The current international monetary system is very different from that of a few decades ago. Many of the old restrictions that had been placed on currency and capital movements between countries have fallen away in favour of a much more liberal international payment and investment system. The global financial arena is now characterized by greater currency instability, volatility and heightened financial risks. Exchange Rate risk is one of the complex topics in the economic world. Since there are so many factors in the financial market that influence a country's currency value, it becomes very risky for importers, exporters and portfolio investors to be involved in the international trade and financial markets. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding on how the major economic indicators have an impact on the decision-making of the importers, the exporters and investors, to further influence the volatility of the Rand; and to provide various hedging and arbitraging strategies to reduce foreign exchange rate risks. The layout of the study is based on six chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on the background and scope of the study, mainly explaining the reasons, objectives and methodology of this study. An historical overview takes place in chapter 2, where a number of different exchange rate systems will be discussed. Chapter 3 reviews different exchange rate theories in order to support the empirical study in the next chapter. Chapter 4 focuses on an investigation and comparative study on how foreign investments and trade with developed countries have an impact on currency values and visa-versa. A number of management strategies for reducing exchange rate risks are introduced in chapter 5. Chapter 6 is the summary and conclusion of the research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

The current international monetary system is very different from that of a few decades ago. Many of the old restrictions that had been placed on currency and capital movements between countries have fallen away in favour of a much more liberal international payment and investment system. The global financial arena is now characterized by greater currency instability, volatility and heightened financial risks. Exchange Rate risk is one of the complex topics in the economic world. Since there are so many factors in the financial market that influence a country's currency value, it becomes very risky for importers, exporters and portfolio investors to be involved in the international trade and financial markets. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding on how the major economic indicators have an impact on the decision-making of the importers, the exporters and investors, to further influence the volatility of the Rand; and to provide various hedging and arbitraging strategies to reduce foreign exchange rate risks. The layout of the study is based on six chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on the background and scope of the study, mainly explaining the reasons, objectives and methodology of this study. An historical overview takes place in chapter 2, where a number of different exchange rate systems will be discussed. Chapter 3 reviews different exchange rate theories in order to support the empirical study in the next chapter. Chapter 4 focuses on an investigation and comparative study on how foreign investments and trade with developed countries have an impact on currency values and visa-versa. A number of management strategies for reducing exchange rate risks are introduced in chapter 5. Chapter 6 is the summary and conclusion of the research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Female labor force participation varies widely across regions and cultures, typically with more working women in developed than developing countries. Because there are significant differences between developed and developing countries that go beyond GDP, this paper examines the effects of certain development indicators on female workforce participation across these countries. Using models from past literature, I include indicators that cover personal and labor market characteristics. In this analysis, I find that education and unemployment rates continue to be significant determinants of female labor force participation in both developed and developing countries, with several key differences in the effect of various types of unemployment. Furthermore, my study supports the existence of an initial tradeoff between female labor force participation and development as the economic sectors within a country shift. These results provide valuable insights on these general trends across national borders and therefore are important for policy makers.

This article considers the evolution of international business cycle interdependencies among 27 developed and developing countries since the beginning of 1870s, utilising the generalized vector autoregressive (VAR)-based spillover index of Diebold and Yilmaz (2012), which allows the construction of a time-varying measure of business cycle spillovers. We find that, on average, 65% of the forecast error variance of the 27 countries' business cycle shocks is due to international spillovers. However, the magnitude of international business cycle spillovers varies considerably over time. There is a clear increasing trend since the end of World War II and until the middle 1980s. After that, international business cycle interdependencies declined during the period that was dubbed the Great Moderation, and stabilized around the beginning of the twenty-first century. During the Great Recession of 2008-2009, international business cycle spillovers increased to unprecedented levels. Finally, developed countries are consistently ranked as net transmitters of cyclical shocks to developing counties throughout the sample. (authors' abstract)

