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Post-COVID Tourism - Tendencies and Management Approaches, is a comprehensive exploration of sustainable tourism development in the post-pandemic period. This enlightening collection compiles studies and reflections from renewed researchers and experts, showing the complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities that define the new normal in travel. Thereby, from restoring the tourism sector to promoting innovative strategies and responsible practices, the book serves as guidance.

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Why have so many approaches to farming and food policy failed in Sub-Saharan Africa? Because, argues William Moseley in this compelling analysis, of the shortcomings of a prevailing western, colonial agricultural science that is infused with power and politics. To tackle food security successfully, the book argues, we need a non-colonial, indigenous agronomy that creates the social innovation needed to support the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.The book is organized in four sections: Part 1 provides a broad conceptual introduction emphasizing political agronomy, political ecology and agroecology. Part 2 evaluates past food security and agricultural development experiences in four countries where Moseley has undertaken extensive field research over several decades: Mali, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Botswana. Part 3 examines successful efforts in each of these countries and outlines future directions that emphasize the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems. In Part 4, Moseley advocates building more resilient food systems and a different kind of development that supports agroecology, vibrant rurality and networks of smaller cities. Achieving this transformation will require institutional reform at the global level, of those multilateral and bilateral agencies involved with farming and food policy.Written for an academic and policy readership, as well those interested in international food security, the book is suitable for courses on food politics, agroecology and sustainable development.

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Unlock the future of global economics and business with New Topics in Emerging Markets. This captivating edited volume is your gateway to understanding the dynamic forces shaping economies on the rise. Delve into critical themes like financial resilience in times of crisis, the impact of technology in Sub-Saharan Africa, the evolving landscape of education in the metaverse, and much more. With diverse insights from leading minds, this book explores the intricacies of banking, innovation ecosystems, leadership in sports, and the ever-changing realm of e-commerce in a Web3 world. Gain a deeper understanding of emerging markets and their pivotal role in the global landscape. Whether you are a seasoned expert or just starting your journey in economics and business, this book offers a thought-provoking and accessible exploration of the challenges and opportunities that define the future. Don’t miss your chance to stay ahead of the curve – grab your copy today and embark on a journey into the heart of emerging markets.

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The authors of this monograph were driven to delve into the challenges facing cross-border cooperation amidst crises and disruptions spurred by the adverse impacts witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included challenges to the implementation of cross-border projects, the activities of Euroregions, and the development of partnerships based on INTERREG programs, as well as other issues related to territorial cooperation.The confluence of the pandemic crisis and broader international geopolitical issues, such as illegal migration to the EU and geopolitical tensions like Russian aggression against Ukraine, underscores the imperative to explore new research avenues focused on bolstering the resilience of cross-border cooperation within the EU.With a focus on identifying key factors shaping the management of cross-border projects co-financed by INTERREG programs, as well as factors influencing partner cooperation, this study aims to fortify cross-border cooperation in the face of future crises and disruptions.The monograph offers valuable insights for institutions and organizations operating in border regions, catering specifically to theoreticians and practitioners engaged in cross-border cooperation. By distilling lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic period, it provides a roadmap for integrating resilience into future cross-border activities and endeavours.

Informing Possible Future Worlds is the Festschrift in honour of Ulrich Frank on the occasion of his 65th birthday. The Festschrift includes twenty-three essays written by friends, colleagues, and fellow researchers in recognition of Ulrich Frank’s contributions to Wirtschaftsinformatik research and the scientific community. Each essay is a personal and unique birthday present to Ulrich Frank written exclusively for the Festschrift. From original research contributions to more personal reflections, the essays cover a wide range of topics, themes, and fields.The Festschrift is edited by Stefan Strecker, FernUniversität in Hagen and Jürgen Jung, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.

This Cypriot EPPO/OLAF volume deals with the link between national law and EU law (EPPO and OLAF Regulations) and enables professionals from the justice sector to understand the national law in comparative perspective and to plan further investigations. It refers to fraud cases, the link between OLAF and AFCOS, and the activities of the new EPPO regional offices.The Cypriot Act for the Implementation of the EPPO and the rules for defence lawyers in EPPO cases involving tax, subsidy, and customs fraud are also discussed. Attorney Dr Marilena Katsogiannou's introductory chapter to the Compendium on Cyprus provides a thorough summary of both Union and Cypriot laws in relation to EU fraud offences. While this volume is written in English, its footnotes reproduce the original national legislation in the local language.

