Resumen La investigación sobre el acceso a la protección social de los inmigrantes ecuatorianos es escasa. Aún no es claro qué tipo de protección social reciben y si esto está asociado con su perfil sociodemográfico. El presente estudio utilizó las encuestas LAMP-ECU4, con representatividad en cuatro comunidades del sur de Ecuador, para realizar un análisis cuantitativo del acceso de los inmigrantes ecuatorianos a la protección social en Estados Unidos y en España en las categorías de empleo, vivienda y préstamos de dinero, y la relación entre dicho acceso y sus perfiles sociodemográficos. Los resultados evidencian que los migrantes ecuatorianos de las cuatro comunidades tenían altos niveles de acceso a la protección social en las tres categorías. La principal fuente de apoyo fueron los vínculos individuales y se encontró relación entre la protección social y el perfil sociodemográfico de los migrantes. Este estudio proporciona contribuciones útiles para el diseño de políticas públicas.

ABSTRACT Research on access to social protection for Ecuadorian immigrants is scarce. It remains unclear what social protection they receive and whether this is associated with their sociodemographic profile. This study used the LAMP-ECU4 surveys, with representatives from four communities in southern Ecuador, to conduct a quantitative analysis of the access to social protection of Ecuadorian immigrants in the United States, and Spain in the categories of employment, housing, and money lending, and the relationship between the latter and their sociodemographic profiles. The results showed that Ecuadorian migrants from the four communities had high levels of access to social protection in all three categories. The main source of support was individual ties, and a relationship was found between social protection and the sociodemographic profiles of immigrants. This study provides input for public policy design.

RESUMEN Programa de Apoyo a los Estudiantes Argentinos (PROG.R.ES.AR) es una política direccionada a jóvenes de hogares desfavorecidos Esta transferencia monetaria condicionada, por población alcanzada y esfuerzo fiscal, constituye la principal iniciativa en Argentina hacia el segmento y una de las más relevantes en América Latina. Este trabajo identifica y sigue en el tiempo a sus beneficiarios, con el objetivo de evaluar el impacto del programa por medio de indicadores laborales, así como de logros educativos. Se utilizaron las metodologías de diferencias en diferencias y de regresión discontinua. Los resultados no permiten dar cuenta de un impacto significativo en las tasas de actividad y empleo de los beneficiarios del programa, ni de una mejora en el logro educativo.

ABSTRACT Programa de Apoyo a los Estudiantes Argentinos (PROG.R.ES.AR) is a conditional cash transfer targeted to students from disadvantaged households. This program intends to tackle youth disparities encouraging youth’s human capital investments to improve labor profiles. In terms of population reach and fiscal effort, PROG.R.ES.AR is the main policy aimed at young people in Argentina and one of the most relevant in Latin America. This work identifies and tracks its beneficiaries over time, in order to evaluate the impact of the program through labor indicators as well as educational achievements. Difference-in-difference and discontinuous regression methodologies were used. The results do not allow us to account for a significant impact on the activity and employment rates of the program’s beneficiaries, nor for an improvement in educational achievement

Resumen Este artículo analiza el rol del Estado en relación con el Programa Hogar y el sentido que las beneficiarias le otorgan. En un inicio concebido como un esquema de asistencia para suplir los problemas de acceso a gas de consumo doméstico mediante la entrega de bombonas en los hogares, el programa devino en una transferencia monetaria directa. Este mecanismo es insuficiente, dado que, en un contexto de escasez y ausencia de empleo formal, las jefas de hogar emplean el dinero para sufragar gastos de la canasta básica. La ineficiencia del Estado, junto con capacidades comunitarias-barriales menoscabadas para visibilizar problemas y hacer demandas, hace que el programa, en realidad, no produzca beneficiarias. En conclusión, el Estado argentino lleva a cabo prestaciones parciales que no cubren las necesidades de los hogares vulnerables; asimismo, la dinámica del Programa Hogar podría cumplir objetivos relevantes si examinase y ajustase su enfoque de derechos.

Abstract This article analyses the role of the Argentinian state concerning the Home Programme and the meaning beneficiaries give to it. Originally conceived as an assistance scheme to overcome problems of access to gas for domestic consumption through the delivery of gas cylinders to households, the programme became a direct monetary transfer. In a context of scarcity and lack of formal employment, the mechanism is insufficient given that female heads of household use the money to cover basic food basket expenses. The inefficiency of the state and the undermining of community and neighbourhood capacities to make problems visible and make demands would mean that the programme does not produce beneficiaries. In conclusion, the state carries out partial benefits that do not cover the needs of vulnerable households; likewise, the "Home Programme" dynamics could fulfil relevant objectives if it examines and adjusts its focus on rights.

