A personal data framework for exchanging knowledge about users in new financial services

Personal data is a key asset for many companies, since this is the essence in providing personalized services. Not all companies, and specifically new entrants to the markets, have the opportunity to access the data they need to run their business. In this paper, we describe a comprehensive personal data framework that allows service providers to share and exchange personal data and knowledge about users, while facilitating users to decide who can access which data and why. We analyze the challenges related to personal data collection, integration, retrieval, and identity and privacy management, and present the framework architecture that addresses them. We also include the validation of the framework in a banking scenario, where social and financial data is collected and properly combined to generate new socio-economic knowledge about users that is then used by a personal lending service.

Food market analysis: a case study of the Glocal methodology in the Dominican Republic

The present paper provides an insight into the food value chain of three specific sectors (fruit and vegetables, poultry and rice) in the Dominican Republic. The Glocal methodology used for the study combines a global view with local conditions and thus it can be applied to food markets. Each of these food chains is analyzed by following traditional industrial organization theory, based on structure, conduct and performance. Regarding the specific case of the Dominican Republic, different sources of information are used to analyze the weaknesses of the studied chains, including direct interviews. The food value chains of fruit and vegetables, poultry and rice in the Dominican Republic show a lack of structure and they are undergoing changes; however, they also have great opportunities to improve efficiency by making some changes.

A ANÁLISE DAS CAPACIDADES DE SOBREVIVÊNCIA DE PEQUENOS NEGÓCIOS NAS CIDADES DE ITANHAÉM E MONGAGUÁ: ESTUDO MULTICASO DE PEQUENAS EMPRESAS

O presente trabalho traz uma análise das capacidades de sobrevivência de três micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs) do ramo alimentício de doces de banana, estabelecidas na Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista, especificamente nas cidades de Itanhaém e Mongaguá. Essas capacidades se construíram fundamentadas em dois pressupostos: efeito do gestor e o efeito da localidade, que podem ser determinantes para a sobrevivência e o desempenho de MPEs. A pesquisa tem por objetivo geral identificar as características do gestor e os fatores da localidade que influenciam a sobrevivência das três MPEs estudadas. Para alcançar o objetivo geral foram traçados os seguintes objetivos específicos: identificar as características da gestão que foram propulsoras da sobrevivência das três MPEs estudadas; identificar os recursos da localidade que foram propulsores à sobrevivência das três MPEs; verificar a existência de outros fatores da gestão e da localidade que possam ter influenciado a sobrevivência das MPEs no longo prazo. O estudo teve como expectativa contribuir para o aprofundamento da reflexão sobre o tema concernente às capacidades de sobrevivência dos pequenos negócios. A pesquisa bibliográfica esteve centrada no encadeamento de tópicos teóricos de forma a construir fundamentos necessários sobre as influências do gestor e da localidade na sobrevivência das pequenas empresas, noções necessárias para se atingir o objetivo geral. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, a investigação, de caráter descritivo e indutivo, foi desenvolvida por meio de estudo multicaso, compreendendo pesquisa documental, observações e entrevistas semi-estruturadas, preliminar e de profundidade, tendo como sujeitos os gestores, os funcionários, os fornecedores e os clientes das três MPEs. Os resultados indicam que há fatores importantes do efeito gestor e do efeito localidade influenciando a sobrevivência das empresas locus da pesquisa. Os resultados apontaram fatores como acesso ao amplo mercado, atitude frente à tecnologia, a presença de laço forte e laço fraco, entre outros considerados importantes influenciadores na sobrevivência das empresas estudadas. Os resultados abrem perspectivas de estudos mais aprofundados que possam proporcionar e criar alternativas e programas para melhorar o desempenho e a sobrevivência das MPEs.(AU)

A ANÁLISE DAS CAPACIDADES DE SOBREVIVÊNCIA DE PEQUENOS NEGÓCIOS NAS CIDADES DE ITANHAÉM E MONGAGUÁ: ESTUDO MULTICASO DE PEQUENAS EMPRESAS