Geld ist keine Ware, sondern Kredit, also ein Zahlungsversprechen, und muss als paraökonomische Struktur im Kapitalismus der Gegenwart verstanden werden.Wie sind die Transformationen des Kapitalismus und die exponentielle Vermehrung der globalen Geldmengen zu erklären? Die übliche Lehrmeinung, Geld sei eine besonders wertvolle Tauschware, vergleichbar mit einem Haus oder Automobil, beruht auf einem Missverständnis über den Charakter des Geldes. Tatsächlich ist Geld keine Ware, sondern ein Kredit – ein Zahlungsversprechen.Der Kapitalismus der Gegenwart ist paradox: Einerseits hat das Geld fast alle gesellschaftlichen Sphären erobert und sie ökonomischen Verwertungslogiken unterworfen. Andererseits ist heute alles Geld Kredit, erschaffen von Banken per Tastendruck – und zwar unter Bedingungen, die selbst nicht mehr vollständig von ökonomischen Logiken geprägt sind. Diese paraökonomische Praxis des Kredits ist in einen euphorischen Zustand eingetreten, in dem immer mehr Kapital aus dem Nichts entsteht – gerade dadurch drohen permanent Krisen. Eine neue Theorie des Geldes ist dringend geboten.

A blueprint presents drawings, dimensions and notes. This report draws vivid pictures of the beneficiaries of European Investment Bank projects in 2023. It includes data on the dimensions of our massive overall investment and the importance of our loans to each of our beneficiaries during the year. It notes the EU policies and expertise that lead us to make each of our investments.

Climate change is increasingly contested on financial terms. Different actors are advancing competing climate visions and interests by adopting financial positions. International institutions urge action by identifying financing gaps needed to meet climate targets. The finance sector claims it holds the key to unlocking money needed for climate investment. Activists expose greenwashing while using financial tactics to undermine fossil fuels. Vulnerable countries demand wealthy governments repay historical climate debts.This book offers an accessible and critical guide to the political economy and economic geography of climate finance. It identifies six competing ""positions"" of climate finance to make sense of the array of financial instruments, institutions and ideas that are remaking the relationship between capitalism and climate change. Using a wide range of case studies, from green bonds, to divestment, carbon offsetting, climate tech, central banks, and international climate funds, the authors show how climate finance is shaping our collective climate futures.

A blueprint presents drawings, dimensions and notes. This report draws vivid pictures of the beneficiaries of European Investment Bank projects in 2023. It includes data on the dimensions of our massive overall investment and the importance of our loans to each of our beneficiaries during the year. It notes the EU policies and expertise that lead us to make each of our investments.

As the largest and greenest multilateral lender in the world, the EIB helps economies flourish, creates jobs and promotes equality. Since 1958, the EIB has provided loans and expert advice for thousands of projects in over 160 countries.

The European economy is under pressure. Growth is slowing and competitive challenges are rising, all while EU firms navigate the demands of the green transition. Coordinated support from national governments and EU institutions proved critical after the COVID-19 pandemic, helping Europe to bolster its resilience to future shocks and spurring the investment needed to transform and modernise the economy. As a result, progress was made in digitalisation, energy efficiency, decarbonisation and reinforcing supply chains.The pace of change needs to accelerate, however, even as investment becomes harder to sustain. To remain competitive, the European Union and its members need to improve productivity, encourage innovation, address skill gaps, develop new technologies and supporting young, dynamic firms. The report, which is based on the EIB Group’s annual Investment Survey, provides insights on how EU firms are dealing with these pressures, and whether they are taking the necessary steps to transform their businesses.These key findings, provide a short accessible summary of the main report’s messages.

The European Investment Bank is the world’s biggest multilateral investor. This report lays out the EU bank’s priorities and details its investments in the projects that support those policy goals. The European Investment Bank devotes more than half its financing to climate action and environmental sustainability. The Bank aims to support the transition to renewable energy sources such as geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind power. Despite challenging investment conditions in the European Union, the European Investment Bank supports firms in their transitions to a greener economy and in addressing climate change. The report provides a breakdown of the European Investment Bank’s finance contracts signed within the European Union and beyond it, as well as information on financing and borrowing activities.

The European economy is under pressure. Growth is slowing and competitive challenges are rising, all while EU firms navigate the demands of the green transition. Coordinated support from national governments and EU institutions proved critical after the COVID-19 pandemic, helping Europe to bolster its resilience to future shocks and spurring the investment needed to transform and modernise the economy. As a result, progress was made in digitalisation, energy efficiency, decarbonisation and reinforcing supply chains.The pace of change needs to accelerate, however, even as investment becomes harder to sustain. To remain competitive, the European Union and its members need to improve productivity, encourage innovation, address skill gaps, develop new technologies and supporting young, dynamic firms. The report, which is based on the EIB Group’s annual Investment Survey, provides insights on how EU firms are dealing with these pressures, and whether they are taking the necessary steps to transform their businesses.The report’s Key Findings are available here.Contents Part I Sustaining investment in challenging times 1. The macroeconomic environment 2. Government investment 3. Corporate investment Part II Accelerating transformation for competitiveness 4. Innovation in the global context 5. Investing in green transformation Data annex Glossary of terms and acronyms

