Assessment of landslides in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia: A Geoscientists without Borders project

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-59
Author(s):  
Koya Suto ◽  
Snezana Komatina ◽  
Jun Sugawara ◽  
Takao Aizawa

A severe storm caused floods and landslides in the Balkan region in May 2014. In response to the disaster, geophysical and geotechnical surveys were organized as a Geoscientists without Borders® (GwB) project of SEG. It took place in eight landslide prone areas in Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina in three phases in 2015 and 2016. The seismic and electric resistivity surveys were conducted and the results were interpreted in conjunction with the geotechnical inspection. The surveys identified the size of a potential landslide layer by S-wave velocity distribution and particular high-risk locations by electric resistivity anomalies. This interpretation enhanced the geotechnical observation. From the result, several countermeasures were recommended to suit the budgetary restrictions of local governments. Among them, the survey results in the Lopare locality are presented as an example. The project was organized by the Association of Geophysicists and Environmentalists of Serbia (AGES) involving many scientists, engineers, students, government staff and local communities. As well as technical achievements, significance of the project includes: providing students with opportunities to have practical experience of geophysical surveys and to learn outside the classroom; bringing together the participants from different racial, political, religious and educational backgrounds. All were made aware of the importance of humanitarian expert work. We assessed the effectiveness of the GwB project using the guidelines of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC). One of the important outcomes of the assessment is that such a volunteer geoscientific survey cannot stand alone. It is more effective if incorporated in the overall recovery and prevention programs.

e-Finanse ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 12-21
Author(s):  
Beata Zofia Filipiak ◽  
Marek Dylewski

AbstractThe purpose of the article is analysis of participatory budgets as a tool for shaping decisions of local communities on the use of public funds. The authors ask the question of whether the current practice of using the participatory budget is actually a growing trend in local government finances or, after the initial euphoria resulting from participation, society ceased to notice the real possibilities of influencing the directions of public expenditures as an opportunity to legislate public policies implemented. It is expected that the conducted research will allow us to evaluate the participatory budget and indicate whether this tool practically acts as a stimulus for changes in the scope of tasks under public policies. The authors analyzed and evaluated the announced competitions for projects as part of the procedure for elaborating participatory budgeting for selected LGUs. Then, they carried out an in-depth analysis of the data used to assess real social participation in the process of establishing social policies.


Author(s):  
Yaroslava Kalat

In the search for efficient decisions directed at the stimulation of regional development and improvement of regions’ innovativeness and investment attractiveness, the EU regions have long ago started paying attention to local communities. In particular, Polish local governments are granted an opportunity to conduct an active spatial policy of investment attraction using various instruments. In this context, the industrial parks play an important role among the created institutes of the business environment, because they create advantages for local communities and businesses. In particular, they promote investment attraction, entrepreneurship activation, employment and jobs increase, material cost minimization, etc. At the same time, the development of entrepreneurship environment institutes requires support at national, regional, and local levels. The development will be almost impossible without the creation of proper legal, political, economic, and social conditions for their activity. The paper aims to define major stimuli of industrial park development based on the Polish experience, the economic structure of which is similar to the Ukrainian one. This will contribute to the development of the ways to boost industrial park development in Ukraine, especially in the border areas. For the matter, the author outlines the major instruments used by Polish local communities to boost investment and entrepreneurship activity in the framework of industrial park development. The scientific paper emphasizes the analysis of legislation on creation, functioning, and support of Polish industrial park development, and further perspectives of their activity. Special attention is paid to general characteristics of the condition of industrial parks located in Polish border regions. The advantages of each of them are determined and examples of their creation and development are given. The research resulted in the allocation of two groups of stimuli of industrial parks development which are the precondition, according to the author, of industrial parks becoming the instrument of investment attraction, economic boost of the territories, and entrepreneurship activity growth: the stimuli of development of industrial parks’ organizational structure (public financial assistance; information and advisory support; grans of European funds; international cooperation / partnership; independent spatial policy at the local level) and the stimuli of entrepreneurship development in industrial parks (infrastructure (physical and soft); public financial assistance; tax incentives; investment grants; financial loans).


