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We present an analysis of direct land use change (dLUC) resulting from the conversion of semiarid woodlands in Brazil and India to Jatropha curcas, a perennial biofuel crop. The sites examined include prosopis woodlands, managed for woodfuel production under periodic coppicing, in southern India, and unmanaged caatinga woodlands in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The jatropha plantations under consideration include pruned and unpruned stands and ranged from 2 to 4 years of age. Stocks of carbon in aboveground (AG) pools, including woody biomass, coarse debris, leaf litter, and herbaceous matter, as well as soil organic carbon (SOC) were evaluated. The jatropha plantations store 8-10 tons of carbon per hectare (t C ha−1) in AG biomass and litter when managed with regular pruning in both India and Brazil. Unpruned trees, only examined in Brazil, store less biomass (and carbon), accumulating just 3 t C ha−1 in AG pools. The two woodlands that were replaced with jatropha show substantial differences in carbon pools: prosopis contains ∼11 t C ha−1 in AG stocks of carbon, which was very close to the jatropha stand which replaced it. In contrast, caatinga stores ∼35 t C ha−1 in AG biomass. Moreover, no change in SOC was detected in land that was converted from Prosopis to jatropha. As a result, there is no detectable change in AG carbon stocks at the sites in South India where jatropha replaced prosopis woodlands. In contrast, large losses of AG carbon were detected in Central Brazil where jatropha replaced native caatinga woodlands. These losses represent a carbon debt that would take 10-20 years to repay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines South Africa's voting history at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) over a five-year period, beginning with the establishment of the India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum in 2003, up to and including 2008. Particular emphasis is placed on the state's block voting and possible foreign policy alignment with India and Brazil. Key issues also focused on include those areas of convergence deemed most important by the IBSA members themselves, namely political coordination and cooperation. The article aims to bring to light the progress made by South Africa in its willingness to forge alliances with other emerging powers within this multilateral setting. It also seeks to observe whether members' voting patterns reflect IBSA declarations and stated goals, and thereby expose the extent or reach of this IBSA ‘brotherhood’. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article develops an argument about what it defines as the ‘third phase of modernity’ and tackles, in a comparative manner, the cases of Latin America (especially Brazil), South Asia (especially India) and China. It tries to identify specific modernizing moves which imply individualizing comparisons as well as encompassing comparisons in relation to these areas and countries. It builds its argument from a few theoretical assumptions and moves in an inductive manner in order to dislocate the discussion of modernity from its strong referents in the West and the conceptual definitions that stem from this. The article tries also to connect the discussion of modernity to debates about development. It proposes a multidimensional approach and analyzes the main dimensions of contemporary modernity and modernizing moves in those regions and countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article argues that the long-term sustainability of the trilateral partnership established in 2003 between India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) rests on a more conscious engagement with their regional partners. The construction of a strong regional leadership role for IBSA based on its members' strategic positions in South Asia, South America, and southern Africa is the proper common ground to legitimize a diplomatic partnership between the IBSA states. This is even more pressing as China is actively competing for markets and influence with the IBSA trio within their respective regions, particularly in Africa. The paradox, though, is that while Northern powers have welcomed the regional leadership role of IBSA's members, most of their neighbors are not convinced of the actual intentions of New Delhi, Brasilia, and Pretoria. As a result, leadership within IBSA is defined in global terms as a claim to lead the developing world. At the regional level, however, IBSAclaim for leadership is less clear, less acceptable, and therefore remains constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the international diffusion of new drugs under the post-TRIPS intellectual property rights regime. Even after controlling for drug characteristics and variation in national health expenditure, we find substantial differences across countries in the probability of a drug being commercially available, lowest in countries such as Brazil, China and India with historically weak patent protection. Notwithstanding obligations now in force under the TRIPS Agreement to provide patent protection for pharmaceutical products, sellers of new drugs are much less likely to have market exclusivity in these countries. Conditional upon being launched, a drug is five to 25 times more likely to be generic/multisource in these countries than in, for example, Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RAE: Revista de Administração de Empresas is the property of Fundacao Getulio Vargas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The author explores the Grossman-Helpman model of economic growth in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICs). He analyzes the application of the model to both agriculture and manufacturing industries. He explains the idea behind the Grossman-Helpman model. He also provides estimates of this model for agriculture and manufacturing to shed light on the welfare of citizens at large.

