Desperation will drive Bosnian Serb leader's choices

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Budget Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reform Programme ◽  
20Th Anniversary ◽  
Republika Srpska ◽  
The Eu ◽  
The Imf

Subject The proposed Bosnian Serb referendum on the state-level judiciary. Significance The Serb-dominated entity of Republika Srpska (RS) is proposing a referendum challenging the authority of the Bosnia-Hercegovina (BiH) judiciary and Bosnia's weakened international supervisor, the high representative. The initiative comes amid already heightened tensions relating to the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. Such a referendum would challenge Bosnia's territorial and constitutional sovereignty. Impacts A strongly worded US embassy statement on the referendum has warned of possible legal actions against the RS leadership. The EU reaction has been softer, reflecting diverging US-EU views of the seriousness of the problem and how to resolve it. Failing agreement on a reform programme with the IMF, Bosnia's two entities must turn to private lenders to finance budget deficits.

Bosnia's politicians will not work for needed reforms

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Republika Srpska ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Social Turmoil ◽  
Political Scene ◽  
The Eu

Subject Bosnia's dysfunctional political scene. Significance Early positioning for local elections in October could further destabilise Bosnia-Hercegovina (BiH), which has been falling deeper into political, economic and social turmoil for a decade. This spells trouble for fiscal stability in particular, since both BiH 'entities' -- the Federation of BiH and Serb-dominated Republika Srpska (RS) -- face serious cash shortages and depend on a new IMF programme, which is being negotiated but requires some difficult reforms that may face serious obstacles amid electioneering. Impacts Relentless quarrels between and within the two main Bosnian Serb blocs will frustrate a deeply polarised and politicised population. Since the SDS bloc is in alliance with Bosniak and Croat parties, RS internal quarrels could spread to the state level. In the Federation, Bosniak parties' political antics could involve judicial institutions, stopping or reversing mildly positive trends. The prospect of integrating with the EU will lose its attraction as the EU's own problems accumulate.

Bosnia's paralysed institutions add to sense of chaos

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Local Elections ◽  
State Budget ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Level Government ◽  
Political Disputes

Significance Intensified political disputes between the main parties are holding up the state budget for 2020, including funding for local elections in November. They also threaten to weaken the response to the looming socio-economic crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic. Impacts The US entry ban on former senior SDA member Amir Zukic is seen as an attempt to persuade the party to behave more responsibly. The EU is in a contest with China, Russia and Turkey to retain influence in the region. Pre-election positioning may explain the defection of Fahrudin Radoncic’s Union for a Better Future party from the state-level government.

The impact of labor freedom on geographic cost of living differentials

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-395
Author(s):  
Richard Cebula ◽  
James E. Payne ◽  
Donnie Horner ◽  
Robert Boylan
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Annual Data ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Cost Of Living ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of labor market freedom on state-level cost of living differentials in the USA using cross-sectional data for 2016 after allowing for the impacts of economic and quality of life factors. Design/methodology/approach The study uses two-stage least squares estimation controlling for factors contributing to cost of living differences across states. Findings The results reveal that an increase in labor market freedom reduces the overall cost of living. Research limitations/implications The study can be extended using panel data and alternative measures of labor market freedom. Practical implications In general, the finding that less intrusive government and greater labor freedom are associated with a reduced cost of living should not be surprising. This is because less government intrusion and greater labor freedom both inherently allow markets to be more efficient in the rationalization of and interplay with forces of supply and demand. Social implications The findings of this and future related studies could prove very useful to policy makers and entrepreneurs, as well as small business owners and public corporations of all sizes – particularly those considering either location in, relocation to, or expansion into other markets within the USA. Furthermore, the potential benefits of the National Right-to-Work Law currently under consideration in Congress could add cost of living reductions to the debate. Originality/value The authors extend the literature on cost of living differentials by investigating whether higher amounts of state-level labor market freedom act to reduce the states’ cost of living using the most recent annual data available (2016). That labor freedom has a systemic efficiency impact on the state-level cost of living is a significant finding. In our opinion, it is likely that labor market freedom is increasing the efficiency of labor market transactions in the production and distribution of goods and services, and acts to reduce the cost of living in states. In addition, unlike previous related studies, the authors investigate the impact of not only overall labor market freedom on the state-level cost of living, but also how the three sub-indices of labor market freedom, as identified and measured by Stansel et al. (2014, 2015), impact the cost of living state by state.

