Search

Begin New Search Topic Markets

961. Collective Bargaining Practices in Eastern Europe: Case Study Evidence from Romania

Author:
Aurora Trif
Publication Date:
10-2005
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies
Abstract:
There are several studies on recent developments in collective bargaining in Eastern Europe, but there is still a debate about the extent to which collective bargaining practices resemble those in continental Western Europe. This paper aims to contribute to this debate, by examining primary data on collective bargaining practices in Romania using an actor-centred institutionalist approach. It focuses on collective bargaining in four large chemical companies. Comparisons are made to other countries in order to highlight the developments in Romanian cases. Unexpectedly, the study's findings point to an increase in state intervention in establishing the terms and conditions of employment after 1989, due to the state’s new roles during the transformation process that affected job security. The study suggests a considerable increase in the influence of top managers in determining pay and working conditions, while trade unions retained the considerable influence over social benefits in large companies. The findings show continuance of certain pre-1989 practices, such as a persistence of high state intervention and a limited independence of the trade unions from the management. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of institutional changes in the context of a shift from a centrally planned economy to a market-based economy.
Topic:
Economics, Markets, and Political Economy
Political Geography:
Europe, Eastern Europe, and Romania

962. The Role of the Central Public Market in a Twenty-first Century Metropolis

Author:
Maria Elena Ducci
Publication Date:
02-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Wilson Center
Abstract:
This paper is designed to provoke discussion on the pros and cons of maintaining a public market in the center of a city such as Santiago, a metropolis of over 5 million inhabitants with serious air pollution and traffic problems.
Topic:
Civil Society, Development, Economics, and Markets

963. THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Postconflict Reconstruction and Peacebuilding Capacities

Author:
James Boyce
Publication Date:
06-2004
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Center on International Cooperation
Abstract:
This paper assesses the capacity of the international financial institutions–the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and regional development banks–to respond effectively in the planning and implementation of the civilian components of postconflict reconstruction and peacebuildin.
Topic:
Economics, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Peace Studies

964. Reform of the EC Competition Law and Analysis of the Modifications Achieved

Author:
Ercüment Tezcan
Publication Date:
06-2004
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Uluslararasi Iliskiler
Institution:
Uluslararasi Iliskiler
Abstract:
The modernization of the application of the competition law of the European Community (EC) was carried out by the Council Regulation 1/2003 of December 16, 2002. This Regulation has repealed the regulation 17/62 of 16 February 1962 in force for more than 40 years. The Regulation 1/2003 is characterized by the abrogation of the notification and the preliminary authorization and its decentralization attempt for the application of the competition law of the EC. The national authorities and jurisdictions will be qualified from now on in this field by legal exception. Besides various details, the most important aspect of the new regulation is its gradual decentralization of the EC competition law, which should be considered within a broader framework of the reforms on the EC competition law, undertaken in the second half of 1990's.
Topic:
Government, Markets, and Reform
Political Geography:
Europe

965. EU Emissions Trading: Challenges and Implications of National Implementation

Author:
Jacqueline Karas and Fiona Mullins
Publication Date:
11-2003
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Chatham House
Abstract:
Emissions trading is central to the European Union's (EU) strategy to meet its climate change commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. However, implementing the EU Directive on emissions trading ('the Directive') is proving extremely challenging for the governments involved. In particular, governments have to prepare National Allocation Plans (NAPs) for distributing emissions allowances to industry within a very tight timeframe. More than 12,000 industrial installations across the EU and accession countries will participate in the trading system.
Topic:
Climate Change, Markets, and Treaties and Agreements
Political Geography:
Europe

966. Five Kinds of Capital: Useful Concepts for Sustainable Development

Author:
Neva Goodwin
Publication Date:
09-2003
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University
Abstract:
The concept of capital has a number of different meanings. It is useful to differentiate between five kinds of capital: financial, natural, produced, human, and social. All are stocks that have the capacity to produce flows of economically desirable outputs. The maintenance of all five kinds of capital is essential for the sustainability of economic development.
Topic:
Economics, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Treaties and Agreements

967. Renewing Energy Security

Author:
John V. Mitchell
Publication Date:
07-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Chatham House
Abstract:
Energy security has risen on the policy agendas of many countries as a result of: reaction to the oil price surge of 2000; commitments to restrict greenhouse gas emissions following the Marrakesh Agreement; uncertainty about stability of supplies to final consumers following the California shortages and European fuel price protests of 2000; the 'war against terrorism' following 11 September, and the growing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This paper reviews the broad policy context within which energy security is placed, the outlook for energy supply and its key uncertainties, the security risks involved at the national and consumer level, and the scope for 'dialogues' between producers and consumers. The broad conclusions of the paper are that: international trade and investment provides the best route to national energy security for most countries; the benefits of international energy trade and investment can be compatible with policies to protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, although such policies do not necessarily reinforce energy security; within countries the security of distribution of energy to final consumers requires policy support, whether or not the primary sources of energy are imported or domestic; the international framework for energy trade and investment will work best if the interests of countries dependent on energy exports are taken into account.
Topic:
Energy Policy, International Trade and Finance, Markets, Oil, and Terrorism

968. Security of European Natural Gas Supplies

Author:
Jonathan Stern
Publication Date:
07-2002
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Chatham House
Abstract:
Security of natural gas supplies has resurfaced on the European energy agenda because of concerns about an anticipated rapid increase in dependence on imports from non-European suppliers – from one-third to two-thirds of demand – over the next 20 years. On a national basis, European import dependence is already an established fact: nine out of 33 European countries are more than 95% dependent on imports; only five are self-sufficient or net exporters.
Topic:
Energy Policy, Industrial Policy, and Markets
Political Geography:
Europe

969. Governing Global Finance: Financial derivatives, liberal states and transformative capacity

Author:
William D. Coleman
Publication Date:
10-2001
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition, McMaster University
Abstract:
Global finance is simultaneously one of the most globalized and one of the most esoteric sectors in the world economy. Within global finance, perhaps no activity is more esoteric and more difficult to understand than the buying and selling of derivatives. Their names are familiar perhaps – futures, options, forwards, swaps – but their nature is obscure. Simply put, derivatives are financial instruments that are used to hedge risk. If a Canadian corporation knows that it will want to buy 50 million US dollars on foreign exchange markets in three months time, it can arrange a fixed price for that purchase using a financial contract called a derivative. In doing so, it lowers the risk of the price of the currency changing drastically before it purchases the amounts it needs.
Topic:
Globalization, Government, International Trade and Finance, and Markets
Political Geography:
United States and Canada

970. CIAO: China — Market Manipulation

Author:
Caspar Fithin
Publication Date:
11-2000
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Oxford Analytica
Abstract:
A leaked Shanghai Stock Exchange report has detailed the extent of trading irregularities within China's domestic equity markets. In the primary market, a series of companies have falsified records on profits, assets and even entire businesses in order to publicly issue and list shares. In the secondary markets, insider trading, the spreading of false information, coordinated stock purchases, price ramping and sales of stocks by large institutional investors are common practice. The extent of trading irregularities reflects the government's preference for market growth over regulatory standardisation. This approach is undermining the CSRC's credibility. Unless regulatory practices are tightened, institutional investors will not have the maturing effect on markets and stabilising impact on prices the government seeks.
Topic:
Economics, Government, and Markets
Political Geography:
China