The development of immutable constitutional rights in India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) is an historical response to violence and oppression. Such rigidity, however, institutes a deep distrust of the legislature and the sovereignty of future generations, unbalancing the delicate democratic stability supporting the system of judicial review. This article discusses the lively jurisprudence of IBSA and notes that the courts adopt the formal shielding of the immutability theory selectively and not homogeneously if compared with each other when they are confronted with critical issues for the parliament and the executive. Nevertheless, it is contended that, as to the judiciary's institutional power and prerogatives, all IBSA's constitutional courts overall embrace activist interpretation based on immutable clauses to extend their jurisdiction and entrench their power over the other branches of government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world economy is in a state of flux. While most OECD countries struggle to minimize the damage of the global financial crisis, a few countries maintain positive economic growth rates and are thus changing global power configurations. Among the most important emerging economies for international development are the BASIC countries: Brazil, South Africa, India and China. This article analyses why these countries have rejuvenated development cooperation, what they actually do in Africa, and how they do it. It argues that the most important aspect of the rejuvenation of non-traditional donors' development cooperation with African economies is not the direct effects on these economies, be they positive or negative, but the potential gains that may accrue to African economies in terms of larger room for manoeuvre due to increased competition and the challenge to traditional donors' development hegemony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the role of Brazil in the global economy. It states that Brazil, Russia (Federation), India, and China (BRIC) will dominate the global economy and politics by 2050, according to experts of the Goldman Sachs & Co. It mentions that the four countries show common interest in areas like international politics and security.

The article focuses on changes announced and implemented in the regulation of international securities and capital markets in Brazil, India, and the U.S. in 2010. It mentions that Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) issued new rules applied to securities analysts. It informs that Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced reforms in Indian depository receipts (IDRS) and U.S. announced Investor Protections and Improvements to the Regulation of Securities Act (IPIRSA)

Background: Infant-feeding patterns may influence lifelong health. This study tested the hypothesis that longer duration of breastfeeding and later introduction of complementary foods in infancy are associated with reduced adult cardiovascular risk.Methods: Data were pooled from 10 912 subjects in the age range of 15-41 years from five prospective birth-cohort studies in low-/middle-income countries (Brazil, Guatemala, India, Philippines and South Africa). Associations were examined between infant feeding (duration of breastfeeding and age at introduction of complementary foods) and adult blood pressure (BP), plasma glucose concentration and adiposity (skinfolds, waist circumference, percentage body fat and overweight/obesity). Analyses were adjusted for maternal socio-economic status, education, age, smoking, race and urban/rural residence and infant birth weight.Results: There were no differences in outcomes between adults who were ever breastfed compared with those who were never breastfed. Duration of breastfeeding was not associated with adult diabetes prevalence or adiposity. There were U-shaped associations between duration of breastfeeding and systolic BP and hypertension; however, these were weak and inconsistent among the cohorts. Later introduction of complementary foods was associated with lower adult adiposity. Body mass index changed by -0.19 kg/m(2) [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.37 to -0.01] and waist circumference by -0.45 cm (95% CI -0.88 to -0.02) per 3-month increase in age at introduction of complementary foods.Conclusions: There was no evidence that longer duration of breastfeeding is protective against adult hypertension, diabetes or overweight/adiposity in these low-/middle-income populations. Further research is required to determine whether 'exclusive' breastfeeding may be protective. Delaying complementary foods until 6 months, as recommended by the World Health Organization, may reduce the risk of adult overweight/adiposity, but the effect is likely to be small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil, China, and India have seen falling poverty in their reform periods, but to varying degrees and for different reasons. History left China with favorable initial conditions for rapid poverty reduction through market-led economic growth; at the outset of the reform process there were many distortions to be removed and a relatively low inequality of access to the opportunities so created, though inequality has risen markedly since. By concentrating such opportunities in the hands of the better off, prior inequalities