scholarly journals Contested terrain of extractive development in the American West: using a regional political ecology framework to understand scalar governance, biocentric values, and anthropocentric values

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
American West ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Economic Restructuring ◽  
Legal Rights ◽  
Resource Access ◽  
Federal Lands ◽  
Mineral Development

The American West has seen a resurgence of capital investment in extractive mineral development on federal lands, emanating from the recent global financial crisis. For these extractive projects, as in energy development more broadly, struggles over knowledge persist in the pre-operational phases of exploratory access and environmental review when political-legal rights and scientific facts are coordinated, codified, and contested. Contested knowledge about extractive mineral development beyond the 100th meridian, once more narrowly limited to proximate environmental impacts like water quality, now more broadly encompasses themes of scalar governance, landscape-level conservation, and local resource access. The case studies covered here demonstrate that a regional scale approach to political ecology provides utility as a heuristic to conceptually frame the concepts of governance, resource access, and ecological degradation between larger processes of economic restructuring and more localized micro politics. A case study approach is used to empirically support the claim that region provides a meso-scale of analysis in terms of: scalar resource control – state versus federal (southeast Utah); biocentric values – preserving nature for nature's sake (southern Arizona); and anthropocentric values – newly touted, but grounded in age-old utilitarianism (northeast Wyoming).Keywords: extractive industries, American West, federal lands, biocentric, anthropocentric

scholarly journals Macroeconomic instability – unemployment

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (99) ◽  
pp. 103-115
Author(s):  
R. Mudrak ◽  
◽  
A. Revutskaya ◽  
A. Osipova ◽  
L. Parkhomenko
Keyword(s):  
Capital Investment ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Absolute Amount ◽  
Investment Climate ◽  
Employment Policy ◽  
Pension Insurance ◽  
State Employment ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
The Military ◽  
Pension Insurance System

In the Ukrainian economy there is a steady growing trend of the actual values of the indicator «unemployment rate». The main causes of excessive unemployment in the Ukrainian economy are three crises: a) crisis of 2008–2009, caused by the global financial crisis; b) crisis of 2014–2015, caused by the military aggression of the Russian Federation; c) crisis of 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic crises cause a decline in economic activity and falling demand for labor. A particularly negative trend is the growth of unemployment in the age group 35–49. It concentrates the most experienced and highly productive workforce. The Ukrainian economy is receiving a double crisis blow - reduction in production due to the recession and reduction of social labor productivity due to the emigration of the most experienced and highly productive employees. The same problem arises due to rising unemployment in the group of experienced labor aged 50 to 59 years. Once again, there is an urgent need to point out the aggravation of the problem of the deficit of the Pension Fund of Ukraine. After all, the aging of the country's population, rising unemployment and labor emigration cause an increase in the pension burden per employee. This can eventually lead to the collapse of the current pension insurance system. at some stage, a significant part of future retirees, who today in good faith pay contributions to the PFC as employed, will not have anything to pay a pension. On a sectorial basis, the main factors in the growth of unemployment are the decline in production in industry and construction. An increase in capital investment does not lead to a decrease in unemployment. This paradox is explained by the fact that the absolute amount of capital investment in the Ukrainian economy is so small that it does not cause a significant impact on employment growth and unemployment reduction. The main vectors of the state employment policy are: stimulation of industrial production and construction, radical improvement of the investment climate in the Ukrainian economy.

scholarly journals Capital Investment and Profitability Across Malaysian Construction Sectors

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.21) ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Lim Qi Yang ◽  
Suresh Ramakrishnan ◽  
Noriza Mohd Jamal ◽  
Maisarah Mohamed Saat ◽  
Muhammad Faizan Malik
Keyword(s):  
Capital Investment ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Capital Expenditure ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Return On Equity ◽  
Crisis Period ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Capital investment and profitability are the most important factors in every firms. Capital investment will determine profitability of the firm by having efficient and effective investment portfolio to the firm. This study investigates the relationship of capital investment and profitability among Malaysia listed construction firms from 2001-2014. Furthermore, this study also analyzes the impact of capital investment on profitability in different economic sub-periods. In addition, this study also used Pooled OLS analysis and fixed effect analysis to analyze and determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables. I.e.: capital investment such as investment to asset, capital expenditure and current capital expenditure along with profitability such as return on asset and return on equity as well as the control variables namely firm size and leverage. The overall results revealed that capital expenditure have significant relationship with return on asset and return on equity. On the other hand, the relationship between capital investment and profitability are differ across different economic sub-periods will produce different outcome. Investment to asset had significant impact towards return on asset and return on equity during pre-crisis period and post-crisis period but during Global Financial Crisis period current capital expenditure has the largest impact towards profitability of the firm.  

