scholarly journals Tacit Collusion on Steroids: The Potential Risks for Competition Resulting from the Use of Algorithm Technology by Companies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 951
Author(s):  
Christophe Samuel Hutchinson ◽  
Gulnara Fliurovna Ruchkina ◽  
Sergei Guerasimovich Pavlikov
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Pricing ◽  
Online News ◽  
Competitive Behavior ◽  
Digital Products ◽  
Market Transparency ◽  
Traditional Markets ◽  
Multiple Tasks ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
To Come ◽  
Explicit Communication

Digitalization has a growing impact on everyone’s life. It influences the way consumers purchase products, read online news, access multimedia content, and even meet or interact socially. At the core of digital products lies algorithm technology, decision-making software capable of fulfilling multiple tasks: data mining, result ranking, user matching, dynamic pricing, product recommendations, and ads targeting, among others. Notwithstanding the perceived benefits of algorithms for the economy, the question has been raised of whether the use of algorithms by businesses might have countervailing effects on competition. Although any anti-competitive behavior typically observed in traditional markets can be implemented by this technology, a particular issue highlighted in discussions between researchers and practitioners is the concern that algorithms might foster collusion. Because of their capacity to increase market transparency and the frequency of interactions between competing firms, they can be used to facilitate parallel collusive behavior while dispensing competing firms with the need for explicit communication. Consequently, it is not excluded that algorithms will be used in the years to come to obtain the effects of a cartel without the need to enter into restrictive agreements or to engage in concerted practices. We evaluate the collusion risks associated with the use of algorithms and discuss whether the “agreement for antitrust purposes” concept needs revisiting. The more firms made use of types of algorithms that enable direct and indirect communication between the competitors, the more likely those companies may be considered liable.

scholarly journals Forecasting Global Developments and Challenges in Olive Oil Supply and Demand: A Delphi Survey from Spain

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Samir Mili ◽  
Maria Bouhaddane
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
International Expansion ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Oil Companies ◽  
Traditional Markets ◽  
Future Supply ◽  
Oil Sector ◽  
To Come

Forecasting future supply and demand is a topical subject in the olive oil sector due to its relevance for decision making and the lack of comprehensive and consensual estimates at the global level. This study aims at overcoming this gap in research by providing a foresight of global supply and demand for olive oil for the years to come. We use the Delphi technique to estimate the expected annual growth rates in the olive oil production and consumption worldwide as well as their likely impact on Spanish exports by 2025. Another key objective of the study is to elicit expert judgements on the factors that are likely to shape the predicted changes as well as the international challenges ahead. Results suggest substantial future increases in production in new-producing countries, in parallel with a slower growth in the European traditional suppliers whose focus will increasingly be placed on quality and sustainability rather than quantity. In addition, a significant growth in the world’s demand for olive oil is expected in non-traditional markets, which will be driven by greater awareness of the positive health and sustainability attributes of this product, jointly with the changes in lifestyles and rising incomes of several consumer segments. These emerging markets offer promising prospects for the international expansion of olive oil companies. Future international challenges facing the olive oil industry include new market entry, worldwide product promotion, quality standards’ harmonization, enacting trade facilitation schemes, and dealing with the COVID-19 impacts. Findings improve market predictability and transparency, and ultimately support decision-making and strategic planning in the olive oil sector.

scholarly journals Water Scarcity and Water Trade: Turkish Attempts to Supply a Drying Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-60
Author(s):  
Viktor Glied ◽  
Péter Kacziba
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
To Come ◽  
Water Surplus ◽  
External Powers ◽  
Political Leverage ◽  
Shed Light

Water scarcity is already causing serious challenges nowadays and devastating water-related processes will certainly continue for decades to come. The emerging water crisis requires new political arrangements, new technological solutions and the development of new water supply chains. Among the possible political-diplomatic answers, water trade may be a viable option, as water abundant countries could distribute resources by commercializing their water surplus. Water trade, however, faces serious obstacles. Dependence of different countries on states that have water surplus, political leverage and the possible opportunity when external powers could control the essentially important human needs are all examples of potential risks. These threats hinder the development of interstate water trade cooperation and orient countries struggling with water shortages towards domestic solutions. This study attempts to examine the practice of water scarcity and water diplomacy, while also applies the Turkish experience as a case study for demonstrating constraints of water trade. The paper will hopefully shed light on the threats posed by global and regional water scarcity and draw attention to the opportunities and limitations of water commercialization. The aim of our study is to outline the issues related to the distribution and trade of water, furthermore to present the problems of water as a product. Our research focuses primarily on Turkey, which has also become involved in water trade, but the story still ended in failure.