in various dimensions handicapped poverty reduction in both Brazil and India. Brazil's recent success in complementing market-oriented reforms with progressive social policies has helped it achieve a higher proportionate rate of poverty reduction than India, although Brazil has been less successful in terms of economic growth. In the wake of its steep rise in inequality, China might learn from Brazil's success with such policies. India needs to do more to assure that poor people are able to participate in both the country's growth process and its social policies; here there are lessons from both China and Brazil. All three countries have learned how important macroeconomic stability is to poverty reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare economic efficiencies in Brazil, India, and China, where economic efficiency measures the gap between potential and actual output for a given input combination and technological factor. We use stochastic production frontier models to measure the contributions of factors of production and technology to growth and estimate non-positive error terms that capture production inefficiencies in each country. The results suggest that China and India had relatively inefficient production in the early 1980s but have since improved production efficiency substantially. In the same period, production efficiency in Brazil has lagged those of China and India. The gap between Brazil's production efficiency and those of its Asian peers has narrowed in recent years. However, production remains more efficient in China and India, supporting more rapid growth in these countries relative to Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of research on the water relations and irrigation needs of coconut are collated and summarized in an attempt to link fundamental studies on crop physiology to drought mitigation and irrigation practices. Background information on the centres of origin and production of coconut and on crop development processes is followed by reviews of plant water relations, crop water use and water productivity, including drought mitigation. The majority of the recent research published in the international literature has been conducted in Brazil, Kerala (South India) and Sri Lanka, and by CIRAD (France) in association with local research organizations in a number of countries, including the Ivory Coast. The unique vegetative structure of the palm (stem and leaves) together with the long interval between flower initiation and the harvesting of the mature fruit (44 months) mean that causal links between environmental factors (especially water) are difficult to establish. The stomata play an important role in controlling water loss, whilst the leaf water potential is a sensitive indicator of plant water status. Both stomatal conductance and leaf water potential are negatively correlated with the saturation deficit of the air. Although roots extend to depths >2 m and laterally >3 m, the density of roots is greatest in the top 0–1.0 m soil, and laterally within 1.0–1.5 m of the trunk. In general, dwarf cultivars are more susceptible to drought than tall ones. Methods of screening for drought tolerance based on physiological traits have been proposed. The best estimates of the actual water use (ETc) of mature palms indicate representative rates of about 3 mm d−1. Reported values for the crop coefficient (Kc) are variable but suggest that 0.7 is a reasonable estimate. Although the sensitivity of coconut to drought is well recognized, there is a limited amount of reliable data on actual yield responses to irrigation although annual yield increases (50%) of 20–40 nuts palm−1 (4–12 kg copra, cultivar dependent) have been reported. These are only realized in the third and subsequent years after the introduction of irrigation applied at a rate equivalent to about 2 mm d−1 (or 100 l palm−1 d−1) at intervals of up to one week. Irrigation increases female flower production and reduces premature nut fall. Basin irrigation, micro-sprinklers and drip irrigation are all suitable methods of applying water. Recommended methods of drought mitigation include the burial of husks in trenches adjacent to the plant, mulching and the application of common salt (chloride ions). An international approach to addressing the need for more information on water productivity is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: With the global expansion of clinical trials and the expectations of the rise of the emerging economies known as BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China), the understanding of factors that affect the willingness to participate in clinical trials of patients from those countries assumes a central role in the future of health research. