Infrastructure Finance in Developing Countries by State and Multilateral Development Banks

Infrastructure concession is an alternative widely used by governments to increase investment. In the case of the road sector, the main characteristics of the concessions are: long-term projects, high investments in the early years of the contract and high risks. A viability analysis must be carried out for each concession and consider the characteristics of the project. When the infrastructure is located in a developing country, political and market growth uncertainties should be add in the concession project analysis, as well as economic instability, because they present greater risks. This paper is an analysis of state bank participation in road infrastructure finance in developing countries. For this purpose, we studied road infrastructure financing and its associated risks, and also the features of developing countries. Furthermore, we considered the issue of state banks and multilateral development banks that perform an important role by offering better credit lines than the private banks, in terms of cost, interest and grace period. Based on this study, we analyzed the Brazilian Development Bank - BNDES – and their credit supply to road infrastructure concessions. The results show that BNDES is the main financing agent for long-term investment in the sector, offering loans with low interest rates in Brazilian currency. From this research we argue that a single state bank should not alone support the increasing demand for finance in Brazil. Therefore, we conclude that there is a need to expand the supply of credit in Brazil, by strengthening private banks in the long-term lending market.

Modelo para evaluar el capital social en programas de cooperación para el desarrollo

Los programas de desarrollo regional promovidos por los gobiernos nacionales y las agencias multilaterales, como el Banco Mundial y el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), se orientan a las políticas públicas de suministro de bienes públicos, ya sean servicios públicos o infraestructuras, a las regiones subdesarrolladas. Las evidencias apuntan que el éxito de estos programas depende en parte de externalidades, las cuales se relacionan con los cambios del tejido asociativo y los valores de los participantes de la comunidad. Estas externalidades se definen como el capital social. Cómo las externalidades no son directamente evaluadas en el impacto económico y social de los proyectos, pero su existencia es aceptada por los planificadores que reconocen la importancia de desarrollar el tejido de relaciones en la comunidad. Sin embargo este capital social no es medido. El objeto de esta tesis es investigar y proponer procesos de medida y evaluación del capital social de un proyecto, y relacionarlos con las actividades del mismo en un territorio y proyecto dado como casos de estudio. El Programa de Desarrollo de la Zona de Mata (PROMATA) en el Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil, financiado por el Estado de Pernambuco en Brasil y el BID, finalizado en 2010, ha sido elegido como caso de estudio. Para la evaluación y medida del capital social se han estudiado dos periodos. Uno considerando solo los planes del proyecto, sin considerar su implantación, que se ha denominado evaluación A Priori, basada en un panel de expertos con visión de las externalidades generadas. Y otra con la participación de las partes de la comunidad después de su finalización, denomina evaluación A Posteriori, para lo cual se han entrevistado un número significativo de partes interesadas utilizando un cuestionario especialmente diseñado. Los resultados han sido procesados mediante análisis estadísticos avanzados. El proyecto PROMATA es considerado un caso de éxito en Brasil, en parte por su aproximación al desarrollo asociativo. Sin embargo las valoraciones del capital social muestran que algunas relaciones Estado-sociedad y sociedad-personas no han cambiado todo lo esperado, en oposición a las evaluaciones de satisfacción de los indicadores del proyecto. Es el efecto externo del capital social. ABSTRACT The regional development programs promoted by the national governments and international multilateral agencies, like the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank (BID), are oriented to public policies under which public goods, like public services and infrastructures, are supplied to underdeveloped regions. More and more evidences are pointing to the fact that success of these programs depends in a good part of externalities, which are related to the changes in the networking and values among the stakeholders in the territory. These externalities are defined as the Social Capital. As externalities, they are not directly evaluated in the projects economic and social impact, but accepted to exist and the planners of the projects do acknowledge the important of social networking. However never assessed. The objective of this thesis is to investigate and propose a way to measure and assess the social capital of a given project, and relate that with the activities of the project, with a given project and territory as base case. The Development Program in Zona da Mata (PROMATA) in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, funded by the Brazil State and the BID, ended in 2010, was chosen as the base case. For the assessment of the social capital two periods in time where studied. One considering only the project program named a priori evaluation and based in a panel of experts, which are aware of the possible externalities of the project. Other, considering the stakeholders view after the project ended, named posterior evaluation, which required interviewing a number of stakeholders using a specially designed questionnaire. The results were processed using advanced statistical techniques. PROMATA is considered a success case story in Brazil, in part for its social networking approach. However when the social capital is assessed there are areas of state-society and society-community relations not that well transformed, as the satisfaction research of the project indicators. This unforeseen externality is the social capital effect.