Applications of Machine Learning in Cyber Security

2020 ◽  
pp. 83-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charu Virmani ◽  
Tanu Choudhary ◽  
Anuradha Pillai ◽  
Manisha Rani
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Technological Systems ◽  
The World ◽  
Computer Scientists ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
To Come ◽  
Time Basis ◽  
Applications Of Machine Learning

With the exponential rise in technological awareness in the recent decades, technology has taken over our lives for good, but with the application of computer-aided technological systems in various domains of our day-to-day lives, the potential risks and threats have also come to the fore, aiming at the various security features that include confidentiality, integrity, authentication, authorization, and so on. Computer scientists the world over have tried to come up, time and again, with solutions to these impending problems. With time, attackers have played out complicated attacks on systems that are hard to comprehend and even harder to mitigate. The very fact that a huge amount of data is processed each second in organizations gave birth to the concept of Big Data, thereby making the systems more adept and intelligent in dealing with unprecedented attacks on a real-time basis. This chapter presents a study about applications of machine learning algorithms in cyber security.

scholarly journals Going the extra mile — cross-border patient handover in a European border region: qualitative study of healthcare professionals’ perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 980-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliëtte A Beuken ◽  
Daniëlle M L Verstegen ◽  
Diana H J M Dolmans ◽  
Laura Van Kersbergen ◽  
Xavier Losfeld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Transfer ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
To Come ◽  
Participant Perspectives ◽  
Patient Handover

BackgroundCross-border healthcare is complex, increasingly frequent and causes potential risks for patient safety. In this context, cross-border handovers or the transfer of patients from one country to another deserves particular attention. Although general handover has been the topic of extensive research, little is known about the challenges of handover across national borders, especially as perceived by stakeholders. In this study, we aimed to gain insight into healthcare professionals’ perspectives on cross-border handover and ways to support this.MethodsWe conducted semistructured interviews with healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, paramedics and administrative staff) in a European border region to investigate their perspectives on cross-border handover. The interviews were aimed to investigate settings of acute and planned handover. Informed by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), interviews focused on participant perspectives. We summarised all interviews and inductively identified healthcare professionals’ perspectives. We used elements of the TPB as sensitising concepts.ResultsForty-three healthcare professionals participated. Although respondents had neutral to positive attitudes, they often did not know very well what was expected of them or what influence they could have on improving cross-border handover. Challenges covered five themes: information transfer, language barriers, task division and education, policy and financial structures and cultural differences. To overcome these challenges, we proposed strategies such as providing tools and protocols, discussing and formalising collaboration, and organising opportunities to meet and get to know each other.ConclusionHealthcare professionals involved in cross-border handovers face specific challenges. It is necessary to take measures to come to a shared understanding while paying special attention to the above-mentioned challenges. Meeting in person around meaningful activities (eg, training and case discussions) can facilitate sharing ideas and community building.

scholarly journals Stepping-Stones to Security: An Analysis of the Safe Third Country Agreement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Elizabeth Legge
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
Stepping Stones ◽  
State Security ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Refugee Claimants ◽  
International Obligations ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
To Come

This major research paper examines the impacts of the Safe Third Country Agreement on North American cross border relations and on potential refugee claimants seeking to file status claims in Canada and the United States. The Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States was implemented on 29 December 2004 and will be examined in light of its relations to state security and human security. The paper will seek to address how the Safe Third Country Agreement has impacted bilateral communications between Canada and the United States, how the Agreement has woked in a post-9/11 era, and how Canada and the United States have maintained their international obligations. Similarly, this research paper will examine how the Agreement has impacted refugee claimants attempting to come to Canada, as well as the potential risks and challenges that the Agreement presents to refugees and those working with them.

scholarly journals Stepping-Stones to Security: An Analysis of the Safe Third Country Agreement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Elizabeth Legge
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
Stepping Stones ◽  
State Security ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Refugee Claimants ◽  
International Obligations ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
To Come

This major research paper examines the impacts of the Safe Third Country Agreement on North American cross border relations and on potential refugee claimants seeking to file status claims in Canada and the United States. The Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States was implemented on 29 December 2004 and will be examined in light of its relations to state security and human security. The paper will seek to address how the Safe Third Country Agreement has impacted bilateral communications between Canada and the United States, how the Agreement has woked in a post-9/11 era, and how Canada and the United States have maintained their international obligations. Similarly, this research paper will examine how the Agreement has impacted refugee claimants attempting to come to Canada, as well as the potential risks and challenges that the Agreement presents to refugees and those working with them.

