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Features, Interviews, Music February 13, 2020 February 13, 2020
An Endless Night Through 'Marigold': A Conversation with Pinegrove
by James Crowley
Pinegrove © Caroline Tompkins
In this lengthy discussion, Atwood Magazine speaks to Pinegrove's Evan Stephens Hall about the band's ambitious Pinetabs project, changing songs on tour, and their excellent fourth album, 'Marigold'.
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Stream: 'Marigold' – Pinegrove
From heartfelt outpourings to the subtlest shades of intentionality and everything in between, New Jersey's Pinegrove have always had a way of keeping their fans on the edge of their seats. Throughout their fourth full-length album, the band branch off with their most diverse and thoughtful music yet.
Marigold – Pinegrove
Released January 17 via Rough Trade Records, Marigold sees the New Jersey band exploring the punk and alt-country elements that defined their breakthrough success Cardinal in full force, while also veering more into indie rock territory.
"Trying to squeeze this collection of tracks into any specific genre box is, for all intents and purposes, pointless," wrote Atwood Magazine's Bethan Harper last month. "The album takes inspiration from '90s alt-rock, folk, country and pop to create music that is wistful, vibrant, nostalgic and forward-looking all at once. It may be difficult to pigeonhole Marigold, but one thing is for sure: Pinegrove have created a thought-provoking reconciliation album that has set them up to continue as the incredibly talented touring band that they have always been."
Singer-guitarist Evan Stephens Hall wants to bring a sense of unity through his music, and through live shows and projects like Pinetabs, Pinegrove certainly succeed. Marigold is an extension of that feeling.
Pinetabs is an ongoing effort to make every Pinegrove song available for any person who may want to play them. While the project is a sense of Hall saying, "These songs belong to anyone," it was also an interesting experiment, where every track was released from Marigold in tablature form prior to the album's release. "For anybody that took a crack at those songs, they had to be making decisions that a songwriter makes," Hall told Atwood Magazine.
It's impossible to write about Pinegrove without discussing the context surrounding their last album, Skylight. In November 2017, Hall wrote a lengthy but vague Facebook post where he ousted himself for sexual coercion. Both Pitchfork and The New Yorker published in-depth pieces that handle the issue well and sensitively. These articles detail the experiences and Hall's anonymous accuser requesting that the band delay the release of Skylight and take a year off touring, and for Hall to enter therapy. "He really had no control over me," his accuser told The New Yorker. "But, in the bubble of tour, I really felt like he did." Hall has since spoken about acknowledging his position of privilege and power.
"I perhaps naïvely thought there was no power structure there," he told The New Yorker.
Over the course of our interview, the accusations brought against Hall did not come up; with Pitchfork and The New Yorker's in-depth reporting, our editorial staff did not feel like we could add enough to that conversation to do it justice, especially without the resources to contact Hall's accuser.
Atwood Magazine spoke to Pinegrove's Evan Stephens Hall about Marigold, changing songs live, and geometry.
Pinegrove Touch on Themes of Isolation & Monotony in 4th Album 'Marigold'
:: REVIEW ::
A CONVERSATION WITH PINEGROVE
Atwood Magazine: Something that I've found consistent with Pinegrove albums is that genre is fluid. Going from DIY/punk/emo to a more straightforward indie rock band on Cardinal and Skylight, but Marigold has more elements of punk, jam bands, and country incorporated. Can you talk a little bit about how genre plays into Pinegrove?
Pinegrove: We're just coming from a place of making music that we want to hear, and we like all those genres that you mentioned. To create the music that's very particular to our ears involves taking what we like from a lot of different styles. From a composition perspective, we're not ever writing to a genre.
As I'm saying that, I'm realizing, well okay, sometimes if we're trying to communicate a sound or an idea or something, we might refer to a genre or to something within a genre to make our point, in the rehearsal or arrangement space. Respectfully, I think that's more of a question for music journalists. I like reading about music a lot, and I think the question of genre is a really interesting one. It involves the type of essentialization that is not really part of the composition process.
It's not necessarily sitting down thinking, "We want to write a song that sounds like a punk song or a country song."
Pinegrove: Totally, but we will say, "We want to get heavy in this section. We want to obliterate. We want to go as dark as possible, or we want to be really nimble here." We might say "twangy," but that's a little cart before the horse. Genre and conversations about genre tend to be for describing music that already exists, but it doesn't feel all that relevant to me in the process of composing or arranging.
Can you tell me more about the writing process for Marigold in particular?
Pinegrove: I don't think I was doing anything all that different, as far as what my routine was. This one happened more quickly than others did. When I'm writing, I'm trying to open up a space for myself that feels comfortable whatever's ping-ponging around in my brain. That space is centered in empathy and compassion and introspection, just trying my best to spelunk in my brain and find whatever it is I'm thinking about or feeling. That's usually a place to start, but I do my best to stay out of my own way as much as possible and try to listen to what the song wants to do, and take cues from that. So, I can reinforce the song's message.
Maybe a better way to say that, that's slightly less esoteric, slightly more true to what my actual procedure is. I'm just looking for opportunities to make connections for different parts of the song to speak to each other. For different songs on the album to speak to one another. Try to create a unified message, one where the brushstrokes are pointing toward something bigger.
In the time that Skylight was delayed, were you working on this album?
Pinegrove: Yeah, absolutely.
When Skylight came out were you itching to play these?
Pinegrove: Yeah, and we did do a few [laughs]. If you've seen Pinegrove live before Skylight came out, you would've seen us play a bunch of the songs from Skylight too. A lot of bands do like to test out material on the road. Radiohead is a perfect example. They would just go on tour with a new batch of songs before they even recorded the album. I think that's a smart way to do it. Animal Collective too would frequently just play all new material.
It's interesting. There's something a little antagonistic, at least to our expectations of what a concert should be. I'm thinking back to when my dad saw Bob Dylan play in Montclair, [New Jersey] at a minor league baseball stadium. The massive takeaway from that was "Wow, he played a lot of songs I wanted to hear, but he completely altered the melodies. It was like new songs." For some people, that was disappointing. I think it's artistically interesting to play with expectations like that. On one hand, to fulfill expectations and on the other, to subvert them, and playing with that line. I know I'm kind of going on a tangent here.
I feel like as a fan, when I go to see an artist, I want it to sound like the record, but I also want it to be slightly different and better than the record, but I also have friends that are into jam bands that want the shows to be different every single time.
Pinegrove: I think that our method nods to both of those camps. You will see the main melody, the primary melody, the one that people are expecting, the one that's on the record will be in the forefront, but I also like to improvise on that. There's an interesting problem that I've come up against, which is that: if people are singing along, there's something that feels slightly rude about changing the melody on people who are singing. I feel conflicted about my impulse to improvise and wanting to inspire community, and it's sort of funny that those two things are at odds, because they really have nothing to do with each other.
I feel like acknowledging it creates a different sense of community. Once I was at a show in the front row and the lead singer changed a line, as I was singing along, but we made eye contact as I was singing along, and he giggled, and that's a cool little moment, even though I wasn't singing the right words.
Pinegrove: What would you think if that singer had said something to the effect of, "I love it when you sing along. I'm gonna change this one up a little bit." Do you think that would prevent people from singing or what would happen if he gave you the cue that something was going to change?
Pinegrove: Giving away the punchline?
If I just heard, "We're gonna change this up a little bit," I would think, "what exactly is going to change?" which doesn't necessarily mean the melody. Interestingly, the two times I've seen Pinegrove, once was an acoustic set at my college, and the other was full band right after Cardinal had come out, so you had the full band, but it was night and day experiences.
Pinegrove: We do try to make an experience for anybody who's coming to see us. I think the re-arrangements that we tend to be more of a change in feel or tempo or dynamics, more than something that we might consider the signature of the song itself, which dovetails nicely with what we were trying to do with the Pinetabs project.
That was actually going to be my next question. For readers who may not know, can you explain Pinetabs?
Pinegrove: That's coming from a place of wanting our songs to be available to anybody who wants to play them. I consider them folk songs or pop songs for the people. We've been embarking on a project that was going to make available all of the chord charts and tabs for all of our songs. We're about halfway through at this point.
