The economics of copyright

The copyright industries — such as music, film, software and publishing — occupy a significant and growing share of economic activity. Current copyright law protects the creator for up to 70 years after their death, significantly longer than patent protection (20 years after invention). Copyright law aims to balance the incentive to create new work against the costs associated with high prices and restricted access to this work. This paper reviews the economic issues behind copyright and how these are challenged by changes in technology and market structure. While economics provides a powerful conceptual framework for understanding the trade-offs involved, the paper argues that our empirical knowledge base is very weak. Much more empirical analysis is needed to understand the impacts of changes to copyright legislation. Without such analysis, policy and legal debates will continue to be based largely on anecdote and rhetoric.

Three essays on labor liberalization and its effects on world economy

This dissertation consists of three theoretical essays on immigration, international trade and political economy. The first two essays analyze the political economy of immigration in developed countries. The third essay explores new ground on the effects of labor liberalization in developing countries. Trade economists have witnessed remarkable methodological developments in mathematical and game theoretical models during the last seventy years. This dissertation benefits from these advances to analyze economic issues related to immigration. The first essay applies a long run general equilibrium trade model similar to Krugman (1980), and blends it with the median voter ala-Mayer (1984) framework. The second essay uses a short run general equilibrium specific factor trade model similar to Jones (1975) and incorporates it with the median voter model similar to Benhabib (1997). The third essay employs a five stage game theoretical approach similar to Vogel (2007) and solves it by the method of backward induction. The first essay shows that labor liberalization is more likely to come about in societies that have more taste for varieties, and that workers and capital owners could share the same positive stance toward labor liberalization. In a dynamic model, it demonstrates that the median voter is willing to accept fewer immigrants in the first period in order to preserve her domestic political influence in the second period threatened by the naturalization of these immigrants. The second essay shows that the liberalization of labor depends on the host country's stock and distribution of capital, and the number of groups of skilled workers within each country. I demonstrate that the more types of goods both countries produce, the more liberal the host country is toward immigration. The third essay proposes a theory of free movement of goods and labor between two economies with imperfect labor contracts. The heart of my analysis lies in the determinants of talent development where individuals' decisions to emigrate are related to the fixed costs of emigration. Finally, free trade and labor affect income via an indirect effect on individuals' incentives to invest in the skill levels and a direct effect on the prices of goods.

Brazil Under Dilma Rousseff: Similar Policy Directions Maintained.

It is unlikely that the newly elected government of Dilma Rousseff will make any fundamental changes to the major imperatives that underlie Brazilian policy: that is, macroeconomic stability and poverty alleviation. These policy imperatives have set the country on the road to good governance and have provided former presidents a chance to claim continuity. While President Rousseff of the Worker’s Party (PT) may have a distinct style, personality, and set of leadership skills compared to her predecessors, she is expected to maintain the core macroeconomic stability and social policies that are currently in place. Many who expected Rousseff to be former president Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva’s carbon copy are discovering that from day one she has showcased a different governing style than her mentor. She has emphasized her commanding authority and has brought about fresh approaches to delicate matters, which entail domestic economic issues and foreign policy. For example, her administration has aggressively applied a set of macro-prudential measures to counter inflationary pressures on the Brazilian currency (Real). And in foreign policy, she has steadfastly recalibrated Itamarity’s stance on the controversial issues, such as Iran, and now appears to have refocused its short-term efforts on cementing Brazil’s leadership role in the region’s southern cone.