Legislative discrepancies: an analysis of Missouri’s current human trafficking laws and the need to improve its legal protection of victims

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-158
Author(s):  
Rachel Kappler ◽  
Arduizur Carli Richie-Zavaleta
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Safe Harbor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa

Purpose Human trafficking (HT) is a local, national and international problem with a range of human rights, public health and policy implications. Victims of HT face atrocious abuses that negatively impact their health outcomes. When a state lacks protective laws, such as Safe Harbor laws, victims of HT tend to be seen as criminals. This paper aims to highlight the legal present gaps within Missouri’s anti-trafficking legislation and delineates recommendations for the legal protection of victims of HT and betterment of services needed for their reintegration and healing. Design/methodology/approach This case-study is based on a policy analysis of current Missouri’s HT laws. This analysis was conducted through examining current rankings systems created by nationally and internationally recognized non-governmental organizations as well as governmental reports. Additionally, other state’s best practice and law passage of Safe Harbor legislations were examined. The recommendations were based on human rights and public health frameworks. Findings Missouri is a state that has yet to upgrade its laws lately to reflect Safe Harbor laws. Constant upgrades and evaluations of current efforts are necessary to protect and address HT at the state and local levels. Public health and human rights principles can assist in the upgrading of current laws as well as other states’ best-practice and integration of protective legislation and diversion programs to both youth and adult victims of HT. Research limitations/implications Laws are continually being updated at the state level; therefore, there might be some upgrades that have taken place after the analysis of this case study was conducted. Also, the findings and recommendations of this case study are limited to countries that are similar to the USA in terms of the state-level autonomy to pass laws independently from federal law. Practical implications If Safe Harbor laws are well designed, they have greater potential to protect, support and assist victims of HT in their process from victimization into survivorship as well as to paving the way for societal reintegration. The creation and enforcement of Safe Harbor laws is a way to ensure the decriminalization process. Additionally, this legal protection also ensures that the universal human rights of victims are protected. Consequently, these legal processes and updates could assist in creating healthier communities in the long run in the USA and around the world. Social implications From a public health and human rights perspectives, communities in the USA and around the world cannot provide complete protection to victims of HT until their anti-trafficking laws reflect Safe Harbor laws. Originality/value This case study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, is a unique analysis that dismantles the discrepancies of Missouri’s current HT laws. This work is valuable to those who create policies at the state level and advocate for the protection of victims and anti-trafficking efforts.

Local corruption and local stock returns

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1065-1077
Author(s):  
Serkan Karadas ◽  
William McAndrew ◽  
Minh Tam Tammy Schlosky
Keyword(s):  
Stock Returns ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Market Size ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Local Stock

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of corruption on stock returns in the USA. In particular, this study examines the relationship between corruption in a state (i.e. local corruption) and stock returns of firms headquartered in that state (i.e. local returns). Design/methodology/approach This paper uses the Fama–MacBeth two-step regressions. In the first step, the authors estimate the coefficients on the market, size, value and momentum factors for individual stocks. In the second step, they use those coefficients along with the corruption score of the state where stocks are headquartered to explain stock returns. Findings This paper finds that corruption in a state adversely affects stock returns of firms headquartered in that state. It further documents that the effect of corruption on stock returns is limited to geographically concentrated firms. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to document the effect of state-level corruption on individual stock returns in the USA using the Fama–MacBeth regressions. This study contributes to the literature by documenting the effect of local corruption on local stock returns in a low corruption country.