We were working on Marigold to have them ready to come out along with the release. We were thinking, "Wouldn't it be strange if we did it before it was released?" Some context there: Tablature is a notational system that relies partly on having heard the songs, because there's no rhythmic notation. It's just chords and lyrics and the relationships between the chords and the lyrics.
To give people just the chords and the lyrics without any other notation-melody, for instance, was completely absent. That turns out to be delightfully abstract. For anybody that took a crack at those songs, they had to be making decisions that a songwriter makes, when they're writing a song: phrasing, when to change the chord, what type of mood they're after, and most importantly, the melody.
We had a really diverse range of submissions that taught me more what the spirit of the project was. When we were just imagining it, it was tough to know how people would react. We were really psyched on how many people had submissions. It was really great.
Did any of the submissions influence the way that you've thought about playing them live?
Pinegrove: That's a good question. Not specifically, but it has got me thinking-so I'm writing a new batch of songs now. It's given me a little bit more freedom. If there's a certain section that's not quite working, but I'm very attached to how that goes.
As a writer, you probably will sometimes be working with a paragraph, and it's like "I know this isn't quite right," but it's so hard to imagine it any other way. Without completely re-tooling the paragraph before and the paragraph after, and then ultimately, the entire piece. It can be the same with songs.
I'm reminded that actually there is no limit to the amount of ways this could go. There's no better lesson for a songwriter to learn that you can really keep going until you're just totally happy with it. There's no reason to settle for anything that doesn't completely let your mind up.
Were there any that you were especially impressed with?
Pinegrove: I think my favorite one was by francisofdelirium. She did a faster, more angular version of "Alcove," and I sometimes get that melody stuck in my head. I might want to do a cover of that.
A cover of a cover! Two of my favorite songs on the record were "Phase" and "No Drugs." Would you mind talking about the writing and recording process of those?
Pinegrove: Maybe I'll start with "No Drugs." We tried that one for Skylight, but it didn't quite work out. I think that more than anything, it just didn't work with the batch of songs. When we were trying to find a good place for it in the sequence, we just couldn't!
For me, and for a lot of the band, we work based on how the song makes us feel, like how enthusiastic we are to work on it. We don't try to treat the songs diplomatically or evenly. We work on whatever we want to work on, and whatever we don't want to work on, we take that as a signal that maybe there's something wrong with it. Maybe it needs more work, ironically.
The process is similar for developing a sequence. Every song should be vying for first place in a way. We want them all to be equally good, even though they're all playing different roles. We discovered that "No Drugs" wasn't going to be part of [Skylight], and it moved straight into this other batch, quite seamlessly. It found a better home there. We were able to do a more lively arrangement this time around. Sometimes, it just takes a year or two to have more perspective on a song. I was really happy to have learned the lesson of patience with that one.
It's one that I learn again and again. Like "New Friends" took so long to write.
That was included on Everything So Far before it was on Cardinal correct?
Pinegrove: Yes, but it's the same recording actually. The conversation there was basically, if we just put that out as a single, then we can introduce listeners to-I don't know [laughs]. The case was made, and I agreed.
Everything So Far was put together after Cardinal was finished, and I was already starting to write Skylight, weirdly enough. So, "Angelina, which was intended for Skylight, we decided to put the demo of that on Everything So Far. So, that was the first song that I wrote after Cardinal, but Everything So Far came out before Cardinal came out, because it was just a cassette release initially and vinyl takes forever to produce.
Back to "No Drugs:" I wrote that song from the perspective of trying to challenge myself to lead a more intentional life. I have struggled with my relationship to drugs and alcohol, really trying to figure out if there's any way that benefits me or not. Right now, I'm in the not camp. I'm not using any of that stuff, and it's actually going very well.
It's good creatively too. I didn't really expect that. I think that I'd been using especially weed and alcohol as a creative crutch. They were part of the process. They were baked in, so to speak, and that wasn't serving me anymore. I had to acknowledge that, and that's been tough. It took me a long time. I'm still early on in the process.
I think another reason that "No Drugs" didn't make it was that I wasn't there yet. It was a song written from the perspective of the future sort of, and I hadn't caught up yet.
That's an important one to me. I hope that anybody who's struggling with something similar might find something helpful in it.
Well, I think that's why it spoke to me. (laughs)
Pinegrove: I'm happy that you found something in it. That's a song about patience. Patience is a theme on the album. It's a song about patience and memory, the experience of time, humility to understand that we don't really have that much control over exterior circumstances. Those are all related and considered on this album. Those are the questions I'm trying to ask. "No Drugs" really does typify a lot of those inquiries.
For "Phase:" Marigold is a "concept album." They all are. I think it's impossible to avoid writing a concept album, because an album, by definition, is just songs that are collected together. That involves some decision, and what songs have you decided to add? What are you leaving off? We're culling from infinity. You can make any song you want. You can make any album you want. So, why has this or that songwriter chosen to put all these songs together? There's gotta be some conceptual linking. Some albums are like short story collections. Some are like novels. Some are somewhere in between. I'd argue that my albums are somewhere in between.
One seam throughout the album is that the first-person character, which is some sort of exaggerated or essentialized version of myself, but is not myself exactly, because I am not a song. I'm a person with skin and bones and blood and organs and oxygen coming in and carbon dioxide coming out.
Within the album, there's this one endless night that's referred to over the course of a few different songs. Some retrospectively and some in the moment, and "Phase" is the song that is supposed to be what that night is like, and "Endless" is referring to the endless night. The first line of "Phase:" That night when I lifted my head up. That's what I'm referring to. So, I'm trying to connect the dotted line on "Endless" here. They should be in conversation. With "Phase," I've zeroed in on this night and want to talk for the length of the song what that night was like.
It's a song about night time anxiety, about little anxious versions of yourself marching around on your pillow, looking around your room, seeing stacks of books you should've read by now, seeing a pile of clean but unfolded laundry. Making a list of things you should be doing besides sleeping or stuff that you're anxious about, accumulating in list form. There's some half-dream, hallucinatory second verse: The bramble scratching at the window/The silver shining on the thorns. Everything is a little extreme there, kind of how the moon can haunt your consciousness.
More than anything, I'm excited to point out its relationship to "Endless" and to "Dotted Line." I kind of see it as the centerpiece from a narrative perspective of the album.
Do you feel like often you write songs to connect together in that way?
Pinegrove: Yes, but the honest answer involves that I'm just looking for opportunities wherever I can find them. It's not that I started out thinking that I wanted them to connect in that particular way and was seeking a way to do it. It was more that at a certain point, I saw that these themes were re-emerging in the work, and at that point, you have two choices: you could say, "Well no, that's redundant and I don't want repeated images" or you could link it in a more intentional or deliberate-feeling way.
It's all an illusion right? There are things going on that are intentional. There are things going on that I haven't noticed yet, but some part of my brain did, and there's other things that are just accidental. I think as the listener, you have to assume that it's all intentional, and I want to give the impression that it's connected thematically on purpose. I think that engenders trust in the listener that they say, "Okay, this songwriter knows what they're doing, and they're a trustworthy guide to take me through whatever they want to take me through as a listener."
When Skylight was released you didn't tour in a traditional sense, right? It was more just a handful of shows?
Pinegrove: Yeah, we did like five shows on the east coast to see how it would feel.
But there is a big tour for Marigold. Are you excited to tour in a more traditional sense this time and what is it like doing small batches of shows rather than a big traditional tour?
Pinegrove: That's a good question. I think when you're on a tour, you are able to build up a little bit more momentum. We're trying every single time to make the show unique. So, the goal is the same, but I think when we're on longer tours, we're able to get the momentum-I'm trying to avoid the phrase "Get in the groove." I don't really like that, but y'know toboggan productively towards good performance. [laughs]
Right - get in the groove, so to speak.
Pinegrove: Yeah, so to speak! Sit in the pocket. I'm excited, and I love the west coast so much, and what better time to visit than February? We live in upstate New York, so we're eager to get out.
The last question I wanted to ask is: What's up with you guys and rectangles?
Pinegrove: I see rectangles as picture frames, and one question an artist is asking is: What's included and what's excluded? The picture frame is a really good shorthand for that question. When I'm talking about art, which I am a lot in my songs, the album Skylight is basically an ode to what art can do, how it can connect us, how it can let us escape for a little bit, how it can help us dig deeper into ourselves. All of these questions orbit around this one shape for me. It's a way to ask these questions quickly, without having to go into it each time.
