Consistent Risk Management in a Changing World: Risk Equivalence in Fisheries and Other Human Activities Affecting Marine Resources and Ecosystems

A changing climate makes the evaluation of human impacts on natural systems increasingly uncertain and affects the risk associated with management decisions. This influences both the achievability and meaning of marine conservation and resource management objectives. A risk-based framework that includes a risk equivalence approach in the evaluation of the potential consequences from human activity, can be a powerful tool for timely and consistent handling of environmental considerations in management advice. Risk equivalence permits a formal treatment of all sources of uncertainty, such that objectives-based management decisions can be maintained within acceptable risk levels and deliver outcomes consistent with expectations. There are two pathways to risk equivalence that can be used to account for the short-term and longer-term impacts of a changing environment: adjusting the degree of exposure to human pressure and adjusting the reference levels used to measure the risk. The first uses existing data and knowledge to derive risk conditioning factors applied to condition management advice on environmental departures from baseline conditions. The second is used to formalise the review and update of management objectives, reference levels and risk tolerances, so they remain consistent with potential consequences from human activity under new biological, ecological and socio-economic realities. A risk equivalence approach is about adapting existing practice to frame environmental considerations within objectives-based risk frameworks, systematically exploring alternative scenarios and assumptions, and conditioning management advice on environmental status. It is applicable to the management of all human activities impacting biological and ecological systems. Concepts of risk, risk conditioning factors, and incremental changes in risk, provide a common currency for the inclusion and communication of environmental effects into advice. Risk equivalence can ensure timely delivery of robust management advice accounting for demonstrated, anticipated or projected environmental effects. This can guide management decisions in a changing world, and greatly facilitate the implementation of an ecosystem approach for the management of human activities.

Numerical Studies of Statistical Management Decisions in Conditions of Stochastic Chaos

The research presented in this article is dedicated to analyzing the acceptability of traditional techniques of statistical management decision-making in conditions of stochastic chaos. A corresponding example would be asset management at electronic capital markets. This formulation of the problem is typical for a large number of applications in which the managed object interacts with an unstable immersion environment. In particular, this issue arises in problems of managing gas-dynamic and hydrodynamic turbulent flows. We highlight the features of observation series of the managed object’s state immersed in an unstable interaction environment. The fundamental difference between observation series of chaotic processes and probabilistic descriptions of traditional models is demonstrated. We also present an additive observation model with a chaotic system component and non-stationary noise which provides the most adequate characterization of the original observation series. Furthermore, we suggest a method for numerically analyzing the efficiency of conventional statistical solutions in the conditions of stochastic chaos. Based on numerical experiments, we establish that techniques of optimal statistical synthesis do not allow for making effective management decisions in the conditions of stochastic chaos. Finally, we propose several versions of compositional algorithms focused on the adaptation of statistical techniques to the non-deterministic conditions caused by the specifics of chaotic processes.

Nutrient Management Effects on Wine Grape Tissue Nutrient Content

With limited research supporting local nutrient management decisions in North Carolina grape (Vitis vinifera) production, field studies (2015–17) were conducted to evaluate late season foliar nitrogen (N) application on leaf and petiole N concentration and yeast assimilable N (YAN) in the fruit. Foliar urea (1% v/v) was applied at different rates and application times beginning pre-and post-veraison. Compared to soil applied N, late season foliar N substantially enhanced petiole N and grape YAN. Smaller split N applications were generally more effective in increasing YAN than single larger N rates. These data demonstrate the value of assessing plant N content at full bloom with petiole N analysis or remote sensing to guide foliar N management decisions. Additional field studies (2008–11) were conducted to evaluate pre-bud soil applied phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) effects on petiole P and K nutrient status. Fertilizer P and K were initially broadcast applied (0–896 kg P2O5 ha−1; 0–672 kg K2O ha−1) prior to bud-break in 2008–09 and petiole P and K at full bloom soil test P and K were monitored for three to four years after application. Soil test and petiole P and K were significantly increased with increasing P and K rates, which subsequently declined to near unfertilized levels over the sampling time depending on site and P and K rate applied. These data demonstrate the value of annually monitoring petiole P and K levels to accurately assess plant P and K status to better inform nutrient management decisions.

The Effect of Geographic Distance on Earnings Management Decisions

Prior research has found evidence that country factors and management styles influence earnings management decisions in various geographic locations. Extending this research, we utilize an experimental setting to isolate the effect of geographic distance on the willingness to manage earnings in a near/distant location. In an initial experiment, we find less acceptable earnings management methods generate greater concerns about the method (ethicality and riskiness) leading to less willingness to manage earnings. Yet, greater geographic distance between the decisionmaker and reporting location attenuates these concerns, resulting in increased willingness to use a less acceptable method. In contrast, individuals are willing to use a more acceptable method to manage earnings regardless of geographic distance. These findings are consistent with construal level theory (CLT) and are corroborated in a second experiment where we find that greater geographic distance reduces managers’ focus on the means of earnings management, thereby reducing concerns about the method.

DYNAMIC AND STRUCTURAL DISPROPORTATIONS OF THE BALANCE IN FOREIGN TRADE IN TEXTILE GOODS OF THE EAEU AND BELARUS

The article is devoted to the study of the balance of foreign trade in textile goods (C13) in two directions: on the one hand, the EAEU in mutual trade and with third countries, on the other hand, Belarus in mutual trade with the EAEU member states and third countries. A comparative analysis of the dynamics and changes in the structure of key indicators of foreign trade in the context of the main commodity groups, goods and key foreign trade partners has been carried out. The author identified the reasons and factors that have a negative impact on the dynamics of the balance of foreign trade in textiles between the EAEU and Belarus in order to make management decisions.

Strategic analysis on the integration of agricultural holding assets

The topic of integration of agricultural and food enterprises into holdings, the strategy of their cooperation and integration is of great importance for the food security of the country. The article presents the results of a study of the integration of the agricultural holding Rusagro, based on the use of a matrix of dependence of the company's profitability indicators on its relative value in the market. Approbation of this method allows to reasonably make management decisions regarding the development of an agricultural holding.

THE ESSENCE OF ACCOUNTING PARADOXES

Accounting information serves as a primary source for the formation of financial statements, based on which further decisions are made. However, existing forms of financial reporting cannot fully meet the information needs of users. One of the reasons is the paradox of accounting information. Accounting paradoxes are a little-studied issue that requires proper coverage, first of all, the generation of theoretical and methodological framework, to better understand and optimize existing contradictions and controversial issues. The article describes the variety of methodological approaches to the scientific substantiation of the paradoxes of accounting information with their solutions and shortcomings. The paper highlights the economic essence of accounting paradoxes, their importance in the process of making effective management decisions, identifies the causes of formation, impact, and consequences of distortion of the information array in making rational management decisions. The role of the influence of accounting data paradoxes on the further activity of the enterprise is argued. The causal relationship between the possibility of distortion of accounting information at different stages of its formation depending on the object of accounting and its further transformation into management data is analyzed. As a result of the analysis of the outlined topic several solutions of problem questions are offered, namely: optimization of the accounting information, minimization of influence of paradoxes of the accounting information taking into account features of the account, expansion of the theoretical base.