<p>Increased trade and exchange within the European Community has brought with it the need for less restricted circulation of judgments. The situation has improved greatly due to the enactment of Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (the Brussels I Regulation).</p><p>Despite recent improvements the proceedings are still time-consuming and difficult. Many creditors refrain from having judgments recognized and enforced as the proceedings cost too much time and are too time-consuming. On January the 21st 2005 a new Regulation entered into force, Regulation (EC) No. 805/2004 creating a European Enforcement Order for uncontested claims (The Enforcement Order Regulation). The purpose of the Regulation is to permit free circulation of judgments.</p><p>A judgment can be certified as a European Enforcement Order and is thereby directly enforceable throughout the European Community. Intermediate proceedings declaring the judgment enforceable are abolished. An issued European Enforcement Order furthermore prevents the parties from opposing enforcement. The exequatur is abolished and the judgment is examined only by the Member State of origin before being certified as a European Enforcement Order.</p><p>The Regulation applies from October the 21st 2005. Until then only speculations can be made about its impact on the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. This study of the Enforcement Order Regulation and its scope shows some weak points. The Enforcement Order Regulation does however in general seem to be well suited to obtain the stated purpose: permitting free circulation of judgments.</p> / <p>Gränsöverskridande handel och samfärdsel inom den Europeiska gemenskapen har fört med sig ett behov av domar som gäller i andra medlemsstater. Både möjligheterna till och förfarandena för erkännande och verkställighet har förbättrats avsevärt med ikraftträdandet av förordning (EG) nr. 44/2001 om domstols behörighet och om erkännande och verkställighet av domar på privaträttens område (Bryssel I-förordningen).</p><p>Trots utvecklingen är förfarandena fortfarande invecklade och utdragna. Många borgenärer underlåter att försöka få domar erkända och verkställda eftersom kostnaderna i såväl tid som pengar avskräcker. Den 21 januari 2005 trädde en ny förordning i kraft på området, förordning (EG) nr. 805/2004 om införande av en europeisk exekutionstitel för obestridda fordringar (exekutionstitelsförordningen). Förordningen syftar till att möjliggöra fri rörlighet av domar. Ett intyg om europeisk exekutionstitel utfärdas och kan direkt läggas till grund för verkställighet inom gemenskapen, utan mellankommande nationella förfaranden som förklarar en dom verkställbar. Intyget om en europeisk exekutionstitel medför också att en part inte kan motsätta sig verkställighet. Exekvaturförfarandet avskaffas alltså och domen kontrolleras endast i ursprungsstaten innan den godkänns som europeisk exekutionstitel.</p><p>Förordningen börjar tillämpas den 21 oktober 2005 och fram till dess går det bara att spekulera i dess betydelse för erkännande och verkställighet av vissa utländska domar. Denna studie av förordningen och dess tillämpning visar att vissa brister föreligger. Den tycks dock på det hela taget vara tillfredsställande utformad för att uppnå sitt syfte: att underlätta fri rörlighet av domar.</p>

The purpose of this study was to explore, from readily available data, the best predictors of medical claims costs at Ball State University (BSU). Multiple regression equations were developed to predict BSU's medical claims costs from selected demographic and health-related measures among 1,799 BSU employees. The predictors were chosen from data previously collected during the three-year study period: July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1998. Regression equations were developed for the entire BSU population and the high-cost population. The linear composite of number of emergency room visits, number of chronic health problems, gender and age predicted 17.86% of the variation in transformed medical claims costs for the entire BSU population. The linear composite of age, number of emergency room visits and gender predicted 9.95% of the variation in transformed medical claims costs for high-cost BSU employees. Logistic regression, performed on the entire BSU population, did not differentiate low and highcost employees well: only 15.0% of high-cost employees were classified correctly. / Fisher Institute for Wellness

