Financial crisis and the change in the practice of applying common charge costs

The global financial crisis has not left the members of the EU untouched. Financial results have significantly dropped, businesses were folded in great numbers, the rate of employment decreased, social tension got fortified, and so did the national deficits in the budget in the majority of the countries. The decisive members of the community reacted fairly quickly to the challenges of the global economic crisis, and among the steps taken there were simultaneously ones to boost the economy and others to lower the expenses of the expenditure. The author examines what role was given to the steps in taxation policy as indirect regulating tools, and that how the decisions brought touch upon the previously issued harmonization strategy.

A rendszerv��lt��s ut��n alap��tott ��s nemzetk��zileg sikeress�� v��lt magyar v��llalatok versenyk��pess��ge = The competitiveness of Hungarian companies that were founded and became successful internationally after the change of the economic system

A m��helytanulm��ny annak a kutat��si munk��nak az els�� eredm��nye, amelyben a rendszerv��lt��s ut��n nemzetk��zileg sikeress�� v��lt magyar v��llalatok sikert��nyez��inek elemz��s��t t��zt��k ki c��lul. A k��rd��s jelent��s��g��t abban l��tjuk, hogy a magyar piac korl��tozott bels�� nagys��ga miatt a sikeres magyar v��llalatok sz��m��ra a k��lf��ld��n val�� terjeszked��s megker��lhetetlen strat��giai k��vetelm��ny. A m��lyinterj��kon alapul�� kutat��shoz szakirodalmi ��ttekint��st v��gezt��nk, ��ssze��ll��tottuk kutat��si propoz��ci��nkat, kidolgoztuk a m��lyinterj��kn��l haszn��land�� k��rd��slist��t. Ez a m��helytanulm��ny az els�� k��t m��lyinterj�� anyag��t tartalmazza, de kidolgoz��s ��s el��k��sz��t��s alatt vannak tov��bbi v��llalati esettanulm��nyok is. ----- This working paper presents the first results of our research project aiming to analyze the success factors of Hungarian companies that became successful internationally after the change in the economic system in Hungary. We believe this is a significant topic as international expansion for successful Hungarian companies is a strategic requirement, due to the limited size of domestic markets. Our research is methodologically based on in-depth interviews, backed by literature review. We have developed propositions and an outline for semi-structured interviews. This working paper covers the recorded material of two in-depth interviews of executives from two different companies, while additional case studies are still being prepared.

The effect of climate change on the population of sycamore lace bug (Corythuca ciliata, Say) based on a simulation model with phenological response

Climate change affects on insect populations in many ways: it can cause a shift in geographical spread, abundance, or diversity, it can change the location, the timing and the magnitude of outbreaks of pests and it can define the phenological or even the genetic properties of the species. Long-time investigations of special insect populations, simulation models and scenario studies give us very important information about the response of the insects far away and near to our century. Getting to know the potential responses of insect populations to climate change makes us possible to evaluate the adaptation of pest management alternatives as well as to formulate our future management policy. In this paper we apply two simple models, in order to introduce a complex case study for a Sycamore lace bug population. We test how the model works in case the whether conditions are very different from those in our days. Thus, besides we can understand the processes that happen in present, we can analyze the effects of a possible climate change, as well.

Negative impact of climate change on the distribution of some conifers

A climate envelope model was run on the distribution of four coniferous species (European silver fir, European larch, Norway spruce, and Swiss pine). The model was supported by EUFORGEN area database, ArcGIS 10 and PAST software, andREMO climate model. Prediction periods were 2011-40 and 2041-70.

Impression of the global climate change on the ornamental plant usage in Hungary

The climate modeling, which has adequate spatial and temporal resolution, shows that the future climate of the Carpathian Basin will be much more arid and hot than nowadays. The currently used and taught assortment of the ligneous ornamental plants should be urgently revised. It is aimed in my research to collect the species which will probably be introduced in the future. They can be gathered from the Hungarian botanical gardens and research centers and from the spatially analogous territories. The collected taxa should be examined with GIS software if they will really suffer our future climate.