Wie bestritten Handwerkerfamilien ihren wirtschaftlichen Alltag? Der Schlüssel zum Verständnis liegt in ihrer beruflichen und räumlichen Mobilität Unser Verständnis von Arbeit ist einem starken Wandel unterworfen. Zunehmend werden mit Job Sharing, Homeoffice und Teilzeitarbeit flexiblere Arbeitsmodelle gefordert und erprobt. Zugleich nimmt weltweit die Zahl der sogenannten working poor zu - Personen, die mit nur einer Erwerbsarbeit nicht genug verdienen, um ihren Lebensunterhalt zu bestreiten. Die vormoderne Arbeitswelt war der unseren in mancher Hinsicht ähnlich. Oft gingen Ehepartnerinnen und -partner verschiedenen Erwerbsarbeiten nach, waren in mehreren Berufen tätig. Frauen und Männer, Töchter und Söhne trugen zum Familieneinkommen bei. Frauen waren Meisterinnen, Lohnarbeiterinnen, Unternehmerinnen. Nicht nur beruflich, auch räumlich waren Handwerkerinnen und Handwerker überaus mobil. Der mikrohistorische Fokus auf eine offene Familienwirtschaft ermöglicht es, diese flexiblen handwerklichen Ökonomien zu erfassen. Der Beitrag von Nicole Stadelmanns Buch zur deutschsprachigen Handwerksforschung liegt in der Zusammenführung der zünftigen und außerzünftigen Produktion. Indem dabei die Arbeit der Frauen in der Produktionssphäre sichtbar wird, leistet die Studie auch wichtige Erkenntnisse zur Frauen- und Geschlechtergeschichte.

In this volume, Mark Luccarelli pushes past unproductive mind/body debates by rooting the rise of environmental awareness in the political and geographical history of the US. Considering history in terms of the categorical development of space - social, territorial and conceptual - the book examines the forces that drove people to ignore their surroundings by distancing culture from place and by assiduously advancing the dissolution of social bonds. Thus beneath the question of the surround, and the key to its renewal today, is the quest to re-engage the common. The latter is still a part of the approach to space, its arrangement and disposition, and has a necessary environmental dimension.Concepts of urbanism, place identity, picturesque landscape and nature are part of a larger Western intellectual and cultural context but, by examining the imaging of cities and landscape, Luccarelli links particular American geographic settings - as well as the political ideals and practices of the republic - to the application and aesthetic reading of these ideas. The advocates of these various perspectives shared an aesthetic orientation as a means of redefining or recovering the common. The book looks at various American urban and regional contexts, as well as the work of artists, writers and public figures, including painter and engraver William Birch, Thomas Jefferson, engraver John Hill, Henry David Thoreau and Frederick Law Olmsted. Luccarelli embeds his environmental study in the works of these men and in the course of American history between the planting of the city of Philadelphia and the establishment of Olmsted's major urban parks.

Die Aktiengesellschaft soll private Ersparnisse in dauerhaft gebundenes, unternehmerisches Anlagekapital transformieren. Zugleich erlaubt die Börsennotierung eine beliebig kurzfristige Anlage in unternehmenstragende Gesellschaften. Vor diesem Hintergrund bestehen in Rechtswissenschaft, Ökonomie und Politik seit langem große Sorgen, dass die moderne kapitalmarktorientierte Aktiengesellschaft unter ein schädliches Diktat kurzfristiger Einflüsse gerät. Eckart Bueren leuchtet diese wechselhafte Kontroverse um kurzfristige Orientierung und damit um den Schutz der Funktionsfähigkeit der Aktiengesellschaft erstmals gesamthaft rechts- und ideengeschichtlich, rechtsvergleichend und rechtsökonomisch aus. Er erzählt damit die Rezeptionsgeschichte eines international wirkmächtigen Regelungstopos im Gesellschafts- und Kapitalmarktrecht. Welche Entwicklung hat er durchlaufen, für welche Rechtsfragen, Regelungsanliegen und Interessen wurde er zu verschiedenen Zeiten dienstbar gemacht und wie bedeutsam ist er heute? Die Arbeit wurde mit dem Förderpreis der Stiftung Kapitalmarktforschung für den Finanzstandort Deutschland ausgezeichnet.

Stehen die Europäische Union und die westliche Welt vor einer Zeitenwende? Ist die Vision einer "immer engeren Union der Völker Europas" noch überzeugend? Welche Antworten kann die Union auf die Pandemie, den Klimawandel, den Brexit, die sicherheitspolitischen und digitalen Herausforderungen oder den sich verschärfenden internationalen Wettbewerb finden und wie kann sie die Konflikte über den europäischen Rechtsstaat, die gemeinsamen Schulden und die Zukunft des Euro bewältigen? Welche Rolle kann und sollte die EU in einer sich verändernden Welt spielen? Welche Regeln und Werte sollten die europäische Politik leiten? Diesen Fragen widmen sich im vorliegenden Band 18 Autoren - Praktiker und Wissenschaftler - aus acht Ländern und fünf Fachdisziplinen.

