Hasil untuk "Trade associations"

Aleksandar Antić, Ivica Lazović

The paper examines the employment status of journalists in the Republic of Serbia, with a focus on individual and collective rights, as well as the mechanisms for their protection. Journalists carry out their profession under different legal arrangements – they may be permanently employed, freelancers, or engaged under contracts for specific tasks. The Law on Public Information and Media (2023) stipulates specific provisions regarding working hours, the right to disconnect, special protection against dismissal, and collective rights. An analysis of the application of the Law on Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes (2004) shows that journalists frequently use out-of-court methods to protect their rights, thanks to well-developed trade unions, professional associations, and a high level of awareness. Unlike other employees, who are often unaware of the opportunities offered by the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes – where procedures can be conducted quickly, efficiently, and free of charge – journalists are willing to use these procedures, thereby further ensuring the protection of their rights and contributing to the stability and professional development of the media sector.

G.R. Dauliyeva , Zh.B. Ranov , A.G. Sagynbay et al.

Poverty reduction remains a key priority of Kazakhstan’s socio-economic policy. While entrepreneurship is widely acknowledged as a driver of economic growth, its association with poverty alleviation in the country remains insufficiently explored. A comprehensive analysis of this relationship is essential for enhancing policy effectiveness. This study examines the associations between entrepreneurial activity, business incentives, and poverty reduction in Kazakhstan. The Human Development Index (HDI) is employed as the dependent variable, as it encapsulates not only income levels but also access to education and healthcare. The study applies linear, logarithmic, and semi-logarithmic regression models, addressing potential issues of multicollinearity and autocorrelation. The independent variables include entrepreneurial activity, business development incentives, trade openness, urbanization, and corruption control. The results confirm that entrepreneurship and business incentives play a crucial role in poverty reduction. Increased entrepreneurial activity contributes to job creation, income growth, and improved access to essential services. Furthermore, the study highlights the significance of reducing administrative barriers and strengthening anti-corruption measures to foster business development. Additionally, urbanization and trade openness are identified as significant determinants of economic progress. Unlike traditional studies that focus solely on income-based measures, this research employs HDI as a comprehensive indicator of human development. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers in designing effective entrepreneurship policies, optimizing regulatory frameworks, and enhancing governance mechanisms to promote sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in Kazakhstan. Key words: poverty, entrepreneurship, Human development index, urbanization, trade.

Lingfeng Liao, Xiang-Chu Huang

The accelerated industrial growth and economic expansion of Southeast Asian economies have intensified the concern related environmental issues and natural resource depletion. Amid these circumstances, the study finds an opportunity to investigate the key enabling factors that enhance natural resource efficiency. The research investigation sought to evaluate the association of natural resource efficiency with carbon mitigation, environmental regulation and Industry 4.0 in the context of Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. This panel dataset, obtained from various reputable sources, was then empirically analyzed using multiple tests. The cross-sectional independence test was carried out initially followed by the Pedroni cointegration test which validated the presence of long-term associations. Panel data estimation strategy comprised of using DCCE is also employed to reveal the association between variables. Findings of the study reveal a negative and significant impact of information and communication technology on natural resource efficiency. Environmental regulation was positively and significantly associated with total natural resources. Trade and FDI were also found to be positively associated with natural resource efficiency. These findings offer a comprehensive view to economies that how they can achieve environmental sustainability and industrial growth at the same time. This study is not only beneficial in terms of theoretical knowledge but it provides insights for policymakers and government on how natural resources can be managed.

Gelson Mateus da Silva Araujo, Diego Pierotti Procópio, João Carlos Arruda-Oliveira et al.