The effect of climate change on the potential distribution of the European Phlebotomus species

Our study intended to explore the potential distributionshif of Phlebotomusariasi, P. neglectus, P. perfiliewi, P. perniciosus, and P. tobbi, and some other sandfly species: P. papatasi, P. sergenti, and P. similis. We used climate envelope modeling (CEM) method to determine the ecological requirements of the species and to model the potential distribution for three periods (1961-1990, 2011-2040, and 2041- 2070). We found that by the end of the 2060���s the Southern UK, Germany, entire France and also the western part of Poland can be colonized by sandfly species, mostly by P. ariasi and P. pernicosus. P. ariasishowe the greatest potential northward expansion, from 49��N to 59��N. For all of the studied sand fly species the entire Mediterranean Basin, the Balkan Peninsula, the Carpathian Basin, and northern coastline of the Black Sea are potentially suitable. The length of the predicted active period of the vectors will increase with one or two months.

Change of composition and diversity of species and grassland management between different grazing intensity in Pannonian dry and wet grasslands

Investigations were carried out in wet and dry pasture. Coenological recordings were taken in three zones. The first zone (���A���) located 0-50 m near the stable, second zone (���B���) located 50-150 m from the stable, while the third zone (���C���) located farther than 150 m. We have carried out analyses of ecological and environmental factors and life form types. Based on our results for both dry and wet grasslands, quadrates of ���A��� zone were well isolated from the rest of the zones. Overgrazing, which involves considerable trampling, vanishes differences among vegetations, thereby promotes weed and disturbance tolerant rich vegetation. The lowest species number and diversity could be found here. Due to the nitrogen enrichment due to the constant presence of livestock, drier and less heat demanding habitat developed in the ���A��� zones, according to the environmental indicators. Because of the change in management, conservation and diversity values of ���C��� zone increased, however, according to nature protection values it underperformed compared to ���B��� zone. According to the sample area, wet grasslands from the sandy areas of Kiskuns��g, preserve nature protection values and grass composition better moving away from stables, due to less grazing pressure. Drier backgrounds tolerate stronger grazing pressure.

Impact of climate change on the potential distribution of Mediterranean pines

The impact of climate change on the potential distribution of four Mediterranean pine species ��� Pinus brutia Ten., Pinus halepensis Mill., Pinus pinaster Aiton, and Pinus pinea L. ��� was studied by the Climate Envelope Model (CEM) to examine whether these species are suitable for the use as ornamental plants without frost protection in the Carpathian Basin. The model was supported by EUFORGEN digital area database (distribution maps), ESRI ArcGIS 10 software���s Spatial Analyst module (modeling environment), PAST (calibration of the model with statistical method), and REMO regional climate model (climatic data). The climate data were available in a 25 km resolution grid for the reference period (1961���1990) and two future periods (2011���2040, 2041���2070). The regional climate model was based on the IPCC SRES A1B scenario. While the potential distribution of P. brutia was not predicted to expand remarkably, an explicit shift of the distribution of the other three species was shown. Northwestern African distribution segments seem to become abandoned in the future. Current distribution of P. brutia may be highly endangered by the climate change. P. halepensis in the southern part and P. pinaster in the western part of the Carpathian Basin may find suitable climatic conditions in the period of 2041���2070.

The combined impact of urban heat island, thermal bridge effect of buildings and future climate change on the potential overwintering of Phlebotomus species in a Central European metropolis

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important emerging vector-borne diseases in Western Eurasia. Although winter minimum temperatures limit the present geographical distribution of the vector Phlebotomus species, the heat island effect of the cities and the anthropogenic heat emission together may provide the appropriate environment for the overwintering of sand flies. We studied the climate tempering effect of thermal bridges and the heat island effect in Budapest, Hungary. Thermal imaging was used to measure the heat surplus of heat bridges. The winter heat island effect of the city was evaluated by numerical analysis of the measurements of the Aqua sensor of satellite Terra. We found that the surface temperature of thermal bridges can be at least 3-7 ��C higher than the surrounding environment. The heat emission of thermal bridges and the urban heat island effect together can cause at least 10 ��C higher minimum ambient temperature in winter nights than the minimum temperature of the peri-urban areas. This milder micro-climate of the built environment can enable the potential overwintering of some important European Phlebotomus species. The anthropogenic heat emission of big cities may explain the observed isolated northward populations of Phlebotomus ariasi in Paris and Phlebotomus neglectus in the agglomeration of Budapest.