Flame and Fortune in the American West

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory L. Simon
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Environmental History ◽  
American West ◽  
Science Studies ◽  
Tax Revenue ◽  
California History ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Tunnel Fire ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Social Environmental

This book investigates the ongoing politics, folly, and avarice shaping the production of increasingly widespread yet dangerous suburban and exurban landscapes. The 1991 Oakland Hills Tunnel Fire is used as a starting point to better understand these complex social-environmental processes. The Tunnel Fire is the most destructive fire—in terms of structures lost—in California history. More than 3,000 residential structures burned and 25 lives were lost. Although this fire occurred in Oakland and Berkeley, others like it sear through landscapes in California and the American West that have experienced urban growth and development within areas historically prone to fire. The book blends environmental history, political ecology, and science studies to closely examine the Tunnel Fire within a broader historical and spatial context of regional economic development and natural-resource management, such as the widespread planting of eucalyptus trees as an exotic lure for homeowners and the creation of hillside neighborhoods for tax revenue—decisions that produced communities with increased vulnerability to fire. The book demonstrates how in Oakland a drive for affluence led to a state of vulnerability for rich and poor alike that has only been exacerbated by the rebuilding of neighborhoods after the fire. Despite these troubling trends, the text illustrates how many popular and scientific debates on fire limit the scope and efficacy of policy responses. These risky yet profitable developments (what the book refers to as the Incendiary), as well as proposed strategies for challenging them, are discussed in the context of urbanizing areas around the American West and hold global applicability within hazard-prone areas.

Effect of the global financial crisis on the financial performance of public listed construction companies in Malaysia

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Ying Lai ◽  
Abdul Rashid Abdul Aziz ◽  
Toong Khuan Chan
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Financial Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The aim of this case study is to characterize the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on the financial performance of public listed construction companies. Design/methodology/approach – Financial analysis was conducted on 32 public listed construction companies in Malaysia. Twelve financial ratios were examined to determine the profitability, liquidity, activity, leverage and solvency of these companies over the period between 2005 and 2010. This was complemented by a distress analysis using Altman’s Z-index. The study also used a content analysis of the Chairman’s or Managing Director’s statement to shareholders to uncover the responses and strategic initiatives undertaken by the management in response to the financial crisis. Findings – The only direct impact of the financial crisis was a reduction in profitability. Total revenues and total assets of these companies continue to grow due to increased demand for construction from year 2007 following two large capital investment programs initiated by the Malaysian Government to mitigate the potential effects of the financial crisis. Net profits rebounded back to 5 per cent by year 2010. These companies immediately responded to the crisis with more prudent financial management; curtailing expenses, cutting dividends, reducing bank borrowings, increasing equity; and to the extent of disposing of assets to mitigate losses. Research limitations/implications – The sample of only 32 public listed companies out of a total of more than 60,000 construction companies may be considered small, but these 32 companies represent nearly 20 per cent of the total construction volume for 2010. Practical implications – The study documents the effects of increased capital spending by the government to mitigate the loss of investor confidence followed by a slowdown in economic growth during a period of global financial distress. Key findings will inform on prudent financial management to withstand future financial crises. Originality/value – The responses and strategies adopted by the management to mitigate the effects and to enhance future performance of these companies have been uncovered. These are important considerations in managing construction companies; the analysis and observations will be invaluable to researchers intending to study how the construction industry responds to a future slump in demand.

scholarly journals ЕФЕКТИВНІСТЬ ІНВЕСТИЦІЙНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ В УКРАЇНІ

2022 ◽  
pp. 54-63
Author(s):  
Oleksandra V. Olshanska ◽  
Yulia V. Tymoshenko
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Economic Restructuring ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Investment Efficiency ◽  
Investment Climate ◽  
Investment Activity ◽  
Factors Affecting