1989 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perry Moore

This research provides information about the health care cost containment efforts of local governments and agencies across the United States, particularly in large American cities. Survey results indicate that while the public sector lags behind the private sector, public agencies are beginning to match the cost containment efforts of private employers. While initiation of these efforts represents considerable recent progress, their tangible benefits are not yet apparent.


Author(s):  
Nia Kurniati ◽  
Reginawanti Hindersah

Objective - The objective of this study is to identify the food security characteristics in local communities at Napan Village, Nusa Tenggara Timur Indonesia and to study the implementation of agrarian reform principles covering asset reform and access reform, in achieving food sustainability. Methodology/Technique - The method used is a normative judicial method. The data is analysed through qualitative judicial means, supported by Focus Group Discussion, to obtain primary qualitative data. Findings - The results show that synchronization of agrarian reform programs, including asset reform with "Food Intensification Program" along with "Social Forestry Program", reinforce farmers' rights over their farmlands and assure farmland tenure and ownership. The approach of "access reform" by means of the "Food Intensification Program", integrated with government intervention, might serve as the base for achieving the inclusivity and continuity of food sustainability in Napan Novelty - This study highlights the need for central and local governments to accelerate food production in underdeveloped regions through asset and access reform programs. Land Certification, Social Forestry Program, and the Food Intensification Program can all be implemented to strengthen farmers' land rights as well as their productivity. Type of Paper - Empirical. Keywords: Agrarian Reform; Food Security; Napan Village; Indonesia. JEL Classification: Q1, Q18.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83
Author(s):  
Maciej Jabłoński

Currently, not to be underestimated is the role of local governments in the field of environmental protection. It is on their different levels that local authorities determine the efficiency of setting environmental standards for local communities. The efficient implementation of regional operational programs determines the possibility of implementing the principles of sustainable development.


Author(s):  
Meilan Sugiarto ◽  
Herri Sofyan ◽  
Herlina Jayadianti ◽  
Rudi Wibowo

There Improvements in the local economy, especially for the poor through open and sustainable tourism management, are believed to be achieved through the empowerment of the tourism sector. Mapping the potential of village tourism in the Triharjo village area is one of the essential things. Identification and mapping of village tourism potential needed in order to implementation community-based tourism (CBT). This research aims to identifying and mapping the potential of village tourism in order to produce a profile of village tourism potential and identify opportunities for developing village tourism potential. The object of this study is Triharjo village, Pandak District, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta. This research was conducted with a qualitative approach. Collecting data in this study used several research instruments, such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), observations, and document studies. Based on research finding while the communities and local governments of Triharjo village recognize that not all village tourism potentials are well managed. The results of the mapping of village tourism potential provide them that the involvement of local communities in the planning and management of a village tourism potential is needed and have a positive impact on the longterm. The empowerment of the local economy, especially the poor, is believed to be achieved through the empowerment of the tourism sector. Community-based tourism emphasizes community ownership and active participation, provides education to local communities, promotes and protection of culture and the environment.


