scholarly journals Trade in Conflict Minerals -- Congolese Warlords, MNC’s, and Dodd-Frank 1502

Perceptions ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankit Deshmukh
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
News Sources ◽  
Conflict Minerals ◽  
The Us ◽  
Face Threats ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Eu

This paper seeks to provide an overview of conflict mineral trade by analyzing it through an economic lens. Using data gathered from news sources, the memo first defines the term “conflict minerals” and identifies that the primary actors involved in the conflict mineral market are rebel militia groups and multinational corporations. The trade is mutually beneficial for these actors as it serves as the primary source of revenue for militia groups and allows multinational corporations to buy minerals at low costs. The memo also highlights the struggles legitimate Congolese miners face, as they face threats from militia groups and low market prices Also identified is Section 1502 of the Dodd Frank act, legislation which forces multinational corporations to list their mineral suppliers, thereby increasing supply chain transparency. While implemented with good intentions, it is extremely unsuccessful in stifling the conflict mineral trade as it lacks substantive regulatory measures. Furthermore, the EU and US plan to implement opposing conflict mineral trade policies — the EU looks to increase supply chain transparency while the US looks to repeal Section 1502 of Dodd Frank (an action which would decrease supply chain transparency). This paper believes that coordinated and homogenous action on the part of both federal governments and IGOs is necessary in order to concretely enforce restrictions on conflict mineral trade.

scholarly journals The European Union and natural resources that fund armed conflicts: Explaining the EU’s policy choice for supply chain due-diligence requirements

2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martijn C Vlaskamp
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Due Diligence ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Conflict Zones ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Conflict Minerals ◽  
The Eu

Natural resources can be an important source of funding for warring parties in armed conflicts. Curbing the trade in these so-called conflict resources is, therefore, part of the European Union’s conflict management policies. The article explores the EU’s policies in this field and asks, specifically, why the EU is using supply chain due-diligence measures to achieve this goal. The author argues that they are the response to enforcement problems of most existing multilateral and unilateral sanction regimes because of state weakness in the targeted regions. This approach results from a broader idea from the EU that transparency can improve resource governance and, therefore, safeguard both its political and economic interests in conflict zones, such as the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, when the issue becomes specific—as in the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation—translating this idea into concrete policies becomes more contentious as the EU institutions set different priorities for the final policy design.

scholarly journals Returning to the Question of a Wage Premium for Returning Migrants

2010 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. R43-R51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Barrett ◽  
Jean Goggin
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Source Country ◽  
Human Capital Formation ◽  
Self Selection ◽  
The Us ◽  
Large Scale Survey ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Eu

Using data from a large-scale survey of employees in Ireland, we estimate the extent to which people who have emigrated from Ireland and returned earn more relative to comparable people who have never lived abroad. In so doing, we test the hypothesis that migration can be part of a process of human capital formation. We find through OLS estimation that returners earn 7 per cent more than comparable stayers. We test for the presence of self-selection bias in this estimate but the tests suggest that the premium is related to returner status. The premium holds for both genders, is higher for people with postgraduate degrees and for people who migrated beyond the EU to the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The results show how emigration can be positive for a source country when viewed in a longer-term context.

scholarly journals Understanding the Influence of Individual and Systemic Factors on Vaccination Take-Up in European Citizens Aged 55 or Older

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Olympia E. Anastasiou ◽  
Dörte Heger
Keyword(s):  
Primary Source ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
The Past ◽  
Welfare Systems ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
Systemic Factors ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Linear Probability ◽  
Vaccination Knowledge ◽  
The Eu