Abstract The objective of the work is to analyze the situation of social well-being in the Southeast of Mexico during the period 2000-2020. The functional region considers the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatán. The hypothesis is that the trade liberalization implemented by neoliberal governments in the context of asymmetric economic development expanded territorial inequalities and reduced levels of social well-being in this region. To do this, we use the Average Index Value (VIM) methodology with which we build an index at the municipal scale. The results obtained show that a high percentage of the municipalities that make up each of the entities present lags in their social well-being conditions that place them below the national average. The originality lies in analyzing the conditions of social well-being in the region with a multivariate methodology, supported by representative indicators at the territorial level. The main conclusion is that, to reverse this deteriorating situation, an economic policy must be deployed aimed at impleme nting high-impact projects in the region through public and private investments, which allow the improvement of income and employment among the population, in addition of a redistributive social policy aimed at reversing the high levels of poverty and inequality.

Resumen El objetivo del trabajo es analizar la situación del bienestar social en el sureste de México durante el periodo 2000-2020. La región funcional considera los estados de Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco y Yucatán. La hipótesis es que la apertura comercial implementada por los gobiernos neoliberales, en el contexto de un desarrollo económico asimétrico, amplió las desigualdades territoriales y redujo los niveles de bienestar social en esta región. Para ello empleamos la metodología de Valor Índice Medio (VIM) con la que construimos un índice a escala municipal. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que un alto porcentaje de los municipios que conforman a cada una de las entidades, presentan rezagos en sus condiciones de bienestar social que las ubica por debajo del promedio nacional. La originalidad radica en analizar las condiciones de bienestar social en la región con una metodología multivariada, sustentada en indicadores representativos a nivel territorial. La conclusión principal es que, para revertir esta situación de deterioro, se debe desplegar una política económica orientada a implementar proyectos de alto impacto en la región a través de inversiones públicas y privadas, que permitan el mejoramiento del ingreso y empleo entre la población, además de una política social redistributiva encaminada a revertir los altos niveles de pobreza y desigualdad.

Abstract Neoliberal reforms arising from Spain’s entrance into the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) have had major consequences for academic practice and unleashed heated debate in the university community and society. This article explores the main transformations and basis of the political-economic model of public universities in Spain. It focuses on two dimensions of the institutional framework that have had a significant impact on teaching and research practice in universities: the strategic focus of research policy and labor regulations and employment conditions. To address both dimensions, the analysis centers on the implications each has for the reproduction of a specific discipline, social anthropology, in the context of the University of Seville. The article describes some of the main factors conditioning and limiting these two dimensions, in particular how business logic and neocolonialism are driving new research policy and how a combination of neoliberal organization of labor, meritocracy and clientelist networks are impact hiring practices and intensifying labor precarization.

Resumo: Este artigo analisa as discussões sobre o modelo alemão de aprendizagem dupla durante o diálogo social tripartite realizadona Costa Rica entre 27 de fevereiro e 1º de setembro de 2017. Essa arena de diálogo, moderada pela Organização Internacional do Trabalho, contou com a participação de representantes de empresas, sindicatos e do governo. A análise se concentra nas representações sociais e nas referências intersubjetivas especificamente desenvolvidas por atores estatais e paraestatais sobre as características e os potenciais do modelo alemão de aprendizagem dupla para resolver determinados problemas sociais na Costa Rica. Para isso, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com representantes do Estado que participaram do diálogo, bem como com representantes paraestatais que estiveram envolvidos nas discussões sobre o tema. Como resultado, uma das principais constatações é que, na dinâmica da cooperação política, o modelo alemão de aprendizagem dual é tratado como um produto de “exportação/importação” capaz de resolver problemas como o desemprego juvenil e a pobreza entre os jovens. A referência ao modelo alemão de melhores práticas e à Alemanha como tal é usada para limitar a participação adequada dos atores e a compreensão dos problemas sociais.