Overreliance on IMF forecasts for India is ill-advised

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Markets ◽  
Credit Ratings ◽  
The State ◽  
Capital Flight ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sovereign Credit ◽  
Sovereign Credit Ratings ◽  
The Imf ◽  
Growth Forecasts

Subject IMF projections on India's GDP growth between 2006 and 2013. Significance In October 2014, the IMF forecast India's GDP growth at 5.6% and 6.4% in 2014 and 2015 respectively, compared with 5.0% in 2013. Since such growth forecasts increasingly dominate discussions on the state of an economy and influence financial markets, serious questions arise about their accuracy -- and therefore their utility. Impacts Should IMF expectations of India's revival be frustrated, the Fund will call for further reform. In that case, IMF projections will be revised down, exacerbating capital flight risk. IMF projections carry more risks than benefits for countries, especially since they shape sovereign credit ratings.

Montenegro election affords mandate for pro-EU policy

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Positive Sign ◽  
Municipal Elections ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Policy ◽  
Election Result ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Yugoslav Republic ◽  
Republika Srpska ◽  
The Eu

Subject The Montenegrin strongman’s comfortable win in the presidential election on April 15. Significance Veteran Balkan survivor Milo Djukanovic secured nearly 54% of the votes in the first round, thus avoiding the need for a run-off. He has been the dominant figure in the former Yugoslav republic since the mid-1990s. Still only 56, he looks set to continue to steer Montenegro towards or even into the EU; the target accession date is 2025. Impacts After its Montenegrin setback, Moscow will try to maximise its influence in Serbia and in Bosnia-Hercegovina’s Serb entity Republika Srpska. The EU will take the election result as a rare positive sign these days that the Union is still a pole of attraction. Djukanovic’s win strengthens the position of his party for the municipal elections next month.

The impact of strategy on public sector set-aside programs: the case of the state of Ohio

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Y. Blount ◽  
Jay Seetharaman ◽  
Trevor L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Program Implementation ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Implementation Strategy ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
State Agencies ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Program Strategy ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of program strategy on the implementation of the efficacy of a procurement set-aside program at the state level. Design/methodology/approach This study examines the impact of program implementation strategy across two administrations considering the most compelling alternative arguments for what drives agency purchasing through contracts with MBEs. Findings The results of mixed effects linear regression models on the procurement expenditures of 70 state agencies in Ohio from 2008-2015 show significantly higher rates of procurement expenditures with MBEs under the Kasich administration. Originality/value These results provide support for the argument that changes in program implementation strategy led to substantive increases in the use of MBEs by state agencies in Ohio.

scholarly journals France

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Skorupska
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
The Eu

The main objective of this chapter is to characterise the activities between French regions and Chinese provinces or cities – their intensity, scopes, advantages and obstacles. Besides, as the context for the paradiplomacy, a broader perspective is briefly introduced focusing on the bilateral state, economic and social relations. An important question arises as to whether the relations at the state level correlate with the relations at the lower, regional, level. Taking the broader perspective into account, it is worth evaluating how the EU-China relation and the internal situation of China influence paradiplomacy.

Election will not tip Moldova towards Russia or the EU

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Presidential Election ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Socialist Party ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Internal Struggle ◽  
The Eu ◽  
The Imf

Subject Moldova's presidential election. Significance Socialist Party (PSRM) leader Igor Dodon came out of the October 30 presidential election with a nine-point lead on Maia Sandu, a reformist, pro-EU candidate, but not the 50% of the vote he needed to avoid a run-off on November 13. The ballot has been portrayed as a battle to decide whether Moldova aligns itself with Moscow or Europe, but it is more of an internal struggle to gain influence and capture the support of an electorate angry at poor and corrupt governance. Impacts Either candidate will seek IMF and EU funding to prop up the ailing economy. Moscow will seek to exploit a Dodon victory or limit the damage from a Sandu win. Russia would struggle to match the financial incentives offered by the IMF and EU.

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