Increased immigrant movement from conflict stricken areas to the liberal west, has led to challenges involving increasing multicultural group claims on the liberal democratic state, leading to the destabilization of its foundation. The conflict lay in the opposing world views culturally, ethnically and religiously that the new citizens have, seeing the “group” first and foremost whereas the individual in western democracy has always been seen as the principal rights recipient. The purpose of this study has been to examine the challenges multicultural group claims from immigrants have had on the liberal democratic state on a theoretical level and what possible approaches that should be used to resolve this challenge from the standpoint of the liberal democratic state. To answer this on a theoretical level the study uses a qualitative text analysis of three acclaimed political philosophers on the subject, the communitarian Charles Taylor, the egalitarian liberal philosopher Brian Barry and the liberal philosopher Will Kymlicka whom takes a middle ground on the subject of multicultural group rights.   The results show us that though the three philosophers have different outlooks on the grounds of their opinion on group rights and claims, in the case of immigrants they agree to a large extent. They agree that, whilst the liberal democratic state and the immigrants both wish for complete integration as citizens, the liberal democratic state will treat immigrants the same as the majority, as individual rights recipients. All this whilst making required efforts for the simplification of the integration process. That is why acceptance of certain multicultural rights regarding food, culture, traditions and language in the “private” sphere as well as certain exceptions in the “official” sphere can be accepted, as long as they adhere to the liberal democratic framework of free association, whilst normative multicultural group claims cannot.  So we find that a communitarian philosophy which encourages multicultural group claims actually does agree that the liberal democratic state’s current approach in the case of immigrants is enough.

Thesis (LL.M)--York University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

O presente estudo tem como tema central a análise do tratamento diferenciado entre os credores sujeitos à recuperação judicial, disciplinada pela Lei 11.101/2005. A necessidade de tratar credores de forma igualitária encontra-se prevista no princípio clássico do direito concursal chamado par condicio creditorum. Assim, busca-se analisar a aplicabilidade desse princípio na recuperação judicial, bem como os elementos que permitam uma compreensão do instituto a fim de construir uma base teórica, problematizar a funcionalidade da Lei através do exame da jurisprudência e doutrina e estabelecer critérios. A relevância do tema justifica-se em razão da matéria ser controvertida e de grande aplicação prática pela existência de diferenciação de tratamento entre credores na maioria das recuperações judiciais. Para tanto, no primeiro capítulo, analisa-se os conceitos básicos e origens para estudo da par condicio creditorum e o contexto dos princípios que norteiam o direito concursal. No segundo capítulo é abordada a importância da jurisprudência e dos credores na construção da recuperação judicial, destacando a problemática existente nas classes de credores originalmente previstas na legislação e a natureza jurídica do plano de recuperação judicial. No terceiro capítulo são analisados os principais casos em que ocorre o tratamento diferenciado entre credores na recuperação judicial, como a criação de subclasses, a existência de credor estratégico ou colaborativo que financie a empresa devedora e a consolidação substantiva de grupos societários, objetivando estabelecer critérios. Finalmente, no quarto capítulo discute-se a soberania da assembleia-geral de credores, o papel do juiz na homologação do plano de recuperação judicial e as hipóteses de controle de legalidade pelo judiciário. Ao final, são expostas as conclusões sobre a pesquisa. / The present study has as its central theme the analysis of the unfair discrimination among creditors subject to reorganization, disciplined by Law 11.101/2005. The need to treat creditors in an egalitarian manner is provided for in the classic principle of bankruptcy law called par condicio creditorum. Thus, the study seeks to analyze the applicability of this principle in reorganization, as well as the elements that allow an understanding of the institute in order to build a theoretical basis, problematize the functionality of the Law through the examination of jurisprudence and doctrine and establish criteria. The relevance of the topic is justified because the matter is controversial and of great practical application by the existence of different treatment between creditors in most reorganization process. To do so, the first chapter analyzes the basic concepts and origins for the study of par condicio creditorum and the context of the principles that guide bankruptcy law. The second chapter deals with the importance of jurisprudence and creditors in the construction of the reorganization process, highlighting the problems existing in the classes of claims originally foreseen in the legislation and the legal nature of the plan of reorganization. The third chapter analyzes the main cases in which unfair discrimination occurs between creditors in reorganization process, such as the creation of subclasses, the existence of essential venders that finances the debtor company and the substantive consolidation of corporate groups, aiming to establish criteria. Finally, the fourth chapter discusses the sovereignty of the general assembly of creditors, the role of the judge in the confirmation of the reorganization plan and the hypotheses of legality control by the judiciary. At the end, the conclusions about the research are presented.