Resumen: Este artículo analiza las discusiones sobre el modelo alemán de aprendizaje dual durante el diálogo social tripartito celebrado en Costa Rica entre el 27 de febrero y el 1 de setiembre de 2017. A este escenario de diálogo, moderado por la Organización Internacional del Trabajo, asistieron representantes de empresas, sindi- catos y el gobierno. El análisis se centra en las representaciones sociales y referencias intersubjetivas elaboradas específicamente por actores estatales y paraestatales sobre las características y potencialidades del modelo alemán de aprendizaje dual para resolver determinados problemas sociales en Costa Rica. Para ello, se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a representantes estatales que participaron en el diálogo, así como a representantes paraestatales que intervinieron en las discusiones sobre el tema. Como resultado, uno de los principales hallazgos es que, dentro de la dinámica de cooperación política, el modelo alemán de aprendizaje dual es tratado como un producto de “exportación/importación” capaz de resolver problemas como el desempleo juvenil y la pobreza entre los jóvenes. La referencia al modelo alemán de buenas prácticas y a Alemania como tal se utiliza para limitar la adecuada participación de los actores y la comprensión de los problemas sociales.

Abstract: This article analyzes the discussions on the German dual apprenticeship model during the tripartite social dialogue held in Costa Rica between February 27 and September 1, 2017. This dialogue arena, moderated by the International Labour Organization, was attended by representatives of companies, trade unions, and the government. The analysis focuses on the social representations and intersubjective references specifically developed by state and parastatal actors on the characteristics and potentials of the German dual apprenticeship model to solve certain social problems in Costa Rica. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted with state representatives who participated in the dialogue, as well as with parastatal representatives who were involved in the discussions on the topic. As a result, one of the main findings is that within the dynamics of political cooperation, the German dual apprenticeship model is treated as an “export/import” product capable of solving problems such as youth unemployment and poverty among young people. The reference to the German best practice model and to Germany as such is used to limit the adequate participation of actors and the understanding of social problems.

Resumen Introducción: La informalidad laboral y la formalización del empleo han sido ya ampliamente discutidas. Sin embargo, el problema sigue vigente en las agendas públicas y de gobierno tanto a nivel nacional como subnacional. Objetivo: El objetivo es evaluar el diseño de los instrumentos de política pública que ha implementado el gobierno estatal (2015-2021) para la formalización del empleo en Nuevo León. La población objetivo de los instrumentos son las Micro, Pequeñas y Medianas empresas (Mipymes) del estado de Nuevo León. Método y técnica: En una primera instancia, se llevó a cabo una investigación documental y de fuentes secundarias. Posteriormente, se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con funcionarios a cargo de los instrumentos de política pública para la formalización del empleo. Se entrevistó al Director de Apoyo y Fomento a Pequeñas y Medianas empresas del Gobierno del Estado de Nuevo León; al Coordinador del Centro de Atención a Pequeñas y Medianas empresas del Gobierno del Estado de Nuevo León; a la titular de la Comisión Estatal de Mejora Regulatoria del Estado de Nuevo León; al Coordinador de Promoción y Vinculación del Programa Impulsa Nuevo León de la Secretaría de Economía del Gobierno del Estado de Nuevo León; a la Directora de Planeación y Políticas Públicas del Gobierno del Estado de Nuevo León; y al Director de la Comisión de Desarrollo Económico del Consejo Nuevo León. Para sistematizar las opiniones de los entrevistados se utilizó el programa de computadora ATLAS.ti y en su análisis se crearon las categorías que se presentan en la Tabla 2. Finalmente, se contrastó la ideología de los actores involucrados con tres preceptos clave del neoliberalismo que se identificaron. Resultados: 1. El Gobierno de Nuevo León no cuenta con información sobre el número de empleos que generan las empresas que reciben los apoyos. 2. La planeación de los instrumentos de política pública se lleva a cabo, principalmente, por el sector privado. 3. Las cámaras empresariales de las Pequeñas y Medianas empresas (Pymes) son las que se encuentran principalmente involucradas. 4. Los apoyos se otorgan a partir de que las empresas acuden al gobierno a solicitarlos y no hay investigación y desarrollo. 5. Los apoyos se concentran principalmente en las Mipymes formales, pero no se cuenta con un padrón actualizado. 6. El seguimiento y monitoreo se realiza en la medida que las empresas continúan asistiendo a las oficinas del gobierno de Nuevo León. Conclusiones: Se concluye que se requiere rediseñar los instrumentos de política pública bajo el liderazgo del gobierno estatal y vincular, concretamente, a la población objetivo de los programas con las formas de intervención estatal.

