嘉靖三十二(1553)年，葡萄牙人賄賂廣東官員，以「水溼貢物」為由遷入澳門，自此澳門成為葡萄牙人在華的聚居地，而明、清兩朝皆對澳內葡人實行治理。然而，光緒十三(1887)年清朝確立葡國永居管理澳門的地位，由此澳門成為了葡國的殖民地，在以後一百多年時間，澳門相關糾紛都是構成中葡交涉的重要部分，直到1999年葡國正式將澳門主權歸還中華人民共和國，中國才重新治理澳門。 澳門擁有複雜的歷史背景，加上，礙於時代氛圍影響，學界一般認為明、清兩朝視澳門為涉外問題，繼之將澳門史、中葡關係史兩種截然不同的概念混為一談，在這種「後見之明」的史觀之下，又利用錯誤的「朝貢體系」論的各種觀點來詮釋中葡關係史與澳門史，以致既有明、清澳門史研究無法體現中國各個時期治理澳門的意義，而且，既有的中葡關係史、澳門史論述皆存在諸多與史實矛盾之處，特別是在清代的部分。現今學界已出現全面推翻「朝貢體系」論的研究，有見及此，本研究利用「同時代史觀」，試圖站在清朝的立場，重新理解中葡關係與澳門問題。 本研究除了緒論與結論外，共分三章。首先從清朝對外多元關係當中，重新審視中葡關係，得知清代中葡關係非「朝貢體系」論所指的「天朝VS朝貢國」的不平等關係，而清朝只不過視葡國為遠在海外的小國，兩國不存在正式國交關係，由於清朝視澳門為非「涉外」事務，而是「內政」問題，因此不會將澳門問題放在中葡關係討論。在釐清中葡關係與澳門治理性質後，本文第二、三章分別從中國的視角，重新詮釋明、清澳內葡人的司法治理、互市制度。 通過以上三章，不僅能看到本文重建了有別於既有澳門史所呈現的歷史面貌，解決了既有澳門史論述的謬誤與矛盾，也明確區分了出明、清兩朝治理澳門不同的意涵。 / Since the 32nd year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing of the reign of the Ming Dynasty, Portuguese people had bribed the officials of Guangdong, China, and had entered Macao by saying that “their goods had got wet.” Macao since then had become a Portuguese settlement in China, and the Portuguese in Macao had been governed by the governments of China during the Ming and the Qing dynasties. However, in the 13th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, the Chinese government recognized that the rights of Portuguese that enable them to permanently live and manage Macao. As such, Macao became a colony of Portugal. During the following one hundred years, Macao had been treated as a part of the diplomacy between China and Portuguese. Until 1999, the Portuguese government returned Macao to the Peoples Republic of China, and Macao has therefore been governed by the Chinese government again. Macao owns a complicated historical background. In addition, due to the social context, the academic circle generally believe that the issues in Macao in the Ming and the Qing dynasties had been treated as issues of diplomacy, and researchers usually mix up the two fundamentally different concepts, history of Macao and history of China-Portugal relationship. Such historical outlook of “hindsight” and the incorrect views of the study of “the Tribute System” have led to the incapability of the study of Macao history of the Ming and the Qing dynasties in presenting the significance of the governance of Macao in various periods of time. Moreover, the existing study of history of China-Portugal relationship and of history of Macao contradicts each other in terms of the historical “facts” provided, especially in the part of the Qing dynasty. Currently, the study of “the Tribute System” has been proved erroneous in the academic circle, thus this essay, with the “synchronized historical outlook,” aims at re-exploring the China-Portugal relationship and the issues of Macao in the point of view of the Qing dynasty. Besides the introduction and the conclusion, this thesis has three chapters in total. In the first chapter, the author reviews China-Portugal relationship from the perspective of the various diplomatic relationship between China in the Qing dynasty and other countries, and realizes that China-Portugal relationship had not been the unequal relationship as “Mandate heaven VS tribute states” stated in the study of the “Tribute System”. Furthermore, the government of the Qing dynasty had treated Portugal as a small country overseas, and the two countries had not had official diplomatic relationship. Since the government of the Qing dynasty had viewed the issues of Macao as domestic issues rather than those of diplomacy, the issues of Macao had not been brought up in the discussion of China-Portugal relationship. Clarifying China-Portugal relationship and the nature of the governance of Macao, the second and the third chapters respectively, from a perspective of China’s domestic governance, re-present the justice and trading system of the Portuguese people in Macao during the periods of the Ming and the Qing dynasties. With the three chapters, this thesis does not only reconstruct the history presented by the history of Macao and solve the existing fallacies and conflicts, but also clearly distinguishes the different significance of the governance of Macao in the Ming and the Qing dynasties.