This thesis is an effort to advance our knowledge and understanding of the role that labor plays in shaping corporate financial policies and how it is in turn affected by considerations related to firms' financing. I present three essays on the interaction between finance and labor. First, I provide two examples of how labor affects financial decisions, in which I investigate the impacts that commitment to employee welfare and reliance on skilled labor have on cash management policies. Next, I examine the effect of ownership structure on labor investment decisions as an example of how finance affects human capital. In the first essay, I examine the relation between employee welfare practices and corporate cash holdings. Consistent with the predictions of the stakeholder theory, I find firms that are strongly committed to employee welfare, measured by ratings on employee relations, to hold more cash. The effect of employee welfare standards on cash holdings is stronger for firms in human-capital-intensive, competitive, and low turnover industries in which employees are more important to their businesses. The findings highlight the importance of human capital and employee-friendly practices as an overlooked determinant of cash holdings and suggest that managers can use cash to signal their financial health to current and potential employees, thereby increasing their competitiveness in labor markets. The second essay examines whether a firm's dependence on skilled labor affects its cash holdings. Consistent with a precautionary motive to accumulate cash when higher labor adjustment costs slow a firm's labor demand reaction to cash flow shocks, I find robust evidence that companies with higher shares of skilled labor hold more cash. The effect of skilled labor on cash holdings is more pronounced for firms that are financially constrained, attach higher values to their human capital, operate in competitive product markets, and belong to industries characterized by high labor mobility. The findings suggest that labor heterogeneity, and in particular the skill level of workers is an important determinant of corporate cash policies. The results provide managers of firms, particularly those that are financially constrained, with insights on how to minimize their labor adjustment costs and reduce the risk of losing their valuable human capital. In my third essay, I examine whether the presence of long-term institutional investors, who typically have strong monitoring incentives, can help mitigate agency conflicts associated with firms' employment choices. I find that abnormal net hiring, measured as the absolute deviation from net hiring predicted by economic fundamentals, decreases in the presence of institutional investors with longer investment horizons. Firms dominated by long-term shareholders reduce both over-investment (over-hiring and under-firing) and under-investment in labor (under-hiring).The monitoring role of long-term investors is more pronounced for firms facing higher labor adjustment costs. These findings suggest that institutional investors play an important role in firm-level employment decisions.

Este estudo analisa situações de reconhecimento dos territórios de quilombos no concurso da efetivação do artigo 68 da Constituição Federal. Através da etnografia realizada num contexto local – Morro Alto/RS- procuro abordar a dimensão de releitura da experiência histórica da escravatura que lança os grupos sociais negros num novo patamar de reivindiçação de direitos que até então não tinham previsão no direito estatal. Pesquiso a dinâmica sócio-juridica em torno da implementação desse artigo para observar se a mesma tem permitido ativar, no campo normativo e discursivo, eixos de interlocução com as noções e perspectivas de direito e justiça que carregam os grupos sociais, de tal modo que os mesmos ingressem no debate nacional. Me dedico também a refletir sobre uma visibilidade sobre a história da presença negra no Brasil que decorre dos vários registros que tem sido realizados através da participação de uma série de atores sociais, entre os quais os antropólogos, que elaboram laudos e estudos, um conjunto de entidades e órgãos governamentais. Deste modo, enfoco os termos, posições e novas configurações de saber-poder, que implicam uma realidade de realização de direitos advinda do novo jogo de lentes dirigido sobre o “passado histórico”, indagando sobre a atualização, importância e a disputa de sentido com que os diferentes setores da sociedade refletem e relacionam justiça, direito e narrativa histórica na esteira das memórias quilombolas. / This study analyzes situations involving the recognition of quilombolos (technically, descendents of runaway slaves) under article 68 of the Brazilian Federal Constitution. Starting from an ethnographic study, carried out in a local context – Morro Alto/RS – I consider the re-reading of the historical experience of slavery which has urged negro social groups onto a scenario of legal claims which, until recently, had not been foreseen by state law. I look into the social and juridical dynamics involved in the implementation of this constitutional article to see if, in normative and discursive aspects, it has encouraged lines of dialogue with the actors´(social groups´) own notions of justice and rights, allowing them to enter into national debates. I also reflect on the visibility of the historical negro presence in Brazil by consulting registers produced by a series of social actors, including anthropologists (who contribute with judicial consultancies), and a number of governmental and non-governmental organizations. I thus focus on the terms, positions and new configurations of knowledge-power implied in the present reality of rights claims. Taking into consideration the new perspectives projected onto the “historical past”, I investigate the re-enactments and the disputes of meaning with which the different sectors of society reflect on and relate with justice, law and historical narrative as filtered through the memory of quilombolas.