Abstract Introduction: Labor informality and the formalization of employment have already been widely discussed. However, the problem remains on the public and government agendas at both the national and subnational levels. Objective: The objective is to assess the design of the public policy instruments that the government of Nuevo León has implemented (2015-2021) for the formalization of employment. The target population of the instruments are the Micro, Small and Medium enterprises of the state of Nuevo León. Method and technique: Firstly, a documentary research in secondary sources was carried out. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with officials in charge of the public policy instruments for the formalization of employment. The people interviewed were: the Director of Support and Development for Small and Medium Enterprises of the Government of the State of Nuevo León; the Coordinator of the Service Center for Small and Medium Enterprises of the Government of the State of Nuevo León; the head of the State Commission for Regulatory Improvement of the Government of the State of Nuevo León; the Coordinator for the Promotion of the Impulsa Nuevo León Program; the Director of Planning and Public Policies of the Government of the State of Nuevo León; and the Director of the Economic Development Commission of the Nuevo León Council. To systematize the opinions of the interviewees, the ATLAS.ti computer program was used and the categories created are presented in Table 2. Finally, the ideology of the actors involved was contrasted with three key precepts of neoliberalism that were identified. Results: 1. The Government of Nuevo León does not have information about the number of jobs generated by the companies that receive government financial support. 2. The planning of public policy instruments is carried out, mainly, by the private sector. 3. The business chambers of Small and Medium Enterprises are the ones that are mainly involved. 4. Financial support is granted after companies go to the government to request it and there is no research and development. 5. Financial support is mainly concentrated in the formal Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises, but there is no updated registry. 6. Monitoring is carried out as long as the companies continue to attend to the offices of the government of Nuevo León. Conclusions: It is concluded that it is necessary to redesign the public policy instruments under the leadership of the government of Nuevo León and to link, specifically, the target population of the programs with the forms of state intervention.

The history of the ora (with the symbol Φ) as a trade instrument is inextricably linked to the history of Orania, a village on the southern bank of the Orange River in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The closest town to Orania is Hopetown (43 kilometres to the northwest). Orania is about 160 kilometres south of Kimberley, the biggest city in the Northern Cape. Orania has a number of unique features. Firstly, all inhabitants are white and speak Afrikaans, with the implication that this is the language used for all activities (business, education, religion and social interaction). It is therefore viewed as a white Afrikaner cultural enclave. Secondly, the aim of Orania is self-determination as far as its future is concerned. In this context it has been described as a continuation of the Verwoerdian ideal of the 1960s. This aim is supported by "selfwerksaamheid" (loosely meaning "to work with our own for our own"), that is, a policy in terms of which preference is given to the employment of people from Orania. Thirdly, Orania has its own trade instrument, the ora, the symbol for which is Φ.2 The ora is described as a coupon used in settlement of cash transactions. Calling the ora currency would be a contravention of the South African Reserve Bank Act, 1989. The Orania Sakekamer [chamber of commerce] issues the ora. It is linked on a one-to-one basis to the South African rand, that is, at a rate of Φ 1,00 = R1,00. The inhabitants of Orania prefer to use ora when referring to amounts and this paper follows the same convention. Literature on Orania refers to the ora and its use in trade, but there is no research focusing on the development of the ora since it wasfirst launched in 2004. This paper seeks to contribute to filling this gap in the existing literature. The ora serves the needs of the inhabitants of Orania. A population census undertaken in Orania in December 2021 and early in 2022 reported the town'spopulation as 2 377 people, of whom 1 635 were 20 years and older. The same census also showed that Orania comprised 649 households and 220 businesses. Based on the 2021/22 census, the total personal annual income of the residents of Orania in 2021 was estimated at Φ295 672 222. Per capita personal annual income of the 2 377 inhabitants was therefore estimated at Φ124 389. Based on the same census data, the annual household income in Orania was estimated at Φ190 331179. The difference in estimates cannot be explained in terms of the 2021/2022 census data and was previously highlighted as an area for further research. These estimates show some correlation with the survey data obtained from the 2021 business survey conducted in Orania. Business turnover in 2021 was estimated at Φ281 950 000. More research is necessary to ascertain whether the increase in the value of ora issued correlates at all with the growth rate of economic activity in Orania. If this correlation can be determined, ora in circulation will be a useful indicator of the growth of economic activities in Orania. The growth rate of ora coupons cannot be compared with growth in economic activity because the latter has not previously been calculated on a comparable basis. Recently research was published that will contribute to a basis for determining future economic growth. This research shows that the ora contributes to "community building" (a sense that the residents are building their own future) in Orania and limits cash risks in the town. However, the ora also has certain disadvantages for residents of Orania. Holders of ora coupons and dOra must exchange them for rand in Orania for cash transactions outside the town. Any discount that businesses grant on ora transactions reduces their turnover and gross profit. The fact that ora coupons are not machine-readable increases the administration costs of the coupons. The final conclusion is that the ora is inextricably linked to Orania. The town can exist without the ora, but the ora cannot exist without Orania.