Author(s):  
О. Boiko

Problem setting. In the analysis of any budget, important markers are åðó revenue indicators, which 80% consist of tax revenues. After all, they give the government and citizens an understanding of how capable the communityis, what amount of expenditures can be made from income, and whether the community has can develop and improve the well-being of its inhabitants. Personal income tax (hereinafter – PIT) covers about 60% of tax revenues of local budgets of Ukraine, so its important role for socio-economic development of local communities and regionsis clear.Recent research and publications analysis. The issue of studyingthe effectiveness of the mechanism of PIT payment and its influence on the process of generation of local government revenues have been in the center of research of domestic scientists such as O. Bandurka, N. Dieieva, I. Liutyi, N. Redinaet al. At the same time, the issue of the effectiveness of PIT collection and its importance for the development of communities in the current conditions of decentralization requires further thorough research.Highlighting previously unsettled parts of the general problem. The role and place of personal income tax in the structure of tax revenues of local budgets have been studies in the paper, the essence of the mechanism of its collectionhas been substantiated, the provision on the effectiveness of tax control over the completeness of its revenues have been analyzedand the reasons for reforming its payment procedure by tax agents have been justified.The purpose of the paper is to study the role and place of PIT in the structure of tax revenues of local budgets, substantiate the essence of the mechanism of its collection, analyze PIT administration procedure, makeproposals for improving the effectivenessof fiscal role of this tax for the community development.Paper main body. One of the most important taxes in the system of direct taxation in Ukraine is the personal income tax. Its share in the structure of tax revenues of the consolidated budget in recent years was about 20% – 23% (90% of which – revenues to local budgets, 10% – revenues of the state budget).The procedure for imposition of this taxis regulated by Section IV of the Tax Code of Ukraine, deducted from the income of citizens at a rate of 18%, which applies to almost all types of income of citizens.In the structure of tax revenues of local budgets, its share is the largest one and averages up to 60% of all tax revenues. During the period of 2015 – 2020, the fiscal efficiency of PIT in the structure of its revenues to local budgets was growing every year. Nominal PIT revenues to local budgets increased from UAH 54,9 billion in 2015 to UAH 177,8 billion in 2020.The key factors influencing the nominal growth of personal income tax revenues are inflation, as well as the annual increase in the minimum wage, changes in tax rates and other innovations in tax reforms of the recent years.Given the significant fiscal efficiency of PIT and its influence on budget generation of the communities, we cannot ignore the problematic aspects of its collection that have a direct impact on tax revenues in the structure of the newly formed amalgamated territorial communities, since success and well-being of local communities depends primarily on the amount of financial resources they own.Thus, according to the Budget Code of Ukraine, PITis distributed among the budgets in the following amounts: 60% goes to the ATC budget, 15% to the regional budget, and 25% to the state budget.It is worthnoting that the current rules of tax and budget legislation contain quite clear obligations of tax agents to pay PITtransfers to those local budgets within which territory businesses are located.Nevertheless, there are constant challenges for local governments and their ability to influence entrepreneurs to pay PIT at the location of legal entities and their units, and not at the place of registration of legal entities.Does this mean that a significant number of tax agents do not comply with the requirements of tax and budget legislation?The Law of Ukraine on Local Self-Government in Ukraine (Article 28) entitles local self-government bodies to monitor the compliance with obligations to pay to the local budget at enterprises and organizations, regardless of the form of their incorporation.Conclusions of the research and prospects for further studies. Given the above, business entities are obliged to pay PIT in accordance with current legislation at the place of their actual location, regardless of the place of registration, and local governments are empowered to control the completeness of taxes coming to the local budget and must actively exercise the initiative to provide additional revenues to community budgets.This will allow receiving PIT revenues to the budget of the community where the enterprises directly carry out their activities in order to develop communities and increase their solvency for the welfare of citizens.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (S1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Fei Gao

With the steady development and growth of economic society, remarkable achievements have been made in the construction and application of teaching resources, the establishment, and development of teaching staff, the innovation of the teaching and learning model, and the in-depth application of information and communication technology. In particular, is the thriving education undertaking? At the time local governments accelerating economic and social development, education is always the priority. They took education informatization as an essential solution to improve education development, promoting education informatization. This article takes Chengchuan Elementary School as an example, introduced the balanced development of urban and rural education and the cooperation with universities, and summarized its practical experience in applying education informatization under local conditions.


Author(s):  
Paul T. Jaeger

Many residents and local communities rely on public libraries for access to and training to use e-government. Many local governments direct citizens to the public library for help in using e-government, while citizens seek help from the public library in using local e-government when they have no other means of connecting or when they want help using e-government. As a result, public libraries now serve not only as instrumentalities of local government, but as a primary location for access to local e-government and a very successful link between citizens to e-government. As residents, communities, and governments rely on public libraries as a main access point to e-government, it essential to better understand the connection and education roles of public libraries to improve the delivery of local e-government.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document