increasing conflict. The purpose of this paper is to determine if perception of government sources related to trust and credibility has changed since the 2016 election and if the experiences and strategies of librarians who teach or consult about government information has changed in response to this environment. Design/methodology/approach A 24-question survey was distributed to garner qualitative and quantitative responses from librarians who teach or consult about government information in an academic environment. A total of 122 responses were used for analysis. Findings Academic librarians are seeing more concern from patrons about disappearing online government information and wider distrust of government information. Librarians also noticed that the political leanings of students color their perspective around government sources and that librarians also need to keep their political beliefs in check. Respondents emphasized a need for more government literacy and information literacy topics when discussing evaluation of government sources. Research limitations/implications The data collection only included responses from academic librarians. Further research could include in-depth interviews and look at experiences in various library types. Originality/value With the timeliness of this topic, there has not been an in-depth investigation into how the Trump administration has changed user trust and perception of government sources from the librarian’s point of view. This paper continues the conversation about how librarians can address the growing distrust of government information and give us insight into the effects of a turbulent political climate on government sources.

Collaboration in the context of micro businesses

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Alessandro Bressan
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Collaborative Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
External Pressures ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Collaboration among businesses, particularly in the current global economic downturn, can be a key strategy contributing to their survival. This study examines the case of micro firms involved in Terracotta art in Impruneta, Italy, and the extent to which collaboration occurs among the local artisans. In doing so, the study aims to consider collaboration theory in the context of micro firms. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured, face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted among the owners and managers of ten of Impruneta's 16 Terracotta firms. Findings – Whilst much of the academic literature highlights the multiple benefits of collaborative relationships, most participants acknowledge very limited engagement in collaboration. From the comments gathered, two distinct groups emerged, one composed of members of the local Terracotta association, who to some extent collaborate with one another, and the second, the non-members, who pursue their interests individually, or marginally collaborate outside Impruneta. Further, a number of barriers preventing collaboration were identified. Practical implications – The apparent weak collaborative relationships among respondents may have ramifications for the further development of their sector, for instance, restricting innovation and marketing know-how, both of which could help address such external pressures as competition. The involvement of third parties, such as the local town hall or chambers of commerce, was suggested by several participants to help increase collaboration. Originality/value – The study focuses on micro firms, a group that, despite its relevance for many countries' economies, has received limited attention from academic research, including with regard to collaboration and collaboration theory.

Total quality management elements and results in higher education institutions

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelos Psomas ◽  
Jiju Antony
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the main total quality management (TQM) elements adopted and the respective results achieved by higher education institutions (HEIs) in Greece. Design/methodology/approach A research study was designed and carried out in private sector Greek HEIs. Fifteen HEIs were approached through interviews based on a structured questionnaire. The measured variables of the TQM elements and results identified in the literature were used as the questionnaire items. Descriptive statistics were applied to determine the TQM elements mostly adopted and the results achieved by the HEIs. Findings According to the findings, the TQM elements mostly adopted by the Greek HEIs concern the following: student focus, leadership and top management commitment, strategic quality planning, process management and teaching staff and employee involvement. On the other hand, the most significant results achieved by the sample HEIs concern quality performance improvement, teaching staff and employee satisfaction, operational performance improvement and the positive impact on society. Research limitations/implications The subjective data collection involved chief executive officers of a small sample of HEIs operating in a European Union country. Thus, no advanced statistical methods could be applied. Based on these limitations, future research studies are recommended. Practical implications By focusing on specific TQM elements, an HEI can develop a robust TQM model, approach business excellence, which can, in turn, help the HEI apply for appropriate quality awards, and finally derive significant benefits. In doing so, an HEI can lay the foundations for being competitive in the current global context that is characterised by an economic downturn. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by empirically determining the TQM elements mostly adopted as well as the respective results achieved by Greek HEIs in a period of economic downturn. This is the first research study in the field of TQM in higher education that has been carried out in Greece in a period where many service organisations, whether private or public, are making significant efforts to withstand the current downturn and achieve a sustainable growth.

The exploration study of cognitive styles for Taiwan University graduates’ job hunting in Mainland China

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenn Tang
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Cognitive Styles ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Local Market ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Trust Mechanism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Abroad

Purpose In the context of an economic downturn and three transitions of political power, Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) kick-started the cross-strait mutual trust mechanism, encouraging university graduates to find employment in mainland China’s job market (in both mainland China and Hong Kong). Academia and industry are both paying great attention to this issue. There is still a paucity of discussions about cognitive style with regard to working in mainland China (Macau) Design/methodology/approach This study is based on the Q methodology using a sample of Taiwanese university graduates to explore how behavioral factors relate to cognitive style. Findings This paper defines four cognitive styles based on differences in focus and motivation: lifestyles of health and sustainability (LOHAS), word-of-mouth (WOM), learning/practice match and local market disappointment. Originality/value An association is drawn between cognition theory and psychology’s classification of cognitive style. In the context of the four cognitive styles, this paper explores the practical implications of employment and provides recommendations for those intending to work abroad.

France’s Macron seeks to relaunch economic reforms

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Government Spending ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Economic Reforms ◽  
Fiscal Rules ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Social Unrest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Mandatory Vaccination

Significance Among those policies are measures targeted at youth unemployment and social care for older people, aimed at attracting left-wing support. Most importantly, Macron has committed to relaunching his controversial pension reforms, which triggered widespread social unrest in late 2019 and early 2020. Impacts Mandatory vaccination could trigger protests and legal action against the government. The centre-right Republicans could take support from Macron if they unite around a strong presidential candidate over the coming months. Macron will likely push for looser EU fiscal rules to facilitate more government spending beyond 2022.

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