Julius Weitzdörfer analysiert die Ursachen und Folgen organisierter Kreditkriminalität in Japan sowie Lösungswege aus rechtssoziologischer und rechtsökonomischer Sicht. Denn seit der Jahrtausendwende hat sich Japans Verbraucherkreditwesen durch intensive Regulierung, extensive Rechtsprechung und forcierte Strafverfolgung grundlegend gewandelt. Der Autor zeichnet ein lebendiges Bild der Rechtstatsachen und leistet so auch einen Beitrag zur Beleuchtung der Schattenseiten der jüngeren Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeschichte Japans, einschließlich des illegalen Inkassos und der Schuldnersuizide. Dabei wird nicht nur eine letzte Forschungslücke im Bereich der Finanzmarktreformen seit Beginn der Japankrise vor 30 Jahren geschlossen. Auch die Aufarbeitung der weltweiten Neuregulierung von Verbraucherkrediten nach der globalen Finanzkrise wird um Japan ergänzt. Dabei entsteht ein empirisch reichhaltiges Bild des japanischen Zivil-, Straf- und Aufsichtsrechts bis zum Ende der Heisei -Periode.

By their very nature, Special Economic Zones encompass various elements studied in the academic disciplines of economics, political science and law. While their objectives are determined by economics, and their structures, implications and limits by law, their implementation requires a certain combination and cooperation of political forces, something which has been the subject of political science enquiries. A conference held at Kyushu University in Fukuoka convened scholars from all these disciplines to put Special Economic Zones into perspective. The papers presented highlighted functions and structures, historical aspects, the political dimension and foreign equivalents of deregulation, the interplay of such zones, and constitutional considerations. Freedom of contract and competition law, plus the effects that these economy-boosting tools may have on labour and innovation are also dealt with.

Während in Europa in den letzten 20 Jahren intensiv um den Einfluss des "More Economic Approach" gerungen wurde, hat sich in den USA mit "Behavioral Antitrust" ein neuer verhaltensökonomischer Wettbewerbsansatz hervorgetan. Dieser geht bei der wettbewerbsrechtlichen Analyse nur noch von beschränkt rationalen, willensstarken und eigeninteressierten Marktakteuren aus. Die verhaltensökonomische Analyse des Wettbewerbsrechts kann als Basis für einen wiederum neuen Wettbewerbsansatz gesehen werden: dem "More Realistic Approach". Dieser Ansatz will die Wettbewerbspolitik soweit wie möglich von den unrealistischen, theoretischen Annahmen befreien und mit empirisch erhärteten Fakten unterfüttern: Die Wettbewerbspolitik soll sich am realen Verhalten und den realen Zielen der Marktakteure orientieren, und damit der wettbewerbsrechtlichen Analyse realistischere Modelle zugrunde legen. Martin Meier geht dabei der grundlegenden Frage nach, wo die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der verhaltensökonomischen Analyse des Wettbewerbs liegen.

Wie lässt sich Muße ethnographisch untersuchen? Ist Muße abseits der Lebenswelten von Intellektuellen von Bedeutung? Martin Büdel beschäftigt sich mit diesen Fragen anhand einer Ethnographie der alltäglichen Arbeit von Bäuerinnen, Bauern und Handwerkern im Cantal in Zentralfrankreich. Der Autor zeigt in dieser Studie, dass die Auseinandersetzung mit Muße einen neuen Blick auf das Alltagsleben, den Stellenwert von Arbeit, und den Umgang mit Zeit ermöglicht. Diese Arbeit wurde 2022 mit den Forschungspreis Ethnographie des Fachbereichs Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften der Hochschule Fulda ausgezeichnet.

Disruptive Technologien, globale Krisen und hochkomplexe Wechselwirkungen zwischen Wirtschaft, Recht und Gesellschaft stellen nationale wie supranationale Regulierungsinstanzen vor wachsende Herausforderungen. Insbesondere im Kontext der COVID-19-Pandemie ist daher die Frage nach der Rolle theorie- und evidenzbasierter Grundlagen politischer und unternehmerischer Entscheidungen verstärkt in den Mittelpunkt der Diskussion gerückt. Vor diesem Hintergrund entwickeln die Beiträger des vorliegenden Tagungsbandes innovative Regulierungsansätze, die theorie- und evidenzbasiert eine effiziente und zugleich ethisch-wertorientierte Verwirklichung von Regulierungszielen ermöglichen. Behandelt werden fünf Themenblöcke: Gesundheitspolitik, Steuerpolitik, Kartellrecht, Wirtschaftsrecht und Unternehmensrechnung. Auf der Grundlage der Perspektiven aus Rechtswissenschaft, Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Psychologie und Philosophie werden effektive Strategien für eine theorie- und evidenzbasierte Regulierung in den vorgestellten Bereichen entwickelt.