This study was developed to investigate the factors related to the agricultural modernization in the state of Mato Grosso (MT) and to determine the Agricultural Modernization Index of the municipalities of MT. The Exploratory Factor Analysis and the 2017 Brazilian Agricultural Census database were used. The main factors associated with agricultural modernization in MT were as follows: (a) adoption of technology, access to financial resources, and ownership of tractors on the property; (b) use of pesticides and the participation of rural producers in collective organizations; and (c) items of access to technical information and access to electricity service. There was heterogeneity in the level of agricultural modernization throughout MT, in which most municipalities have a low classification (94 municipalities, totaling 66.66% of all municipalities in the state). Thus, the development of public policies that expand access to technical assistance and credit services and the creation of collective organizations (associations, cooperatives, class entities, and trade unions) can contribute to reducing the of inequality in agricultural modernization in the municipalities of Mato Grosso.

Peter Ackers

The Warwick Industrial Relations (IR) academics, George Bain and Hugh Clegg, were key movers in founding the Modern Records Centre (MRC) & attracting the unique collection of trade union and employers' records. In the late 1960s, after his crucial role on the 1965-68 'Donovan' Royal  Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations, Clegg was recruited from Nuffield College, Oxford to become a founding professor in what became Warwick Business School. He won SSRC funding to bring the Industrial Relations Research Unit (IRRU) to Warwick, which became the national centre for the field, with a global reputation, at a time when IR was arguably the central UK domestic issue. Leadership of the IRRU passed to George Bain, then Willy Brown. After retirement, Clegg then used the MRC for the final two volumes of his landmark  A History of British Trade Unions since 1889 (Oxford University Press 1985, 1994). Based on interviews with the archivist, Richard Storey, George Bain and other members of the 'Warwick School', my paper will discuss: (1) the formation of Warwick School IR; (2) Bain & Clegg's influence on the MRC; and (3) Clegg's writing on trade union history. In 2003, I co-edited a study of academic IR Understanding Work & Employment (OUP) & for the past 20 years I've published widely on Hugh Clegg. My full biography with Routledge is now out.

Eunice Mintah-Agyeman, Boakye-Yiadom Adomako, George Asumah Adu et al.

Abstract Background Head porters popularly known as ‘Kayayeis in Ghana, face challenges in accessing essential health care services due to the mobile nature of their trade, low formal education, poor settlements, low-income among others. Kayayeis are predominantly females and form part of the mobile population who are at increased risk of malaria infection. Despite their increased risk of malaria, mobile populations are difficult to target for malaria interventions, hence serving as potential drivers of transmission even if malaria in the general population is controlled. The study, therefore, assessed the patterns and predictors of malaria among the Kayayei population in Ghana to inform policy decisions. Methods A mixed methods study was conducted among Head-porters and their leaders in the three main hubs of Head-porters in Ghana; namely Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale. Blood samples were collected from participants and tested for malaria parasites using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). Additionally, data including socio-demographics, malaria knowledge, attitude and practice were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Associations between malaria status and participants characteristics were determined by logistic regression (p < 0.05). Thematic analysis was used to analyse transcripts from the key informant interviews. Results Out of 754 head porters studied, 10.48% (79) tested positive for malaria. The majority 43.10% (325/754) of the head porters were twenty years and below, and most 67.11% (506/754) had no formal education. Nearly half (50.4%) were not on any health insurance. Receiving malaria education in the past 6 months [AOR = 0.48, (0.26–0.88), p-value 0.02], and having poor knowledge of malaria [AOR = 2.23, (1.26–4.27), p < 0.02], were the factors significantly associated with malaria infection. Conclusion The prevalence of malaria among ‘Kayayei’s was estimated at 10.46%. A majority of them sleeps outside and in structures without mosquito screens. Receiving malaria education in the past 6 months reduced the odds of malaria infection whilst poor knowledge of malaria increased the odds of malaria infection among the porters. The authors recommend that the National Malaria Elimination Programme and partners should provide long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) and other outdoor interventions for use by this special group. Designated state institutions should arrange free National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) registration for ‘Kayayeis’ to narrow the health access gap.