scholarly journals Competitive Dynamic between Individual Behaviors of the Mass Media Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
Yogi Yunanto Yogi Yunanto
Keyword(s):  
News Media ◽  
Print Media ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Online News ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Competitive Behavior ◽  
Media Industry ◽  
Qualitative Interpretation

Abstract-Competitive behavior is also a major factor in the competitive media industry is now getting very tight. This is caused by the print media competition with online or Internet-based media in getting news and advertising to attract participants from readers. This research method uses historical depth case study intended to produce an institutional explanation of the characteristics of the typical behavior shown by principal component analysis. The study also incorporates the classical approach to the historical focus on qualitative interpretation of data, In order to survive, the print media should be able to maintain the credibility and public trust on the information presented is now more attractive and more accurate. The print media began to be threatened because of the rapid development of emerging online media via internet access has encouraged people to seek to access online media simply and easily via mobile phones or gadgets. Connoisseurs of the print media loyal readers will turn to online news media. Reality has happened would threaten the print media industry, but the print media already have the characteristics of the first, namely: the news that is always clear, complete and detailed, online media faster and more cangih to broadcast news and always up to date but the online news can only be enjoyed by using the tool cangih not all communities have the tools and not all people can use technology cangih to always follow the news online.

scholarly journals The Theological Squabble of Duterte Against the Catholic Church: Discourse Analysis of Duterte’s God-Talk Based on the Verses Found in Online News

Plaridel ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-73
Author(s):  
Gerry Lanuza
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Online News ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Systematic Account ◽  
Concept Of God ◽  
Christian Culture ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Catholic Church

This paper is an attempt to provide a discourse analysis of President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial statements and public pronouncements about God, the Catholic Church and its clergy, and Christian teachings based on online news and similar websites. Using critical discourse analysis grounded in Michel Foucault’s (1980) theory of knowledge/power nexus, the present paper is a modest attempt to come up with a systematic account of Duterte’s “theological” musings based on his random extemporized diatribes against God and Christian religion. Reconstructing Duterte’s “theology” does not mean assessing it from the mainstream religious point of view but rather bringing into light the theological tenets of Duterte’s concept of God and foregrounding them in the context of our predominantly Christian culture. This study wants primarily to understand what are the objectives that these performative pronouncements seek to achieve politically, and what interests they serve based on Foucault’s (1980) analysis of “regime of truth.”

scholarly journals Are Your People Firefighters?

2007 ◽  
Vol 129 (07) ◽  
pp. 28-29
Author(s):  
Mia Doucet
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Business Meeting ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
The Future ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
To Come ◽  
Formal Meeting

This article describes management and business strategy while working with Asian employees. Asians love challenges as they think it is their job. If fact, they are so good at what they do that if there is no challenge, they feel they are not justifying their salaries. Experts highlight that informal meetings do three things: They break Asian taboos on business meeting protocol; they put us at a disadvantage because Asians are strategic thinkers, focused on the long term; they ignore the fact that Asians do not tolerate mistakes for all sorts of cultural reasons. Asians don’t have the mentality that if something goes sideways in a meeting, they’ll fix it on the spot. They don’t like to make mistakes in the first place. One of the best ways to stand out from the competition is to come to meetings prepared to do business the Asian way. There are five steps to follow: plan with the long term in mind; spend time on the details; come prepared to discuss potential problems; project potential risks into the future; and build consensus with others on your team prior to the formal meeting to present a common front.

BINUS Online Learning Web User Experience Improvement

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
Lena Chow
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Education ◽  
User Experience ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Online News ◽  
News Source ◽  
New Business ◽  
To Come ◽  
Almost All

With the technology nowadays where information is one click away, news travels within seconds through online news, social media, chat, etc. It’s not impossible anymore for someone who lived miles away to get information at the same time with someone who live near the news’ source.  New business starts to grow aligned with advancement in information technologies to tap bigger market. Each of them have different ways of showcasing their products, and how they showcase products can influence their customers to continue using it and to eventually make decision to purchase. Stores are available in e-market form, public transportations’ tickets are available online, education industries start to have websites, some of them even have online classes. Whether you are a busy professional looking for the next career step or a school leaver wanting to start your career without sacrificing your education, online study would be the solution. Committed to providing a world class education with international learning experience that makes positive contributions to the global community, BINUS University implemented a method called BINUS Online Learning. The method allows students not to come to campus, because almost all lectures conducted through the online system. Learning-teaching activities are in BINUS Online Learning web (Learning Management System). To ensure Binus online web can be used as tool to achieve Binus online mission, then improvement should be done continuously. This paper will search for continuous improvement especially user experience.

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