Hierdie artikel fokus op die geskiedenis van die ora (Φ3) sedert die eerste vrystelling daarvan 20 jaar gelede in 2004. Die ora is onlosmaaklik verweef met Orania, 'n Afrikaanse dorp in die Noord-Kaap. Die ora is op 'n een-tot-een-grondslag gekoppel aan die Suid-Afrikaanse rand. Die ora sirkuleer as 'n wettige betaalmiddel vir gebruik in kontanttransaksies in Orania. Die bestaan en sirkulasie van die ora is een van die unieke eienskappe van Orania. 'n Verdere unieke eienskap van Orania is die uitsluitlike gebruik van Afrikaans in die dorp. Alle bedrywighede (godsdiensbeoefening, kultuuraktiwiteite, onderrig en saketransak-sies) geskied uitsluitlik in Afrikaans. Voorts het Orania net wit inwoners. Die dorp word dus as 'n wit Afrikaner enklawe beskou. Daarbenewens is die oogmerk van Orania selfbeskikking wat die dorp se toekoms betref. Dit bring Orania in lyn met die voortsetting van die Verwoerdiaanse ideaal van afsonderlike ontwikkeling tot selfbeskikking. Hierdie ideaal word in Orania ondersteun deur "selfwerk-saamheid", met ander woorde 'n beleid dat voorkeur gegee word aan indiensneming van die inwoners van Orania. Die inwoners van Orania verkies om bedrae in ora te noem en nie in rand nie. Gevolglik word daardie praktyk in hierdie artikel gebruik. Gebaseer op die 2021/22-sensusopname in Orania, is totale persoonlike jaarlikse inkomste op Φ295 672 222 beraam. Per capita persoonlike jaarlikse inkomste vir die 2 377 inwoners is dus op Φ124 389 beraam. Hierteenoor is die jaarlikse inkomste van huishoudings in Orania in 2021 op Φ190 331 179 beraam. Hierdie verskil in ramings kan nie met behulp van die bestaande sensusopnamedata verklaar word nie en is tevore aangestip as 'n gebied vir verdere navorsing. Die 2021-besigheidsopname van Orania rapporteer data oor sake-ondernemings in die dorp. Op grond van hierdie opnamedata is die jaarlikse omset van sakeondernemings in Orania in 2021 op Φ281 950 000 beraam. Meer navorsing is nodig om te bepaal of die groei in ora-koepons wat uitgereik word, hoegenaamd korreleer met die groei in ekonomiese bedrywighede in Orania. Die groeikoers van ora-koepons kan nie met groei in ekonomiese bedrywighede vergelyk word nie omdat laasgenoemde nie voorheen op 'n vergelykbare basis bereken is nie. Onlangse navorsing is die eerste inisiatief om 'n basis te skep vir die bepaling van Orania se toekomstige ekonomiese groei. Indien hierdie korrelasie deur toekomstige navorsing bepaal kan word, sal dit 'n nuttige en maklike aanwyser van ekonomiese bedrywighede op die dorp wees. Die navorsing toon ook dat die ora tot gemeenskapsbewussyn bydra, byvoorbeeld omdat die inwoners bedrae in ora uitdruk, eerder as in rand. Die ora verminder ook kontantrisiko in Orania, omdat die ora nie buite die dorp gebruik kan word nie. Die ora het egter ook sekere nadele vir inwoners van Orania. Houers van ora-koepons en dOra moet dit in Orania vir rand inwissel vir kontanttransaksies buite die dorp. Enige afslag wat sake-ondernemings op ora-transaksies toestaan, verminder hul omset en bruto wins. Die feit dat ora-koepons nie masjienleesbaar is nie, verhoog die administrasiekoste van die koepons. Die ora en Orania is onlosmaaklik met mekaar verweef. Die dorp kan egter sonder die ora bestaan, terwyl die ora nie sonder Orania kan bestaan nie.