The effect of climate change on the potential distribution of the European Phlebotomus species and the parasite Leishmania infantum in 2011-2070. A climate envelope modeling approach

Aims: In the Mediterranean areas of Europe, leishmanisasis is one of the most emerging vector-borne diseases. Members of genus Phlebotomus are the primary vectors of the genus Leishmania. To track the human health effect of climate change it is a very important interdisciplinary question to study whether the climatic requirements and geographical distribution of the vectors of human pathogen organisms correlate with each other. Our study intended to explore the potential effects of ongoing climate change, in particular through a potential upward altitudinal and latitudinal shift of the distribution of the parasite Leishmania infantum, its vectors Phlebotomus ariasi, P. neglectus, P. perfiliewi, P. perniciosus, and P. tobbi, and some other sandfly species: P. papatasi, P. sergenti, and P. similis. Methods: By using a climate envelope modelling (CEM) method we modelled the current and future (2011-2070) potential distribution of 8 European sandfly species and L. infantum based on the current distribution using the REMO regional climate model. Results: We found that by the end of the 2060���s most parts of Western Europe can be colonized by sandfly species, mostly by P. ariasi and P. pernicosus. P. ariasi showed the greatest potential northward expansion. For all the studied vectors of L. infantum the entire Mediterranean Basin and South-Eastern Europe seemed to be suitable. L. infantum can affect the Eastern Mediterranean, without notable northward expansion. Our model resulted 1 to 2 months prolongation of the potentially active period of P. neglectus P. papatasi and P. perniciosus for the 2060���s in Southern Hungary. Conclusion: Our findings confirm the concerns that leishmanisais can become a real hazard for the major part of the European population to the end of the 21th century and the Carpathian Basin is a particularly vulnerable area.

Az aut��ipar szerkezeti ��trendez��d��se ��� V��llalati strat��gi��k ��s a v��ls��g hat��sai (Structural change in the automotive industry ��� corporate strategies and the impact of the crisis)

Az ��r��s a glob��lis ��rt��kl��ncok ��l��n ��ll�� aut��ipari c��gek vil��ggazdas��gi v��ls��gra adott reakci��it foglalja ��ssze. Meg��llap��tja, hogy a v��ls��gnak messze nincs v��ge: az ipar��g glob��lis ��trendez��d��se folytat��dik. A glob��lis ��rt��kl��ncokba sikeresen betagoz��dott k��z��p-eur��pai aut��ipari klaszter ezeknek a folyamatoknak mindm��ig nyertese volt. Sz��molni kell azonban azzal, hogy tov��bbra is sok a technol��giai ��s a piaci bizonytalans��g: az ��j szerepl��k bel��p��se, ��j ��zleti modellek elterjed��se hosszabb t��von felbor��thatja a jelenlegi status quo-t, ��s vesz��lyeztetheti a hagyom��nyos aut��ipari befektet��iket munkab��r-alap�� versenyk��pess��ggel megtartani pr��b��l�� k��z��p- ��s kelet-eur��pai orsz��gok poz��ci��it. Az aut��ipari m��k��d�� t��k��t fogad�� k��z��p-kelet-eur��pai orsz��gok sz��m��ra hosszabb t��von vesz��lyt jelenthet az aut��ipari ��zleti modellek ��talakul��sa, a gy��rt��s teljes kiszervez��se komplex gy��rt��si szolg��ltat��st v��llal�� c��gekhez, mivel ez esetben az ��rt��kl��nc vezet�� v��llalatai bez��rhatj��k a r��gi��ban m��k��d�� gy��rt��b��zisaikat. Az ��rt��kl��ncok ��l��n ��ll�� glob��lis c��gek ���menek��l��s a min��s��gbe��� strat��gi��ja helyi szinten is k��vethet��, k��vetend��, a m��k��d�� t��k��t fogad�� orsz��gok versenyk��pess��ge kiz��r��lag a helyi le��nyv��llalatok ��lland�� ���feljebb l��p��s��vel��� tarthat�� fenn. ______ This paper summarizes lead firms��� reactions to crisis in global automotive value chains. The paper advances five theses. Author argues that crisis is not over yet, the global restructuring of the industry continues. Actors in the CEE automotive cluster have successfully become integrated into global value chains and have thereby been the winners of past restructuring processes. Nevertheless, technological and market uncertainties prevail: entry of new economic actors and the diffusion of new business models may, in the long run, disrupt the current status quo and jeopardise the world economic position of CEE countries that have been relying solely on their labour cost advantages to sustain direct investment inflows in their automotive industries. In the long run the automotive industries of Central and Eastern European (CEE) economies may become threatened by the transformation of the prevailing automotive business model, the outsourcing of manufacturing and related support activities to complex manufacturing services providers, which could lead to the closure of lead firms��� manufacturing facilities in CEE. Lead firms��� increased focus on high quality high value adding activities strategy can and should be followed by local subsidiaries through a continuous strive for upgrading.