Whenever you see a square or rectangle in our body of work, that tends to be a reference to the power of art. As such, it's a little bit of a wink. It's supposed to be a little bit playful in that way.
That's kind of what I thought. Obviously, I noticed it on Cardinal and Skylight. Then I feel like the cover for Marigold is very different but it's still a bunch of tiny squares and rectangles.
Pinegrove: Yeah, I sort of imagine we were zooming in, that this is a pixelated image of maybe the brain of the first person narrator. They're like synapses firing or something firing.
That's very interesting, because that's very different from how I interpreted it. I thought, "Oh they're zooming out, and showing more rectangles."
Pinegrove: Well, that too! It is supposed to play both ways, but it is the kind of thing like is it 12 a.m. or p.m.?
One thing I didn't mention about Marigold, which I would like to, is it's the third in a series of three. We have Cardinal the red album, Skylight the blue album, and Marigold the yellow-primary colors. My interest in primary colors and simple geometry relates to the question of inclusion or exclusion. It seems to me, the artist's job to take something from the infinite stimuli and compress it into something small. So, the constituent parts of every color we see, it's said can be broken down into red/yellow/blue. These very simple shapes are building blocks to something bigger. It's kind of a gesture towards simplicity and accessibly and also making something yourself: here are the pieces, and we have the power to express ourselves with these simple things and anybody can do it.
:: stream/purchase Marigold here ::
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📸 © Caroline Tompkins
an album by Pinegrove
James Crowley
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Home > > International Current Affairs September 2012 International Current Affairs
September 2012 International Current Affairs
Author : Kennice
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September 2012, International Current Affairs, Current Affairs
Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg appointed a 29-year-old, Hadia Tajik, a Muslim woman of Pakistani origin, as the new Culture Minister. Hadia Tajik is the first Muslim and youngest Minister ever in Norwegian political history. Ms. Tajik, who has degrees in law and journalism and has been a career politician in Norway's Labour Party, was appointed in a Cabinet reshuffle. Ms. Tajik has already declared that cultural diversity should become more integral to the life of her fellow citizens. She said her programme would focus on how this reflected on Norwegian society as a whole. Conservative elements in Norway believe that a very rapid influx of foreigners and foreign cultures has destabilised the steady and stable pattern of Norway's essentially Christian society. Last year, Anders Breivik randomly shot 69 people at a summer camp organised by the Workers` Youth League (AUF) of the Labour Party after blowing up a Norweigan state building. During his trial, Breivik reasoned that multi-cultural policies were harming Norway, adding that he considered Islam his enemy.
A Jerusalem court on 24 September, handed the former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, a $19,000 fine for graft. He just escaped the jail term. Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003, after which he served as a Cabinet Minister, holding the trade and industry portfolio as well as several others, before becoming Premier in 2006.He led the centre-right Kadima party into government, but resigned from the premiership in September 2008 after police recommended that he be indicted in several graft cases.
The three-day-long 9th World Hindi Conference concluded in Johannesburg on 25 September. India`s Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur felicitated several Hindi scholars, writers and laureates, who had gathered from different parts of the world for their contribution towards the language. Kaur jointly inaugurated the conference on September 22 and South Africa`s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.While addressing the conference, Kaur expressed gratitude for the huge success of the conference. Kaur also highlighted on the need to promote Hindi across the globe. With an estimated 200 million speakers worldwide, Hindi is among the most extensively spoken languages in the world.
China commissioned its first aircraft carrier on 25 September, The unveiling of the 300 meter-long Liaoning, a refurbished and upgraded version of the Soviet carrier Varyag which China purchased from Ukraine, came after years of sea trials and tests to fit the carrier with weapons and engines. The Liaoning was commissioned by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the port city of Dalian, the capital of the northeastern province after which the carrier is named. Defence analysts were quoted as saying by state media that the Liaoning was, however, not yet close to being put into active service with China needing to train pilots. Sources said the carrier would continue to serve "for scientific research purposes" besides military training.The commissioning of the Liaoning makes China the tenth nation to have an aircraft carrier. The development comes amid rising strains between China and Japan over the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku islands in East China Sea.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the person behind a provocative anti-Islam film, the trailer of which led to violence in parts of Asia and North Africa has been arrested on 28 September. However, his detainment was not related with that film. The California-based man who is said to have made 'Innocence of Muslims", apparently an Egyptian Coptic Christian was declared a flight risk and detained by a federal Judge Suzanne Segal. Officials said that, Primary among the charges Nakoula faces was violation of probation from a 2010 cheque fraud conviction. Following the trailer being uploaded on YouTube, violent protests broke out in parts of North Africa, including Cairo, Egypt and Benghazi, Libya. In particular, an assault by heavily-armed gunmen targeting the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi led to the death of Chris Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador. The U.S. court has ordered Nakoula to "remain in prison without bond until another judge can hold a hearing to determine if he broke the terms of his probation."
The Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan - Omar Hassan Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir Mayardit signed agreements to implement a demilitarised zone that paves the way for resumption of oil exports after a five-day summit in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Sudan's President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir said, this agreement stands as a living model for the ability of the Sudanese and African people to resolve their issues and problems through dialogue and negotiations. The resumption of oil trade is imperative for both as they rebuild their cash-starved economies after the 2011 secession of the South granted it control of most of the oil reserves but gave Sudan control of the pipelines. The centerpiece of the agreements is a 20-km wide demilitarized zone, to be monitored and patrolled by international forces, which will serve as a buffer as the neighbours demarcate an acceptable international border. Last year, tensions along the 1,800-km border sparked an armed conflict. The Presidents also signed agreements to address post-secession issues, including institutional frameworks for cross-border cooperation, central banking and the status of citizens in one country working and residing in the other. While the two countries were unable to resolve the status of Abyei, a disputed territory, the region serves as the traditional grazing grounds for the Misseriya tribes allied to the North, but is home to a settled population of the Ngok Dinka people who consider themselves South Sudanese.
French President Francois Hollande met Chancellor Angela Merkel in the southwestern German city of Ludwigsburg to celebrate an anniversary of their countries' reconciliation following the end of World War II. The leaders of France and Germany have both stressed Europe must deepen its political and economic integration to ensure peace and continuous prosperity across the continent. Europe's 17-nation currency zone is experiencing a deep crisis, Mr. Hollande said, therefore urging Germany and other nations to help "create instruments that make us stronger, the budgetary union, the banking union, the social union, a political union." Ms. Merkel said both countries will and must work together closely to strengthen Europe to weather those new challenges.
Putin advocates multiple reserve currencies
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has called for creating a system of multiple reserve currencies to strengthen global financial stability and reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar. "If we are to slash the excessive number of derivatives, enhance discipline and stabilise global finances, we should promote multiple reserve currencies," Mr. Putin said at a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Vladivostok on 8 Septemebr. He slammed the position of the U.S. dollar as the single reserve currency of the world. "If there is only one global reserve currency, the issuing country will always be tempted to use it in its selfish interests, which in the long run harms the issuer and violates the fundamental principles of the functioning of the world financial system." He said the rouble has the potential of becoming a regional reserve currency in the former Soviet Union. "Rouble can claim for the role of reserve currency . "The rouble is used more and more frequently in the settlements in the former Soviet republics". Russia in recent years has also signed agreements with India and China to use national currencies in bilateral trade deals. At their summit in New Delhi in March, the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa signed two accords to promote intra-BRICS trade in local currencies.
