The Pastoralism in the Silesian Beskids (South Poland): In the Past and Today

The Silesian Beskids (Poland), the westernmost part of the Carpathian Mountains is an area with long pastoral tradition. For centuries sheep grazed in clearings located among forested ridges have been an integral part of the mountain landscape and pastoral customs have become essential elements of regional cultural heritage. In the chapter, the history and the current state of pastoralism in the Silesian Beskids are presented. The specific pastoral system developed in the region, based on annual migration of flocks between summer highland and winter lowland pastures is described. Local breeds and specific regional sheep products are depicted. Furthermore, the importance of pastoralism for the environment, landscape and plant biodiversity is analysed and efforts to recover sheep grazing in the mountains after a period of a deep recession caused by social and economic transitions connected with the collapse of the communist system are presented. The approach to restoration of pastoralism is illustrated using a case study of a pastoral centre which combines traditional sheep grazing with cheese production, education and several activities to promote pastoral tradition.

The Impact of Community Housing Characteristics and Epidemic Prevention Measures on Residents’ Perception of Epidemic Prevention

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many parts of the world have fallen into deep recession. Governments in every country have adopted various measures to restrict social gatherings due to the need to control the pandemic. This includes restrictions on activities in homes and communities. Fundamentally, epidemic prevention relies on the measures individuals take. A community’s epidemic prevention measures become more critical as activities are held in houses or communities once again. From the perspective of the theory of planned behavior, this study investigates whether the various epidemic prevention measures and characteristics of a community affect residents’ perception of epidemic prevention. We use the truncated regression model as the primary research method. The empirical results show that the community’s epidemic prevention measures can change residents’ awareness of the importance of epidemic prevention. Moreover, the scale of the community and management committee are also found to have a partial impact.

Combining Techniques to Treat Isolated Deep Recession-Type Defects: A Case Report with Long-Term Stability

Introduction. The purpose of this case report was to show the clinical long-term stability of a successful two-step root coverage procedure. A combination of two single techniques was used to treat an isolated deep-wide defect. Case Presentation. A 28-year-old female patient was referred in order to treat a single recession defect at #22. Due to her fear of dental procedures and a poor economic situation, the team developed an alternative solution. They used a modified apically repositioned flap (MARF) to increase the donor area and then a laterally positioned flap (LPF) to treat the root defect. Clinical evaluation at the three-year follow-up revealed complete resolution of the defect, a gain in clinical attachment, excellent esthetic results, and minor morbidity to the patient. Conclusion. The combination of the MARF and the LPF procedures was able to successfully treat a single deep recession defect with some advantages over traditional techniques such as simplicity, ideal color match of tissues, and the absence of palatal donor tissue.

Elephant limps, but jaguar stumbles: Unpacking the divergence of state capitalism in Brazil and India through theories of capitalist diversity

While growth in India stayed relatively stable over the last decade, Brazil fell into deep recession and a fundamental political and economic crisis. Why did these two countries, despite their similarities, diverge so massively within only 10 years? Through a paired comparison, this article probes two alternative approaches to capitalist diversity to explain the divergence among two rising economic powers and ‘state capitalisms’. It finds that through the lens of a firm-centred supply-side approach, one largely sees institutional stability in both economies, while a focus on the demand side and respective growth models makes visible fundamental destabilization in Brazil. The fragility of domestic demand, the vulnerability of global economic integration and the erosion of key social coalitions, we contend, are key to unpack the divergence between Brazil and India. This study thereby not only sheds a new light on emerging market capitalism but also discusses further possibilities for the analysis of state capitalism within comparative political economy.

Inter-regional underemployment and the industrial reserve army: Precarity as a contemporary Greek drama

We explore the 2008/2009 economic crisis in Greece and its impact upon employment precarity. Specifically, we focus upon changing regional patterns of waged part-timerism during three periods: the 2005–2008 pre-crisis period; the 2009–12 deep recession; and the 2013–2016 period of mild stabilization. Our analysis reveals important geographical and sectoral variations in the growth of this type of underemployment. In particular, we find that metropolitan regions have experienced the heaviest losses in full-time waged employment and a significant expansion of underemployment. Moreover, they have struggled to bounce back effectively during the period of stabilization. By way of contrast, island regions orientated towards tourism weathered the crisis to a much better degree, with many avoiding the acute flexibilization felt in more urbanized regions. Our study observes a “downwards convergence” of regional employment figures that is caused by Attica’s disproportionate crisis. This contrasts popular accounts that focus upon productive output. Moreover, by documenting distinct sectoral trajectories, such as the substantial flexibilization of tourism-related activities, we shed light upon the specifics of an industry often praised for its adaptiveness. Ultimately, through exploring the changing spatialities and sectoral specificities of growing flexibility during a period of recession and recovery, our study provides a geographically sensitive perspective on the emerging dynamics of the Greek reserve army of labour. In so doing, we further historical geographical materialist understandings of the capitalist crisis in Southern Europe.

Analysis of China’s Economy in the 21st Century

China, being the country with the largest population, inevitably influences the processes taking place in the world economy. In terms of GDP, the Chinese economy has been the first economy in the world over the past several years, being among the most important economic indicators such as GDP, industrial production, and export of goods in leading positions. Under the influence of the pandemic crisis, a deep recession occurred in industrially developed countries, where the reproduction system is based on the “TNC economy”, with the exception of China, which managed to transfer the economy into a state of reproductive expansion, while maintaining the positive dynamics of the country’s economic development on an annualized basis. The aim of the paper was to analyze data that gives an idea of the potential of the Chinese economy. The main indicators characterizing the development and dynamics of the Chinese economy are considered. Materials and methods. In the course of the work, a dynamic, structural analysis of analytical and statistical information was used; methods of analytical, logical, system analysis were used. Results. The paper examines certain macroeconomic indicators that characterize the state and development of the Chinese economy, taking into account the achievements in the context of the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The GDP of China was analyzed, calculated in national currency or PPP. Conclusion. The country was faced with a difficult international situation, difficult tasks in search of reform, development and stability within the country and, in particular, with the heavy blows of the COVID-19 epidemic. Steps taken to stabilize employment, financial transactions, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment and market expectations, as well as ensuring fully guaranteed employment, basic living needs, functioning of market actors, food and energy security, stability of production and supply chains, helped to restore the economy making China the only major economy with positive economic growth in the world in 2020.

Deep Argentine recession leaves few reform options

Headline ARGENTINA: Deep recession leaves few reform options

Malaysia

Malaysia entered the pandemic from a robust economic position but has nonetheless been significantly affected. A synchronous fiscal, monetary and financial policy response has helped cushion the economic impact. As a result, after a deep recession in 2020, and assuming the pandemic is brought under control in Malaysia and globally, growth would rebound to 6.5 percent in 2021 as supply side constraints are lifted and domestic and external demand recover. Large downside risks will remain.

Germany

Germany managed the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic relatively well thanks to an early and vigorous public health response. Nonetheless, unprecedented disruptions to economic and social activity caused a deep recession in the first half of 2020. The gradual easing of containment measures since late-April has led to a partial revival of growth, but in late-October a “lockdown light” was announced to counter a new wave of infections, and restrictions were further tightened in mid-December. Significant risks remain about the pace and extent of the recovery as the uncertain course of the epidemic continues to impact economic activity.