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) of willingness to participate in clinical trials among Brazilian patients and then we compared it with Indian patients (with results of another SRMA previously conducted by our group) through a system dynamics model. Results: Five studies were included in the SRMA of Brazilian patients. Our main findings are 1) the major motivation for Brazilian patients to participate in clinical trials is altruism, 2) monetary reimbursement is the least important factor motivating Brazilian patients, 3) the major barrier for Brazilian patients to not participate in clinical trials is the fear of side effects, and 4) Brazilian patients are more likely willing to participate in clinical trials than Indians. Conclusion: Our study provides important insights for investigators and sponsors for planning trials in Brazil (and India) in the future. Ignoring these results may lead to unnecessary fund/time spending. More studies are needed to validate our results and for better understanding of this poorly studied theme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum was launched in June 2003 to push for these countries' bids for a place on the United Nation' Security Council, but IBSA's attention has shifted over time towards development and economic reform. This article discusses the progress in addressing social development challenges within the member countries of IBSA. It examines the social achievements of IBSA members, in the context of their economic performance and the Millennium Development Goals. It also assesses the forces which propel these societies' social policies, especially the influence of civil society, and whether there has been benefit in this regard in their collaboration within the IBSA forum. Their experiences show the critical importance of civil society in design and execution of programmes directed towards the poor, an important factor to be kept in mind by multilateral and bilateral agencies involved in poverty alleviation projects in developing countries. The three nations could cooperate to share ideas for effective social welfare programmes, and join together in multilateral forums to form a powerful voice for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Statistics are critical in holding governments accountable for the well-being of citizens with disability. International initiatives are underway to improve the quality of disability statistics, but meaningful ID data is exceptionally rare. Method The status of ID data was evaluated in a review of 12 national statistical systems. Recurring data collection by national ministries was identified and the availability of measures of poverty, exclusion, and disadvantage was assessed. Results A total of 131 recurring systems coordinated by 50 different ministries were identified. The majority included general disability but less than 25% of the systems screened ID. Of these, few provided policy-relevant data. Conclusions The scope of ID data was dismal at best, though a significant statistical infrastructure exists for the integration of ID data. Advocacy will be necessary. There is no optimal form of data monitoring, and decisions regarding priorities in purpose, targeted audiences, and the goals for surveillance must be resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is treated with parenteral drugs for decades with decreasing rate cures. Miltefosine is an oral medication with anti-leishmania activity and may increase the cure rates and improve compliance. Methodology/Principal Findings: This study is a randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of miltefosine versus pentavalent antimony (Sbv) in the treatment of patients with CL caused by Leishmania braziliensis in Bahia, Brazil. A total of 90 patients were enrolled in the trial; 60 were assigned to receive miltefosine and 30 to receive Sbv. Six months after treatment, in the intention-to-treat analyses, the definitive cure rate was 53.3% in the Sbv group and 75% in the miltefosine group (difference of 21.7%, 95% CI 0.08% to 42.7%, p = 0.04). Miltefosine was more effective than Sbv in the age group of 13-65 years-old compared to 2-12 years-old group (78.9% versus 45% p = 0.02; 68.2% versus 70% p = 1.0, respectively). The incidence of adverse events was similar in the Sbv and miltefosine groups (76.7% vs. 78.3%). Vomiting (41.7%), nausea (40%), and abdominal pain (23.3%) were significantly more frequent in the miltefosine group while arthralgias (20.7%), mialgias (20.7%) and fever (23.3%) were significantly more frequent in the Sbv group. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that miltefosine therapy is more effective than standard Sbv and safe for the treatment of CL caused by Leishmania braziliensis in Bahia, Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea that a single group of emerging powers, principally the BRIC states, are reshaping global politics is now prevalent. However, the basis of their newfound power is not well understood. Their influence is primarily a function of their regional clout, and their outsized weight in multilateral institutions; but also because the goals of US policy frequently play to emerging-power advantages. Investigation of how the emerging powers are choosing to wield this influence in the economic, financial, and security realms finds that, although they have some blocking power, the most prevalent strategies thus far have been to bargain hard to protect their own interests and national space, and to balance the growing influence of their BRIC counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the development of multinationals in the emerging markets of China, India, Brazil and other countries. It highlights the role of globalization on the growth and development of multinationals in the emerging economy. It also examines the literature of emerging country multinationals which could help understand and manage complexities in the future.