Finland facing ageing problem more than other EU countries:
Finland, one of the most developed models of Europe, faces a challenge to meet the needs of its ageing population while ensuring its long-term fiscal sustainability. Finland has one of the most rapidly ageing populations in Europe and the world. By 2030, Finland is projected to have 26 per cent of its population over 65 years of age. This is a figure that the UK, for example, is not due to reach until 2051, a recent study said. After 95 years of independence, the standard of living in Finland has risen considerably and in consequence brought the mortality rate down year by year. While the statistical life expectancies of men and women born in Finland towards the late 1910s were 43 years and 49 years, the respective life expectancies have today risen to 76 years for men and 83 years for women. The phenomenon faced by many European countries is being keenly debated in the country like Finland whose economic model based on the exports has been more than successful.The policy makers and the stakeholders have already turned to the solution of the problem in Finland where the retirement age is 63 years with lots of welfare mechanism in the place. The rate of mortality among children under the age of 12 months has also declined enormously in nine decades. When Finland gained independence, one child in ten in the country died in their first year of life, whereas today the infant mortality rate is under 0.5 per cent. Although the growth in life expectancy is not among the very highest in the world in Finland, the country`s infant mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world. The Internatioanl Monetary Fund (IMF) has also warned this Nordic country to mitigate expected rises in health and long-term care costs associated with population ageing. "Finland should also tighten the way benefits are paid to the elderly and unemployed until early retirement, as well as increasing the legal minimum and maximum retirement ages," the IMF said.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Elected Somalia`s New President :
Members of the recently sworn-in Somali Parliament voted on 10 September, to elect Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the country`s new President in a secret ballot held at a police academy in capital Mogadishu, marking completion of the country`s political transition process. Mohamud defeated incumbent Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in a 190-79 vote in a run-off. The outgoing President later conceded defeat in a televised national address, saying that he was "satisfied" with the results of the "just elections."The run-off was forced after none of the candidates managed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the first round of voting. Nevertheless, 18 candidates were eliminated in the first round itself. Although outgoing Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and moderate Islamist Abdulkadir Osoble qualified for the second round, they pulled out of the race after coming third and fourth respectively in the first round. Mohamud is an academic as well as a civic activist who has worked for several national and international aid and development organizations in recent years, including the UNICEF. The English as well as Somali-speaking President-elect is the Chairman of the Peace and Development Party, which he founded in 2011.
Cambridge loses top spot to MIT in world university rankings:
America`s prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology has grabbed the top slot from UK`s Cambridge University in a list of world university rankings for 2011-2012. However, UK universities have taken four of the six top slots in a global university "league table" by QS World University Rankings. With MIT leading the list, Cambridge fell to No. 2 spot and Harvard University ranked third in list of rankings. "The rise of MIT coincides with a global shift in emphasis toward science and technology," QS head of research Ben Sowter said, adding "MIT perfects a blueprint that is now being followed by a new wave of cutting-edge tech-focused institutions, especially in Asia." University College, London (UCL), Oxford and Imperial took fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively. Seventh place was awarded to Yale University. followed by University of Chicago, Princeton University and the tenth position to California Institute of Technology. Sowter warned higher fees and new visa rules could see UK universities struggle next year. Students trying to get ahead of a trebling in fees for English undergraduates had produced a surge in applications to start university in autumn 2011, Sowter told.
Chris Stevens, U.S. ambassador to Libya killed in rocket attack
The ambassador of the United States to Libya, Christopher Stevens, has been killed dulring an armed mob attack in Benghazi on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, raising fresh questions about the merits of Washington's policy of "regime change" in West Asia that followed these strikes. Mr. Stevens is the second U.S. ambassador to be killed during an outstation posting since the death of Adolph Dubs in 1979 during his tenure in Afghanistan. Reuters said three other members of the embassy staff were killed on 11 September night, as a result of a rocket attack in Benghazi.
India has highest child mortality rate in the world:
With almost 19,000 children under five years of age dying every day across the world, India tops the list of countries with the highest number of 15.55 lakh such deaths in 2011, according to a UN agency. The `Child Mortality Estimates Report 2012` released by Unicef in New York has said that in 2011, around 50 per cent of global under-five deaths occurred in just five countries of India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan and China. Incidentally, India`s toll is higher than the deaths in Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Pakistan put together. China reported 2.49 lakh deaths of under-5 kids last year, followed by 1.94 lakh by Ethiopia and 1.34 lakh each by Indonesia and Bangladesh. Uganda with 1.31 lakh such deaths and Afghanistan with 1.28 lakh deaths held the ninth and 10th position in the list of 10 top countries reporting under-five children deaths. Singapore with a mortality rate of 2.6 has the lowest under-five deaths, while Slovenia and Sweden followed it with a mortality of 2.8. Globally, the five leading causes of deaths among children under five include pneumonia (18 per cent); pre-term birth complications (14 per cent); diarrhea (11 per cent); intrapartum-related complications (9 per cent) and malaria (7 per cent). Besides, more than a third of child deaths are attributable to under nutrition globally, the report states.
Consumer cybercrime cost India $8bn in a year :
Software security services provider Norton on 12 September, said consumer cybercrime has cost the country around Rs 42,000 crore in the past 12 months, impacting 42 million people. Releasing the findings of its annual cybercrime report, it is estimated that over 42 million people fell victim to cybercrime in the past 12 months in the country, incurring around $8 billion in direct financial losses. In terms of cost, this is a full 18% increase. Against this, the global loss has been pegged at $110 billion. The study further notes that as many as 66 percent of online adults have been a victim of cybercrime in their lifetime in the country. During the past 12 months, as many as 56% of adults who go online here have experienced cybercrime — that is over 1,15,000 victims per day, 80 victims per minute and over one every second. The study is based on the findings of self-reported experiences of over 13,000 adults across 24 countries, Norton by Symantec said in a statement.
Egypt: Ex-PM Ahmed Nazif jailed for corruption:
Ahmed Nazif was the first Mubarak-era official to be prosecuted after last year`s uprising A court in Cairo has sentenced Egypt`s former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to three years in prison for corruption on 13 September. Nazif, who was Prime Minister from 2004 until last year`s uprising, has also been ordered to pay a fine of nine million Egyptian pounds (£900,000). Last year he was given a one-year suspended sentence after he was charged for unlawful gains in a business deal. Nazif is one of several Mubarak-era senior officials on trial. He was arrested months after leaving his job in January 2011, shortly before President Hosni Mubarak stood down. About a dozen former Egyptian officials, including Mubarak and his two sons, have been charged either with conspiring to kill protesters or with various crimes related to corruption.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud the newly elected president of Somalia survived assassination :
After two days of his being appointed in the office, the Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud survived an assassination attempted by the Shebab a group Islamic rebels from Al-Qaeda, on 13 September 2012. At the time when the two bomb blasts happened the president was meeting the Kenya's Foreign Minister in Mogadishu hotel. In this attack by the multiple suicide bombers the president remained unharmed. The report presented by Ali Houmed, spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) claimed three deaths that iclude two Somali Troops and a Ugandan soldier.
Putin loses popularity by 20 per cent:
The number of Russians, who approve of President Vladimir Putin, has declined by 20 per cent over the past decade, with fewer people seeing him as a hero, according to a latest poll conducted by the national polling centre VTSIOM . The national polling centre`s report shows how public attitude towards Mr Putin has changed over time, starting from 2002 when 79 per cent of respondents thought the new President was making a "mostly favourable" impression on them. That number has dwindled to 59 per cent as of 2012, while the number of those who disapprove of Mr Putin rose from 8 per cent to 22 per cent. At the same time, popular support for his actions as President slid from 75 per cent in 2002 to 59 per cent in 2012, while those who do not support his policies increased from 9 per cent to 23 per cent. VTSIOM General Director Valery Fyodorov said it would be more relevant to compare Mr Putin`s popularity ratings with the most recent election-related results rather than with figures from a decade ago.That was a totally different time, and a great deal has changed since then. Putin has changed, and the country and the people too," he said.The latest poll, held among 1,600 respondents in Russia`s 46 regions on August 24-25, has a margin of error below 3.4 per cent.
Delhi, Mumbai world`s cheapest cities: Survey
Oslo is the most expensive city in the world, ahead of Zurich and Tokyo, but the well-paid residents of the Swiss financial hub enjoy the greatest purchasing power, according to a study released on Friday. The cheapest places to live were Delhi and Mumbai. The annual survey of 72 cities by Swiss bank UBS found its own hometown had the world`s highest average wages and the biggest purchasing power. The study examined the price of a basket of 122 goods and services, adjusted for currency fluctuations. The cost of living index was calculated by dividing the price of goods by the weighted net hourly wage in 15 sectors. "In Tokyo it takes nine minutes of work to earn enough to buy a Big Mac, while in Nairobi it takes 84 minutes," it said. Zurich residents must work 13 minutes for the hamburger, but other goods were relatively cheaper than in Tokyo, putting the Swiss city top of the purchasing power index. "Workers in Zurich can buy an iPhone after 22 hours work; in Manila, by contrast, it takes around 20 times longer," UBS said. Workers had to toil 42 minutes in Istanbul and 29 minutes in Shanghai for a Big Mac, while in New York and Hong Kong just 10 minutes were required. The cheapest places to live were Delhi and Mumbai. New York was the sixth most expensive, Moscow came in at number 40 and Shanghai at 49. The survey also looked at working hours and found the shortest were in Paris, Lyon and Copenhagen. Workers in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America toil the longest, at over 2,000 hours per year, it found.