O presente trabalho traz uma análise das capacidades de sobrevivência de três micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs) do ramo alimentício de doces de banana, estabelecidas na Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista, especificamente nas cidades de Itanhaém e Mongaguá. Essas capacidades se construíram fundamentadas em dois pressupostos: efeito do gestor e o efeito da localidade, que podem ser determinantes para a sobrevivência e o desempenho de MPEs. A pesquisa tem por objetivo geral identificar as características do gestor e os fatores da localidade que influenciam a sobrevivência das três MPEs estudadas. Para alcançar o objetivo geral foram traçados os seguintes objetivos específicos: identificar as características da gestão que foram propulsoras da sobrevivência das três MPEs estudadas; identificar os recursos da localidade que foram propulsores à sobrevivência das três MPEs; verificar a existência de outros fatores da gestão e da localidade que possam ter influenciado a sobrevivência das MPEs no longo prazo. O estudo teve como expectativa contribuir para o aprofundamento da reflexão sobre o tema concernente às capacidades de sobrevivência dos pequenos negócios. A pesquisa bibliográfica esteve centrada no encadeamento de tópicos teóricos de forma a construir fundamentos necessários sobre as influências do gestor e da localidade na sobrevivência das pequenas empresas, noções necessárias para se atingir o objetivo geral. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, a investigação, de caráter descritivo e indutivo, foi desenvolvida por meio de estudo multicaso, compreendendo pesquisa documental, observações e entrevistas semi-estruturadas, preliminar e de profundidade, tendo como sujeitos os gestores, os funcionários, os fornecedores e os clientes das três MPEs. Os resultados indicam que há fatores importantes do efeito gestor e do efeito localidade influenciando a sobrevivência das empresas locus da pesquisa. Os resultados apontaram fatores como acesso ao amplo mercado, atitude frente à tecnologia, a presença de laço forte e laço fraco, entre outros considerados importantes influenciadores na sobrevivência das empresas estudadas. Os resultados abrem perspectivas de estudos mais aprofundados que possam proporcionar e criar alternativas e programas para melhorar o desempenho e a sobrevivência das MPEs.(AU)

Renovación de destinos litorales maduros a partir del patrimonio cultural: Plan Costa Blanca Cultura

El destino turístico Costa Blanca se caracteriza por la existencia de una amplia oferta turística y por su situación privilegiada respecto a los mercados potenciales de demanda. En la actualidad, ambas características no son suficientes para garantizar la competitividad de este espacio; en un contexto turístico enormemente dinámico en el que la diversidad de elementos de atracción y la imagen del destino puede incidir en la decisión de viaje de los turistas. Por ello, ante la necesidad de acometer procesos de renovación del destino Costa Blanca que permitan garantizar la competitividad de la actividad en términos territoriales y económicos, se apuesta por el patrimonio cultural como uno de los argumentos que mayores posibilidades puede ofrecer desde el ámbito de la planificación del destino turístico para diseñar y ejecutar actuaciones encaminadas a la renovación del mismo. Así, la presente comunicación se basa en los principales resultados obtenidos en el Plan Costa Blanca Cultura, con el objetivo de analizar el grado de uso turístico del patrimonio cultural de la provincia de Alicante, para a partir de un diagnóstico previo, proponer estrategias y actuaciones encaminadas al diseño y gestión posterior de productos temáticos de naturaleza cultural. La metodología de trabajo se ha basado entre otras acciones, en la participación de los agentes turísticos y sociales, aspecto que ha llevado a la selección de las líneas de trabajo prioritarias basadas en temas que superarían la dicotomía entre litoral e interior otorgando al patrimonio un papel integrador del territorio, y a la propuesta de un modelo de gestión innovador en el destino Costa Blanca.

Emergent Brazil and the Curse of the ‘Hen’s Flight’. CEPS Working Document No. 379, 27 February 2013

The ‘Emergent Brazil’ growth model is reaching its limits. Its main engines have been slowing significantly since the beginning of the global financial and economic crisis. Even its much-praised predictable macroeconomic policy has been eroded by political interference. Inflationary pressures are growing and GDP performance is anaemic. As ominous, Brazil cannot compensate for its domestic deficiencies with an export drive. Commodity exports are suffering with the world economic slow-down and the manufacturing industries’ competitiveness is in sharp decline. Brazil has put all its trade negotiation eggs into the South American and WTO baskets, and now its export market share is threatened by the Doha Round paralysis, the Latin American Alianza del Pacífico, and the US-led initiatives for a Trans-Pacific Partnership and a trade and investment agreement with the EU. Paradoxically, this alarming situation opens a window of opportunity. There is a mounting national consensus on the need to tackle head-on the country’s and its industries’ lack of competitiveness. That means finding a solution to the much-decried ‘Brazil Cost’ and stimulating private-sector investment. It also entails an aggressive trade-negotiating stance in order to secure better access to foreign markets and to foster more competition in the domestic one. The most promising near-term goal would be the conclusion of the EU–Mercosur trade talks. A scenario to overcome the paralysis of these negotiations could trail two parallel paths: bilateral EU–Brazil agreements on ‘anything but trade’ combined with a sequencing of the EU–Mercosur talks where each member of the South American bloc could adopt faster or slower liberalisation commitments and schedules.