Since the introduction of computers in to organisations in the 1950s, computer information systems have become powerful organisational instruments. The uptake of information technology including information systems (IS) and the impact of these technologies have been phenomenal, particularly in the least developed countries (LDCs). Organisations in these countries have continued to utilise IS as a development tool with the belief that it will enhance business processes, in many instances accelerated by foreign assistance. IS can have a positive effect on users, organisations and national development, measured economically or otherwise at the individual, organisational, and national levels. Yet IS implementation and the measure of its success is characterised by a high rate of failure and disagreement among scholars and practitioners. The success of organisational IS is influenced by a fabric of many variables, including contextual elements. In this regard IS can be influenced by both the organisational context in terms of strategies, structures, politics and culture, and by the wider political socio-economic, cultural, and technological climate within which organisations exist. Understanding the contributing variables and the barriers that impede IS success, would better prepare organisations to overcome the inherent difficulties. There is a large body of work documenting the usefulness and consequences of IS. However, these studies have been concentrated in the developed countries (DCs), hence, little is known about IS implementation in LDCs. DCs and LDCs differ in their contextual and social settings, and a uniform analysis may not be applicable in their disparate settings. Indeed the paucity of research and data in the IS domain indicates that the study would benefit an LDC such as Papua New Guinea (PNG) and contribute to knowledge in understanding IS implementation in an LDC environment. This thesis reports on a study that examined IS implementation success in PNG organisations in the context of an LDC. Computers were introduced to PNG in the 1960s, however, no studies have been undertaken to date in this domain that the author is aware of. Hence, the objective of this study was to provide detailed analysis of IS, the context in which it was implemented, its interaction with organisational and external settings, and elicit the underlying elements associated with its success. It also explores the emphasis placed on each of the elements and the extent to which organisations effectively addressed these elements to ensure IS success. The exploratory study employs a multi method design - beginning in Stage 1 with case studies, followed by a survey in Stage 2. Stage 1 adopted a multiple case study approach. Eight case studies were undertaken, however, results of only four case studies are reported in this thesis. Data obtained in the case studies provide a useful basis for the survey. The study in Stage 2 consolidated and expanded on the case study findings from the perspective of a wider population. All the organisations contacted but not involved in the Stage 1 study contributed by participating in the survey. The study identified more than fifty elements that contributed to the success of IS in PNG organisations. There were significant similarities to the findings of studies in other DCs and LDCs despite the disparate contextual conditions. Several elements, not identified in prior studies, were also revealed. Based on this study, a set of principles pertaining to IS implementation and management in PNG were postulated. Similarly a set of recommendations were also outlined.

Thesis (M.A.T.) -- School for International Training, 2006 / Advisor -- Patrick Moran Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-140).

Lors du vieillissement, les capacités sensorielles et l’efficacité masticatoire diminuent, affectant négativement l'alimentation des séniors. Ainsi, la formulation d’aliments adaptés aux besoins nutritionnels et sensoriels des seniors est un enjeu pour les années à venir. L'objectif principal de cette thèse, intégrée au projet AlimaSSenS, est d’étudier l’impact de la texture de produits fromagers sur le confort en bouche et la biodisponibilité des acides aminés et du calcium. Les fromages modèles développés ont la même composition mais des textures variables. Des analyses sensorielles réalisées sur un panel de séniors, ainsi que des études de digestion in vitro et in vivo (sur modèle porcin) ont été réalisées. Les résultats des digestions soulignent la pertinence d’intégrer les protéines sériques en tant que source protéique majeure dans les produits fromagers, afin de maximiser l’apport plasmatique en acides aminés essentiels. Cependant, la texture des fromages modèles n’a pas influencé la bioaccessibilité des acides aminés et du calcium. De plus, la bioaccessibilité du calcium est majoritairement liée aux pH intra-gastrique et -intestinal, plutôt qu’à sa forme chimique initiale. Enfin, l’étude sensorielle a mis en évidence que seules les textures perçues comme « sèches » étaient liées à une baisse importante du confort en bouche des séniors. Ce travail souligne l'opportunité de développer des produits fromagers destinés aux séniors. Il serait intéressant de poursuivre ces travaux avec des études cliniques pour connaître l'impact physiologique de ces produits / During aging, the sensory capacities and the mastication efficacy decrease negatively affecting the diet of the elderly. Yet, protein and calcium requirements increase with age. In this context, the formulation of foods adapted to the nutritional and sensory needs of the elderly is a challenge for the next years. The main objective of this thesis, integrated into the project AlimaSSenS, is to study the impact of the texture of model cheeses, based on whey proteins and calcium fortified, on the oral comfort and on the bioavailability of amino acids and calcium.The model cheeses developed have the same composition and variable textures. Sensory analysis were performed on a panel of people over 65, and in vitro and in vivo digestion studies (on porcine model) were conducted.The results of the digestion studies highlighted the relevance of integrating whey proteins as a major protein source in dairy products, in order to maximize the bioavailability of essential amino acids. However, the texture of model cheeses did not significantly influence the bioaccessibility of amino acids and calcium. In addition, the bioaccessibility of calcium was mainly related to intra-gastric and intra-intestinal pH, rather than to the initial chemical form of its source of enrichment. Finally, the sensory study has shown that only the textures perceived as “dry” was linked to a significant decrease in the oral comfort.This work highlights the opportunity to develop dairy products adapted for the elderly. Based on this work, it would be interesting to carry out clinical studies to know t