A comunidade internacional tem se convencido sobre a seriedade da mudança climática e a necessidade de respostas urgentes para combatê-la. No entanto, a ausência de um regime universal com metas para os principais poluidores faz com que cada país adote ações individuais de maneira descoordenada. Esse descompasso levanta preocupações sobre possíveis impactos para a competitividade e a eficácia dos esforços dos países com políticas climáticas mais ambiciosas. Com o escopo de neutralizar tais ameaças, desponta a alternativa de adoção de ajustes de carbono na fronteira para equalizar os encargos ambientais entre a indústria doméstica e as importações. Nesse contexto, a presente tese defende a criação de disciplinas internacionais para orientar o uso de ajustes de carbono em sintonia com os valores do livre comércio e da preservação do clima. Recomenda-se que as negociações internacionais sejam lideradas pelas Nações Unidas, na moldura do regime climático, porém, em estreito diálogo e cooperação com a Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC). A partir da análise de possíveis cenários, o trabalho expressa preferência por disciplinas multilaterais. Reconhece-se, contudo, méritos em arranjos intermediários, como os instrumentos setoriais. Por fim, indica-se um roteiro sobre os principais aspectos da aplicação dos ajustes de carbono que mereceriam apreciação em plano internacional. / The international community has acknowledged the need for urgent responses to address climate change. However, in the absence of a global agreement setting binding targets for all major polluters, countries pursue individual actions in an uncoordinated fashion. Such a situation raises concerns on competitiveness impacts and on the environmental effectiveness of climate policies of most countries, especially those leading the way. As a solution to level the playing field vis-à-vis international competitors, countries evaluate the use of border carbon adjustments. Against this background, this analysis supports the design of international disciplines to guide the use of border carbon adjustments in line with the goals of free trade and climate protection. It argues that the United Nations should lead those negotiations in the framework of the climate regime, in close dialogue and cooperation with the World Trade Organization (WTO). Based on an analysis of multiple scenarios, this essay favours the adoption of multilateral disciplines. It recognizes, however, advantages in alternative approaches such as sectorial agreements. Finally, it proposes a roadmap on key aspects concerning the use of border carbon adjustments that merit consideration in the international arena.

This thesis deals with the EU energy policy and its impact on the energy sector of the Czech Republic. The main objective is to analyze the implemantation and impact of the EU climate-energy package on the czech energy sector. The first part is devoted to describing the current state of the energy sector in the country.The second part is the theory of externalities due to the fact that carbon dioxid emissions are externalities, which the EU is trying tu reduce through its climate-energy measures. The third part delas with EU energy policy and the fourth one with its applications and implications in the Czech Republic.

My diploma thesis discusses the power and importance of money management when trading foreign exchange market. With the help of real examples it aims to demonstrate the difficulty of the future foreign exchange rate estimation and the ambiguousness of the market analyses results. Comparing the results of real trading in the spirit of diversification to the actual results of Vince's model, the thesis points out whether the application of diversification is a real necessity or not. The thesis also highlights the impact of diversification on the trading system performance compared to Vince's model. The final part proposes a possible practical accounting solution to the foreign exchange speculative trades.

D'après le magazine Terra eco (2014),48% des français pratiquent régulièrement la consommation collaborative et 32% ont l'intention de le faire. Malgré l'engouement des consommateurs pour ces alternatives d'échanges, nous constatons comparativement assez peu d'études sur ce sujet en marketing. Cette recherche se propose donc d'analyser les motivations des membres des réseaux physiques de consommation collaborative, à travers l'étude du Système d'échange local (SEL). Le chapitre I propose un état des lieux du SEL, à travers son histoire, son étendue, son objet et son fonctionnement. Le chapitre 2 présente le SEL sous son approche académique. Par une revue de la littérature, il montre comment les différentes disciplines expliquent cette réalité. Il se penche plus précisément sur les déterminants au sélisme, et se termine par la proposition d'un modèle d'influence des motivations au sélisme et de leurs antécédents sur la pratique séliste. Le chapitre 3, par une analyse de l6 entretiens semi-directifs de sélistes, complète et enrichi le modèle. Le chapitre 4traite de la méthodologie employée pour le tester, Le chapitre 5 s'attèle à la création d'une échelle des motivations au sélisme, ainsi qu'à la validation des échelles de mesure du modèle. Le chapitre 6 se consacre enfin au test du modèle et à I'approfondissement des résultats. Cette étude quantitative se base sur un échantillon de 957 sélistes. Les principaux apports de notre thèse consistent : en une modélisation du comportement du séliste ; en la découverte de deux nouvelles motivations à faire partie d'un SEL : se distraire et s'enrichir intellectuellement; en la création d'une échelle de mesure des motivations au sélisme; en l'analyse de leur influence sur la pratique séliste ; et en la création d'une typologie de sélistes. Pour finir et sur la base de ces résultats, des préconisations managériales sont proposées aux SEL, aux entrepreneurs sociaux ou privés de réseau de consommation collaborative, ainsi qu'à l'État et aux collectivités territoriales. / According to the magazine Terra Eco (20 I 4), 48%o of French people are regular users of collaborative consumption, and 32%o of them are considering doing it. Despite the consumer craze for those alternative exchanges, comparatively, only a few marketing studies on the topic are currently made, This research's aim is therefore to analyse the various motivations of members from a physical network of collaborative consumption through the study of the local exchange trading system (LETS). The first chapter is focused on a state of play of the LETS, through its history, its geographical extent, its aims and uses. The second chapter will observe the LETS under an academic point of view. Through a litterature review, it will show how the differents disciplines are explaining this reality. It will also highlight in details what is determining LETS practices, and will end up suggesting an influence model on motivations behind becoming a LETS member, and their antecedents to the LETS practice. The third chapter will strenghten the model by a deep analysis of l6 semi-directives interviews of LETS users. The fourth chapter will put a light on the methodology used to test it. The fifth chapter will define a motivation scale on why becoming a LETS member, and to validate the measuring scales of the model. The sixth chapter will finally test the model and dig the results deeper. This quantitative study is based on a sample of 957 LETS users. Our thesis main assets are: a modelisation of the LETS member behavior, the discovery of two new motivations to join a LETS-distraction and intellectual enrichment, the creation of a motivation scale behind the decision of joining a LETS, analysis of their influences on the LETS practice, and the creation of a LETS member typology. To conclude, and based on those results, we'll come up with managing advices to give to LETS, to social or private workers from collaborative consumption networks, and also to the State and to territorial collectivities.