The number of people on Earth and human activities are currently taking on frightening proportions with far-reaching consequences for our planet, its biodiversity and ultimately the human race itself. Ten thousand years ago, humans represented 1% of the total biomass of all land vertebrates. The rest was made up by wild animals. Currently, humans, livestock and pets make up 99% of terrestrial vertebrate biomass, while wild animals represent only 1%. It took millennia for the human population to reach the 1 billion mark and that only by 1890. By 1960, however, the world population had grown to 3 billion. Today there are 8 billion people living on our planet. According to Population Matters, the world population will be approximately 10,4 billion by the end of this century, despite the gradual decline in the growth rate in some countries. There is only a 23% chance that the total population growth rate will tail off before 2100. The population of the 47 least developed countries is likely to triple between 2017 and 2100 to around 3 billion. There are currently 62 million people in South Africa. About 67,9% of our population (in 2021) live in urban areas. The South African population grew by 0,87% in 2023. The fertility rate is 2,30 (2023). It is estimated that by 2050 75,5 million people will be living in South Africa, with 8 out of every 10 people living in urban areas, which would significantly increase the pressure on infrastructure. The Global Footprint Network states that humans currently use the resources of 1,75 Earths. If the situation does not improve, by 2050 we would need the equivalent of three Earths to survive. More than 4 billion people will have little or no water by 2050, and South Africa even now has been classified as a "water-stressed" country. Medical science is continually contributing to more babies surviving their entry into the world and to our living increasingly longer. Life expectancy has risen from 46 years in 1950 to 73,2 years in 2023. By 2050 it will be 77 years. What can be done? Empowerment of women is important. Population growth can be curbed to a reasonable extent by giving more girls access to education. This certainly does not mean that girls or women alone should be held responsible for the current population growth, but much more will have to be done about sex education, women's rights will have to be actively promoted and there will have to be better provision and use of contraceptives. Obviously, these issues should be approached and handled with due caution. In this regard, countries such as Thailand and South Korea have, in the recent past, proved that good education may result in lower birth rates. In Africa, women with no education have an average of 5,4 children; women who completed high school an average of 2,7 children and women with tertiary education an average of 2.2. In Nigeria, every year of school attendance by girls cuts the birth rate by a tenth. In addition, intensified efforts to reform economies and societies should be considered. For the sake of the survival of the human species and the sustainability of the Earth, ecological and economic justice and the empowerment ofwomen have to be encouraged. The Millennium Project - a global participatory think tank that was founded in 1996 under the auspices of the American Council for the United Nations University, but which became independent in 2009 and has since grown into a global network of institutions and individuals - aims to improve humankind's prospects for a better future. It recommends, among other things, the following: • Support a policy aimed at improving the survival of children, responsible family planning and educational opportunities for (especially) girls. • Improve methods that will ensure skills and employment opportunities for young people, as well as care and services for the elderly. • Implement the UN's urban agenda. • Create enough smart cities where citizens with urban intelligence can help in eco-smart ways with the necessary improvements in the city. • Increase training in resilience, and improve disaster prediction and management. • Provide guidance for people about urban ecology. • Intensify research and development in saltwater agriculture (halophytes or salt plants) on coastlines to produce food for humans and animals, biofuel and pulp for the paper industry, and to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). This will ease the pressure on freshwater agriculture. • Improve agricultural and irrigation management. • Invest in precision agriculture and aquaculture. • Reduce food losses from the "farm to the mouth" (one third or 1,3 billion tons of agricultural production is wasted in this way every year). • Establish seaweed to restore wild fish populations along coastlines. The World Bank estimates that 90% of marine life is completely depleted. • Expand the production of insects for animal feed and human diets (insects have a low environmental impact, and 2 billion people already supplement their diet with insects today). • Encourage vegetarianism. Although there are more ways to address these important global challenges, responsible family planning remains one of the most important. This is an extremely sensitive issue for many people (especially in Africa), but if it is not promoted in a humane, informed and responsible way, the sustainability of life on our planet will increasingly come under tremendous pressure in various respects.