A. Oksanen, E. Mantere, I. Vuorinen et al.

OBJECTIVES Online platforms enable real-time trading activities that are similar to those of gambling. This study aimed to investigate the associations of traditional investing, real-time stock trading, and cryptocurrency trading with excessive behavior and mental health problems. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional population-based survey. METHODS The participants were Finnish people aged 18-75 years (N = 1530, 50.33% male). Survey asked about monthly regular investing, real-time stock-trading platform use, and cryptocurrency trading. The study had measures for excessive behavior: gambling (Problem Gambling Severity Index), gaming (Internet Gaming Disorder Test), internet use (Compulsive Internet Use Scale), and alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). Psychological distress (Mental Health Inventory), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), COVID-19 anxiety, and perceived loneliness were also measured. Background factors included sociodemographic variables, instant loan taking, and involvement in social media identity bubbles (Identity Bubble Reinforcement Scale). Multivariate analyses were conducted with regression analysis. RESULTS Within the sample, 22.29% were categorized into monthly regular investors only, 3.01% were investors using real-time stock-trading platforms, and 3.59% were cryptomarket traders. Real-time stock-trading platform use and cryptocurrency trading were associated with younger age and male gender. Cryptomarket traders were more likely to have an immigrant background and have taken instant loans. Both real-time stock-trading platform use and cryptomarket trading were associated with higher excessive behavior. Cryptomarket traders especially reported higher excessive gambling, gaming, and internet use than others. Cryptomarket traders reported also higher psychological distress, perceived stress, and loneliness. CONCLUSIONS Regular investing is not a risk factor for excessive behavior. However, rapid online trading platforms and applications were significantly more commonly used by participants reporting excessive behavior and mental health problems. The strong association between cryptomarket trading and excessive behavior in particular underlines the need to acknowledge the potential risks related to real-time trading platforms.

Mayorov A.A.

The author of this article carried out a comprehensive analysis of a chronologically systematized source base dedicated to the military-political and economic interaction of the Vyatichi ethno-political association with a number of significant actors in the east of the East Europian Plain in the 9th — 10th centuries, such as the Khazar Khaganate, Volga Bulgaria, a hypothetical East Slavic association led Severy and Rus. The purpose of the study is to identify the direct and indirect consequences of the impact of the formations listed above as economic and political structures on the Upper Oka historical region populated by the Vyatichi in the context of constant military and political rivalry. Research materials: medieval Russian chronicles, data from Eastern geographers and travelers, results of archaeological research, numismatics. The methods of complex regional-historical analysis were used in the work. Results and scientific novelty: the analysis of the collected and systematized data suggests the existence of strong economic and political contacts of the Upper Oka region in the face of the Vyatichi ethno-political association with the formations of the east of the East Europian Plain (Khazar Khaganate, Severy’s proto-state association and Volga Bulgaria). Considered in more detail, the Volga Bulgaria, apparently, in the late Khazar and post-Khazar times, acting as the emission and trade center of the region, was the center of attraction for ethno-political associations opposing the Kievan Rurikids. The existence of the Vyatichi Land as an organized autonomous regional formation was facilitated by the presence of direct transport routes between the Upper Oka basin and the Bulgar lands. Conclusions: The existence of state and quasi-state formations in the east and southeast of the East Europian Plain contributed to the preservation of the independence of the Upper Oka Slavic Vyatichi ethno-political association.

