Company financial performance: Does board size matter? Case of the EUROSTOXX50 index

[EN] This study analyzes the relationship between board size and economic-financial performance in a sample of European firms that constitute the EUROSTOXX50 Index. Based on previous literature, resource dependency and agency theories, and considering regulation developed by the OECD and European Union on the normative of corporate governance for each country in the sample, the authors propose the hypotheses of both positive linear and quadratic relationships between the researched parameters. Using ROA as a benchmark of financial performance and the number of members of the board as measurement of the board size, two OLS estimations are performed. To confirm the robustness of the results the empirical study is tested with two other similar financial ratios, ROE and Tobin s Q. Due to the absence of significant results, an additional factor, firm size, is employed in order to check if it affects firm performance. Delving further into the nature of this relationship, it is revealed that there exists a strong and negative relation between firm size and financial performance. Consequently, it can be asseverated that the generic recommendation one size fits all cannot be applied in this case; which conforms to the Recommendations of the European Union that dissuade using generic models for all countries.

A Educação de Jovens e Adultos nos contextos de escolarização e as possibilidades de práticas educativas emancipatórias

A presente pesquisa discute a importância da Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA) nos contextos de escolarização buscando, a partir dos Estudos do Cotidiano, compreender os significados que lhes são atribuídos e os aspectos que se apresentam como perspectivas de educação emancipatória. Parte do pressuposto de que professores e alunos tecem, nos cotidianos da EJA, saberesfazeres, especialmente em seus currículos, invisibilizados e silenciados, práticas educativas emancipatórias para além das forças reguladoras das normas (OLIVEIRA, 2003). A construção da análise incorpora observações do cotidiano escolar e entrevistas com professores e alunos de EJA do Ensino Médio da Escola de Ensino Fundamental e Médio Sólon de Lucena, situada em Campina Grande/PB. O desenvolvimento da discussão considera o debate sobre o uso do termo emancipação social à luz dos postulados de Paulo Freire e Boaventura Santos. A abordagem sobre a reconfiguração e ampliação das práticas de educação de jovens e adultos ancora-se nas contribuições de Paiva (1997, 2005, 2009), Haddad (2000, 2007), Di Pierro (2005, 2010), Arroyo (2005), Fávero (2004, 2007). Os estudos sobre cultura contemplados produzem interfaces e conexões com o currículo, especialmente os currículos praticados, a partir dos trabalhos de Giroux (2009), Moreira (2002), Candau (2011), Oliveira (2003, 2009, 2010), entre outros. A tese defende que a educação dialógica, problematizada por Freire, e a valorização de experiências diferenciadas propiciadoras de diálogos e conflitos para a superação da monocultura do saber, proposta por Santos, estão presentes, implicitamente, nas práticas dos professores, na medida em que desenvolvem ações de ruptura com a lógica de submissão da educação bancária, privilegiando a ampliação do diálogo, da comunicação e da emancipação social.

Salmon and freshwater fisheries in the Solway Firth. Report of the Working Party of North West Water Authority and the Annan District Salmon Fishery Board.

The Workinq Party of North West Water Authority and the Annan District Salmon Fishery Board's aims were to identify the current problems relating to the salmon and freshwater fisheries in the Solway Firth and its tributaries (embracing the catchments of the Annan, Kirtle Water, Sark, Esk, Eden, Wampool and Waver - and possibly also the Lochar Water and the Nith) to produce agreed outline solutions, and to consider the financial aspects of the future administration of these fisheries.

Salmon stocking by the Lancashire River Authority: investigations into the requirements and methods best suited to the area

All species of fish are able to propagate and maintain their numbers provided that no adverse influence occurs to change the compatible environment, the salmon is no exception. Propagation of fish by artificial means has long been a subject of discussion amongst fishery workers and views have been expressed (both favourable and unfavourable) on the merits of the various methods employed. In an attempt to discover whether artificial propagation was necessary and also to find the best methods of propagation to adopt in the various rivers, a phased programme of investigation into natural spawning efficiency and the results obtained by various methods of artificial propagation was started in the Lancashire River Board area during 1957. The object being to seek information on: (1) The survival of ova from natural spawnings to the eyed and alevin stages. (2) The population density of feeding fry (from natural spawnings) at various intervals of development. (3) The viability of green ova and eyed ova- when planted artificially. (4a) The survival to 0+ parr from implants of eyed ova unfed fry and fed fry. (4b) Populations per unit area of 0+ parr from various planting densities of eyed ova, unfed fry and fed fry. Sampling stations were selected on the Rivers Ribble, Lune and Wyre watersheds for the purpose of marking and examination of natural salmon redds.

Investigations into migratory fish propagation in the area of the Lancashire River Board

This report explores salmon propagation in the Lancashire River Board area (North West of England), looking at the Rivers Lune, Wyre, Ribble, and Hodder, showing salmon catch statistics, methods of propagation and habitat conditions investigations.