Die aantal mense op aarde en hulle/ons aktiwiteite neem tans skrikwekkende afmetings aan met wydlopende gevolge vir ons planeet, biodiversiteit en uiteindelik onsself. Die moderne mens het sy teenwoordigheid op die aarde en die benutting van hulpbronne baie lank as sy onaantasbare reg gesien. Die huidige uitwerking van byvoorbeeld bevolkingsgroei en besoedeling versteur die aarde se natuurlike ritme in so 'n mate dat ons nou nie meer op 'n kitsoplossing kan hoop nie. Die mens se getalle neem teen so 'n tempo toe dat dit nie net nadelig vir die planeet is nie, maar ook vir die mensdom self. Wat kan gedoen word? Bemagtiging van vroue speel 'n belangrike rol. Dit beteken beslis nie dat meisies en vroue alleen vir die huidige bevolkingsgroei verantwoordelik gehou moet word nie. Die bevolkingsgroei kan egter in 'n redelike mate vertraag word deur veral meer meisies toegang tot onderwys en opleiding te gee - asook hul lewensomstandighede te verbeter. Ook sal daar heelwat meer aan seksopvoeding gedoen moet word, vroueregte sal daadwerklik bevorder moet word en daar sal beter voorsiening en gebruik van voorbehoedmiddels moet wees. Uiteraard moet hierdie kwessies met die nodige omsigtigheid benader en hanteer word. In hierdie verband kan onder andere Thailand en Suid-Korea genoem word wat in die onlangse verlede bewys het dat goeie onderwys geboortesyfers laat daal. In Afrika het vroue wat geen onderwys ontvang nie, gemiddeld 5,4 kinders; vroue wat hoërskool voltooi het gemiddeld 2,7 kinders en vroue wat tersiêre studie deurloop het, gemiddeld 2,2 kinders. In Nigerië sny elke jaar wat meisies skool bywoon, die geboortesyfer met 'n tiende. Hiermee saam sal daar ook verskerpte pogings moet wees om ekonomieë en samelewings te hervorm. Ter wille van die mens se voortbestaan en die volhoubaarheid van lewe op aarde moet ekologiese en ekonomiese geregtigheid, en die bemagtiging van vroue aangemoedig word.

Abstract This article examines, from a gender perspective, the potential impacts on the labor market of the semiconductor industry in Mexico induced by its relocation policy, given the global semiconductor supply crisis. It considers the current gender gaps in employment between women and men by economic sector, as well as the regional disparities between the demand for specialized labor in the manufacturing industry and the educational supply. To achieve this, the current trends in personnel employed in semiconductor-related economic sectors are contrasted with enrollment and graduation rates in specialized fields of study among women and men, as well as among different regions of the country. It is observed that, although the policy aims to improve the semiconductor industry, create jobs, and promote economic growth, it has the potential to reinforce gender and regional disparities. Therefore, the need to consider these inequalities in the design and evaluation of Mexico's industrial policy is emphasized.

Resumen Este artículo examina desde la perspectiva de género y el desarrollo regional los posibles impactos en el mercado laboral de la industria de semiconductores en México inducidos por la política de relocalización de la misma, dada la crisis global de suministro de semiconductores. Considera las actuales brechas educativas y laborales entre mujeres y hombres, así como las disparidades regionales entre la demanda de trabajo especializado en la industria manufacturera y la oferta educativa. Para ello, se contrastan las tendencias actuales en el personal empleado en los sectores económicos orientados a los semiconductores con la matrícula y titulación en campos de formación especializados entre mujeres y hombres, así como entre las regiones del país. Se observa que, aunque la política busca mejorar la industria de semiconductores, crear empleos y promover el crecimiento económico, tiene el potencial de reforzar las disparidades de género y entre regiones. Por lo tanto, se enfatiza la necesidad de considerar estas desigualdades en el diseño y evaluación de la política industrial de México.

BACKGROUND. Trends data up to 2018 suggest that tobacco smoking was increasing in South Africa (SA), but only limited information is available on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the current pattern of use of tobacco and nicotine products (TNPs). OBJECTIVES. To assess trends in sociodemographic patterns in the use of TNPs and the extent to which sociodemographic factors and non-cigarette tobacco use may explain possible changes in rates of TNP use between 2017/18 and 2021. METHODS. Data from three waves (2017, 2018 and 2021) of the South African Social Attitudes Survey (total N=8 140) were analysed. The sociodemographic correlates of current daily and non-daily use of factory-manufactured cigarettes (FMCs), roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes, waterpipe/hubbly, electronic cigarettes (ECigs), snuff (a smokeless tobacco) and any combination of FMCs, RYO cigarettes and waterpipe/hubbly ('current smoking') in 2017/18 (pre-pandemic) were compared with those for 2021 (during the pandemic). Chi-square analyses and generalised linear models were used to compare the prevalence of TNP use between the two periods. A Blinda-Oaxaca decomposition analysis was also used to explore the roles of various sociodemographic factors, including any differences in the use of TNPs, that may explain any observed differences in smoking rates between 2017/18 and 2021. RESULTS. Current smoking increased significantly from 22.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 20.4 - 24.5) in 2017/18 to 27.6% (95% CI 24.3 - 31.1) in 2021 (p=0.009). Smoking of FMCs did not change significantly overall between these two periods (20.1% v. 22.1%; p=0.240), except for a significant increase among those who self-identified as black African and a decrease among those who self-identified as coloured and those currently employed. However, the use of waterpipe/hubbly, ECigs, RYO cigarettes and snuff increased significantly. Women, individuals aged <35 years and black Africans had the largest increase in waterpipe/hubbly and ECig use. A decomposition analysis showed that increased waterpipe/hubbly and RYO use explained 52% and 15%, respectively, of the increase in smoking rates, while lower employment during 2021 compared with 2017/18 explained 15% of the increase in smoking rates during 2021. CONCLUSION. The use of all TNPs continued to increase in SA, particularly among women and unemployed people. These findings have policy and practice implications for addressing socioeconomic disparities in tobacco-related diseases.