Tetiana Fedorchak

The aim of this article is to study the peculiarities and specifics of Czech civil society. The initial situation and institutional conditions of the social self-organization are analyzed, along with specific examples of representing social interests and other forms of participation, as well as the ideas of state policy and civil society that fuel civic activism or protests. The author emphasizes that today the Czech Republic has a fairly diverse and extensive network of organized civil society, particularly in the ecological and social spheres. The system of political parties and a certain form of legal and financial regulation have not always contributed to the development of civic initiatives. Trade unions benefit from the opportunity to participate in state politics and its institutions. For Czechs, it is characteristic to express collective interests and outside the parliament – informally through demonstrations, petitions, and initiatives directed towards post-materialistic orientations. Civic initiatives address issues concerning Roma and other minorities, aid refugees, and resolve matters in which the state takes a restrictive position, although it is supported by broad segments of the Czech society. Similar patterns can be observed in protests and demands for political reforms. Czechs are seeking alternatives to existing parties that rely on civil society. The author emphasizes that among the numerous civil society organizations, there are influential ones, but the level of participation of Czechs in them is low. There have been frequent expressions of dissatisfaction with the form of social life and significant reservations towards the “party elite” in society. To some extent, this also applies to associations closely related to politics.

Ana Cubillo, Ana Cubillo, Antonia Tkalcec et al.

AimsHeart rate variability (HRV) measures have been suggested in healthy individuals as a potential index of self-regulation skills, which include both cognitive and emotion regulation aspects. Studies in patients with a range of psychiatric disorders have however mostly focused on the potential association between abnormally low HRV at rest and specifically emotion regulation difficulties. Emotion regulation deficits have been reported in patients with Conduct Disorder (CD) however, the association between these emotion regulation deficits and HRV measures has yet to be fully understood. This study investigates (i) the specificity of the association between HRV and emotion regulation skills in adolescents with and without CD and (ii) the association between HRV and grey matter brain volumes in key areas of the central autonomic network which are involved in self-regulation processes, such as insula, lateral/medial prefrontal cortices or amygdala.MethodsRespiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) measures of HRV were collected from adolescents aged between 9–18 years (693 CD (427F)/753 typically developing youth (TD) (500F)), as part of a European multi-site project (FemNAT-CD). The Inverse Efficiency Score, a speed-accuracy trade-off measure, was calculated to assess emotion and cognitive regulation abilities during an Emotional Go/NoGo task. The association between RSA and task performance was tested using multilevel regression models. T1-weighted structural MRI data were included for a subset of 577 participants (257 CD (125F); 320 TD (186F)). The CerebroMatic toolbox was used to create customised Tissue Probability Maps and DARTEL templates, and CAT12 to segment brain images, followed by a 2 × 2 (sex × group) full factorial ANOVA with RSA as regressor of interest.ResultsThere were no significant associations between RSA and task performance, neither during emotion regulation nor during cognitive regulation trials. RSA was however positively correlated with regional grey matter volume in the left insula (pFWE = 0.011) across all subjects.ConclusionRSA was related to increased grey matter volume in the left insula across all subjects. Our results thus suggest that low RSA at rest might be a contributing or predisposing factor for potential self-regulation difficulties. Given the insula’s role in both emotional and cognitive regulation processes, these brain structural differences might impact either of those.

Mimelientesa Irman, Budiyanto Budiyanto, Suwitho Suwitho

This study examines the performance problems of SMEs in the trade sector in Pekanbaru by using several internal company factors to build a competitive strategy. The study involved 300 SMEs consisting of 26 wholesalers and 274 retailers in Pekanbaru, Riau. This research adopted a structural equation model (SEM) approach with AMOS for hypothesis testing. The results indicate that social capital and financial literacy have a significant direct effect on the performance of the SMEs businesses in the trade sector in Pekanbaru. It implicates that social capital and financial literacy are two determining factors for the success of SMEs businesses. However, social capital does not affect business performance indirectly through the role of financial inclusion. Meanwhile, financial literacy in this study, directly or indirectly, through financial inclusion can improve the performance of SMEs businesses. This study shows that SMEs in the trade sector in Pekanbaru must continue to foster partnerships with existing associations, and they also need to be directed so as not to deviate from the common goal of advancing the SMEs businesses.   Keywords: Financial Literacy, Financial Inclusion, SMEs’ Business Performance, Social Capital