Background: High vaccination coverage provides extensive public health benefits. Hence, increasing vaccination rates is an important policy goal within the EU and worldwide. We aim to evaluate individual and systemic parameters associated with vaccination in European Union citizens aged 55 or older, using data from the Special Eurobarometer 488. Methods: Linear probability and probit models are estimated to analyze the determinants of vaccination take-up. Further, descriptive analyses are used to explore how the reasons for not having a vaccination differ by welfare regime. Results: High knowledge about the effectiveness and safety of vaccination increases the probability of receiving a vaccination during the past five years by 26 percentage points (pp), medium knowledge increases it by 15 pp. Focusing on the specific case of the flu, official recommendations increase this probability by, on average, 6 pp; while having to pay out-of-pocket for a recommended vaccination decreases it by, on average, 10 pp. Furthermore, the differences for no vaccination differ widely across welfare systems and television is the primary source for information about vaccination. Conclusions: Reported vaccination rates in Europe fall far below targets set by official recommendations. Increasing vaccination knowledge and offering vaccinations free of charge can help to increase vaccination rates. A specific focus should be put on reaching individuals with potential difficulties of access such as those living alone and unemployed.

scholarly journals The usefulness of multi-parent multi-environment QTL analysis: an illustration in different NAM populations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Garin ◽  
Marcos Malosetti ◽  
Fred van Eeuwijk
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Architecture ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Precise Description ◽  
Parent Population ◽  
Genetic Covariance ◽  
Environment Analysis ◽  
Environmental Indices ◽  
The Us ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Eu

AbstractCommonly QTL detection in multi-parent population (MPPs) data measured in multiple environments (ME) is done by a single environment analysis on phenotypic values ‘averaged’ across environments. This method can be useful to detect QTLs with a consistent effect across environments but it does not allow to estimate environment-specific QTL (QTLxE) effects. Running separate single environment analyses is a possibility to measure QTLxE effects but those analyses do not model the genetic covariance due to the use of the same genotype in different environments. In this paper, we propose methods to analyze MPP-ME QTL experiments using simultaneously the data from several environments and modelling the genotypic covariances. Using data from the EU-NAM and the US-NAM populations, we show that these methods allow to estimate the QTLxE effects and that they give a more precise description of the trait genetic architecture than separate within environment analyses. The MPP-ME models we propose can also be extended to integrate environmental indices (e.g. temperature, precipitation, etc.) to understand better the mechanisms behind the QTLxE effects. Therefore, our methodology allows to exploit the full potential of MPP-ME data: to estimate QTL effect variations a) within the MPP between sub-populations due to different genetic backgrounds; and b) between environments.

scholarly journals International Trade in Conflict Minerals: Solutions for the EU Regulatory Framework

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (28) ◽  
pp. 620-629
Author(s):  
Zuzana Silná ◽  
Zuzana Kittová
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
High Risk ◽  
External Action ◽  
Wall Street ◽  
Conflict Minerals ◽  
The Us ◽  
Legislative Proposal ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Responsible Sourcing

Abstract International trade in minerals, particularly tin, tungsten, wolfram, and gold, from conflict- affected or high-risk areas can have significant implications on intensifying and perpetuating the conflicts. It occurs that illegal mines are run by armed groups. As a result, minerals acquired from such sources provide financial means to armed movements and support the conflict. In this respect, several international and national regulatory frameworks for responsible sourcing have been established. The most important international initiative is the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, which provides importers with voluntary guidelines for responsible sourcing policy. In addition, the US passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010. Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act lays down the rules for responsible sourcing that are compulsory for any company listed on the US stock exchanges. Following to these initiatives and further public consultations, the European Commission and the European External Action Service introduced a proposal for a comprehensive EU policy focused on responsible sourcing of conflict minerals. The package consists of a legislative proposal laying down rules for self-certification of responsible importers, as well as of additional measures providing for support for SMEs and incentives for importers of conflict materials. The aim of this paper is to analyse the legislative proposal and discuss its possible implications given the fact that the EU legislation should be compatible with standing frameworks.

scholarly journals Do Anti-dumping Duties Still Matter? The Curious Case of Aluminum Foil

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-574
Author(s):  
SHUSHANIK HAKOBYAN
Keyword(s):  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Aluminum Foil ◽  
Trade Diversion ◽  
Aluminum Sheet ◽  
Direct And Indirect Effects ◽  
Detailed Data ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Eu