From its source in Sierra de Cazorla to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean, the Guadalquivir River has been a feature of the identities of the communities settled around it throughout history. The resources provided by the river itself, its tributaries and its vast valley have contributed to the survival, well-being and development of different cultures. As a result of this relationship between people and terrain, various cultural landscapes have been created. However, the political, economic and health situation of recent years has threatened the sustainability of some of them, as well as its heritage, and in many cases they are condemned to abandonment and oblivion. The present monograph arose to reflect on this complex situation from multiple perspectives, including archaeology, the natural environment, didactics, new technologies and tourism. It is the result of collaboration by leading professionals and researchers from diverse academic fields. Together they aim to analyse various realities; to identify the heritage needs we face today; and to suggest proposals to (re)activate the cultural industries of the Guadalquivir Valley.

The climate crisis is the greatest existential threat humanity faces today. The need for a radical societal transformation in the interests of social justice and ecological sustainability has never been greater. But where can we turn to find systemic alternatives? From India, Turkey and Bolivia, to Venezuela, Canada and Lebanon, Just Transformations looks to local environmental struggles for the answers. With each case study grounded in the social movements and specific politics of the region in question, this volume investigates the role that resistance movements play in bringing about sustainable transformations, the strategies and tools they utilise to overcome barriers, and how academics and grassroots activists can collaborate effectively. The book provides a toolkit for scholar-activists who want to build transformative visions with communities. Interrogating each case study for valuable lessons, the contributors develop a conceptualisation of a just transformation that focuses on the changes that communities themselves are trying to produce.

The use of advanced digital technologies such as 3D printing, advanced robotics, drones, big data analytics and artificial intelligence is spreading. These technologies have uncertain implications for labour demand. Affected workers may need to re-train to adapt to changing tasks or new jobs. At the same time, it is unclear whether or not advanced digital technologies encourage firms to invest in workforce re-training. Using firm-level data covering the 27 EU countries, the UK and the US, this paper shows that employers tend to reduce investment in training per employee, after adopting advanced digital technologies. It estimates, with a control function approach, firm-level production functions augmented with two factors: training per employee and digital technology use. We show that these are in fact substitutes in production, implying that an increase in the former negatively affects the marginal productivity of the latter, and that a decline in the cost of introducing advanced digital technologies reduces employers’ investment in training per employee. These findings point to challenges in realising high levels of firm-sponsored training for employees in increasingly digital economies.

The European Investment Bank plants the seeds for many future success stories. Now another seed has been planted: EIB Global, the EIB’s development arm, which began operating in 2022. This report tells the stories of projects that make a difference on the ground, with sections on Ukraine, sustainability, climate and energy. The challenges we face know no borders. EIB Global represents our commitment to sustainable and inclusive societies everywhere.

Building on decades of experience working in Europe’s neighbourhood, in Africa and around the world, under EU mandates and in support of EU policy priorities, EIB Global brings together all the financial, engineering and scientific expertise of the European Investment Bank to maximise impact. The new structure fosters strong, focused partnerships within Team Europe, with multilateral development banks and bilateral development agencies. With a stronger presence on the ground, it increases our cooperation with partner countries, clients, EU Member States and other development finance institutions. This publication reports on the first year of EIB Global. The first section reviews the development context, looking at global macroeconomic development and the different regions where EIB Global operates: EU neighbourhood countries sub-Saharan Africa the Western Balkans and Türkiye Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean The report then turns to the overarching priorities of EIB Global and the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus, examining investment needs and describing the response by EIB Global: Climate change Jobs and inclusive growth The Global Gateway The final part brings together all the information on the results and impact of EIB Global operations and the financial and non-financial contribution we make. It covers: How we measure results and impact Expected results of new projects EIB Global’s contribution to new projects Evidence on the EIB’s crowding-in effect Carbon footprint exercise Macroeconomic impact modelling Results of completed projects Lending volumes List of operations signed in 2022 A companion volume to this report, EIB Global Report: The Story [insert link], delves deeper into the rationale for, and experience gained from, individual EIB Global projects.

The Return of Malthus is the first comprehensive analysis of the post-war fear of scarcity. Linnér traces the development of an international discourse of crisis through the influence of such thinkers as William Vogt, Fairfield Osborn and Georg Börgström, labelled ‘neo-Malthusians’ for their emphasis on an impending clash between population growth and resource limits, after the manner of the nineteenth-century father of scarcity economics. The book analyses the role of science and technology in securing food supply, the transmutation of older ideas about preserving nature into a new conservation ideology based on sustainable use, and the preoccupation of the industrialised nations with forestalling communism and controlling power relations. First published by The White Horse Press in 2003. Even more relevant today, this revised edition charts perceptions of and prescriptions for crises of population growth and resource shortage, which have had profound influence on agricultural, population and security policies from the Second World War to the present.