Context: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe and potentially fatal infection caused by the trypanosome parasite Leishmania sp. Over 90% of reported cases occur in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan, and Brazil, affecting mainly impoverished individuals and creating a significant economic burden through direct and indirect costs of treatment. Objectives: To identify the direct and indirect costs of VL treatment, compare these costs to household income, and identify the barriers to treatment in each of the five VL-endemic countries. Methods: Articles obtained through PubMed (US National Library of Medicine), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were selected for relevance to VL treatment, costs for all forms of amphotericin B, miltefosine, paromomycin, and antimony compounds, and healthcare costs in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Brazil, and Sudan. Healthcare statistics were obtained from the World Health Organization Statistical Information System, Médecins Sans Frontieres, and each country's national health ministry. Results: Per capita GDP, per capita GNI, cost of drugs, and hospitalization expenses differ by up to 10-fold in each of the five countries where VL is hyperendemic, resulting in unequal barriers to treatment. We found that the cost of specific drugs influences the choice of therapy. Conclusions: Poverty and VL treatment-related costs cause potential limitations in the provision of full and efficacious treatment, which may result in further dissemination of the disease. Effective nonparenteral antileishmania drugs would provide a significant advantage in reducing the barriers to VL treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the mid-1990s, a new form of tourism was established in metropolises of several developing countries or emerging nations. This type of tourism consists in visits to the most disadvantaged parts of the respective city. Poverty tours or slum tours are offered on a relatively large scale in the South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, as well as in Indian metropolises, to name some important examples. The target group of these tours consists primarily of international tourists. It is estimated that 40,000 such tourists visit favelas in Rio de Janeiro each year, around 300,000 the townships in Cape Town. This contribution refers to and comments on these developments and insights regarding poverty tourism or slumming, based on empirical research and experiences in South Africa, Brazil, and India. It will be shed light on the phenomenon from an observational-theoretical perspective. It is aimed to open a discussion on the ways poverty tours or slumming observes and simultaneously programmatically charges poverty. And, it will be considered in which way poverty tourism is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The aims of this study are to describe the tobacco dependence treatment systems in five countries at different stages of development of their systems, and from different income levels and regions of the world, and to draw some lessons from their experiences that might be useful to other countries. Methods and data sourses Data were drawn from an earlier survey of treatment services led by M.R. and A.M., from Party reports to the Secretariat of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and from correspondents in the five countries. These data were entered onto a standard template by the authors, discussed with the correspondents to ensure they were accurate and to help us interpret them, and then the templates were used as a basis to write prose descriptions of the countries' treatment systems, with additional summary data presented in tables. Results Two of the middle-income countries have based their treatment on specialist support and both consequently have very low population coverage for treatment. Two countries have integrated broad-reach approaches, such as brief advice with intensive specialist support; these countries are focusing currently upon monitoring performance and guaranteeing quality. Cost is a significant barrier to improving treatment coverage and highlights the importance of using existing infrastucture as much as possible. Conclusions Perhaps not surprisingly the greatest challenges appear to be faced by large, lower-income countries that have prioritized more intensive but low-reach approaches to treatment, rather than developing basic infrastructure, including brief advice in primary care and quitlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study examines how country-level, industry-level, and firm-level factors affect the extent of corporate communications about CSR in Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC). In particular, using data from the 105 largest MNCs in BRIC, we investigate CSR motives, processes, and stakeholder issues discussed in corporate communications. • At the country level, based on a newly developed governance environment framework that differentiates between rule-based and relation-based governance, our study reveals that a country's governance environment is the most important driving force behinds CSR communications intensity. • Our results show that firms communicating more CSR tend to be larger firms in the manufacturing industry in more rule-based societies. These firms also tend to have stronger corporate governance as measured by a high proportion of outside board directors and a separation of the roles of the chairman and the CEO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this study is an attempt to determine whether the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) hypothesis holds for those countries that have collectively come to be known as 'BRICs', namely, Brazil, Russia, India and China. We use the momentum threshold cointegration tests (advanced by Enders and Siklos, 2001) to investigate whether any asymmetric adjustment is discernible for BRICs, and show that whilst the Engle-Granger test (which assumes only symmetric adjustment) fails to reveal any cointegrational relationship for BRICs, the threshold cointegration test (with asymmetric adjustment) provides clear evidence of long-run PPP for BRICs, with the notable exception of China. We conclude that asymmetric adjustment of nominal exchange rates plays an important role in eliminating deviations from long-run PPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a survey of entrepreneurial collaborations among health biotechnology firms in developing countries. According to the survey, though there is a high level of collaboration, there is also a lack of emphasis on new or improved health biotechnology products and processes. Countries included in the survey are Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, and South Africa and the number of firms surveyed is 467 wherein a total of 288 firms completed the survey. Survey authors recommend the integration of more South-South collaboration in their innovation policies and provide support for firms that want to promote innovation in health biotechnology.