New York bans large sodas in eateries, theatres:
New York became the first city in the US to ban the sale of large sodas and sugary beverages in restaurants, a move that mayor Michael Bloomberg said will help combat the "obesity epidemic" that kills 6,000 New Yorkers every year and is destroying the health of Americans. The New York City Board of Health voted 8-0 on 13 September, in favour of limiting the size of sugary beverages sold in restaurants, mobile food carts, delis and at movie theatres, stadiums and arenas. The new regulation will go into effect next March, giving establishments six months to comply with new rules.
Sixth Mekong–Ganga Cooperation meeting was held in New Delhi from 3-4 September 2012. Foreign Ministers meet was held on September 4 2012.The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) was established on November 10, 2000 in Vientiane, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic with a purpose of cooperation amongst India and the five Mekong region countries - Cambodia, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. It was basically established to emphasize on four areas of cooperation, which are tourism, culture, education, and transportation linkage, in order to build strong foundation for future trade and investment cooperation among the region. This is the first time that the Mekong Ganga Cooperation meeting was hosted by India.
China and the U.S. appeared unable to bridge differences over the South China Sea issue and Syria but pledged to work together to build trust as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concluded a day of meetings with the Chinese leadership in Beijing on 5 September. Clinton, who met President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi — reiterated her calls for China to push forward talks on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea before November's East Asia Summit. Chinese officials, however, did not commit to a timeline and rebutted U.S. concerns about its interests in the region by stressing that freedom of navigation in the contested waters had been fully guaranteed. The two countries also appeared unable to bridge differences on Syria. Ms. Clinton said pointedly that it was "no secret that we have been disappointed by Russia and China's actions blocking tougher U.N. Security Council resolutions".
Six years after Nepal's Maoists entered open politics and signed a peace treaty, the United States has finally lifted its "terrorist" tag for the country's ruling party. It also revoked its status as a "terrorist organisation from the Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL) under the Immigration and Nationality Act". The U.S State Department said it had concluded that Maoists were no longer engaged in "terrorist activity that threatens the security of U.S. nationals or U.S. foreign policy". Informal meetings between U.S. diplomats and Maoist leaders began in 2007. After the party emerged victorious in the elections of 2008, the U.S. Ambassador formally met party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'.
The U.S State Department has finally designated the fearsome Haqqani Network terror outfit in Afghanistan a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. In a rare instance of overwhelming and unanimous support in Congress leading to mounting pressure on the Obama White House to pin the FTO blacklist-label on the Haqqani group, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was given 30 days in early August to finalise her decision on the designation question. The network is said to have been behind string of deadly attacks in Kabul and elsewhere, most prominently including a bombing of the Indian embassy and an assault on the U.S. embassy using rockets. The group has also been linked to an attack on Kabul's elite Serena and Intercontinental hotels and several kidnappings. On 7 September, she reported back to Congress that the network "meets the statutory criteria of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) for designation as an FTO. This action meets the requirements of the Haqqani Network Terrorist Designation Act of 2012". She added that she also intended to designate the organisation as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity under an Executive Order.
The long-pending visa agreement to ease travel was inked between India and Pakistan, in Islamabad on 8 September. The agreement was signed by External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Interior Minister Rehman Malik after the conclusion of the Foreign Minister-level engagement at the end of the second round of the resumed dialogue process. The new visa regime — the first major overhaul since 1974 — in particular eases travel restrictions for businessmen and introduces a new category of group tourism. Besides, persons aged above 65 will be issued visa on arrival. The regime also mandates a time frame for issuing visas. From the earlier indefinite time taken to issue a visa, the two missions have now been tied down to a 45-day period for deciding on an application. Another significant decision taken by the Foreign Ministers pertained to the cross-Line of Control (LoC) confidence-building measures (CBMs). The cross-LoC travel will be expanded to include visits for tourism and pilgrimage. Such visits to designated sites will initially be from the Chakoti-Uri and Rawalakot-Poonch crossing points.Both sides also agreed to extend assistance to valid entry permit-holders to cross the LoC in emergency situations on crossing as well as non-crossing days.
Swiss most competitive nation, India 59th: WEF survey
Switzerland ranked as the world`s most competitive economy for the fourth year running, while the United States continued a four-year slide down the table, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in its annual survey on 5th September. The study by the WEF, best known for running the annual meeting of world business leaders at the ski resort of Davos, ranks 144 countries by examining 113 indicators culled from official data sources and a poll of 15,000 executives who opine on the country where they do business. Switzerland piped Singapore to the top spot thanks to strong scores in areas such as innovation, labour market efficiency and effective public institutions. The United States fell from fifth spot to seventh because of political and economic problems that detracted from its status as a global powerhouse of innovation, the study said. The lowest ranked EU country was Greece, at 96th. But it was rock bottom - 144th out of 144 - for its macroeconomic environment. Qatar moved up three places to 11th but may need to reduce its vulnerability to commodity price fluctuations if it is going to break into a top 10 dominated by northern European countries, the report said. Four of the five BRICS nations fell in the rankings, with only Brazil climbing, up five places from last year to 48th. China still led the group. Its 29th place ranking was down from 26th in 2011 but still 30 places ahead of India, which has lost 10 places since peaking at 49 in 2009. Russia was 67th, down one place from 2011, with a sharp improvement in the macroeconomic environment offset by weak public institutions, which were ranked 11th worst.
French unemployment rises again to 10.2 per cent:
The national statistics agency says unemployment in France rose again in the second quarter, reaching 10.2 per cent. Insee said on 6th September that youth unemployment is also creeping up and was 23.5 per cent for the quarter that ended June 30. Earlier this week, the government said that the number of people out of work had passed three million, a symbolic threshold but one that has focused new attention on France's unemployment rate. French unemployment has been climbing steadily since last year after dropping for a few quarters. It is now higher than at any time since 1999.
Myanmar passes foreign investment law:
Myanmar's Parliament adopted a much anticipated foreign direct investment law that is crucial to the government's ambitious plans for economic expansion in one of Asia's poorest countries. The law drops several provisions in the original draft that had raised fears it could deter investors. The law was seen as one of Parliament's most urgent tasks and was passed on the last day of its current session. One proposal dropped from the law would have required a $5 million minimum initial investment outlay. The final version also allows foreign parties to hold a 50 per cent stake in joint ventures rather than limiting them to a proposed 49 per cent. Elected President Thein Sein launched economic and political reforms when he took office last year after almost five decades of military rule, foreign sanctions and restrictive laws that kept the economy stagnant. Myanmar has an inefficient agricultural sector and small industrial base, and most of its export earnings come from extractive industries, especially natural gas. Western nations, earlier this year, eased economic sanctions instituted against the former military regime, lifting another barrier to foreign investment. Reforms to the financial system, especially the jettisoning of an onerous dual exchange rate system, were also made to encourage investors. Another progressive aspect of the new law allows foreign investors to lease land for an initial period of 50 years with an option to renew, compared to 35 years under old rules.
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text:
PeopleSoft boss gets the chop
Craig Conway has been shown the door by PeopleSoft after the board lost confidence in his leadership
By Michael Parsons and Margaret Kane | October 1, 2004 -- 14:00 GMT (07:00 PDT) | Topic: Networking
In a shock move on Friday, PeopleSoft announced its decision to terminate Craig Conway as president and chief executive of the company with immediate effect.
An unusually curt press release said that said its decision "resulted from a loss of confidence in Mr Conway's ability to continue to lead the company. All of these decisions received the unanimous vote of the independent directors."
Dave Duffield, PeopleSoft's founder and chairman, will become the company's new chief executive officer. In addition, the company announced the appointment of Kevin Parker and Phil Wilmington as co-presidents, and Aneel Bhusri as vice-chairman of the board. All of the changes are effective immediately.
