Efficiency of materials management in the European Union

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 354-365
Author(s):  
Aneta Masternak-Janus
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Materials Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
European Union Countries ◽  
Dea Method ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to measure and evaluate the efficiency of materials management in the European Union countries (EU-28) during the period of 2008–2017. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted using the method of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and variables applied to determine the resource productivity indicator. Therefore, the components of domestic material consumption constituted inputs in the DEA method, while gross domestic product (GDP) was applied as an output. Findings The results of the analysis showed that the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Latvia and the UK are the efficiency leaders among all the member states of the European Union. One of the least efficient countries is Poland, which uses too much natural resources in the process of generating goods and services. However, this consumption is growing at a slower rate than the value of GDP, which is beneficial from the point of view of sustainable development. Poland, like other inefficient countries, should reduce its consumption of natural resources in line with the best international practices. Practical implications The obtained research results can be a valuable source of information for decision-makers, and contribute to the adoption of more effective policies in order to improve the relationship between materials consumption and economic growth. Originality/value The application of the DEA method for calculating the efficiency of materials management represents a new approach, and it is the first attempt of its kind in the European Union countries.

scholarly journals A balanced approach: Brexit from political and business perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 804-816
Author(s):  
Răzvan Hoinaru ◽  
Mihnea Năstase
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Value At Risk ◽  
Risk Sharing ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

Abstract There is a considerable amount of publications written on rolling back the EU supra state, national sovereignty regain, and strategic (mis)conceptions for analysing Brexit scenarios for both the UK and the EU. Many articles present a unilateral point of view with a tendency to be normative. The presentation of only one-sided political, historical, and business perspectives can be very dangerous, limiting understanding and constructive approaches. This also happens with macro-economic analyses that are used fit for purpose. David Cameron’s political calculation to call for a referendum regarding the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union has had complex ramifications. With causes that have led to the British citizens’ decision that range from multiple crises in the European Union, member states’ inability for burden and risk sharing, to the lack of trust portrayed by European institutions and a confusing internal rhetoric. With a City of London remaining undecided and continuously evaluating the value at risk of Brexit, and in the absence of a new European financial center, it is important to make sense of the arguments of both in and out supporters. Thus, this article attempts to present a more integrated approach, spanning across politics, trade, private businesses and social attitudes. This paper looks beyond international relations between nations and takes into consideration the international relations between corporations and their business strategies.

scholarly journals Perils of road freight market deregulation: cabotage in the European Union

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-355
Author(s):  
Henrik S. Sternberg ◽  
Erik Hofmann ◽  
Robert E. Overstreet
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Modal Shift ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Labour Unions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Freight Market

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of the ongoing freight market deregulation in the European Union (EU). Specifically, this case study focuses on cabotage penetration rates in Germany, the largest logistics market in Europe. In light of the upcoming trade barriers, we intend to move this topic forward by emphasising its interdisciplinary nature.Design/methodology/approachBased on the analysis of Eurostat data, expert interviews and a review of related literature, we elaborate and discuss four propositions related to the factors affecting cabotage penetration, future cabotage levels and the effects on modal split and empty runs.FindingsWe found that cabotage in Germany plays a more important role than officially reported and has increased drastically since 2008. Given our analysis, increased cabotage penetration seems to thwart efforts within the EU to promote a modal shift from road to rail and increased national empty runs are the future outcome of current regulations. In Germany, the cabotage share is likely to reach 16% in the next five years.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper highlights the need for incorporating a more contextual understanding in freight carrier selection theory development in general as well as country-specific investigations in particular.Practical implicationsLogistics managers and policymakers looking at future strategies are advised to take the ongoing deregulation trend into consideration. European freight movement using cabotage operators may represent significant cost savings; however, these cost savings come at an environmental and social sustainability price as the modal shift to rail and fill rates suffer.Originality/valueThis paper represents an empirical and unbiased point of view, in contrast to the reports of the European Commission (pro-deregulation) or the reports of the haulage associations and labour unions (anti-deregulation).

THREAT OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN RURAL AREAS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

2017 ◽  
Vol XIX (3) ◽  
pp. 244-249
Author(s):  
Anna Rosa ◽  
Agnieszka Jakubowska
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Synthetic Index ◽  
European Union Countries

Social exclusion concerns all social and economic groups; however, it concerns chiefly the residents of rural areas rather than the residents of towns. The aim of this paper is to present the problem of social exclusion in rural areas in the European Union Countries. The authors in the study used the data available from Eurostat for EU Member States (NUTS-1). For the purpose of this research, a synthetic index was also prepared. The characteristics of social exclusion were based on objective factors, such as the scale of poverty, the level of unemployment and education. Analysis showed that the problem of social exclusion couldn’t be considered from the point of view of the countries of the “old” and the “new” Union. The analysis indicates that countries in Central and Eastern Europe, with a relatively well-educated population, are much more at risk of poverty than those living in Western Europe.