John Gakuu Karanja

The aim of this paper was to assess the effect of Kenya’s domestic trade regulations on the growth of wholesale and retail firms in Kenya. To achieve the study objective, the existing domestic trade regulatory framework was reviewed, and policy gaps were identified. Further, a cross-sectional dataset from the World Bank enterprise survey 2018 was used for empirical analysis as it contains regulatory variables that influence the growth of wholesale and retail trade firms. The Tobit model was used for regression analysis. The study established that business registration regulations, licensing regulations, firm size, use of mobile money, business websites, membership in a trade association, and training of employees support firms’ ability to grow and therefore create jobs. The study recommended that there is a need to develop a framework that will coordinate both national and county governments in the implementation of business registration reforms provided under the Business Registration Act of 2015 and other reforms provided for ease of doing business in the country. Further, there is a need to reduce business licensing obstacles across the counties by simplifying business license application procedures, conditions, and requirements. Finally, there is a need to fast-track the implementation of the MSE Act 2012 and the MSE regulations 2019 on trade associations, as well as to assess their contribution to the wholesale and retail trade sectors’ self-regulation since their enactment and, if necessary, to revise them.

Amalia Stuhldreher, Virginia Morales Olmos

Considerando los diversos desafíos del cambiante actual entorno internacional, marcado por la incertidumbre y por diversos riesgos pero que también abre oportunidades para la región latinoamericana, este trabajo analiza la búsqueda de articulación de las políticas energéticas, la situación en materia de las energías renovables en el contexto del MERCOSUR (Mercado Común del Sur) y los intercambios comerciales en materia energética, focalizando el caso del Uruguay y sus vínculos con los países vecinos Argentina y Brasil. Partiendo de una perspectiva de desarrollo sostenible, se revisa la evolución de las matrices energéticas y sus eventuales aportes en términos de mitigación del cambio climático. En este contexto destaca el proceso de inversiones en el sector de las energías renovables realizadas en Uruguay en los últimos años, que posibilitaron desde 2017 exportaciones a cargo de actores privados. Teniendo en cuenta la multidimensionalidad de los procesos de desarrollo, el trabajo explora algunas perspectivas que surgen de los procesos regionales y nacionales de cara a la promoción de modelos de desarrollo sostenible y el combate al cambio climático, incluyendo expresamente la complejidad del diálogo entre la dimensión medioambiental y la dimensión económico-comercial.

Anthony A. Laverty, Filippos T. Filippidis, Esteve Fernandez et al.

Introduction There are limited data on the potential effects of e-cigarette experimentation on support for tobacco control policies. To bridge this gap, we assessed associations between e-cigarette experimentation and support for tobacco control policies in the European Union 2012-2014. We also investigated variations across tobacco-use status, e-cigarette experimentation and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods Datasets were used from the Special Eurobarometer for Tobacco surveys performed in 2012 (n=26 751) and 2014 (n=27 801). Tobacco control policies assessed were: banning advertising, policies to keep tobacco out of sight, banning online sales, banning flavors, standardized packaging, tax increases, and policies to reduce illicit trade in tobacco. We use multilevel logistic regression models to assess variations in socio-demographics and tobacco/e-cigarette use with support for these policies in 2014, and examined changes in support for these policies, between 2012 and 2014, separately by tobacco-use status (never, current, and former smokers). Results Population support for tobacco control policies was high in 2014: policies to reduce illicit trade had the highest level of support at 70.1%, while tax increases were the least likely measure to be supported with 52.3% support. Among never and former smokers, experimentation with e-cigarettes was associated with reduced support for all tobacco control policies assessed. For example, never smokers who had experimented with e-cigarettes were less likely to support either tobacco advertising bans (adjusted odds ratio aOR=0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.46-0.71) or standardized packaging for tobacco (aOR=0.58, 95% CI: 0.47-0.71). Former smokers who had experimented with e-cigarettes were less likely to either support standardized packaging for tobacco (aOR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.60-0.82) or keeping tobacco out of sight (aOR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.65-0.90). Among current smokers, e-cigarette experimentation was not associated with support for the tobacco control policies assessed. Conclusions E-cigarette experimentation was consistently associated with reduced support for tobacco control policies among never and former smokers but not among current smokers. The implications of these findings for tobacco control are unknown, but the data support concerns that e-cigarette experimentation may affect public support for established tobacco control policies within specific subgroups. Further research is needed to assess potential long-term impacts on tobacco control policies.