Estudamos a criptografia RSA como uma importante aplicação dos números primos e da aritmética modular. Apresentamos algumas sugestões de atividades relacionadas ao tema a serem desenvolvidas em sala de aula nas séries finais do ensino fundamental / We studied RSA cryptography as an important application to prime numbers and modular arithmetic. We present some suggestions of activities related to the subject to be developed in classrooms of the final years of elementary school vii

The society is changing faster than ever and more and more business is actively seeking help with their organisation. The theory in business management of our time is making man and nature more and more distinct from each other, it celebrates the intellect and logical thinking but forgets about our biological legacy. This paper is arguments for a more natural way of management and compares mankind’s communication with other developed species communication with emphasis on business management. For a durable and long-term development of the society it takes a whole new way of thinking; If everyone is selfish, no one gets anything but if everyone gives everyone gets – to give is to receive. In order to connect the theory with the reality interviews and an exercise was carried out on a company in Mälardalen. The interviews were analyzed with the aid of concentrating sentences in to categories in order to survey the activity in the corporation. The exercises were carried out as a statement of the positive effect of cooperation and a giving instead of an egoistic way of acting. This paper is to be seen as a wake up call and inspiration for further research than as a psychological or scientific thesis.

Cette thèse est composée de quatre chapitres. Le chapitre 1 analyse comment les différentes interventions publiques impactent l'octroi des microcrédits. Nous montrons que la garantie des prêts peut avoir un effet contreproductif en réduisant le nombre d'entrepreneurs bénéficiant de l'accompagnement offert par l'Institution de Microfinance (IMF). Alternativement, nous montrons que les subventions visant l'accompagnement peuvent être plus efficaces relativement à la garantie des prêts.Le chapitre 2 étudie comment les décisions d'une IMF concernant l'accompagnement peuvent impacter le comportement des emprunteurs. Nous montrons que l'asymétrie d'information renversée peut conduire à une relation non-monotone entre le type de l'emprunteur et l'offre de l'accompagnement. Cet équilibre apparaît suite à l'effet "soi-miroir". Notre modèle probit bivarié confirme l'existence d'un tel équilibre.Le chapitre 3 s'intéresse aux seuils de crédit imposés aux IMFs. Nous montrons que les seuils de crédit peuvent générer l'éloignement de la mission en facilitant le co-financement avec les banques classiques des projets les plus larges au détriment des projets les plus petits. Notre modèle probit différence-en-différences confirme l'existence de cet effet pervers à partir des données d'une IMF française.Le chapitre 4 compare les prêts octroyés aux entrepreneurs hommes et femmes par une IMF française avant et après l'introduction du seuil de crédit. Nous montrons que, sans le seuil, l'IMF choisit les femmes avec les demandes de crédit les plus élevées. Cependant, cela n'est plus le cas après l'introduction du seuil de crédits qui détériore la situation des entrepreneurs femmes. / This thesis is organized in four chapters.Chapter 1 theoretically analyses how various forms of state intervention impact microfinance institutions' (MFIs') lending behavior. We show that loan guarantees can have a counterproductive effect on financial inclusion triggered by unsubsidized business development services (BDS). Alternatively, we show that, BDS subsidization can do better in terms of financial inclusion than the loan guarantee. Chapter 2 analyses how decisions of an MFI on BDS provision can impact borrowers' behavior. We show that, reversed asymmetric information can lead to a non monotonic relationship between borrowers' type and assignment to BDS. In this equilibrium the MFI does not train the lowest and the highest type borrowers. This relationship occurs due to the "looking-glass self" effect. Our empirical bivariate probit model confirms the existence of such equilibrium. Chapter 3 tackles the issue of loan ceilings imposed to MFIs. We show that loan ceilings can trigger mission drift by facilitating the co-financing of large projects with regular banks at the expense of small projects. We test this prediction by exploiting the natural experiment of a French MFI. Difference-in-differences probit estimations show that the risk of the mission drift is real.Chapter 4 compares the loans granted to male and female entrepreneurs by a French MFI before and after the enforcement of the loan ceiling. We find that the ceiling free MFI selected women with larger requested amounts. However, under ceiling enforcement this was no longer the case, suggesting that female entrepreneurs are worse off after ceiling enforcement.