Consumer (dis)satisfaction response to disconfirmation: An examination of the form and the underlying process

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the form of the consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction (CS/D) response to disconfirmation. In addition, the cognitive and affective processes underlying the response were also explored. ^ Respondents were provided with information from a prior market research study about a new brand of printer that was being tested. This market research information helped set prior expectations regarding the print quality. Subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental condition that manipulated prior expectations to be either positive or negative. Respondents were then provided with printouts that had performance quality that was either worse (negative disconfirmation) or better (positive disconfirmation) than the prior expectations. In other words, for each level of expectation, respondents were assigned to either positive or negative disconfirmation condition. Subjects were also randomly assigned to a condition of either a high or low level of outcome involvement. ^ Analyses of variance indicated that positive disconfirmation led to a more intense CS/D response than negative disconfirmation, even though there was no significant difference in the intensity for positive and negative disconfirmation. Intensity of CS/D was measured by the distance of the CS/D rating from the midpoint of the scale. The study also found that although outcome involvement did not influence the polarity of the CS/D response, the more direct measures of processing involvement such as the subjects' concentration, attention and care in evaluating the printout did have a significant positive effect on CS/D intensity. ^ Analyses of covariance also indicated that the relationship between the intensity of the CS/D response and the intensity of the disconfirmation was mediated by the intensity of affective responses. Positive disconfirmation led to more intense affective responses than negative disconfirmation. ^

Examining the process of regime change in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization: The divide between rhetoric and reality

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a product of the Cold War through which its members organized their military forces for the purpose of collective defense against the common threat of Soviet-backed aggression. Employing the terminology of regime theory, the creation of NATO can be viewed as the introduction of an international security regime. Throughout the Cold War, NATO member states preserved their commitment to mutual defense while increasingly engaging in activities aimed at overcoming the division of Europe and promoting regional stability. The end of the Cold War has served as the catalyst for a new period of regime change as the Alliance introduced elements of a collective security regime by expanding its mandate to address new security challenges and reorganizing both its political and military organizational structures. ^ This research involves an interpretive analysis of NATO's evolution applying ideal theoretical constructs associated with distinct approaches to regime analysis. The process of regime change is investigated over several periods throughout the history of the Alliance in an effort to understand the Alliance's changing commitment to collective security. This research involves a review of regime theory literature, consisting of an examination of primary source documentation, including official documents and treaties, as well as a review of numerous secondary sources. This review is organized around a typology of power-based, organization-based, and norm-based approaches to regime analysis. This dissertation argues that the process of regime change within NATO is best understood by examining factors associated with multiple theoretical constructs. Relevant factors provide insights into the practice of collective security among NATO member states within Europe, while accounting for the inability of the NATO allies to build on the experience gained within Europe to play a more central role in operations outside of this region. This research contributes to a greater understanding of the nature of international regimes and the process of regime change, while offering recommendations aimed at increasing NATO's viability as a source of greater security and more meaningful international cooperation.^

Recent and Historic Drivers of Landscape Change in the Everglades Ridge, Slough, and Tree Island Mosaic

More than half of the original Everglades extent formed a patterned peat mosaic of elevated ridges, lower and more open sloughs, and tree islands aligned parallel to the dominant flow direction. This ecologically important landscape structure remained in a dynamic equilibrium for millennia prior to rapid degradation over the past century in response to human manipulation of the hydrologic system. Restoration of the patterned landscape structure is one of the primary objectives of the Everglades restoration effort. Recent research has revealed that three main drivers regulated feedbacks that initiated and maintained landscape structure: the spatial and temporal distribution of surface water depths, surface and subsurface flow, and phosphorus supply. Causes of recent degradation include but are not limited to perturbations to these historically important controls; shifts in mineral and sulfate supply may have also contributed to degradation. Restoring predrainage hydrologic conditions will likely preserve remaining landscape pattern structure, provided a sufficient supply of surface water with low nutrient and low total dissolved solids content exists to maintain a rainfall-driven water chemistry. However, because of hysteresis in landscape evolution trajectories, restoration of areas with a fully degraded landscape could require additional human intervention.