Submitted by Ricardo Silva (ferraro@fgvmail.br) on 2010-08-31T20:34:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Temperatura_e_Precificacao_EPGE_20100831.pdf: 599402 bytes, checksum: 336c51d082aaaefb1c0545911d46d3f1 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vitor Souza(vitor.souza@fgv.br) on 2010-09-02T13:53:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Temperatura_e_Precificacao_EPGE_20100831.pdf: 599402 bytes, checksum: 336c51d082aaaefb1c0545911d46d3f1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2010-09-02T17:54:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Temperatura_e_Precificacao_EPGE_20100831.pdf: 599402 bytes, checksum: 336c51d082aaaefb1c0545911d46d3f1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-28 / We examinate the relationship between temperature anomalies and direct insurance claims from brazilian insurance market, as well as their effect on a consumption asset pricing model. To accomplish this, we have studied the effect of the claims and temperature anomalies in the opportunities of future investments. We tested a consumption asset pricing model using brazilian time series. Two consumption, two direct insurance claims and four temperature anomalies series were used in these tests. All series belongs to the interval between september 1996 and december 2007, in a quarterly frequency, two years after the beginning of Real plan and one year before the beggining of the credit crisis of 2008. In some cases we used monthly series. We observed positive and significative correlation between direct claims and temperature anomalies. Two models were better than CCAPM. The first with the growth rate of direct claims and the second with the temperature anomalies series elaborated by Goddard Institute of Space Sciences (GISS/NASA). As a result we observed that GISS temperature anomaly series elaborated by GISS is able to affect the future investment opportunities in brazilian capital market / Examinamos a relação entre anomalias de temperatura e séries de sinistros diretos do mercado segurador brasileiro, bem como seu efeito sobre um modelo de precificação de ativos de consumo. Nossa metodologia consistiu na análise da correlação das anomalias de temperatura com a série de sinistros e no efeito dessas séries nas oportunidades futuras de investimento. Testamos um modelo de precificação de ativos de consumo (CCAPM) condicional com as séries temporais brasileiras. Duas séries de consumo, duas séries de sinistros diretos e quatro séries de anomalias de temperatura foram utilizadas na realização dos testes. Todas as séries pertenceram ao período de setembro de 1996 a dezembro de 2007, com freqüência trimestral, dois anos posteriores ao início do plano Real e um ano antes da crise de crédito de 2008. Em alguns casos utilizamos séries mensais. Observamos a existência de correlação positiva e significativa entre as séries de sinistro direto e as anomalias de temperatura. Dois modelos se apresentaram melhores que o CCAPM clássico. O primeiro com a taxa de crescimento da série de sinistros, com pontos que poderíamos considerar como outliers, e o segundo com a série de anomalias de temperatura do hemisfério sul elaborada pelo Goddard Institute of Space Sciences (GISS/NASA). Como resultado observamos que a série de anomalias de temperatura elaborada pelo GISS é capaz de afetar as oportunidades futuras de investimento no mercado de capitais brasileiro.