Evaluación del impacto del programa Monumenta en los centros históricos del sur de Brasil : los casos de Pelotas, Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul) y São Francisco do Sul (Santa Catarina)

Esta Tesis tiene como objetivo demostrar que los programas de preservación del patrimonio, durante su fase de implementación, deben someterse a un análisis multidisciplinar que haga un balance de su ejecución. Dicho análisis permitirá identificar resultados significativos, capaces de fundamentar la rectificación de las bases conceptuales de la política pública en cuestión. Este reajuste podrá darse, por lo tanto, durante su vigencia y, de forma más relevante, posteriormente, sus motivos y resultados permitirán elaborar nuevas estrategias que serán aplicadas en futuros programas de intervención. Por otro lado se indagó, además, si las ciudades participantes en un programa nacional de preservación del patrimonio, regidas por normas y metas comunes, podrían alcanzar resultados diferentes. Para atender a estos objetivos, la investigación se encuentra enfocada a la realidad brasileña, siendo seleccionado como objeto de estudio el Programa Monumenta. Este Programa formó parte de la política pública cultural del Ministerio de Cultura con una importante implicación del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Implementado a partir de 1999, procuró promover un proceso de recuperación urbana sostenible y de preservación del patrimonio de 26 Sitios Históricos Urbanos o Conjuntos de Monumentos Urbanos protegidos por el Instituto del Patrimonio Histórico y Artístico Nacional (Iphan). El Programa contó con el apoyo de la Unesco y del Iphan, así como con la participación de las Administraciones Municipales y/o Estatales, sectores privados y la sociedad civil. Las hipótesis planteadas en esta Tesis Doctoral fueron: (a) el análisis de los resultados en la fase de implementación de un programa de preservación del patrimonio es imprescindible, porque permite extraer conclusiones preliminares y orientar sus reformas; (b) los objetivos a corto plazo establecidos por el Programa Monumenta fueron alcanzados de modo diferenciado en las distintas ciudades beneficiadas; (c) a pesar de las diferencias, el Programa Monumenta presentó resultados preliminares positivos y significativos en la preservación del patrimonio histórico urbano brasileño. Los procedimientos metodológicos se centraron en un análisis cuantitativo, cualitativo y comparativo de los resultados alcanzados por tres ciudades beneficiadas por el Programa Monumenta, seleccionadas según su tamaño poblacional: Pelotas, Porto Alegre (Estado de Rio Grande do Sul) y São Francisco do Sul (Estado de Santa Catarina). Estos procedimientos fueron aplicados en los siguientes indicadores: utilización de los equipamientos culturales, características de la población y de los domicilios, variación de las actividades económicas, financiación destinada al sector privado para la recuperación de inmuebles y el fomento de la seguridad urbana. La Tesis ha englobado discusiones y conceptos abordados en las disciplinas de la Sociología Urbana, Geografía Urbana, Historia, Economía y Estadística de modo que se atribuye al objeto de investigación una visión interdisciplinar que ayudará a la comprensión de la teoría y la práctica preservacionistas. El análisis de la varianza, la regresión lineal y el análisis factorial fueron las herramientas estadísticas aplicadas sobre los datos con el objetivo de constatar la significación de los resultados y la relación de correspondencia entre algunas variables. Esta Tesis contribuye a la elaboración de una metodología analítica que puede ser aplicada en el cálculo de la superficie ocupada por las actividades económicas, con base en el método estadístico del Diagrama de Caja y Bigotes, de John Wilder Tukey. Las conclusiones corroboran las hipótesis planteadas y pretenden contribuir al diseño de las nuevas políticas públicas de preservación de sitios históricos de carácter urbano, enfatizando, con ello, la necesidad de evaluaciones más profundas de los resultados durante su fase de implementación. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESUMO--------------------------------------------------------------------------- A presente Tese apresenta como objetivo principal demonstrar que os programas de preservação do patrimônio histórico, durante a sua fase de implementação, necessitam de uma análise multidisciplinar sobre a sua execução. Essa análise permite identificar resultados significativos, capazes de fundamentar a retificação das bases conceituais da política pública em questão. A correção poderá, portanto, ser realizada tanto durante a sua vigência como posteriormente, ao permitir a elaboração de novas estratégias a serem aplicadas nos futuros programas de intervenção. Por outro lado, indagou-se se cidades participantes de um mesmo programa nacional de preservação do patrimônio histórico, regidas por normas e metas comuns, poderiam alcançar resultados não similares. Para atender tais objetivos, a investigação enfoca a realidade brasileira, tendo sido selecionado o Programa Monumenta como objeto de estudo. Esse Programa fez parte de uma política pública cultural do Ministério da Cultura, que atuou em parceria com o Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento. Implantado em nível nacional, a partir de 1999, visava promover um processo de recuperação urbana sustentável, bem como a preservação do patrimônio de 26 Sítios Urbanos Históricos ou Conjuntos de Monumentos Urbanos, protegidos pelo Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (Iphan). O Programa contou com o apoio da Unesco e do Iphan, além da