In 2022, the Bank’s lending signatures amounted to €65.1 billion. This report includes the 2022 financial statements and audit reports both for the EIB and the EIB Group.

The use of advanced digital technologies such as 3D printing, advanced robotics, drones, big data analytics and artificial intelligence is spreading. These technologies have uncertain implications for labour demand. Affected workers may need to re-train to adapt to changing tasks or new jobs. At the same time, it is unclear whether or not advanced digital technologies encourage firms to invest in workforce re-training. Using firm-level data covering the 27 EU countries, the UK and the US, this paper shows that employers tend to reduce investment in training per employee, after adopting advanced digital technologies. It estimates, with a control function approach, firm-level production functions augmented with two factors: training per employee and digital technology use. We show that these are in fact substitutes in production, implying that an increase in the former negatively affects the marginal productivity of the latter, and that a decline in the cost of introducing advanced digital technologies reduces employers’ investment in training per employee. These findings point to challenges in realising high levels of firm-sponsored training for employees in increasingly digital economies.

Political strife caused by the war in Ukraine, an energy crisis and tightening credit are hitting EU firms just as they were beginning to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis. While the pandemic was a major shock, sizable policy support enabled firms to survive and transform. Relatively easy access to funding also helped them weather the crisis. Pandemic support has since been pulled back, however, and now firms are grappling with high inflation, instability and tighter credit conditions. These combined pressures are souring firms’ outlook. The report provides insight into the state of the European economy and its ability to withstand these crises while also becoming greener and more digital. The analysis is based on the EIB Group’s annual Investment Survey, which surveyed 13 000 firms in the European Union from April until July 2022 on their performance, investment, financing issues and challenges. The report’s Key Findings are available here. Contents Executive summary Introduction Part I Investment environment in a time of crises 1. The macroeconomic context 2. Investment in Europe 3. A corporate sector buffeted by shocks Part II Resilience and renewal 4. Trends in regional and social cohesion 5. Progress on digital transformation 6. Green transition and the energy crisis Data annex Glossary of terms and acronyms The chapters in charts Chapter 1 - The macroeconomic context Chapter 2 - Investment in Europe Chapter 3 - A corporate sector buffeted by shocks Chapter 4 - Regional and social cohesion Chapter 5 - Progress on digital transformation Chapter 6 - The energy crisis and green transition

Political strife caused by the war in Ukraine, an energy crisis and tightening credit are hitting EU firms just as they were beginning to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis. While the pandemic was a major shock, sizable policy support enabled firms to survive and transform. Relatively easy access to funding also helped them weather the crisis. Pandemic support has since been pulled back, however, and now firms are grappling with high inflation, instability and tighter credit conditions. These combined pressures are souring firms’ outlook. The report provides insight into the state of the European economy and its ability to withstand these crises while also becoming greener and more digital. The analysis is based on the EIB Group’s annual Investment Survey, which surveyed 13 000 firms in the European Union from April until July 2022 on their performance, investment, financing issues and challenges. These key findings, provide a short accessible summary of the main report’s messages.

Our flagship report shows how the European Investment Bank stepped up to the challenges of 2022. From our ongoing work rebuilding Ukraine's damaged towns and cities and our support for refugees, to our unwavering commitment to the global threat of climate change. The report illustrates how our backing for energy efficiency and renewable power is part of the solution to the European Union's energy security needs and its climate goals. It also shows how our support for innovation and breakthrough technologies brings tangible benefits to Europe's economic competitiveness, to its climate goals, and its strategic autonomy. The report also showcases the contribution of EIB Global, our new international development branch, to greater wellbeing around the world.

Since its inception over two millennia ago, the spice trade has connected and transformed the environments, politics, cultures, and cuisines of vastly different societies around the world. The ‘magical’ qualities of spices mean they offer more than a mere food flavoring, often evoking memories of childhood events or specific festivals. Although spices are frequently found in our kitchen cupboards, how they get there has something of a mythical allure. In this ethnographically rich and insightful study, the authors embark on a journey of demystification that starts in the Sino-Vietnamese uplands with three spices – star anise, black cardamom, and cassia (cinnamon) – and ends on dining tables across the globe. This book foregrounds the experiences of ethnic minority farmers cultivating these spices, highlighting nuanced entanglements among livelihoods, environment, ethnic identity, and external pressures, as well as other factors at play. It then investigates the complex commodity chains that move and transform these spices from upland smallholdings and forests in this frontier to global markets, mapping the flows of spices, identifying the numerous actors involved, and teasing out critical power imbalances. Finally, it focuses on value-creation and the commoditization of these spices across a spectrum of people and places. This rich and carefully integrated volume offers new insights into upland frontier livelihoods and the ongoing implications of the contemporary agrarian transition. Moreover, it bridges the gap in our knowledge regarding how these specific spices, cultivated for centuries in the mountainous Sino-Vietnamese uplands, become everyday ingredients in Global North food, cosmetics, and medicines. Links to online resources, including story maps, provide further insights and visual highlights.