De la moral del sacrificio a la conciencia de la precariedad. Un análisis cualitativo de los discursos sobre la evolución de la crisis en España

La larga crisis económica que padece España está teniendo importantes consecuencias sociales. La más comentada por académicos, mass media y parte del arco político es la fractura social que se está abriendo en el país, ante el aumento de las desigualdades económicas que generan el enorme desempleo y las duras políticas de ajuste del gasto público. Sin embargo, más allá de cuestiones económicas la crisis está haciendo mella de forma muy profunda en el imaginario social del país en relación a las razones y consecuencias de la crisis, tanto a corto como a largo plazo. El objetivo de este artículo es el realizar una valoración de esas percepciones sociales de la ciudadanía en relación con la crisis, centrándonos en un aspecto como es el de la relación de la población española con el consumo de bienes y servicios públicos, en un escenario de hegemonía de la austeridad como única receta anti-crisis. Para ello, realizaremos un análisis de los discursos recogidos en una investigación cualitativa realizada en el año 2014 mediante grupos de discusión. Los resultados muestran un pesimismo enorme de la población en relación al futuro del Estado del Bienestar y de la propia clase media española, junto a una frustración que puede anunciar futuros ciclos de movilización social.

Estados Unidos y la guerra por el desarrollo: el control de la natalidad en Chile, 1960-1970

Bajo el paradigma de modernización y desarrollo norteamericano -y en un contexto de Guerra Fría-, durante la década de 1960 se adecuaron a la realidad chilena programas de control de natalidad que no sólo buscaron disminuir las altas tasas de mortalidad materno infantil, sino que además respondieron al proyecto de seguridad hemisférica norteamericana de contención a posibles revoluciones populares en países del Tercer Mundo.

O que tenho a ver com isso? aula-vivência sobre violência contra crianças e adolescentes

A violência constitui hoje a principal causa de morte em crianças de 5 a 19 anos, o que tem imposto aos profissionais de saúde um olhar mais atento a estas questões, bem como uma formação que busque compreender este fenômeno sobre os vários prismas que a circunscreve. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar a experiência vivenciada com alunos do curso de Graduação em Enfermagem da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte numa aula-vivência sobre esta temática. A aula foi baseada numa prática pedagógica de ação reflexiva. Desenvolveu-se a partir da integração dos conteúdos teóricos e práticos, articulando-os com temas sociais, políticos e econômicos. A aula foi dividida em três momentos: um momento de sensibilização; um segundo momento onde foi apresentado e discutido o arcabouço teórico, científico e legal que envolve o tema; e um terceiro, que visou estimular uma reflexão sobre a realidade vivenciada nos serviços de saúde por profissionais que atuam diante de situações de violência. Nos três momentos da aula pudemos proporcionar ao aluno a inquietação e a reflexão necessárias para pensarmos sobre a violência em toda a sua complexidade, pluricausalidade e com toda a carga de preconceito em que esta se encontra envolvida

Assessment of toxigenic fungi in poultry feed

Introduction - Feed supplies the necessary nutrients for the growth of healthy animals, which are a part of the human diet. The presence of toxigenic fungi in animal feed such as Aspergillus spp. may contribute to 1) the loss of nutritional value of feedstuff, since fungi will assimilate the most readily available nutrients present in the feed, and 2) the development of mycotoxicoses and chronic conditions, which can raise economic issues due to animal disease and contamination of animal derived products. Aim of the study - The goal of this work was to evaluate the incidence of Aspergilli, particularly from the Circumdati, Flavi and Fumigati sections, through real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in 11 feed samples.

Electronic Publishing : the evolution and economics of a hybrid journal.

The technical, social and economic issues of electronic publishing are examined by using as a case study the evolution of the journal Electronic Publishing Origination, Dissemination and Design (EP-odd) which is published by John Wiley Ltd. The journal is a `hybrid' one, in the sense that it appears in both electronic and paper form, and is now in its ninth year of publication. The author of this paper is the journal's Editor-in- Chief. The first eight volumes of EP-odd have been distributed via the conventional subscription method but a new method, from volume 9 onwards, is now under discussion whereby accepted papers will first be published on the EP-odd web site, with the printed version appearing later as a once-per-volume operation. Later sections of the paper lead on from the particular experiences with EP-odd into a more general discussion of peer review and the acceptability of e-journals in universities, the changing role of libraries, the sustainability of traditional subscription pricing and the prospects for `per paper' sales as micro-payment technologies become available.