Graduated response and the emergence of a European surveillance society

Info ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 69-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trisha Meyer ◽  
Leo Van Audenhove
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
The European Union ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Surveillance Society ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Social Sorting ◽  
Technological Bias ◽  
Online Piracy

PurposeThis paper seeks to offer an alternative critique to graduated response, a warning and sanction mechanism aimed at fighting online piracy.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reflects on and frames graduated response in terms of theories on surveillance society and code. In particular, it analyses the graduated response debate in the European Union and the current initiatives in France and the UK.FindingsThe paper argues that graduated response portrays rights holders as being in a state of emergency, is a form of social sorting, and has a technological bias.Originality/valueThis paper contends that many objections raised to graduated response have been reduced to issues concerning the procedure rather than the principle, and that important societal questions concerning graduated response remain un(der)explored.

scholarly journals Environmental goods and services sector

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elzbieta Broniewicz
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Environmental Economic ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
National Accounts ◽  
Environmental Goods ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
European Union Countries ◽  
Environmental Goods And Services

The main objective of the following paper is to present the Environmental Goods and Services Sector (EGSS) in European Union countries. The Environmental Goods and Services Sector is one of the modules of environmental economic accounts, as satellite accounts in relation to national accounts. The first part of the paper gives an overiew of EGSS definitions and classifications. In second part, the comparison between the EGSS variables in certain EU countries was made. The output, export and employment of the Environmental Goods and Services System were analyzed. The data is presented by environmental protection domains and natural resources managements domains, as well as by economic activity.

The long-run sustainability of the European Union countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 523-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aymeric Vié ◽  
Cinzia Colapinto ◽  
Davide La Torre ◽  
Danilo Liuzzi
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Output ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Europe 2020 ◽  
Conflicting Objectives ◽  
European Union Countries ◽  
Optimal Allocations

Purpose Energy and environmental concerns have gained a significant role in public policy agenda as well as in energy economics literature. As policies often rely on imprecise information on data and goals, fuzzy goal programming (FGP) modeling is a relevant choice to evaluate multi-criteria sustainability. This technique is suitable for the analysis of the Europe 2020 strategy plan dealing with several possibly conflicting objectives in economy, environment, energy and employment. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a FGP model for sustainable implementations for all European Union (EU) countries with respect to Europe 2020 policy goals and provides insights for decision makers to better satisfy conflicting criteria by suggesting optimal allocations of workers in several economic sectors. Findings The analysis shows an overall great performance of European Union countries in the environmental and social criteria and outlines the needs for significant additional policy measures to reduce energy consumption while increasing the economic output. Comparing the performance of countries within the European Union between those who adopted the euro and those who maintained national currencies shows that Euro countries tend to perform worse in terms of Europe 2020 sustainability, opening opportunities for further research to better investigate on the causes and determinants of these differences. Originality/value The paper presents a conceptual model of sustainable development that improves understanding of the concept and reconciles highly competing policy objectives in a common framework. Applying this model to all European Union countries offers both comparison and policy recommendations at a large new scale.

5. The Supremacy of EU Law

2019 ◽  
pp. 140-167
Author(s):  
Nigel Foster
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Individual Rights ◽  
Eu Law ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Constitutional Courts ◽  
Rights Protection ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

This chapter examines the supremacy of EU law from both the point of view of the Union, as understood by the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the point of view of member states. A consensus seems to be emerging from the national and constitutional courts that EU law supremacy is accepted only insofar as it does not infringe the individual rights protection of the national constitutions, in which case the constitutional courts will exercise their reserved rights over national constitutions to uphold them over inconsistent EU law or to review EU law in light of their own constitutions. The changing position of the UK and the EU is also considered including the Brexit referendum result and possible consequences of that.

5. The Supremacy of EU Law

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Foster
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Individual Rights ◽  
Eu Law ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Constitutional Courts ◽  
Rights Protection ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

This chapter examines the supremacy of EU law from both the point of view of the Union as understood by the Court of Justice of the European Union, and the point of view of member states. A consensus seems to be emerging from the national and constitutional courts that EU law supremacy is accepted only insofar as it does not infringe the individual rights protection of the national constitutions, in which case the constitutional courts will exercise their reserved rights over national constitutions to uphold them over inconsistent EU law or to review EU law in light of their own constitutions. The changing position of the UK and the EU is also considered including the Brexit referendum result and possible consequences of that.

Leaders as learners

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-32
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Magic Wand ◽  
The Uk

Findings During the Brexit crisis that engulfed the UK and, to an extent, the European Union during 2017 and 2018, there were frequent calls for “better leadership,” for people to “stand up and be leaders” and to “show true leadership.” These rallying cries can be understood on a superficial level, in that there was self-evidently a number of problems affecting the progress of the Brexit process, and there was no one waving some kind of political magic wand to deliver what people expected.

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