Este libro reúne diferentes hallazgos, perspectivas y efectos ante un fenómeno que, más de un año después, todavía representa un reto científico, médico y social para todos. Igualmente, esta obra representa el objetivo de la Red Investigadores de Economía: aunar esfuerzos para encontrar respuestas y para fortalecer la investigación en el país, aumentar la difusión de trabajos de calidad y propiciar el encuentro entre académicos, universidades y el Banco de la República. Las investigaciones expuestas en este libro pasaron por un proceso de selección por parte del comité científico, asegurando que hubiese una pluralidad de miradas y de instituciones educativas, además del Banco, donde se relacionaran los efectos de la pandemia y la actividad económica en el país, las consecuencias sociales y regionales. El texto está dividido en cuatro partes. En la primera se hace un análisis macroeconómico de los efectos de la pandemia; para ello se examinan los efectos de la emergencia sanitaria a nivel nacional y regional mediante modelos macroeconómicos que permiten obtener respuestas ante preguntas muy relevantes. La segunda sección trata sobre el impacto en el mercado laboral, el efecto del Covid19 en la distribución del ingreso y el efecto de corto plazo en el mercado urbano. La tercera parte aborda los efectos de la pandemia en los agentes económicos y en otros mercados. Ello incluye la exposición del empleo al Covid19, la vulnerabilidad económica de los hogares en el país y su respuesta en el consumo, patrones de actividad laboral y salud mental, efectos en la educación, inseguridad alimentaria de la población migrante, entre otros. Por último, el cuarto segmento hace un énfasis especial en los efectos diferenciales entre las regiones del país y la heterogeneidad de dicho impacto; para ello se analizan temas de informalidad, vulnerabilidad, fuerza de trabajo disponible, entre otros, en distintas regiones del país.

Who are the rural people of Africa? What does it mean to be part of a ‘rural’ community in contemporary Tanzania? And why is it important to debate questions of African rurality beyond the mere GDP contribution of rural land-based production? This book seeks to address questions like these. Rural people(s) in contemporary Africa are often conceived of in terms of how to efficiently integrate them into international markets and global value chains; this book analyses the question of integration of rural people in Tanzania by delving into how they deal with local-global connections and engage with policy objectives on their own terms, between local forms of associational life and global markets. In so doing, it explores local socio-economic dynamics that find little space in the national and global policy vision of a rural sector geared towards growth – a vision that is peculiar to African states, including Tanzania. Informed by anthropological theory and de-re-agrarianisation/de-re-peasantisation debates, and grounded in ethnographic evidence, the book eschews ‘orthodox’ approaches that see (rural) people as passive recipients of policies, and policies as instruments of oppression. Instead, it departs from the rural land/place-based practices of grazing, fishing and farming to look at rurality in Tanzania as a blend of old and new meanings, values and practices at the local-global interface, continually reshuffled as rural people encounter different social and economic spheres. As the world rediscovers the urgency of questions connected to neo-colonialism and de-colonisation, this book brings to the forefront the position, worldview and ambitions of African rural peoples intersecting with international policy models, visions and objectives.

Who are the rural people of Africa? What does it mean to be part of a ‘rural’ community in contemporary Tanzania? And why is it important to debate questions of African rurality beyond the mere GDP contribution of rural land-based production? This book seeks to address questions like these. Rural people(s) in contemporary Africa are often conceived of in terms of how to efficiently integrate them into international markets and global value chains; this book analyses the question of integration of rural people in Tanzania by delving into how they deal with local-global connections and engage with policy objectives on their own terms, between local forms of associational life and global markets. In so doing, it explores local socio-economic dynamics that find little space in the national and global policy vision of a rural sector geared towards growth – a vision that is peculiar to African states, including Tanzania. Informed by anthropological theory and de-re-agrarianisation/de-re-peasantisation debates, and grounded in ethnographic evidence, the book eschews ‘orthodox’ approaches that see (rural) people as passive recipients of policies, and policies as instruments of oppression. Instead, it departs from the rural land/place-based practices of grazing, fishing and farming to look at rurality in Tanzania as a blend of old and new meanings, values and practices at the local-global interface, continually reshuffled as rural people encounter different social and economic spheres. As the world rediscovers the urgency of questions connected to neo-colonialism and de-colonisation, this book brings to the forefront the position, worldview and ambitions of African rural peoples intersecting with international policy models, visions and objectives.