Condomínios fechados: a produção habitacional contemporânea e a auto-exclusão dos ricos no espaço urbano de Natal RN (1995 2003)

The present work analyzes the fast evolution of gated communities in Natal-RN´s urban space. Characterized by the occupation of large areas, providing private security and utilities, this kind of real estate use arises a long list of questions and issues from society and scholars, due to privatization of urban space, bending of law constraints and the lack of an integrated planning of the cities where they are built. The reasons for its fast growth in Brazil s urban areas are analyzed, considering the impact on formal urban planning and municipal services and on the identification of urbanistic, architectural pattern and constraints, as well as legal, social and economic issues. This study is based on the detailed analysis of the first three units of gated communities built in the urban space in Natal, between 1995 and 2003, including their evolution throughout time and the specific social and economic reasons for its present widespread adoption in Brazilian real estate market and, particulary, in our city. The main objective of this piece of work is to answer the why s and how s these phenomena evolved, setting a basis for the definition of adequate public policies and regulation of this kind of urban land use

Why is Asari (= Manila) clam Ruditapes philippinarum fitness poor in Arcachon Bay: a meta-analysis to answer?

Asari (= Manila) clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, is the second bivalve mollusc in terms of production in the world and, in many coastal areas, can beget important socio-economic issues. In Europe, this species was introduced after 1973. In Arcachon Bay, after a decade of aquaculture attempt, Asari clam rapidly constituted neo-naturalized population which is now fished. However, recent studies emphasized the decline of population and individual performances. In the framework of a national project (REPAMEP), some elements of fitness, stressors and responses in Arcachon bay were measured and compared to international data (41 publications, 9 countries). The condition index (CI=flesh weight/shell weight) was the lowest among all compared sites. Variation in average Chla concentration explained 30% of variation of CI among different areas. Among potential diseases, perkinsosis was particularly prevalent in Arcachon Bay, with high abundance, and Asari clams underwent Brown Muscle Disease, a pathology strictly restricted to this lagoon. Overall element contamination was relatively low, although arsenic, cobalt, nickel and chromium displayed higher values than in other ecosystems where Asari clam is exploited. Finally, total hemocyte count (THC) of Asari clam in Arcachon Bay, related to the immune system activity, exhibited values that were also under what is generally observed elsewhere. In conclusion, this study, with all reserves due to heterogeneity of available data, suggest that the particularly low fitness of Asari clam in Arcachon Bay is due to poor trophic condition, high prevalence and intensity of a disease (perkinsosis), moderate inorganic contamination, and poor efficiency of the immune system.

O que tenho a ver com isso? aula-vivência sobre violência contra crianças e adolescentes

A violência constitui hoje a principal causa de morte em crianças de 5 a 19 anos, o que tem imposto aos profissionais de saúde um olhar mais atento a estas questões, bem como uma formação que busque compreender este fenômeno sobre os vários prismas que a circunscreve. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar a experiência vivenciada com alunos do curso de Graduação em Enfermagem da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte numa aula-vivência sobre esta temática. A aula foi baseada numa prática pedagógica de ação reflexiva. Desenvolveu-se a partir da integração dos conteúdos teóricos e práticos, articulando-os com temas sociais, políticos e econômicos. A aula foi dividida em três momentos: um momento de sensibilização; um segundo momento onde foi apresentado e discutido o arcabouço teórico, científico e legal que envolve o tema; e um terceiro, que visou estimular uma reflexão sobre a realidade vivenciada nos serviços de saúde por profissionais que atuam diante de situações de violência. Nos três momentos da aula pudemos proporcionar ao aluno a inquietação e a reflexão necessárias para pensarmos sobre a violência em toda a sua complexidade, pluricausalidade e com toda a carga de preconceito em que esta se encontra envolvida

Heurystyka strachu. Czy ambiwalencja lęku może być dla nas pouczająca?