India and Brazil are among the fastest growing economies of the world and are widely projected as major economies of future. Indo-Brazil links go back five centuries. In recent years, relations between Brazil and India have grown considerably and co-operation between the two countries has been extended to diverse areas such as science and technology, pharmaceuticals and space. Bilateral trade has jumped to USD 3.12 billion in 2007, from a mere USD 488 million in 2000. The two sides have set a target of USD 10 billion trade by 2010. Though it will be a small fraction of trade of each country and with the existing trends it may be a challenging target to achieve. Due to large size of economies and high growth rates as well as growing political will from both sides, the bilateral trade will grow further and would have significant impact on global trade and economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops an import demand model to explore the role of income in explaining the trade performance of low-, middle- and high-income countries with a special emphasis on Brazil, Russia, India and China – the BRIC economies. The study estimates the impact of the growth in per capita income on the trade of agrifood products using data from 52 countries and 20 agrifood products for the years 1990–2006. The results suggest that China, Russia and Brazil now have more income elastic import demands than other middle-income countries. Conversely, the income elasticities of import demand in India are similar to other low-income countries and for the most part statistically equal to zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) as political factors in international relations. Global investment banking and securities firm Goldman Sachs projected that the combined gross domestic products (GDPs) of these four economies would be greater than the Group of 7 (G7) countries by 2050. In 2006 financial information company Dow Jones introduced the BRIC 50 index. Also discussed are emerging markets and the world's population, the global GDP, and the goals of the BRICs.

Recently established carbon governance systems are quite different in Brazil, China, and India. Such divergence is surprising as emerging economies are primarily involved in carbon governance through the clean development mechanism (CDM). One would expect similar institutional and policy outcomes in the major host countries in response to the CDM, as this market instrument is initiated primarily by Western companies and regulated hierarchically by the internationally governed CDM Executive Board. However, from a closer look at the developing features of the CDM markets in Brazil, China, or India and an analysis of dominant actors and their interactions, institutional responses, and the effectiveness of the CDM within each market, there is evidence of a high variance, combined with a strong ownership by the respective governments. Such a variety of carbon governance is interesting from a theoretical point of view as it shows that a good understanding of environmental governance patterns is still lacking in developing and emerging economies. It is also of political importance as the findings may help to diffuse some of the criticism leveled at the CDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the trade-labour linkage policy of the European Union and how developing countries view this on a bilateral level. It explains that the policy focuses on social justice, human rights, and regulation, but offers an assumption that members, such as India, Brazil and South Africa, perceive it in a different manner. It also explores the discussions and reactions of members during the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Meetings, in which the assumption is based on.

Copyright of Latin American Business Review is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article analyses sudden changes of volatility in the stock markets of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) using the iterated cumulative sums of squares algorithm for the period 1990 to 2007 and examines their impacts on the persistence of volatility. The results show that when endogenously determined sudden shifts in variance are taken into account in the Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) model, the estimated persistence in return volatility is reduced significantly in every return series. These results suggest that the findings of previous studies could have overestimated the degree of the persistence of volatility existing in the financial time series. These results have important policy implications for the financial market participants and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV vaccine development remains an urgent priority. Vaccine preparedness studies to assess feasibility are an important precursor to HIV vaccine trials. Studies such as these have taken place in many non-Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (non-OECD) countries using diverse cohorts. This article is a systematic review of retention rates and willingness to participate (WTP) in HIV vaccine trials. Studies took place in Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, India, Russia, Thailand, and several sub-Saharan African countries. Studies generally reported recruitment of high-risk individuals. Of 33 studies we identified, retention was assessed in 16 studies, and the 12-month retention ranged from 77 to 85%. Willingness to participate was assessed in 21 studies. Willingness to participate ranged from 23 to 100%, and increased knowledge was associated with an increased WTP. Vaccine preparedness studies have taken place using diverse cohorts in the non-OECD countries. In general, retention rates and WTP have been adequate to conduct HIV vaccine trials. Educational programs to improve knowledge about HIV vaccines may contribute to better follow-up and an increased WTP in these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the barriers to an effective response to climate change faced by governments and institutions. Developments to prevent environmental degradation in countries including Brazil, China, and India are considered. It is stated that governments and corporations face a challenge in reconciling keeping the costs of producing goods and services low and doing so in an environmentally conscious manner. It is suggested that the involvement and cooperation of these influential bodies is necessary to ensure effective environmental protection.