participação das Administrações Municipais e/ou Estaduais, setores privados e sociedade civil. As hipóteses estabelecidas nesta Tese Doutoral foram: (a) a análise dos resultados na fase de implementação de um programa de preservação do patrimônio é imprescindível, pois permite extrair conclusões preliminares e orientar as suas reformulações; (b) os objetivos em curto prazo, estabelecidos pelo Programa Monumenta, foram alcançados de modo diferente pelas cidades beneficiadas; (c) apesar das diferenças, o Programa Monumenta apresentou resultados preliminares positivos e significativos sobre a preservação do patrimônio histórico urbano brasileiro. Os procedimentos metodológicos se centraram em análises quantitativa, qualitativa e comparativa dos resultados alcançados em três cidades beneficiadas pelo Programa Monumenta, selecionadas de acordo com o tamanho populacional: Pelotas, Porto Alegre (Estado do Rio Grande do Sul) e São Francisco do Sul (Estado de Santa Catarina). Esses procedimentos foram aplicados nos seguintes indicadores: utilização dos equipamentos culturais, características da população e dos domicílios, atividades econômicas, financiamento destinado ao setor privado para a recuperação dos imóveis e, ainda, o fomento da segurança urbana. A Tese inclui discussões e conceitos abordados nas disciplinas de Sociologia Urbana, Geografia Urbana, História, Economia e Estatística, de modo a atribuir ao objeto de investigação uma visão interdisciplinar e uma compreensão entre a teoria e a prática preservacionista. A análise de variância, regressão linear e análise fatorial foram as técnicas estatísticas aplicadas sobre os dados, com o objetivo de constatar a significação dos resultados e a relação de correspondência entre algumas variáveis. Esta Tese contribui com a elaboração de uma metodologia aplicada no cálculo da superfície ocupada pelas atividades econômicas, utilizando como método estatístico o Diagrama de Caixa e Bigodes, de John Wilder Tukey. As conclusões corroboram com as hipóteses estabelecidas e pretendem contribuir para o desenho de novas políticas públicas de preservação de sítios históricos de caráter urbano, enfatizando a necessidade de avaliações mais profundas dos resultados durante a sua fase de implementação. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The main goal of this PhD. Thesis is to demonstrate that a multidisciplinary analysis is needed during the implementation phase of preservation of heritage programmes. Such analysis allows the identification of significant results, which in turn can serve as the foundation for the conceptual bases of the public policy at hand. Thus, any corrections can be made both during the programme and afterward, by introducing new strategies to be applied in future intervention programmes. On the other hand, this project also asks whether cities participating in the same national preservation of heritage programme with common rules and goals can achieve distinct results. In order to meet these objectives, the project chose Brazil as its focus and Monumenta Programme for its object of study. This Programme is part of the Ministry of Culture’s public cultural policy, and was developed with cooperation by the Inter-American Development Bank. Implemented at the national level in 1999, the Programme aimed at promoting a process of sustainable urban renewal and the preservation of 26 urban historic sites or urban monumental ensembles, protected by the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN). UNESCO and IPHAN supported the Programme, and participants included municipal and state offices, private businesses, and local residents. The hypotheses established in this Doctoral Thesis were: (a) the analysis of the results in the implementation phase of a cultural public policy is imperative, because it enables preliminary conclusions to be drawn and orientate reforms; (b) the short-term objectives set out in the Monumenta Programme were achieved differently in the benefitted cities; (c) despite the differences, the Monumenta Programme displayed significant positive preliminary results in the conservation of the urban historic heritage in Brazil. Methodology procedures centered around quantitative, qualitative, and comparative analyses of the results achieved in three benefiting cities, selected according to population size: Pelotas, Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul State) and São Francisco do Sul (Santa Catarina State). These procedures were applied to the following indicators: the use of the cultural facilities, characteristics of the population and the residential housing, variation of the economic activities, financing destined for the recovery of real estate, and promoting urban safety. The Thesis includes discussions and concepts addressed in urban sociology, urban geography, history, economics, and statistics, in order to examine the object of study with an interdisciplinary eye and an understanding between preservation theory and practice. Variance analysis, linear regression, and factorial analysis were the statistical techniques applied to the data, with the goal of defining the significance of the results and the correspondence ratio between some of the variables. This Thesis attempted to elaborate an applied methodology for calculating the space occupied by economic activities, using John Wilder Tukey's statistical method of Box-and-Whisker Plot. The conclusions corroborated the hypotheses established and are meant to contribute to the design of new public policies of historical site preservation in urban settings, emphasizing the need for deeper evaluations of the results during the implementation phase.