The paper assumes that fear presents a certain degree of ambivalence. To say it with Hans Jonas (1903-1993), fear is not only a negative emotion, but may teach us something very important: we recognize what is relevant when we perceive that it is at stake. Under this respect, fear may be assumed as a guide to responsibility, a virtue that is becoming increasingly important, because of the role played by human technology in the current ecological crisis. Secondly, fear and responsibility concern both dimensions of human action: private-individual and publiccollective. What the ‘heuristics of fear’ teaches us, is to become aware of a deeper ambivalence, namely the one which characterizes as such human freedom, which may aim to good or bad, to self-preservation or self-destruction. Any public discussion concerning political or economic issues related with human action (at an individual or collective level) ought not to leave this essential idea out of consideration.

Catalyst: Architecture for Change and Social Justice

In major cities today, there are neighborhoods that have been continually underserved and as a result are in decay. Private investors and developers turn to these particular neighborhoods, propose large developments that gentrify these areas, displacing communities and with them their social, political, and economic issues. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze South West, Baltimore, a community composed of 8 neighborhoods on the verge of being gentrified, by incoming development. Through investigating the key issues present in this community for many years, this thesis will attempt to develop a catalytic environment, which will facilitate change within the community by providing a place for its members to help tackle these issues, improving their circumstances, and the circumstances of the neighborhoods they form part of.

Condomínios fechados: a produção habitacional contemporânea e a auto-exclusão dos ricos no espaço urbano de Natal RN (1995 2003)

The present work analyzes the fast evolution of gated communities in Natal-RN´s urban space. Characterized by the occupation of large areas, providing private security and utilities, this kind of real estate use arises a long list of questions and issues from society and scholars, due to privatization of urban space, bending of law constraints and the lack of an integrated planning of the cities where they are built. The reasons for its fast growth in Brazil s urban areas are analyzed, considering the impact on formal urban planning and municipal services and on the identification of urbanistic, architectural pattern and constraints, as well as legal, social and economic issues. This study is based on the detailed analysis of the first three units of gated communities built in the urban space in Natal, between 1995 and 2003, including their evolution throughout time and the specific social and economic reasons for its present widespread adoption in Brazilian real estate market and, particulary, in our city. The main objective of this piece of work is to answer the why s and how s these phenomena evolved, setting a basis for the definition of adequate public policies and regulation of this kind of urban land use

Leadership in the community sector: promoting collaboration and social change in Belfast

Community development is centrally concerned with people in communities working together to achieve a common goal, that is, to collaborate, whether within local geographical communities, in communities of shared interests or among groups sharing a common identity. Its overarching goal is one of progressive transformational social change. As Belfast transitions from a conflict to a post-conflict society, there is a need for greater, more effective work at local community level in order to address a range of ongoing social and economic issues facing communities, including high levels of disadvantage and division. Given the significance of leadership in building effective collaboration and the centrality of collaboration for community development, it is important to understand how leadership is currently enacted and what kinds of leadership are required to support communities to collaborate effectively to bring about social change. This thesis thus centers on the kind of leadership practised and required to support collaboration for social change within the community sector in Belfast, a city that contains an estimated 28% of the total number of community and voluntary sector (CVS) organisations in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, 2012). Through a series of qualitative, in-depth interviews with people playing leadership roles in local communities, the study critically explores and analyses their experiences and perceptions in relation to leadership and collaboration. Community development in Belfast today is practised within a wider context of neoliberal policies, characterised by austerity and public spending cuts. Whilst not the only influencing factor, this context has had a particular and profound impact on the nature and role of community development practised, and on the kind of leadership enacted within it. The space for reflection and transformative action appears to be shrinking as the contraction of resources to support community development in local communities continues unabated. Those playing leadership roles increasingly find themselves compelled to spend time seeking resources and managing complex funding arrangements rather than focusing on the social change dimensions of their work. Collaboration as promoted by the state seems to have become an instrumental tactic used to implement its austerity measures and curtail the potential of the community sector. Despite this, local leaders are driving initiatives that attempt to push back, helping the sector refocus on its transformational goals of social change. To do this requires support. Those playing leadership roles require resources, including time, to encourage and enable communities to reconnect with the purpose and underpinning values of community development. Leaders also need support to develop and promote new, progressive narratives and visions and pursue these through building collaboration and solidarity.