AbstractIn 2009, the EU imposed anti-dumping duties on aluminum foil imported from Armenia, Brazil, and China for five years. The final determination resulted in the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duties of 13.4% (Armenia), 17.6% (Brazil), and 6.4–30% (China). This paper quantifies the direct and indirect effects of the EU anti-dumping duty on EU and US imports from targeted and unaffected countries using detailed data for the years 2006 through 2012, and controlling for exports of all products within the aluminum sheet, plate, and foil manufacturing industry from all countries. The findings point to the trade destruction, trade depression, trade diversion, and trade deflection effects typically found in the existing literature. However, the uniqueness of this case lies in the fact that the Armenian exporter is a subsidiary of a Russian firm. And as Armenia's exports to the EU declined, they expanded rapidly to the US. At the same time, the US imports from Russia, a country not directly touched by the anti-dumping ruling, declined dramatically, and were diverted to the EU. This points to the potential ineffectiveness of anti-dumping duties in the presence of multinational corporations with production facilities located across countries differentially impacted by anti-dumping duties.

Sanctions of the USA and the Policy of Bank of Russia:double Blow to the National Economy

2014 ◽  
pp. 13-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Glazyev
Keyword(s):  
National Security ◽  
Economic Sanctions ◽  
Capital Flight ◽  
Practical Advice ◽  
The Us ◽  
Monetary Authorities ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Simultaneous Adoption ◽  
The Eu

This article examines fundamental questions of monetary policy in the context of challenges to the national security of Russia in connection with the imposition of economic sanctions by the US and the EU. It is proved that the policy of the Russian monetary authorities, particularly the Central Bank, artificially limiting the money supply in the domestic market and pandering to the export of capital, compounds the effects of economic sanctions and plunges the economy into depression. The article presents practical advice on the transition from external to domestic sources of long-term credit with the simultaneous adoption of measures to prevent capital flight.

Russian Policy of Agriculture Support and the Necessity of Its Modification after WTO Accession

2012 ◽  
pp. 132-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Uzun
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
World Trade Organization ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
World Trade ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Wto Accession ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Agriculture Support

The article deals with the features of the Russian policy of agriculture support in comparison with the EU and the US policies. Comparative analysis is held considering the scales and levels of collective agriculture support, sources of supporting means, levels and mechanisms of support of agricultural production manufacturers, its consumers, agrarian infrastructure establishments, manufacturers and consumers of each of the principal types of agriculture production. The author makes an attempt to estimate the consequences of Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization based on a hypothesis that this will result in unification of the manufacturers and consumers’ protection levels in Russia with the countries that have long been WTO members.

Isoglucose – How significant is the threat to the EU sugar industry?

2013 ◽  
pp. 770-777
Author(s):  
Yelto Zimmer
Keyword(s):  
Market Share ◽  
Sugar Industry ◽  
Quota System ◽  
Strong Incentive ◽  
Major Market ◽  
The Us ◽  
Sugar Market ◽  
Extreme Scenario ◽  
Competitive Product ◽  
The Eu

The EU is about to abolish the sugar – and the isoglucose – quota system in 2016/17. Isoglucose made from corn occupies about 50% of the US sweetener market while its market share in the EU caloric sweetener market is less than 5%. Against this background, this paper analyses the economics of isoglucose production in Europe in order to understand its competitiveness vis-à-vis sugar. Key results: (1) Isoglucose will become a rather competitive product. The EU sugar industry will have to give up about 40% of its current processing and profit margin in order to sell sugar at the same price as isoglucose will be traded; (2) Once industrial sugar users move to isoglucose, they will tend to be “hooked-in,” giving the sugar industry a strong incentive to defend its market share; and (3) Since only about 30% of the current sugar market is able to switch to isoglucose, the sugar industry has the option to practice a mixed calculation. In an extreme scenario, the industry may even opt to cross-subsidize sales. Therefore it’s not clear whether investors in isoglucose will be able to gain a major market share in Europe.

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