O presente estudo tem como tema central a análise do tratamento diferenciado entre os credores sujeitos à recuperação judicial, disciplinada pela Lei 11.101/2005. A necessidade de tratar credores de forma igualitária encontra-se prevista no princípio clássico do direito concursal chamado par condicio creditorum. Assim, busca-se analisar a aplicabilidade desse princípio na recuperação judicial, bem como os elementos que permitam uma compreensão do instituto a fim de construir uma base teórica, problematizar a funcionalidade da Lei através do exame da jurisprudência e doutrina e estabelecer critérios. A relevância do tema justifica-se em razão da matéria ser controvertida e de grande aplicação prática pela existência de diferenciação de tratamento entre credores na maioria das recuperações judiciais. Para tanto, no primeiro capítulo, analisa-se os conceitos básicos e origens para estudo da par condicio creditorum e o contexto dos princípios que norteiam o direito concursal. No segundo capítulo é abordada a importância da jurisprudência e dos credores na construção da recuperação judicial, destacando a problemática existente nas classes de credores originalmente previstas na legislação e a natureza jurídica do plano de recuperação judicial. No terceiro capítulo são analisados os principais casos em que ocorre o tratamento diferenciado entre credores na recuperação judicial, como a criação de subclasses, a existência de credor estratégico ou colaborativo que financie a empresa devedora e a consolidação substantiva de grupos societários, objetivando estabelecer critérios. Finalmente, no quarto capítulo discute-se a soberania da assembleia-geral de credores, o papel do juiz na homologação do plano de recuperação judicial e as hipóteses de controle de legalidade pelo judiciário. Ao final, são expostas as conclusões sobre a pesquisa. / The present study has as its central theme the analysis of the unfair discrimination among creditors subject to reorganization, disciplined by Law 11.101/2005. The need to treat creditors in an egalitarian manner is provided for in the classic principle of bankruptcy law called par condicio creditorum. Thus, the study seeks to analyze the applicability of this principle in reorganization, as well as the elements that allow an understanding of the institute in order to build a theoretical basis, problematize the functionality of the Law through the examination of jurisprudence and doctrine and establish criteria. The relevance of the topic is justified because the matter is controversial and of great practical application by the existence of different treatment between creditors in most reorganization process. To do so, the first chapter analyzes the basic concepts and origins for the study of par condicio creditorum and the context of the principles that guide bankruptcy law. The second chapter deals with the importance of jurisprudence and creditors in the construction of the reorganization process, highlighting the problems existing in the classes of claims originally foreseen in the legislation and the legal nature of the plan of reorganization. The third chapter analyzes the main cases in which unfair discrimination occurs between creditors in reorganization process, such as the creation of subclasses, the existence of essential venders that finances the debtor company and the substantive consolidation of corporate groups, aiming to establish criteria. Finally, the fourth chapter discusses the sovereignty of the general assembly of creditors, the role of the judge in the confirmation of the reorganization plan and the hypotheses of legality control by the judiciary. At the end, the conclusions about the research are presented.

Alimentos funcionais podem ser entendidos como aqueles que, em virtude de seus componentes fisiologicamente ativos, fornecem benefícios à saúde além da nutrição básica. Esta emergente categoria de alimentos surgiu no Japão, em meados da década de 1980. A partir de então, outros países desenvolveram o seu sistema regulatório acerca de Alimentos Funcionais. No Brasil, é possível alegar que determinados alimentos possuem propriedades funcionais e/ou de saúde. Em função disso, surge uma série de incongruências e interações importantes entre legislação de alimentos e de medicamentos. Uma análise nas publicações de registros deferidas pela ANVISA possibilita constatar que um mesmo produto poderá ser registrado nestas duas categorias. As reivindicações da saúde não devem ser evitadas, pois, podem ser um importante veículo de informação para os consumidores. Todavia, é preciso que regras claras sejam estabelecidas para que o consumidor tenha acesso ao real instrumento para o cuidado com a saúde. Agências regulatórias de qualquer país devem estar direcionadas para garantir aos consumidores segurança e qualidade dos alimentos. Serão necessárias regras mais claras para a indústria, para que ao fim do processo o consumidor não seja enganado por falsas promessas de cura. O aprofundamento do debate acerca da legislação de Alimentos funcionais traz a tona a suspeita da legitimação do processo de medicalização dos alimentos por parte das agências reguladoras, tanto no âmbito nacional quanto internacional. Este trabalho não objetivou discutir a funcionalidade dos alimentos. O foco da nossa atenção está em demonstrar os riscos sanitários relativos à ausência de definições claras acerca da regulamentação desta emergente categoria de alimentos e ainda discutir suas implicações para a Saúde Pública. / Functional Food can be understood as the ones that, because of their physiologically active components, provide health benefits besides the basic nutrition. That emergent food category appeared in Japan in the middle eighties. From then, other countries developed their regulatory system concerning Functional Food. In Brazil it is possible to allege that certain kinds of food have functional and/or health properties. Observing that situation, we can see many important incongruities and interactions between food and medicine legislation. An analysis at the conceding register published by ANVISA shows that the same product can be registered in both categories. Heal claims cant be avoided, since it can be an important vehicle of information to the consumers. However, it is necessary to establish clear rules so that the consumers can have access to a real instrument for their health care. Regulation agencies of any country must be directed to guarantee to the consumers food security and quality. Clear rules for industries are necessary so that at the end of the process the consumer is not deceived by fake promises of cure. Going deeper into the discussion about Functional Food legislation emerges the suspect of the legitimacy of the process of turning food into medicine by the regulation agencies, both on national and international scopes. The objective of this study is not to discuss food functionality. Our focus of attention was to demonstrate the sanitary risks related to absence of clear definitions about the regulation of that arising food category and, besides, discuss its implications to Public Health.