Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

A growing impact evaluation literature on antipoverty transfer programmes in low- and middle-income countries measures changes in utilitarian terms, at their unit value. The paper argues that valuing antipoverty transfers is more appropriately done within a framework of prioritarian social welfare functions, as the very presence of these programmes indicates that polities place a greater value on gains and losses among the disadvantaged. The paper applies this framework to the Senior Citizen Grant in Uganda, including survey and experimental work throwing light on social preferences for redistribution. It finds that default utilitarian valuation significantly underestimates the social value of transfer programmes.

A growing impact evaluation literature on antipoverty transfer programmes in low- and middle-income countries measures changes in utilitarian terms, at their unit value. The paper argues that valuing antipoverty transfers is more appropriately done within a framework of prioritarian social welfare functions, as the very presence of these programmes indicates that polities place a greater value on gains and losses among the disadvantaged. The paper applies this framework to the Senior Citizen Grant in Uganda, including survey and experimental work throwing light on social preferences for redistribution. It finds that default utilitarian valuation significantly underestimates the social value of transfer programmes.

A growing impact evaluation literature on antipoverty transfer programmes in low- and middle-income countries measures changes in utilitarian terms, at their unit value. The paper argues that valuing antipoverty transfers is more appropriately done within a framework of prioritarian social welfare functions, as the very presence of these programmes indicates that polities place a greater value on gains and losses among the disadvantaged. The paper applies this framework to the Senior Citizen Grant in Uganda, including survey and experimental work throwing light on social preferences for redistribution. It finds that default utilitarian valuation significantly underestimates the social value of transfer programmes.

The dataset presented in this article contains information about marine Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) used to assess their contribution to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Following the scope of the analysis, ABMTs were identified by scrutinizing international and regional legal sources related to ocean management in the fields of marine conservation, fisheries, deep sea bed mining, underwater natural and cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and marine spatial planning. Legal sources were screened to depict the following characteristics of individual ABMTs: i) management objectives; ii) authorities responsible for delivering such objectives; iii) the system of management and planning entailed in the ABMT including the zoning type; and iv) the specific spatial scope and domain each ABMT refer to in vertical depth and horizontal domain. Data were generated through an internal expert elicitation. Experts, initially trained in the data analysis and related protocol, contributed to the data production because of their specific knowledge and experience in ocean management. This dataset represents a unique source of information for advancing research about monitoring and assessment of the achievement of sustainable development goals that encompasses different types of ABMTs.

The dataset presented in this article contains information about marine Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) used to assess their contribution to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Following the scope of the analysis, ABMTs were identified by scrutinizing international and regional legal sources related to ocean management in the fields of marine conservation, fisheries, deep sea bed mining, underwater natural and cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and marine spatial planning. Legal sources were screened to depict the following characteristics of individual ABMTs: i) management objectives; ii) authorities responsible for delivering such objectives; iii) the system of management and planning entailed in the ABMT including the zoning type; and iv) the specific spatial scope and domain each ABMT refer to in vertical depth and horizontal domain. Data were generated through an internal expert elicitation. Experts, initially trained in the data analysis and related protocol, contributed to the data production because of their specific knowledge and experience in ocean management. This dataset represents a unique source of information for advancing research about monitoring and assessment of the achievement of sustainable development goals that encompasses different types of ABMTs.

The dataset presented in this article contains information about marine Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) used to assess their contribution to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Following the scope of the analysis, ABMTs were identified by scrutinizing international and regional legal sources related to ocean management in the fields of marine conservation, fisheries, deep sea bed mining, underwater natural and cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and marine spatial planning. Legal sources were screened to depict the following characteristics of individual ABMTs: i) management objectives; ii) authorities responsible for delivering such objectives; iii) the system of management and planning entailed in the ABMT including the zoning type; and iv) the specific spatial scope and domain each ABMT refer to in vertical depth and horizontal domain. Data were generated through an internal expert elicitation. Experts, initially trained in the data analysis and related protocol, contributed to the data production because of their specific knowledge and experience in ocean management. This dataset represents a unique source of information for advancing research about monitoring and assessment of the achievement of sustainable development goals that encompasses different types of ABMTs.

This study explores the contribution of quality infrastructure (QI) to the development of a green economy (GE) using the example of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It is part of the project Promotion of innovation in the green economy by including quality infrastructure, which the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) implemented on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) from December 2015 to July 2019. Project partners were the regional organizations of the quality infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean (COPANT, IAAC and SIM).