This article seeks to assess the effectiveness of attracting foreign investment in Ukraine. Within the scope of the research, investment activity is considered a key driver for economic development. It is emphasised that boosting economic growth in Ukraine depends heavily on attracting foreign investment as their effects extend to encouraging the national output, the speed of its technological advancements as well as the scale and pace of economic restructuring. The purpose and objectives of the study are to explore and evaluate the effectiveness of foreign investment in Ukraine's economy along with offering the authors’ understanding of the key factors affecting the investment climate and suggesting the most promising pathways to foster investment efficiency in Ukraine. It is argued that this study has a number of significant implications to Ukraine, since investment processes to a great extent underpin market development strategies, and entail the most important mechanisms for creating appropriate environment to overcome the structural economic crisis, implement structural changes in the production sector, promote innovation and enhance economic performance at the micro- and macrolevels. The research methodology involves general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, and the generalization techniques. The findings reveal a whole range of crucial factors behind the investment process crisis and lack of effective tools for investing into the national economic development. The authors assert that a country's position in the investment ranking is a sort of a ‘business card’ for the investor who is looking for new capital investment opportunities. Currently, from this perspective, Ukraine's chances to attract foreign investment seem quite miserable. However, the findings verify that in the context of modern globalization, to spur foreign capital attraction into Ukraine, creating a favourable investment climate is paramount. The study has identified factors that affect the process of shaping the investment climate, among which the most important are a group of economic, political and geographical factors. According to the research results, a proactive government strategy and a comprehensive approach to resolving the current challenges related to investment activities at the micro- and macrolevels will contribute to realizing Ukraine’s investment potential with maximum efficiency that will lay a solid background for sustainable economic development in the future.

scholarly journals “The Tourists Still Come, but They Don't Buy as Much as Before”: Vulnerability and Resilience in Two Bay Island Communities in the Wake of the Global Financial Crisis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Racine Brown
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Political Ecology ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Island Communities ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis

The purpose of this article is to elucidate the differential recovery of household livelihood after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in the communities of West End and Punta Gorda on the island of Roatán, Islas de La Bahia (Bay Islands), Honduras; the emphasis is on livelihoods in tourism due to its economic importance on the island. The theoretical approach is a political ecology of tourism with an emphasis on differential benefits and challenges of tourism development at the household level. The study employs a mixed methods ethnographic approach incorporating participant observation, informal interviews, and semi-structured interviews for the qualitative component. While the tourism sector on Roatán has recovered since undergoing a severe contraction in the latter part of 2009 and continuing in 2010, this recovery has been uneven, with larger tourism businesses and their employees faring better than small scale entrepreneurs.

scholarly journals Crisis and the Reproduction of Core-Periphery Relations on the Hungarian Housing Market

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsuzsanna Pósfai ◽  
Gábor Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Housing Market ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Turning Point ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Housing Markets ◽  
Uneven Development ◽  
Point Of Entry ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Financial Capitalism

Housing markets can be understood as indicators of the spatial pattern of capital investment under contemporary financial capitalism. We take this point of entry in order to analyze core-periphery relations around the turning point of the global financial crisis of 2007–2008 on the Hungarian housing market. The instance of crisis sheds light on patterns of homogenization and differentiation; the effects of which can be understood by exploring housing market activity on various scales from the European to the local/regional. We argue that these two patterns of uneven development are inextricably linked and result in deepening sociospatial polarization.

scholarly journals The irresistible solution: rationale and risks of extending water limits through desalination in the case of Gotland, Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Sophia Speckhahn ◽  
Ellinor Isgren
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Political Ecology ◽  
Economic Restructuring ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Supply Policy ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Environmental Integrity ◽  
Social Environmental

<p>Water resources are under increasing pressure, and there are tensions between increasing demand and the natural limits to potable water supply. Authorities must find solutions that fulfil societal demands without compromising environmental integrity. As one way to counteract water deficits, desalination has evolved as an attractive solution. This technology is contested and associated with a variety of social, environmental and economic consequences; yet it is increasingly used. In Sweden, the technology is rare but recent droughts have spurred interest. On the island of Gotland, where Sweden's first larger desalination plant was inaugurated in 2016, we examine the perceived benefits and drawbacks of desalination as well as the decision-making process that led up to its implementation. Through qualitative analysis of public documents and stakeholder interviews, we identify mechanisms that contributed to desalination becoming a favored solution. We find that it is associated with a number of benefits that are in line with broader development goals, against which its drawbacks are considered to be acceptable or externalized. Desalination extends natural limits to permit development, delaying deeper social and economic restructuring. Rather than arguing against desalination <em>per se</em>, we emphasize the risk of the depoliticization of water supply through technocratic decision-making, the normalization of scarcity and certain technologies, and the urgency that builds around increasing water supply 'at any economic cost.' These tendencies obscure drawbacks, limitations and conflicting interests. They foreclose the questioning of resource intensive development. In order to invoke transformation towards long-term sustainability of Gotland's water supply, policy-makers should seek to diversify their sources of knowledge and encourage more open democratic debate around alternative regional development pathways.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> desalination, natural limits, water scarcity, Gotland, political ecology, technocracy, depoliticization, normalization</p>

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