Testing of Android testing tools: development of a benchmark for the evaluation

With the ever growing trend of smart phones and tablets, Android is becoming more and more popular everyday. With more than one billion active users i to date, Android is the leading technology in smart phone arena. In addition to that, Android also runs on Android TV, Android smart watches and cars. Therefore, in recent years, Android applications have become one of the major development sectors in software industry. As of mid 2013, the number of published applications on Google Play had exceeded one million and the cumulative number of downloads was more than 50 billionii. A 2013 survey also revealed that 71% of the mobile application developers work on developing Android applicationsiii. Considering this size of Android applications, it is quite evident that people rely on these applications on a daily basis for the completion of simple tasks like keeping track of weather to rather complex tasks like managing one’s bank accounts. Hence, like every other kind of code, Android code also needs to be verified in order to work properly and achieve a certain confidence level. Because of the gigantic size of the number of applications, it becomes really hard to manually test Android applications specially when it has to be verified for various versions of the OS and also, various device configurations such as different screen sizes and different hardware availability. Hence, recently there has been a lot of work on developing different testing methods for Android applications in Computer Science fraternity. The model of Android attracts researchers because of its open source nature. It makes the whole research model more streamlined when the code for both, application and the platform are readily available to analyze. And hence, there has been a great deal of research in testing and static analysis of Android applications. A great deal of this research has been focused on the input test generation for Android applications. Hence, there are a several testing tools available now, which focus on automatic generation of test cases for Android applications. These tools differ with one another on the basis of their strategies and heuristics used for this generation of test cases. But there is still very little work done on the comparison of these testing tools and the strategies they use. Recently, some research work has been carried outiv in this regard that compared the performance of various available tools with respect to their respective code coverage, fault detection, ability to work on multiple platforms and their ease of use. It was done, by running these tools on a total of 60 real world Android applications. The results of this research showed that although effective, these strategies being used by the tools, also face limitations and hence, have room for improvement. The purpose of this thesis is to extend this research into a more specific and attribute-­‐ oriented way. Attributes refer to the tasks that can be completed using the Android platform. It can be anything ranging from a basic system call for receiving an SMS to more complex tasks like sending the user to another application from the current one. The idea is to develop a benchmark for Android testing tools, which is based on the performance related to these attributes. This will allow the comparison of these tools with respect to these attributes. For example, if there is an application that plays some audio file, will the testing tool be able to generate a test input that will warrant the execution of this audio file? Using multiple applications using different attributes, it can be visualized that which testing tool is more useful for which kinds of attributes. In this thesis, it was decided that 9 attributes covering the basic nature of tasks, will be targeted for the assessment of three testing tools. Later this can be done for much more attributes to compare even more testing tools. The aim of this work is to show that this approach is effective and can be used on a much larger scale. One of the flagship features of this work, which also differentiates it with the previous work, is that the applications used, are all specially made for this research. The reason for doing that is to analyze just that specific attribute in isolation, which the application is focused on, and not allow the tool to get bottlenecked by something trivial, which is not the main attribute under testing. This means 9 applications, each focused on one specific attribute. The main contributions of this thesis are: A summary of the three existing testing tools and their respective techniques for automatic test input generation of Android Applications. • A detailed study of the usage of these testing tools using the 9 applications specially designed and developed for this study. • The analysis of the obtained results of the study carried out. And a comparison of the performance of the selected tools.