A PeopleSoft UK spokesperson confirmed that Conway would not be presenting the keynote address at the company's UK event, PeopleSoft Connect, scheduled for next Monday in London. Instead, the speech will be given by Wilmington.
The company is holding a press conference later today.
PeopleSoft, a maker of business software, has been engaged in a bitter struggle to fight off a hostile takeover by rival Oracle.
The company, which last month hosted its annual customer convention, has been trying to hang onto its customers despite the merger effort. Some licensees have expressed reluctance to continue buying and upgrading their product until the fight is over.
At the customer convention, Conway gave an upbeat presentation and voiced optimism that PeopleSoft would endure, despite the travails of the takeover effort. But he also acknowledged that the 15-month battle against Oracle had taken a toll.
"Have you ever had a bad dream that just didn't end?" he asked conference attendees.
Just two weeks before the customer gathering, Oracle had won a key court decision in the federal government's effort to block the merger on antitrust grounds. The US Department of Justice had argued that a takeover would let Oracle illegally raise prices and would hurt industry innovation.
PeopleSoft did not discuss the Oracle offer in its statement on Friday except to note that "all decisions with respect to Oracle's tender offer have been made on the unanimous recommendation of the Transaction Committee of the Board."
Oracle has said PeopleSoft stakeholders have sold about 23.8 million shares to Oracle. Meanwhile, PeopleSoft has strengthened its ties with IBM, in what some see as a bid to bring a "white knight" to its side.
Parker, who also serves as chief financial officer, will be responsible for internal operations. Wilmington, who had overseen the company's American operations, will assume responsibility for worldwide field operations. Bhusri, a general partner with venture capital firm Greylock Management, will focus on product and technology strategy.
The company also said Friday that licence revenue for the third quarter is expected to exceed $150m.
Conway joined PeopleSoft in May 1999. Before his tenure at the software maker, he spent eight years at Oracle in a variety of executive roles including marketing, sales and operations. He also served as chief executive at TGV Software, a developer of applications for corporate intranets and the Internet.
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Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/e/pag59.html
My authors Follow this author
Pablo Agnese
First Name: Pablo
Last Name: Agnese
RePEc Short-ID: pag59
http://www.pabloagnese.com
UIC Barcelona c/ Inmaculada 22 08017 Barcelona Spain
(90%) Administracio i Direccio d'Empreses
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC)
http://www.uic.es/ca/administracio-direccio-empreses?set=S
RePEc:edi:aduices (more details at EDIRC)
(10%) Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
Bonn, Germany
http://www.iza.org/
RePEc:edi:izaaade (more details at EDIRC)
Jump to: Working papers Articles Books
Agnese, Pablo & Hromcová, Jana, 2019. "Offshoring and Skill-Biased Technical Change in the Context of US Protectionism," IZA Discussion Papers 12593, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Agnese, Pablo & Hromcová, Jana, 2016. "Offshoring, Endogenous Skill Decision, and Labor Market Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 10299, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Agnese, Pablo & Hromcová, Jana, 2015. "Bubble Economics and Structural Change: The Cases of Spain and France Compared," IZA Discussion Papers 8942, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Pablo Agnese & Jana Hromcová, 2018. "Bubble economics and structural change: the cases of Spain and France compared," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 21(1), pages 59-79, January.
Agnese, Pablo & Hromcová, Jana, 2014. "Low-Skill Offshoring: Labor Market Policies and Welfare Effects," IZA Discussion Papers 8164, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Agnese, Pablo & Hromcová, Jana, 2014. "Low-Skill Offshoring: Labor Market Policies and Welfare Effects [Internationales Outsourcing von gering qualifizierter Arbeit: Arbeitsmarktpolitik und Wohlfahrtseffekte]," Duesseldorf Working Papers in Applied Management and Economics 30, Duesseldorf University of Applied Sciences.
Agnese, Pablo, 2013. "Offshoring and Productivity Revisited: A Time-Series Analysis," IZA Discussion Papers 7323, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Pablo Agnese, 2013. "Offshoring and productivity revisited: A Time-Series Analysis [Zur Debatte um Offshoring und Produktivität: Eine Zeitreihenanalyse]," Duesseldorf Working Papers in Applied Management and Economics 23, Duesseldorf University of Applied Sciences.
Agnese, Pablo, 2011. "The Japanese Lost Decade and Beyond: A Chain Reaction Theory Approach," IZA Discussion Papers 5463, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Agnese, Pablo & Salvador, Pablo F., 2011. "More Alike than Different: The Spanish and Irish Labour Markets Before and After the Crisis," IZA Discussion Papers 5742, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Pablo Agnese & Pablo Salvador, 2012. "More alike than different: the Spanish and Irish labour markets before and after the crisis," IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 1(1), pages 1-24, December.
Agnese, Pablo, 2009. "Japan and her dealings with offshoring: An empirical analysis with aggregate data," MPRA Paper 16505, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Agnese, Pablo, 2011. "Japan and Her Dealings with Offshoring: An Empirical Analysis with Aggregate Data," IZA Discussion Papers 5517, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Agnese, Pablo, 2009. "Japan and her dealings with offshoring: An empirical analysis with aggregate data," IESE Research Papers D/793, IESE Business School.
Agnese, Pablo & Joan Enric, Ricart, 2009. "Offshoring: Facts and numbers at the country level," MPRA Paper 16503, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Agnese, Pablo & Ricart, Joan E., 2009. "Offshoring: Facts and figures at the country level," IESE Research Papers D/792, IESE Business School.
Agnese, Pablo, 2009. "Employment effects of offshoring. An application to Japanese industries, 1980-2005," MPRA Paper 16506, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Agnese, Pablo & Hector, Sala, 2008. "Unemployment in Japan: A look at the 'lost decade'," MPRA Paper 14332, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Agnese, Pablo & Sala, Hector, 2008. "The fading 1990s in Japan: Driving forces behind the unemployment upsurge," MPRA Paper 16501, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Agnese, Pablo & Sala, Hector, 2009. "The fading 1990s in Japan: Driving forces behind the unemployment upsurge," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 428-439, June.
Agnese, Pablo & Hromcová, Jana, 2016. "Low-skill offshoring and welfare compensation policies," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 52(PB), pages 408-426.
Jana Hromcová & Pablo Agnese, 2015. "Low-Skill Offshoring and Welfare Compensation Policies," Working Papers wpdea1505, Department of Applied Economics at Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona.
Pablo Agnese, 2012. "Employment Effects of Offshoring across Sectors and Occupations in Japan," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 26(4), pages 289-311, December.
Pablo Agnese & Hector Sala, 2011. "The Driving Forces Behind The Falling Labour Share And Persistent Unemployment In Japan," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(5), pages 577-603, December.
Ricart i Costa Joan Enric (ed.), 2011. "Offshoring in the Global Economy: Management Practices and Welfare Implications," Books, Fundacion BBVA / BBVA Foundation, number 2011103, December.
Many of the citations below have been collected in an experimental project, CitEc, where a more detailed citation analysis can be found. These are citations from works listed in RePEc that could be analyzed mechanically. So far, only a minority of all works could be analyzed. See under "Corrections" how you can help improve the citation analysis.
Cited by:
KWON Hyeog Ug, 2012. "Offshoring of Japanese Small and Medium Enterprises (Japanese)," Discussion Papers (Japanese) 12004, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
Lo, Chu-Ping, 2014. "International outsourcing, wage gap, and welfare," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 168-172.
Vrh, Nataša, 2015. "Pay-off to Participation in Global Value Chains: How Much are New EU Member States Lagging behind the Rest of EU Countries in Terms of Domestic Value Added in Exports?," MPRA Paper 67805, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Escaith, Hubert & Lindenberg, Nannette & Miroudot, Sébastien, 2010. "International Supply Chains and Trade Elasticity in Times of Global Crisis," MPRA Paper 20478, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Escaith, Hubert & Lindenberg, Nannette & Miroudot, Sébastien, 2010. "International supply chains and trade elasticity in times of global crisis," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2010-08, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
Andrea Coveri & Mario Pianta, 2019. "The Structural Dynamics of Income Distribution:Technology, Wages and Profits," Working Papers 1901, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Economics, Society & Politics - Scientific Committee - L. Stefanini & G. Travaglini, revised 2019.