<p>This research paper pays particular attention to the EAC because of its unique composition of four LDCs46 and 1 DC47 and the fact that three of these countries are landlocked least developed countries (LLDCs).48 The EAC was notified as a RTA to the WTO under the Enabling Clause on 9 October 2000 and registered as a Custom Union49 under WT/COMTD/N/14.50 The notification of the EAC under the Enabling Clause is due to the nature of composition of members therein and to the fact that the Enabling Clause does not require regional trading arrangements to cover substantially all trade, or to achieve free trade in the bloc within ten years after notification. Additionally, it provides an avenue for giving special consideration to the LDCs through making concessions and contributions,51 allows automatic exemptions from MFN (non-discrimination) treatment in favour of DCs,52 and thus allows other WTO members to accord more favourable treatment to DCs in many cases without according the same treatment to other WTO members.53.</p>

<p>This research paper pays particular attention to the EAC because of its unique composition of four LDCs46 and 1 DC47 and the fact that three of these countries are landlocked least developed countries (LLDCs).48 The EAC was notified as a RTA to the WTO under the Enabling Clause on 9 October 2000 and registered as a Custom Union49 under WT/COMTD/N/14.50 The notification of the EAC under the Enabling Clause is due to the nature of composition of members therein and to the fact that the Enabling Clause does not require regional trading arrangements to cover substantially all trade, or to achieve free trade in the bloc within ten years after notification. Additionally, it provides an avenue for giving special consideration to the LDCs through making concessions and contributions,51 allows automatic exemptions from MFN (non-discrimination) treatment in favour of DCs,52 and thus allows other WTO members to accord more favourable treatment to DCs in many cases without according the same treatment to other WTO members.53.</p>

The way people view development is changing. The world now advocates for a development that also considers future generations. There is a paradigm shift towards sustainable development - a development in today's lifestyle without destroying the resources for tomorrow generations. Sustainable development is a broad concept that addresses how human activities impact on the economic, environmental and social well-being of an ecosystem; however, practical application of the sustainability concept is complex because its objective assessment is elusive. It is often said that the effect of technology on society has never been more profound than today. As mankind develops in science and technology to improve on his well-being, certain impacts are made on the systems that support human existence. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, like gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology, is a latest innovation conceived to 'fight' the problem of gas flaring, and help contribute to the social and economic growth of the people; but it is necessary for man to know if these contemporary technologies are sustainable. This dissertation critically appraises the impact of the LNG project on the community of Bonny Island in Nigeria from a holistic perspective. The approach to the research work is three-fold: an appropriate sustainability framework is selected based on certain criteria; sustainability indicators are developed from the chosen framework; and the sustainability indicators are used to assess the impact of the project on the flora and fauna of the community. To have a clear picture of the impact of Nigeria LNG on its host community, Epe-Waterside is chosen as a control community because of its similar socio-geographical outlook to Bonny Island community. The control community is then subjected to the same set of sustainability indicators for a comparative analysis. The outcome of the research work shows that, though the economic and social conditions of Bonny Island seem much better, its environmental status remains a challenge. In other words, it can be concluded that the present approach to the operation of the LNG technology is not sustainable. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The way people view development is changing. The world now advocates for a development that also considers future generations. There is a paradigm shift towards sustainable development - a development in today's lifestyle without destroying the resources for tomorrow generations. Sustainable development is a broad concept that addresses how human activities impact on the economic, environmental and social well-being of an ecosystem; however, practical application of the sustainability concept is complex because its objective assessment is elusive. It is often said that the effect of technology on society has never been more profound than today. As mankind develops in science and technology to improve on his well-being, certain impacts are made on the systems that support human existence. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, like gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology, is a latest innovation conceived to 'fight' the problem of gas flaring, and help contribute to the social and economic growth of the people; but it is necessary for man to know if these contemporary technologies are sustainable. This dissertation critically appraises the impact of the LNG project on the community of Bonny Island in Nigeria from a holistic perspective. The approach to the research work is three-fold: an appropriate sustainability framework is selected based on certain criteria; sustainability indicators are developed from the chosen framework; and the sustainability indicators are used to assess the impact of the project on the flora and fauna of the community. To have a clear picture of the impact of Nigeria LNG on its host community, Epe-Waterside is chosen as a control community because of its similar socio-geographical outlook to Bonny Island community. The control community is then subjected to the same set of sustainability indicators for a comparative analysis. The outcome of the research work shows that, though the economic and social conditions of Bonny Island seem much better, its environmental status remains a challenge. In other words, it can be concluded that the present approach to the operation of the LNG technology is not sustainable. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