By means of a theoretical model, bootstrap resampling and data provided by the International Commission On Large Dams (ICOLD (2003) World register of dams. http://www.icold-cigb.org) we found that global large dams might annually release about 104 ± 7.2 Tg CH4 to the atmosphere through reservoir surfaces, turbines and spillways. Engineering technologies can be implemented to avoid these emissions, and to recover the non-emitted CH4 for power generation. The immediate benefit of recovering non-emitted CH4 from large dams for renewable energy production is the mitigation of anthropogenic impacts like the construction of new large dams, the actual CH4 emissions from large dams, and the use of unsustainable fossil fuels and natural gas reserves. Under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, such technologies can be recognized as promising alternatives for human adaptations to climate change concerning sustainable power generation, particularly in developing nations owning a considerable number of large dams. In view of novel technologies to extract CH4 from large dams, we estimate that roughly 23 ± 2.6, 2.6 ± 0.2 and 32 ± 5.1 Tg CH4 could be used as an environmentally sound option for power generation in Brazil, China and India, respectively. For the whole world this number may increase to around 100 ± 6.9 Tg CH4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the South-South Cooperation of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) political alliance. It notes that IBSA's agenda focuses on the trilateral cooperation on security, bio-fuels, trade, research and development, and social development. It speculates that the initiatives of IBSA such as the United Nations (UN) reform will demonstrate slower progress. It advises that IBSA must settle their views on nuclear disarmament and World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiation issues.

The article assesses the impact of economic growth of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC), as well as South Africa, ASEAN countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, Mexico, South Korea and other non-emerging economies (BRICSAM), on global politics, security, economics and societies. A unifying characteristics of these states is their relative size in both global and regional dimensions. Analyses show that economies of BRIC/BRICSAM countries will be bigger than those of G6 in U.S. dollar terms. These countries also compete for international status as shown by their roles as regional hubs.

Affirmative action (AA) is a government policy permitting employers and universities to give preferential treatment to applicants from specific (e.g. racial) groups. We present a comparative analysis of AA in six countries (India, USA, Malaysia, Canada, South Africa, and Brazil) and explain similarities among these programs according to universal psychological mechanisms and variation according to cultural–historical contexts. It appears that similarities in contextual conditions (e.g. democratic government, multi-ethnic states) interact with ancient psychological mechanisms (e.g. fairness, cheater detection, alliance tracking) to provide at least part of the motivation for the development and expansion of AA, despite its problematic consequences. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five natural samples of a recent South America invader, the drosophilid Zaprionus indianus, were investigated with the isofemale line technique. These samples were compared to five African mainland populations, investigated with the same method. The results were also compared to data obtained on mass cultures of other populations from Africa and India. Three quantitative traits were measured on both sexes, wing and thorax length and sternopleural bristle number. We did not find any latitudinal trend among the American samples, while a significant increase in body size with latitude was observed in the Indian and, to a lesser degree, in the African populations. American populations were also characterized by their bigger size. Genetic variability, estimated by the intraclass correlation among isofemale lines, was similar in American and African populations. The intraline, nongenetic variability was significantly less in the American samples, suggesting a better developmental stability, the origin of which is unclear. A positive relationship was evident between intraline variability of size traits and the wing–thorax length correlation. Altogether, our data suggest that the colonizing propagule introduced to Brazil had a fairly large size, preventing any bottleneck effect being detected. The big body size of American flies suggests that they came from a high-latitude African country. The lack of a latitudinal cline in America seems to be related to the short time elapsed since introduction. The very rapid spread of Z. indianus all over South America suggests that it might rapidly invade North America.Heredity (2006) 96, 53–62. doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800753; published online 12 October 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because higher education serves both public and private interests, the way it is conceived and financed is contested politically, appearing in different forms in different societies. What is public and private in education is a political--social construct, subject to various political forces, primarily interpreted through the prism of the state. Mediated through the state, this construct can change over time as the economic and social context of higher education changes. In this paper, we analyze through the state's financing of higher education how it changes as a public/private good and the forces that impinge on states to influence such changes. To illustrate our arguments, we discuss trends in higher education financing in the BRIC countries--Brazil, Russia, India, and China. We show that in addition to increased privatization of higher education financing, BRIC states are increasingly differentiating the financing of elite and non-elite institutions.