This unique insight into the corporate investment landscape in the European Union examines companies' finance needs and the constraints they face. The 2022 edition delves into the aftermath of the economic shock produced by the COVID-19 crisis and the readiness of firms to cope with the new massive shocks that are testing corporate resilience. The report assesses how response and recovery programmes put in place by the European Union and by national governments have helped firms, but also shows how firm perceptions of investment conditions are overshadowed again by recent events. In addition, the EIBIS EU overview presents firm reactions to outstanding structural transformation needs and more specifically the extent to which European firms are addressing the need to make their businesses more green and digital. It also highlights how European firms counter sudden shocks, for example by assessing their responsiveness to international trade disruptions. The survey is based on interviews with 12 000 companies across the 27 European Union countries, and it includes a benchmark sample from the United States. This overview provides the aggregated results for the European Union. "

"This sovereign default risk index is a high frequency measure of countries’ default risk, particularly for those lacking market-based measures: it correlates with sovereign credit default swap spreads, predicts rating downgrades, and reflects default risk information not fully captured these spreads. We assess the influence of sovereign default concerns on equity markets, and find that spikes in the index are negatively associated with same-week market returns. This indicates that investors might overreact to default concerns. Equity markets’ reaction to default concerns is more pronounced and persistent for countries with tight fiscal constraints. The response to global, compared to country-specific, default concerns is much stronger, underlining the relevance of global “push” factors for local asset prices."

"The CESEE Bank Lending Survey is a unique instrument developed in the context of the Vienna Initiative to monitor cross-border banking activities and deleveraging in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. It serves to better understand the determinants/constraints influencing credit growth in the region and to gain forward-looking insights into the strategies of cross-border banks and market expectations regarding local financial conditions. This report presents the results of the EIB CESEE Bank Lending survey at the regional and single country levels."

Within the last decades, universities are increasingly expected and measured by their direct engagement in collaborations beyond academia. Exploring the potential that lies in university-business collaborations, the present anthology attends to the dilemmas, dualities, and challenges that follow such collaborations, especially in the academic traditions of the social sciences and humanities. Each contribution investigates how the human perspective – a perspective that highlights how complex knowledge and a deep understanding of human everyday life – enriches companies’ processes, products, services, and ideas. Some chapters focus on collaborations between researchers and business practitioners, others focus on teaching examples involving students in the collaborative work with businesses and organisations, and again others contribute with more theoretical considerations. By gathering hands-on experiences, the book provides readers with inspirations, reflections on, and insights into university-business collaborations. This book, therefore, is intended for researchers within the humanities and social sciences, who want to get a deeper understanding of the practice of such collaborations.

"Financial integration, broadly defined as the intensity of cross-border linkages between financial markets, has the potential to channel capital to where it is most productive, bringing many benefits. However, some financial integration is cyclical, increasing economic upswings and declining during down-turns. Of more long-term benefit is financial integration driven by structural factors such as the reductions in exchange rate risk and the increased regulatory or supervisory convergence associated with the establishment of a currency union, such as Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union. This paper presents a new indicator of de facto financial integration in the European Union. Analysing this indicator alongside different financial and macroeconomic variables makes it possible to separate the impact of cyclical boom-bust shocks from the influence structural factors. It shows that increasing structural financial integration tends to improve risk absorption and reduce income disparities among European countries. However, it also suggests that most of the movements in the indicator reflect business cycle dynamics, rather than structural integration. These results highlight the need to develop further policies to foster structural financial integration in the EU."

"Funded and managed by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, the European Investment Advisory Hub helps identify, prepare and implement sustainable investment projects across Europe. Since its launch, the European Investment Advisory Hub has received more than 2 500 direct requests for in-depth support. In 2021, less-developed, so-called cohesion countries submitted the greatest number of requests. The European Investment Advisory Hub’s main goal is to give promoters a comprehensive and bespoke advisory package, which includes information and guidance via our website, tailored assistance to develop and implement investment projects and platforms, and light advisory support when projects just need a little extra push to get up and running. As the 2021 report shows, the road to recovery is looking increasingly green and digital as the technological advances spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic are harnessed and paired with climate-minded investments."

The massive resources the European Union is unleashing to rebuild after COVID-19 present a unique opportunity to deal with climate change and improve the ability of firms and individuals to compete in a more digital world. The Investment Report 2021-2022 examines how government interventions helped support investment and enabled firms to weather the crisis. The report’s analysis is based on a unique set of databases and data from a survey of 12 500 firms conducted in the summer of 2021. These key findings, provide a short accessible summary of the main report’s messages.

"In 2021, the Bank’s lending signatures amounted to EUR 65.4 bn. This report includes the 2021 financial statements and audit reports both for the EIB and the EIB Group."