[pt] Nos últimos anos, vem crescendo o interesse acerca da predição do comportamento do mercado de capitais, tanto por parte dos investidores quanto dos pesquisadores. Apesar do grande número de publicações tratando esse problema, predizer com eficiência futuras tendências e desenvolver estratégias de negociação capazes de traduzir boas predições em lucros são ainda grandes desafios. A dificuldade em realizar tais tarefas se deve tanto à não linearidade e grande volume de ruídos presentes nos dados do mercado, quanto à falta de sistemas que possam avaliar com propriedade a qualidade das predições realizadas. Nesse trabalho, são realizadas predições de séries temporais visando auxiliar o investidor tanto em operações de compra e venda, como em Pairs Trading. Além disso, as predições são feitas considerando duas diferentes periodicidades. Uma predição interday, que considera apenas dados diários e tem como objetivo a predição de valores referentes ao presente dia. E uma predição intraday, que visa predizer valores referentes a cada hora de negociação do dia atual e para isso considera também os dados intraday conhecidos até o momento que se deseja prever. Para ambas as tarefas propostas, foram testadas três ferramentas de predição, quais sejam, Regressão por Mínimos Quadrados Parciais, Regressão por Vetores de Suporte e Redes Neurais Artificiais. Com o intuito de melhor avaliar a qualidade das predições realizadas, é proposto ainda um trading system. Os testes foram realizados considerando ativos das companhias mais negociadas da BM e FBOVESPA, a bolsa de valores oficial do Brasil e terceira maior do mundo. Os resultados dos três preditores são apresentados e comparados a quatro benchmarks, bem como com a solução ótima. A diferença na qualidade de predição, considerando o erro de predição ou as métricas do trading system, são notáveis. Se quando analisado apenas o Erro Percentual Absoluto Médio os preditores propostos não mostram uma melhora significativa, quando as métricas do trading system são consideradas eles apresentam um resultado bem superior. O retorno anual do investimento em alguns casos atinge valor superior a 300 por cento. / [en] The interest of both investors and researchers in stock market behavior forecasting has increased throughout the recent years. Despite the wide number of publications examining this problem, accurately predicting future stock trends and developing business strategies capable of turning good predictions into profits are still great challenges. This is partly due to the nonlinearity and noise inherent to the stock market data source, and partly because benchmarking systems to assess the forecasting quality are not publicly available. Here, we perform time series forecasting aiming to guide the investor both into Pairs Trading and buy and sell operations. Furthermore, we explore two different forecasting periodicities. First, an interday forecast, which considers only daily data and whose goal is predict values referring to the current day. And second, the intraday approach, which aims to predict values referring to each trading hour of the current day and also takes advantage of the intraday data already known at prediction time. In both forecasting schemes, we use three regression tools as predictor algorithms, which are: Partial Least Squares Regression, Support Vector Regression and Artificial Neural Networks. We also propose a trading system as a better way to assess the forecasting quality. In the experiments, we examine assets of the most traded companies in the BM and FBOVESPA Stock Exchange, the world s third largest and official Brazilian Stock Exchange. The results for the three predictors are presented and compared to four benchmarks, as well as to the optimal solution. The difference in the forecasting quality, when considering either the forecasting error metrics or the trading system metrics, is remarkable. If we consider just the mean absolute percentage error, the proposed predictors do not show a significant superiority. Nevertheless, when considering the trading system evaluation, it shows really outstanding results. The yield in some cases amounts to an annual return on investment of more than 300 per cent.