Avaliação do impacto do horizonte temporal nas estimativas de EAD de linhas de crédito com limites explícitos a PME

Tese de mestrado em Matemática Aplicada à Economia e Gestão, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2016

Prospects for regulatory convergence under TTIP. Bruegel Policy Contribution 2013/15, October 2013

An ambitious, comprehensive and high-standard trade and investment agreement between the European Union and the United States is feasible, but a key concern is whether the transatlantic trade partners will succeed in creating a meaningful agreement within the tight timeline of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. The target of a ratified pact before a new European Commission takes office in November 2014 is an objective that is likely to conflict with the level of ambition on the substance. Regulatory congruence would require the unilateral and unconditional recognition by the TTIP partners of each other’s standards, procedures and conformity assessment tests. The way forward is to create a ‘living’ (or progressive commitment) agreement on regulatory cooperation with a horizontal template for coherence and conformity assessment and a detailed monitoring mechanism, with implementation starting immediately for a few selected sectors. Regulatory harmonisation under TTIP may not lead to emerging markets automatically upgrading to the higher TTIP standards. Domestic priorities and the high demand from a rising price-sensitive group of consumers will likely result in a dual regulatory regime in emerging markets in the medium-term.

Will the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus exacerbate the country's energy dependence on Russia? OSW Commentary No. 87, 2012-07-23

During Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev’s working visit to Minsk on 18 July, Russia and Belarus signed a general contract for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus. The signature brought to an end the complex negotiations which had been underway since January 2009 involving the leadership in Minsk, the Russian government and Atomstroyexport, the Russian company that will be the main contractor of the investment. However, the power plant’s future ownership structure, management arrangements and terms and conditions of profit sharing remain unclear. The Belarusian leadership hopes that with the launch of the nuclear power plant, it will be able to reduce gas imports from Russia, gas being the main resource used in producing heat and electricity in Belarus. This should in turn reduce the costs of energy generation. In addition, Minsk expects that the new investment will allow it to export electricity surpluses to the European Union, including Poland. Agreements concerning the power plant have been concluded over the last year or so and, according to these, Russia has acquired partial control of the Belarusian electricity grid, especially with regard to the transmission of energy to foreign markets. Russia is also the sole creditor and contractor for the investment, and the sole future provider of nuclear fuel. Therefore, implementation of the project will exacerbate Minsk’s already significant dependence on Moscow in energy and political terms.

Banking Sector Soundness, Innovation, and Development: Emerging Europe and South Asia. ACES Working Papers, 2012

While most academic and practitioner researchers agree that a country’s commercial banking sector’s soundness is a very significant indicator of a country’s financial market health, there is considerably less agreement and substantial confusion surrounding what constitutes a healthy bank in the aftermath of 2007+ financial crisis. Global banks’ balance sheets, corporate governance, management compensation and bonuses, toxic assets, and risky behavior are all under scrutiny as academics and regulators alike are trying to quantify what are “healthy, safe and good practices” for these various elements of banking. The current need to quantify, measure, evaluate, and compare is driven by the desire to spot troubled banks, “bad and risky” behavior, and prevent real damage and contagion in the financial markets, investors, and tax payers as it did in the recent crisis. Moreover, future financial crisis has taken on a new urgency as vast amounts of capital flows (over $1 trillion) are being redirected to emerging markets. This study differs from existing methods in the literature as it entail designing, constructing, and validating a critical dimension of financial innovation in respect to the eight developing countries in the South Asia region as well as eight countries in emerging Europe at the country level for the period 2001 – 2008, with regional and systemic differentials taken into account. Preliminary findings reveal that higher stages of payment systems development have generated efficiency gains by reducing the settlement risk and improving financial intermediation; such efficiency gains are viewed as positive financial innovations and positively impact the banking soundness. Potential EU candidate countries: Albania; Montenegro; Serbia

A Convergence Process in Household Credit in Central and Eastern Europe. ECRI Commentary No. 16, 30 October 2015

The liberalisation of Eastern Europe’s market during the 1990s and the 2004 EU enlargement have had a great impact on the economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Indeed, prior to these events, the financial system and household credit markets in CEE were underdeveloped. Nonetheless, it appeared to numerous economists that the development of the CEE financial system and credit markets was following an intensely positive trend, raising the question of sustainability. Many variables impact the level and growth rate of credit; several economists point out that a convergence process might be one of the most important. Using a descriptive statistics approach, it seems likely that a convergence process began during the 1990s, when the CEE countries opened their economies. However, it also seems that the main driver of this household credit convergence process is the GDP per capita convergence process. Indeed, credit to households and GDP per capita have followed broadly similar tendencies over the last 20 years and it has been shown in the literature that they appear to influence each other. The consistency of this potential convergence process is also confirmed by the breakdown of household credit by type and maturity. There is a tendency towards similar household credit markets in Europe. However, it seems that this potential convergence process was slowed down by the financial crisis. Fortunately, the crisis also stabilised the share of loans in foreign currency in CEE countries. This might add more stability to credit markets in Eastern Europe.