IF and FRFG

The IGJR publishes articles from the social sciences/humanities, reflecting the current state of research on intergenerational justice. Its editorial board consists of about 50 internationally renowned experts from ten different countries. The 2/2018 and 1/2019 double edition will have the additional help of Professor Ann-Kristin Kölln, University of Aarhus, who will be serving as guest editor. The topic of the 2/2018 and 1/2019 double issue will be: “How attractive are political parties and trade unions to young people?” We welcome submissions to the issue 2/2018 and 1/2019 that illuminate the complex relationship between young people and political parties and trade unions. Submission Requirements Submissions will be accepted until 1 July 2018 / 1 February 2019. Entries should be up to 30,000 characters in length (including spaces but excluding bibliography, figures, photographs and tables.) Articles may be submitted electronically through the IGJR homepage (see “Submissions”). Topic abstract Political parties are intrinsically linked to the functioning of modern democracies. They provide fundamental linkage mechanisms of representation and participation that connect citizens with the state (Keman 2014; Webb 2000). Party members and affiliates, more generally, are in this respect one of the linking mechanisms that are  beneficial for the effective functioning of political representation. Members are often described as the “eyes and ears” (Kölln/Polk 2017; Kölln 2017) of parties in the electorate because of their communicative role. They bring new policy ideas to the party and communicate the party’s programme within society. In addition, members are among the primary sources of political personnel because party membership is often an informal prerequisite for acquiring political office. From this representative perspective and following the notion of “descriptive representation” (Mansbridge 1999), members’ social makeup should ideally reflect that of the general population. Although party members have hardly ever been entirely representative of the population in their demographic characteristics (Scarrow/Gezgor 2010), the general decline of party membership seems to affect younger generations disproportionately. They enrol less often in parties, rendering the parties’ age-profiles all too often considerably older than the broader electorate that they hope to embrace (Bruter/Harrison 2009; Scarrow/Gezgor 2010). For instance, the share of young members (under 26 years old) in German parties is at most 6.3% (LINKE) but can also be as little as 2.2% (CSU) (Niedermayer 2016). In contrast, around one quarter of the general population belongs to this age group. And even though the age-profile of Swedish parties is considerably better, with over 14% of members being under 26 years old (Kölln/Polk 2017), this figure is largely driven by members of the Green Party (Miljöpartiet) in which almost 26% are under 26 years old. In other countries, hardly any of these problems seem to exist. According to 2017 figures from the United Kingdom, the share of members aged 18-24 reflects the general population of 8.9% quite well: group size estimates suggest that 18-24s make up 14.4% of the Green Party, 13.2% of the Conservative Party and 11.5% of the Labour Party, with only the Scottish National Party and UK Independence Party (UKIP) below the 8.9%, at 6.9% and 6.7% respectively (UK Party Members Project; https://esrcpartymembersproject.org). Overall, however, the statistics suggest not only an age problem in political parties across many European democracies, but also substantial country- and party-level differences. German parties seem to be doing particularly poorly in the descriptive representation of the young, while other countries and individual parties are apparently much better in engaging younger generations. Trade unions are facing similar problems in recruiting young members across Europe (Gumbrell-McCormick/Hyman 2013). Reasons for this pattern might be found in the dominant political issues that trade unions care about. Younger people are confronted with the rapidly changing nature of the workplace as well as the rise in temporary work and zero-hour contracts, and are probably more interested in salaries, entry requirements and work contracts, rather than in end-of-career matters such as pensions and retirement ages. The skewed age profile of trade