In the aftermath of 9/11 surely of great significance is the reassertion of the South – North divide as a defining axis of the international system. In this context the emergence of a coterie of Southern countries actively challenging the position and assumptions of the leading states of the North is an especially significant event. The activism on the part of three middle-income developing countries in particular—South Africa, Brazil and India—has resulted in the creation of a ‘trilateralist’ diplomatic partnership, itself a reflection of broader transformations across the developing world in the wake of globalisation. This article will examine the rise of the co-operative strategy known as ‘trilateralism’ by regional leaders within the South. Specifically it will look at the relationship between emerging regional powers in the context of multilateralism, as well as at the formulation and implementation of trilateralism. As with previous co-operative efforts in the developing world, the prospects of success are rooted in overlapping domestic, regional and international influences on South African, Brazilian and Indian foreign policies. The article will conclude with an assessment of these influences over the trilateral agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the attempts of emerging third world powers China, India and Brazil to harness the forces of globalization to strengthen their international standing in multilateral institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO). Their qualitatively differing aims of enlarging the middle class, creating jobs for the poor, developing a technologically advanced economy; Potential role in transforming the global balance of power.

Focuses on the role of transnational environmental advocacy networks in the advancement of global environmental movements as of March 2004. Overview of achievements of transnational environmental advocacy networks; Factors which determine the effectiveness of a network's efforts; Challenges facing transnational environmental advocacy networks; Efforts done by major transnational environmental advocacy networks in Brazil, India and Ecuador to promote environmentally sustainable development at the local level during the 1980s and 1990s. INSETS: THE RONDÔNIA NETWORK: RONDÔNIA, BRAZIL;THE NARMADA NETWORKS: NIMAR VLLEY, CENTRAL INDIA;THE ANTI-OIL NETWORK IN ECUADOR'S ORIENTE.

The Sznajd model of socio-physics, with only a group of people sharing the same opinion can convince their neighbors, is applied to a scale-free random network modeled by a deterministic graph. We also study a model for elections based on the Sznajd model and the exponent obtained for the distribution of votes during the transient agrees with those obtained for real elections in Brazil and India. Our results are compared to those obtained using a Barabási–Albert scale-free network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. Technological breakthroughs, macroeconomic pressures, and advances in economic thought have led to a redefinition of the role of the state from producer to arbiter among private interests. Still, the details of such a redefinition vary among countries. We aim to understand the reasons for such differences and draw their policy implications through a case study of the electricity industry in Brazil, China, and India. Over the past decade, these countries have sought to restructure their state-owned electric utilities. The restructuring effort has led to different outcomes in the three countries. We argue that ideology, institutional arrangements, and the behavior of interest groups lie at the heart of such differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The automotive industries of emerging markets were transformed in the 1990s by trade liberalization and large investments by global assemblers. The impact of these investments was decisively influenced by government policies aimed at promoting local production and assembly of vehicles and by changing assembler—supplier relationships in the global auto industry. The cases of Brazil and India show how the assemblers created new linkages between operations in emerging markets and their global operations through the adoption of follow design and follow sourcing policies. These policies were hard to implement in practice, but they decisively transformed the components industries in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which explored the politics of democratic decentralization in South Africa, Porto Alegre in Brazil and Kerala in India. Institutional character of democratic states; Uniformity in the application of citizenship rights; Scope of local democratic participation in Porto Alegre and Kerala; Strategies of decentralization.