Essays on the Analysis of Dynamic Games

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

A note on execution costs for stock index futures: Information versus liquidity effects

This paper examines execution costs and the impact of trade size for stock index futures using price-volume transaction data from the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange. Consistent with Subrahmanyam [Rev. Financ. Stud. 4 (1991) 11] we find that effective half spreads in the stock index futures market are small compared to stock markets, and that trades in stock index futures have only a small permanent price impact. This result is important as it helps to better understand the success of equity index products such as index futures and Exchange Traded Funds. We also find that there is no asymmetry in the post-trade price reaction between purchases and sales for stock index futures across various trade sizes. This result is consistent with the conjecture in Chan and Lakonishok [J. Financ. Econ. 33 (1993) 173] that the asymmetry surrounding block trades in stock markets is due to the high cost of short selling and the general reluctance of traders to short sell on stock markets. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Zero-non-zero patterned vector error correction modeling for I(2) cointegrated time series with applications in testing PPP and stock market relationships

Vector error-correction models (VECMs) have become increasingly important in their application to financial markets. Standard full-order VECM models assume non-zero entries in all their coefficient matrices. However, applications of VECM models to financial market data have revealed that zero entries are often a necessary part of efficient modelling. In such cases, the use of full-order VECM models may lead to incorrect inferences. Specifically, if indirect causality or Granger non-causality exists among the variables, the use of over-parameterised full-order VECM models may weaken the power of statistical inference. In this paper, it is argued that the zero–non-zero (ZNZ) patterned VECM is a more straightforward and effective means of testing for both indirect causality and Granger non-causality. For a ZNZ patterned VECM framework for time series of integrated order two, we provide a new algorithm to select cointegrating and loading vectors that can contain zero entries. Two case studies are used to demonstrate the usefulness of the algorithm in tests of purchasing power parity and a three-variable system involving the stock market.

A ANÁLISE DAS CAPACIDADES DE SOBREVIVÊNCIA DE PEQUENOS NEGÓCIOS NAS CIDADES DE ITANHAÉM E MONGAGUÁ: ESTUDO MULTICASO DE PEQUENAS EMPRESAS

O presente trabalho traz uma análise das capacidades de sobrevivência de três micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs) do ramo alimentício de doces de banana, estabelecidas na Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista, especificamente nas cidades de Itanhaém e Mongaguá. Essas capacidades se construíram fundamentadas em dois pressupostos: efeito do gestor e o efeito da localidade, que podem ser determinantes para a sobrevivência e o desempenho de MPEs. A pesquisa tem por objetivo geral identificar as características do gestor e os fatores da localidade que influenciam a sobrevivência das três MPEs estudadas. Para alcançar o objetivo geral foram traçados os seguintes objetivos específicos: identificar as características da gestão que foram propulsoras da sobrevivência das três MPEs estudadas; identificar os recursos da localidade que foram propulsores à sobrevivência das três MPEs; verificar a existência de outros fatores da gestão e da localidade que possam ter influenciado a sobrevivência das MPEs no longo prazo. O estudo teve como expectativa contribuir para o aprofundamento da reflexão sobre o tema concernente às capacidades de sobrevivência dos pequenos negócios. A pesquisa bibliográfica esteve centrada no encadeamento de tópicos teóricos de forma a construir fundamentos necessários sobre as influências do gestor e da localidade na sobrevivência das pequenas empresas, noções necessárias para se atingir o objetivo geral. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, a investigação, de caráter descritivo e indutivo, foi desenvolvida por meio de estudo multicaso, compreendendo pesquisa documental, observações e entrevistas semi-estruturadas, preliminar e de profundidade, tendo como sujeitos os gestores, os funcionários, os fornecedores e os clientes das três MPEs. Os resultados indicam que há fatores importantes do efeito gestor e do efeito localidade influenciando a sobrevivência das empresas locus da pesquisa. Os resultados apontaram fatores como acesso ao amplo mercado, atitude frente à tecnologia, a presença de laço forte e laço fraco, entre outros considerados importantes influenciadores na sobrevivência das empresas estudadas. Os resultados abrem perspectivas de estudos mais aprofundados que possam proporcionar e criar alternativas e programas para melhorar o desempenho e a sobrevivência das MPEs.(AU)