unions could shift the discussion more towards the latter concerns, deterring younger generations and reinforcing existing age problems. Given members’ importance and their overall age profile, it could be argued that political power or access to it is unequally distributed between the young and old. Parties and trade unions might be disproportionally representing older rather than younger generations because of their own social-demographic makeup. This could create an unjust distribution of political influence between living generations. Articles could approach the topic through a broad range of questions, including: • Is the unequal representation of young members in and for political parties and trade unions problematic from a democratic perspective? • What about the age structure of employers’ associations? Could the underrepresentation of younger members be viewed as a problem here as well? • How great is the reluctance of young people to engage in and for political parties and trade unions from an internationally comparative perspective, for instance OECD-wide? What can we learn from a historically comparative perspective? • Why do young people avoid political parties and trade unions? • Why are some parties and trade unions better than others in engaging younger people? • What can parties and trade unions do to attract more young members or affiliates and to retain them? What lessons can belearned from examples in which specific parties or unions have accomplished this, such as recently the British Labour Party? • What role can the youth organisations of political parties and trade unions play in increasing the attractiveness of their mother organisations? • Do regulations prohibit specific reform measures which could render parties and unions more attractive for young people? What role do membership fees play? • What would be the consequences if young people permanently and irrevocably eschewed political parties? We welcome submissions from all fields, including (but not limited to) political science, sociology, economics, and legal studies. Philosophers and/or ethicists are invited to contribute applied normative research. Intergenerational Justice Prize 2017/18Note that this topic is closely related to the subject of the Intergenerational Justice Prize 2017/18, promoted by the Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations (FRFG) and the Intergenerational Foundation (IF). The prize is endowed with 10,000€ and has 1 July 2018 as its deadline. Young researchers may also wish to participate in this essay competition, and it is hoped that this edition of the IGJR will contain a selection of the best prize submissions in English. For more information, see “Prizes” under “Research” at www.if.org.uk. References Gumbrell-McCormick, Rebecca / Hyman, Richard (2013): Trade Unions in Western Europe: Hard Times, Hard Choices. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Keman, Hans (2014): Democratic Performance of Parties and Legitimacy in Europe. In: West European Politics, 37 (2), 309–330. Kölln, Ann-Kristin (2017): Has Party Members’ Representativeness Changed Over Time? In: Anderssoon, Ulrika et al. (eds.): Larmar och gör sig till. SOM-undersökningen 2016, SOM-rapport no. 70, Gothenburg: SOM-Institut, 387–400. Kölln, Ann-Kristin / Polk, Jonathan (2017): Emancipated party members: Examining ideological incongruence within political parties. In: Party Politics, 23 (1), 18–29. Mansbridge, Jane (1999): Should Blacks Represent Blacks and Women Represent Women? A Contingent “Yes.”. In: The Journal of Politics, 61 (3), 628–657. Scarrow, Susan E. / Gezgor, Burcu (2010): Declining memberships, changing members? European political party members in a new era. In: Party Politics, 16 (6), 823–843. Webb, Paul (2000): Political parties in Western Europe: linkage, legitimacy and reform. In: Representation, 37 (3–4), 203–214. For a list of recommended literature, see “Announcements” on www.igjr.org.

Michael L. Barnett

A trade assocation’s effectiveness is more than a matter of attracting and retaining member firms. It must also manage member firm involvement in its activities. Herein, I outline three drivers of firm participation in TA activity – economic self-interest, sociological identity, and meta-organizational management – and call for further research on ways that trade associations can manage firm-level contributions to communal strategy.