Valle, Sandra & García, Francisco & Avella, Lucía, 2015. "Offshoring Intermediate Manufacturing: Boost or Hindrance to Firm Innovation?," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 117-134.
Canals, Claudia & Şener, Fuat, 2014. "Offshoring and intellectual property rights reform," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 17-31.
Coveri, Andrea & Pianta, Mario, 2022. "Drivers of inequality: wages vs. profits in European industries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 230-242.
Martin Borowiecki & Bernhard Dachs & Doris Hanzl-Weiss & Steffen Kinkel & Johannes Pöschl & Magdolna Sass & Thomas Christian Schmall & Robert Stehrer & Andrea Szalavetz, 2012. "Global Value Chains and the EU Industry," wiiw Research Reports 383, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
D. Victoria Decuir – Herrera & Constantin Colonescu & Rafat Alam, "undated". "Productivity Attributable To Offshoring In Selected Countries," Review of Socio - Economic Perspectives 201938, Reviewsep.
Nataša Vrh, 2017. "The convergence in domestic value-added of exports in the EU," Post-Communist Economies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(3), pages 405-430, July.
Francisco Carballo-Cruz, 2012. "New Patterns in Global Localization: Delocalization and Relocalization of Economic Activities," Chapters, in: Roberta Capello & Tomaz Ponce Dentinho (ed.), Globalization Trends and Regional Development, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
Marika Karanassou & Hector Sala, 2009. "Labour Market Dynamics in Australia: What Drives Unemployment?," Working Papers 636, Queen Mary University of London, School of Economics and Finance.
Marika Karanassou & Hector Sala, 2010. "Labour Market Dynamics in Australia: What Drives Unemployment?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 86(273), pages 185-209, June.
Marika Karanassou & Hector Sala, 2008. "Labour Market Dynamics in Australia: What Drives Unemployment?," Discussion Papers 2008-26, School of Economics, The University of New South Wales.
Karanassou, Marika & Sala, Hector, 2009. "Labour Market Dynamics in Australia: What Drives Unemployment?," IZA Discussion Papers 3924, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Carl R. Chen & Weiyu Guo & Nicholas S.P. Tay, 2010. "Are Member Firms of Corporate Groups Less Risky?," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 39(1), pages 59-82, March.
Jiang, Shi-jie & Nieh, Chien-Chung, 2012. "Dynamics of underwriting profits: Evidence from the U.S. insurance market," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 1-15.
Hromcová, Jana & Agnese, Pablo, 2019. "Globalization, welfare, and the attitudes toward higher education," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 503-517.
Fuster, Begoña & Lillo-Bañuls, Adelaida & Martínez-Mora, Carmen, 2019. "The effects of service offshoring on employment," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 529-538.
João Amador & Sónia Cabral, 2014. "Global Value Chains: Surveying Drivers, Measures and Impacts," Working Papers w201403, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
Fuster, Begoña & Lillo-Bañuls, Adelaida & Martínez-Mora, Carmen, 2020. "Reshoring of services and employment," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 233-246.
Gregory Jackson, 2016. "Toward a Conceptual Framework for Understanding Institutional Change in Japanese Capitalism: Structural Transformations and Organizational Diversity," Working Papers halshs-01643921, HAL.
Dario JUDZIK & Hector SALA, 2013. "Productivity, deunionization and trade: Wage effects and labour share implications," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 152(2), pages 205-236, June.
Kyoji Fukao & Cristiano Perugini, 2021. "The Long‐Run Dynamics of the Labor Share in Japan," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 67(2), pages 445-480, June.
Fukao, Kyoji & Perugini, Cristiano, 2018. "The Long-Run Dynamics of the Labour Share in Japan," Discussion Paper Series 672, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
Chan Bibi & Adeela Hussain, 2018. "Globalization and Wage Differential in the case of Pakistan," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 7(3), pages 110-121, September.
Fukao, Kyoji & Ito, Koji & Perugini, Cristiano, 2019. "A Microeconomic Analysis of the Declining Labor Share in Japan," ADBI Working Papers 925, Asian Development Bank Institute.
Kyoji Fukao & Koji Ito & Cristiano Perugini, 2019. "A Microeconomic Analysis of the Declining Labor Share in Japan," ADB Institute Series on Development Economics, in: Gary Fields & Saumik Paul (ed.), Labor Income Share in Asia, chapter 0, pages 247-267, Springer.
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NEP Fields
NEP is an announcement service for new working papers, with a weekly report in each of many fields. This author has had 11 papers announced in NEP. These are the fields, ordered by number of announcements, along with their dates. If the author is listed in the directory of specialists for this field, a link is also provided.
NEP-LAB: Labour Economics (5) 2009-08-16 2013-04-20 2014-06-02 2016-11-06 2019-09-23. Author is listed
NEP-EFF: Efficiency & Productivity (4) 2009-08-02 2009-11-14 2011-02-26 2013-04-20
NEP-INT: International Trade (3) 2009-08-02 2016-11-06 2019-09-23
NEP-EEC: European Economics (2) 2011-05-30 2015-04-11
NEP-BEC: Business Economics (1) 2011-02-26
NEP-DGE: Dynamic General Equilibrium (1) 2016-11-06
NEP-EUR: Microeconomic European Issues (1) 2011-05-30
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text:
Everyday Health Men's Health
How Do I Stop Chronic Kidney Stones?
By Dr. Hunter Wessells, MD
6 Ways to Break Through Your Fitness Plateau
6 Strange Warning Signs of Low Testosterone
Sign Up for Our Men's Health Newsletter
Is there anything a person can do for repeated kidney stones? I've had multiple surgeries, which have been unsuccessful, and have undergone testing too lengthy to list. To date I've passed 3,308 stones, which ranged from a speck to seven millimeters; the bigger ones were removed surgically. I haven't slept flat or in a bed in six years, and when I do end up flat, it's because I'm in the E.R. Any help or advice would be appreciated.
— Todd, Minnesota
Many kidney stones have an underlying metabolic cause, and strategies for a reduction in stone risk are well established. The fact that you've undergone a lot of testing suggests that your doctors have been looking for the cause of your kidney stones. Strategies to reduce stone recurrence are both specific and general.
Specific measures to reduce stone formation depend on the exact mechanism behind the formation of the stone. For example, some calcium stones are caused by an excessive dietary intake of calcium, whereas others are caused by a loss of calcium through the kidney. Others are caused by excessive amounts of calcium in the bloodstream related to an abnormality of the parathyroid gland. Most kidney stone specialists determine whether there is an underlying metabolic abnormality through blood and urine chemistry studies. One important test is the 24-hour urine test, wherein urine is collected over a 24-hour period and then analyzed for the amount of calcium, oxalate, citrate, and uric acid, to name a few. This allows for the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of most metabolic stones.
A more general recommendation for chronic kidney stones is to drink enough water each day to create at least two liters of urine. Another way of putting it is to drink enough so that your urine is always dilute and without any color. Another hallmark of adequate fluid intake is a need to get up at night to urinate because your bladder is full. Regardless of the cause of kidney stones, reducing the solute (particle) load in the urine is an effective means of reducing kidney stone recurrence. Water is the safest bet because it contains no other molecules that may contribute to stone formation. Conversely, tea and dairy products could potentially contribute to an increased rate of stone formation.
Other general strategies for reducing stone formation include trying to increase consumption of drinks that contain citrate, an inhibitor of stone formation. Not all stones are inhibited by citrate, but the formation of calcium oxalate stones, which represent the majority of kidney stones, are potentially inhibited by citrate. Lemonade squeezed from fresh lemons is an example of one good source of citrate. Overall, it is best to consume this under the advisement of a physician who is managing your overall stone burden.
Learn more in the Everyday Health Men's Health Center.
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*The services listed above are offered through WizdomFinancial Advisors LLC Inc. WizdomFinancial Advisors LLC is conducted independent of The Investment Center, Inc. & IC Advisory Services, Inc. The Investment Center, Inc. & IC Advisory Services, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any advice or services provided to you by these entities. You are solely responsible for conducting your own due diligence.