This study explores the contribution of quality infrastructure (QI) to the development of a green economy (GE) using the example of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It is part of the project Promotion of innovation in the green economy by including quality infrastructure, which the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) implemented on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) from December 2015 to July 2019. Project partners were the regional organizations of the quality infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean (COPANT, IAAC and SIM).

This study explores the contribution of quality infrastructure (QI) to the development of a green economy (GE) using the example of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It is part of the project Promotion of innovation in the green economy by including quality infrastructure, which the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) implemented on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) from December 2015 to July 2019. Project partners were the regional organizations of the quality infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean (COPANT, IAAC and SIM).

The COVID-19 crisis has hit the region at a time when many economies have already been limping their way through a wide range of long-standing downturns, structural problems and fragilities. Following a series of largescale protests in 2011 calling for economic and political reforms, countries such as Libya, Syria and Yemen have slid into civil armed conflicts, leading to destruction, high death tolls, and humanitarian and refugee crises which spill over into their neighbouring States. Most middle-income countries have all suffered episodes of political instability. Oil-dependent economies, such as Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have been struck by the 2014 oil price free fall – the result of surplus supply and fading demand.
The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in terms of the danger it poses to health globally. Most countries – including Arab countries – have introduced full or partial lockdown measures to save lives. But protecting human life has had an economic cost in terms of slowed growth and productivity, massive job losses, enterprise closures and broken value chains.
Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account on average for over 90 percent of all enterprises in the region and provide a major source of new job creation, thus occupying a central role in the economies and livelihoods. These MSMEs have been disproportionately affected by the crisis. This paper examines these effects.

The COVID-19 crisis has hit the region at a time when many economies have already been limping their way through a wide range of long-standing downturns, structural problems and fragilities. Following a series of largescale protests in 2011 calling for economic and political reforms, countries such as Libya, Syria and Yemen have slid into civil armed conflicts, leading to destruction, high death tolls, and humanitarian and refugee crises which spill over into their neighbouring States. Most middle-income countries have all suffered episodes of political instability. Oil-dependent economies, such as Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have been struck by the 2014 oil price free fall – the result of surplus supply and fading demand.
The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in terms of the danger it poses to health globally. Most countries – including Arab countries – have introduced full or partial lockdown measures to save lives. But protecting human life has had an economic cost in terms of slowed growth and productivity, massive job losses, enterprise closures and broken value chains.
Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account on average for over 90 percent of all enterprises in the region and provide a major source of new job creation, thus occupying a central role in the economies and livelihoods. These MSMEs have been disproportionately affected by the crisis. This paper examines these effects.

The COVID-19 crisis has hit the region at a time when many economies have already been limping their way through a wide range of long-standing downturns, structural problems and fragilities. Following a series of largescale protests in 2011 calling for economic and political reforms, countries such as Libya, Syria and Yemen have slid into civil armed conflicts, leading to destruction, high death tolls, and humanitarian and refugee crises which spill over into their neighbouring States. Most middle-income countries have all suffered episodes of political instability. Oil-dependent economies, such as Algeria, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have been struck by the 2014 oil price free fall – the result of surplus supply and fading demand.
The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented in terms of the danger it poses to health globally. Most countries – including Arab countries – have introduced full or partial lockdown measures to save lives. But protecting human life has had an economic cost in terms of slowed growth and productivity, massive job losses, enterprise closures and broken value chains.
Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account on average for over 90 percent of all enterprises in the region and provide a major source of new job creation, thus occupying a central role in the economies and livelihoods. These MSMEs have been disproportionately affected by the crisis. This paper examines these effects.

Turkey has had few strong and enduring international alliances. Its ambiguous standing between rich “Northern” and poor “Southern” countries is part of a constellation that has prompted feelings of loneliness and misfit among Turkish officials. While shaped by Turkish particularities, however, these experiences also reflect a recent trend in which an increasing number of countries face uncertain and shifting global positions.

Turkey has had few strong and enduring international alliances. Its ambiguous standing between rich “Northern” and poor “Southern” countries is part of a constellation that has prompted feelings of loneliness and misfit among Turkish officials. While shaped by Turkish particularities, however, these experiences also reflect a recent trend in which an increasing number of countries face uncertain and shifting global positions.

Turkey has had few strong and enduring international alliances. Its ambiguous standing between rich “Northern” and poor “Southern” countries is part of a constellation that has prompted feelings of loneliness and misfit among Turkish officials. While shaped by Turkish particularities, however, these experiences also reflect a recent trend in which an increasing number of countries face uncertain and shifting global positions.