Month: June 2019

BDI’s CORRELATION WITH LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Theodore PELAGIDIS

Professor, University of Piraeus & NR Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, US. 21, Lambraki Ave.,GR-18533

pelagidi@unipi.gr

Evgenia TSAHALI

University of Piraeus,

evgtsahali@yahoo.gr

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the correlation between the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) and certain leading economic indicators. We follow a different path than the existing literature follows. In particular, using a multi-linear regression method and defining the BDI index as a dependent variable, we seek to determine the multiple relations of the independent variables regarding the BDI value. We are looking at whether the BDI is a representative indicator not only for the shipping industry itself, but also for the whole economic and financial environment in which the shipping industry operates.

Keywords: Transportation Economics, General Financial Markets, Financial Securities

JEL classification: R4, R42, G1

DEVELOPMENT AND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY STRATEGIES IN BRAZIL: CASE STUDIES

Kátia SANTOS

PhD. University of the State of Amapa/Researcher of the Study Group on Educational Policy and Management, Brazil

katia.santos@ueap.edu.br

Hermínia GONÇALVES

PhD. Assistant Professor at Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), and Senior researcher at Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD), Vila Real, Portugal

hgoncalves@utad.pt

Teresa SEQUEIRA

PhD. Assistant Professor at Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), and Senior researcher at CETRAD, Vila Real, Portugal

tsequeir@utad.pt

Francisco DINIZ

PhD. Associate Professor with Abilitation retired from UTAD, and Senior researcher at CETRAD, Vila Real, Portugal

fdiniz@utad.pt

Abstract

The solidarity economy is guided by the guidelines of sustainable development, presenting the principles of self-management (as a mechanism for valuing freedom), equality between members and the exaltation of solidarity. This article aimed to analyze the development of income generating activities based on solidarity economy strategies, explaining individual and territorial impacts in the State of Amapá, located in the extreme north of Brazil, in order to show the main state development policies adopted. We used a qualitative research, with the selection of four projects for case studies, in order to measure the main advances and challenges that are required in the segment, as well as the impacts of the development policies to the solidarity economy in the projects studied. This study identified the need for restructuring in the formats of management policies of government agencies, which should operate in a harmonious and articulated way, but rather act in isolation and without effective communication between them, impairing the quality and result of the services offered. With regard to the impacts of the solidarity economy for the enterprises, it was verified that the activities investigated achieved financial return, which could be substantially intensified, if there was a better structuring in the development policies.

Keywords: Development, Solidary Economy, Public policy, State of Amapá

JEL classification: R58, L31, I38
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THE LABOUR MARKET IMPACT IN THE DOURO VITICULTURE: A FUZZY CLUSTER DISTRIBUTION APPROACH

Cátia SANTOS

Research fellow. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) and Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD)

cisantos@utad.pt

Aníbal GALINDRO

Research fellow. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) and Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD)

anibalg@utad.pt

Ana MARTA-COSTA

Corresponding author. Assistant Professor. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) and Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD), Portugal, www.utad.pt

amarta@utad.pt

Abstract

Demography and the labour market dynamics are recognized as a key factor for the development of a region. Performing labour market insights can be even more disjointed on mountain and steep slope regions where the hand labour is usually sparse and scarce. This study intends to find the labour influence into the core variables of a vineyard productive system such as production or overall revenues and realize their importance in the sustainability of the Douro region. Simultaneously, the sensibility of each variable upon external shocks was determined. The data was collected performing face-to-face inquiries directly from 50 Douro vine-farms and the Fuzzy Average with Fuzzy Cluster Distribution methodology was used for rank the variables. The results have shown that the labour costs seem to be the most influential variable on the vineyard production followed up by the steepness and terrain orientation. Nonetheless, the familiar labour also gains some prominence when the revenues are selected as the core variable. This study showed that the labour force plays an important role on the grape farm output and due to the current demographic trend in the region, the hand labour availability might be an alarming problem that threatens the sustainability of the Douro.

Keywords: Douro Region, fuzzy cluster distribution, labour influence, population dynamics, sustainable development

JEL classification: J43, Q12, Q19
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