The ride on miniature railway has a total track length of about 1.9Kms supporting both 7 ¼" and 5" gauge trains.
After leaving the station the railway runs thru the outer edge of the park, crosses over itself via a gentle gradient and a steel bridge before passing thru a tunnel on its way back to the station.
A covered passenger loading station (PENFIELD No1) allows for three trains to load and unload passengers.
Over recent years the track has been substantially upgrade to improve the ride.


The Honorable Hao Ping, Vice Minister for Education of the People's Republic of China, and University of Notre Dame Provost Thomas Burish sign an agreement between Notre Dame and the Ministry of Education's China Scholarship Council to support numerous graduate students from China who are pursuing doctoral degrees at Notre Dame. Notre Dame is one of four universities in the United States to have such an agreement. Photo by Matt Cashore / Copyright University of Notre Dame.


text:
Man City's Champions League dream ended by Monaco
City are out of the Champions League following a 3-1 defeat to Monaco. Leroy Sane looked to have saved the day with a late goal that briefly put the Blues back in front on aggregate, but the hosts rallied to score a third five minutes later to tie the overall score at 6-6 - enough to progress to the last eight on the away goals rule. It is a crushing blow for a team that had previously gone 11 games without a loss, but the price of a poor first-half display when City were, at times, overrun by the rampant Ligue 1 leaders. What happened? City made four changes from the side that beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at the weekend with Aleksandar Kolarov, Willy Caballero, Fernandinho and Bacary Sagna all recalled to the starting XI. Monaco, meanwhile, were without top scorer Radamel Falcao as they looked to find the enough goals to make their three at the Etihad prove decisive. After the first goals extravaganza, this was certainly the most eagerly-awaited second leg of the Round of 16, but could it live up to its pre-match billing? The game opened as the previous one had closed – with both goalkeepers involved inside the first minute. But the hosts quickly assumed command and should have gone ahead after five minutes when Kylian Mbappe raced clear only to be denied by a good Caballero save. Within two minutes, however, Monaco had their lead as Benjamin Mendy jinked his way into the box and with plenty of time to pick his pass he played it across goal for Mbappe to score from close range. It was just the start the Blues hadn't wanted, but more worryingly, the hosts had their tails up and looked menacing every time they went forward, while City's attacks were continually crowded out by a packed Monaco midfield. The Blues task became harder still just before the half-hour mark as Monaco again raided down the left flank with the dangerous Mendy who fired a pinpoint cross for Fabinho to drill home from 10 yards. With no shots on target and not so much as a sniff of a threat, City went in at the break with their Champions League destiny hanging by a thread. The Blues came out for the second half and finally started to look more like the team that had slugged it out with Monaco in the first leg. After dominating the early passages of play, Kevin De Bruyne threaded a ball through to Raheem Sterling but faced with the keeper at an angle he tried to set up the hard-working Sergio Aguero and the danger was cleared. Minutes later David Silva was sent clear by Fernandinho and after holding the ball up, he played in Aguero who was denied by Subasic – surely the vital away goal had to come before long? Then Leroy Sane waltzed into the box but went for goal instead of squaring the pass to Aguero and the chance again went begging. Finally, City's dominance was rewarded as Sane again broke clear and this time he made no mistake, thumping the ball high into the roof of the net. But the elation lasted less than five minutes as Monaco, who had rarely ventured out of their half after the break, regained their two-goal advantage as Bakayoko headed firmly past Caballero from a free-kick and suddenly, the hosts were in the box-seat. Suddenly Monaco, who had looked dead on their feet, found their second wind and the tie again started to ebb away from the Blues. What it means… The Blues will now need to focus on securing a top four place with this season's European adventure over. City will aim to collect as many points as possible between now and the end of the campaign as well as trying to win the FA Cup.
What's next? The games don't get any easier with Liverpool next up for Guardiola's men on Sunday afternoon. Though the Merseysiders have been spluttering along for the past few months, they know a win will take them above the Blues into third spot at least. The Reds are unbeaten against teams in the top four this season so this would be the perfect time to put a dent ion that record and move four points clear with a game in hand. MATCH DETAILS: AS Monaco (3): Subašić, Fabinho, Jemerson, Bernardo Silva, Bakayoko, Germain (C) (Dirar 90), Sidibé, Mendi, Raggi (Almamy Toure 68), Lemar, Mbappé (Moutinho 81). Manchester City (1): Caballero, Sagna, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy (Iheanacho 85), Fernandinho, Sterling, Silva (C), De Bruyne, Sané, Agüero.
Goals: Mbappe 7, Fabinho 28, Sané 71; Bakayoko 76. Referee: Gianluca Rocchi. Bookings: Sagna 11, De Bruyne 58, Sterling 72 (Man City); Bakayoko 59, Lemar 91 (Monaco)


LONDON— Moody's Investors Service said on Friday it was reviewing the credit rating of mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd. for a possible downgrade, ratcheting up pressure on the world's largest diversified miner, amid tumbling commodities prices and a mining disaster at a BHP joint venture in Brazil.
Moody's separately cut the rating of BHP rival Glencore PLC by a notch, to just above junk status.
The commodities rout has sent mining shares falling sharply, triggering moves by many to shore up cash through asset sales and dividend cuts. BHP, however, enjoys one of the industry's strongest balance sheets, and its low-cost operations have helped buoy earnings, compared with many peers.
It has long enjoyed a solid, investment-grade A1 rating from Moody's. The agency said on Friday, however, that it was reviewing whether to downgrade that to A2—still comfortably investment grade—after Moody's lowered price assumptions for BHP-produced commodities like oil, iron ore and coal.
"The review for downgrade reflects Moody's expectation that weak commodity prices will persist for the next several years, significantly reducing BHP Billiton's earnings and cash flow generation," said Matthew Moore, a senior credit officer at the agency.


First off – and this is really important – there are two kinds of persimmons: astringent and non-astringent. Astringent persimmons are very high in tannins and must get really soft and ripe before you eat them – and when you do, get ready for seriously sour.
The lovely fruits you see pictured here, however, are the non-astringent variety. The farmer I bought these from said they can be eaten when they're firm like an apple or when they're a bit softer. They're delicious – sweet, crisp, and a little spicy.
If you need more convincing, get this: they don't brown. I'm not sure why, but I was thrilled to see that after my daughter's lunch sat in the fridge overnight, the persimmon slices were just as bright orange as they were the afternoon before.
So, this isn't a recipe at all – just an explanation of what's in season where I live and why I think you should throw it in your child's lunch (pictured here with Hot Pink Rice, Taco Kale Chips, and Plantain Shrimp (recipes coming soon for those).


text:
'Inside Liverpool' – Incredible behind-the-scenes video of Reds' Champions League parade
Liverpool were met with an unbelievable reception on their return from their European triumph and fans have been treated with a behind-the-scenes look.
Less than 24-hours after the Reds made history in Madrid, the team were given a hero's welcome by Liverpool fans from near and far.
It was a celebration 14 years in the making, although such a wait does not lie ahead for the next as the European Cup is likely to be the first of many pieces of silverware secured under Jurgen Klopp's tutelage.
The brilliant scenes documented by the club show the players from the moment they embarked on the plane in Madrid to the time hundreds of thousands of Reds greeted them in the streets with Old 'Big Ears' in tow.
From Jordan Henderson escorting the trophy onto the plane to Andy Robertson's croaky voice singing Allez Allez Allez, the players could hardly contain their excitement as they made the return trip to Liverpool.
An iconic four-hour open-top bus tour was to follow as the players soaked in the incredible atmosphere as fans descended into the city and found any vantage point they could to catch sight of the champions of Europe.
The unbridled joy adorned on the faces of those lining the streets were matched by those of the Liverpool players experiencing one of the club's greatest moments unfold before their eyes.
There were songs a-plenty, scarves in constant motion and even a personal serenade to Robertson from Kopp – who found himself precariously placed at the back of the bus!
Fireworks and flares awaited Liverpool when they turned onto The Strand as the parade neared its end, scenes which will be forever etched in the club's history.
It's an amazing 16-minutes no Red should go without watching as we continue to bask in the glory that is the six time European champions.
SEE ALSO: 'Inside Madrid' – Behind-the-scenes at the final
Champions League Final 2019