Keith Williams

First paragraphs: Fair-trade coffee is a familiar item in most Canadian cities and towns, and most grocery stores now stock organic produce. These products are examples of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) and were introduced into the Western marketplace in the 1980s. VSS "are voluntary schemes conveying information of relevance to sustainability about the process of production of specific products according to a reference standard or measurement" (Maybeck & Gitz, 2014, p. 173, in Maybeck & Redfern, 2014) and are typically implemented by businesses, assessed by third parties, and driven by consumer demand (Maybeck & Redfern, 2014). The past decade has witnessed a proliferation of VSS, driven by consumer demand for safe, high quality, and ethically and sustainably produced goods (Blackmore & Keeley, 2012). VSS are a promising mechanism by which we might increase worker rights, enhance ecosystem services, and im¬prove the quality of various goods. Even so, VSS schemes have come under criticism on a number of counts, such as excluding smallholder farmers and all farmers in low-income countries due to high certification and compliance costs. VSS (such as fair-trade) provide no provisions for greater benefits to farm employees above the accepted industry standards. Finally, the premiums charged for VSS products are consumed in support of the cooperatives and other associations necessary to manage the VSS designation (Henderson, 2008) rather than yielding higher returns to the small-holders producing goods for the fair-trade market....

Michael Cripps, Sarah Jackman, Cristina Roquet et al.

The majority of herbivorous insects are specialised feeders restricted to a plant family, genus, or species. The evolution of specialised insect-plant interactions is generally considered to be a result of trade-offs in fitness between possible hosts. Through the course of natural selection, host plants that maximise insect fitness should result in optimal, specialised, insect-plant associations. However, the extent to which insects are tracking plant phylogeny or key plant traits that act as herbivore resistance or acceptance characters is uncertain. Thus, with regard to the evolution of host plant specialisation, we tested if insect performance is explained by phylogenetic relatedness of potential host plants, or key plant traits that are not phylogenetically related. We tested the survival (naive 1st instar to adult) of the oligophagous leaf-feeding beetle, Cassida rubiginosa, on 16 selected representatives of the Cardueae tribe (thistles and knapweeds), including some of the worst weeds in temperate grasslands of the world in terms of the economic impacts caused by lost productivity. Leaf traits (specific leaf area, leaf pubescence, flavonoid concentration, carbon and nitrogen content) were measured as explanatory variables and tested in relation to survival of the beetle, and the phylogenetic signal of the traits were examined. The survival of C. rubiginosa decreased with increasing phylogenetic distance from the known primary host plant, C. arvense, suggesting that specialisation is a conserved character, and that insect host range, to a large degree is constrained by evolutionary history. The only trait measured that clearly offered some explanatory value for the survival of C. rubiginosa was specific leaf area. This trait was not phylogenetically dependant, and when combined with phylogenetic distance from C. arvense gave the best model explaining C. rubiginosa survival. We conclude that the specialisation of the beetle is explained by a combination of adaptation to an optimal host plant over evolutionary time, and key plant traits such as specific leaf area that can restrict or broaden host utilisation within the Cardueae lineage. The phylogenetic pattern of C. rubiginosa fitness will aid in predicting the ability of this biocontrol agent to control multiple Cardueae weeds.

Brenda M. Murdoch, Gordon K. Murdoch

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a prion disease that is invariably fatal in cattle and has been implicated as a significant human health risk. As a transmissible disease of livestock, it has impacted food safety, production practices, global trade, and profitability. Genetic polymorphisms that alter the prion protein in humans and sheep are associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy susceptibility or resistance. In contrast, there is no strong evidence that nonsynonymous mutations in the bovine prion gene (PRNP) are associated with classical BSE (C-BSE) disease susceptibility, though two bovine PRNP insertion/deletion polymorphisms, in the putative region, are associated with susceptibility to C-BSE. However, these associations do not explain the full extent of BSE susceptibility, and loci outside of PRNP appear to be associated with disease incidence in some cattle populations. This article provides a review of the current state of genetic knowledge regarding prion diseases in cattle.

Mario Thomas Vassallo