RESUMEN En este artículo, se lleva a cabo un análisis de los factores que obstaculizan la efectiva y eficiente administración de los recursos del Estado, y se realiza una propuesta de un nuevo paradigma para la gestión pública. Múltiples obstáculos impiden alcanzar el bienestar de la ciudadanía con atención a su diversidad; eliminarlos; y redefinir la gestión pública con un cambio de prioridades de las políticas públicas que permitirá alcanzar crecimiento con inclusión. El vector de inclusión requiere inversiones importantes en capital humano -educación, salud y tecnología- para elevar el bienestar y la calidad de vida, y en infraestructura física, para alcanzar mayor productividad y absorción del progreso tecnológico. Las prioridades son: empleo registrado (formal) y productivo, reforma del sector salud, educación e inversiones con criterio de integración social. Estas prioridades son comprendidas por siete lecciones de la política macroeconómica que pueden adaptarse a la nueva gestión pública.

ABSTRACT This article conducts an analysis of the factors hindering the effective and efficient administration of state resources and proposes a new paradigm for public management. Multiple obstacles prevent achieving the well-being of the diverse citizenry, necessitating their elimination and a redefinition of public management with a shift in policy priorities to promote inclusive growth. The inclusion vector requires significant investments in human capital, including education, health, and technology, to enhance well-being and quality of life, as well as in physical infrastructure to boost productivity and absorb technological progress. Priorities include formal and productive employment, healthcare sector reform, education, and socially integrated investments. Seven lessons from macroeconomic policy are outlined as applicable to the new public management.

Resumo Este artigo discute o RBI como política que promove a reciprocidade na sociedade, olhando para os dados disponíveis sobre experiências sociais de transferências monetárias, em particular experiências de rendimento mínimo garantido e de rendimento básico. Os resultados destas experiências mostram que com a atribuição do rendimento incondicional os indivíduos não deixam de investir o seu tempo num emprego mas antes diversificam as suas atividades, investindo no cuidado prestado a familiares ou em atividades na comunidade. As experiências indicam também que, contrariamente a propostas de rendimento mínimo condicional (ex. rendimento social de inserção), o rendimento básico promove a redução do estigma social. Estes resultados permitem-nos expandir a nossa ideia de contribuição produtiva para além do emprego, e discutir o papel do RBI como um mecanismo que, ao invés de violar a norma de reciprocidade, funciona como política essencial para a sua promoção numa sociedade mais justa.

Abstract This article explores the idea that a UBI might be a superior mechanism in promoting reciprocity in society, looking at available data from social experiments with cash transfers. The results of these experiments show that when people receive an unconditional grant, they don’t usually stop working. Instead, they tend to diversify their time-use, opting to invest in caring for family members or in community activities. Experiences also shows that unlike conditional cash transfers, basic income is less stigmatizing to beneficiaries. These results and their interpretation allow us to expand our idea of productive contribution beyond paid employment. It also allows us to discuss the role of basic income as an essential policy for promoting reciprocity in a fairer society, instead of a mechanism that violates the norm of reciprocity.

This article deals with the nature of social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) and economic impact analysis (ECIA) of road projects and describes the coherence of and distinctions between the two types of analysis. In the final part of the article, the reasons are given for not including in an SCBA the economic impacts of a road as determined through an ECIA, regardless of how positive they may be. The SCBA of a road project is a systematic procedure to determine the economic viability of the road project by considering the costs and benefits that accrue when the road is constructed and during the service period of the project. The cost component in the SCBA of a road project is the once-off investment or capital cost of taking the road into service or improving it. The benefit component in the SCBA of a road is the difference between recurring costs associated with an improved road and without the road improvement. Recurring costs of a road include (a) road user costs, (b) external costs arising from road use and (c) maintenance costs to protect and preserve the usefulness of the road. The beneficiaries in an SCBA are the road users. The following road user groups can be distinguished: (i) Normal traffic (consisting of existing, normal-growth and non-induced development traffic; (ii) diverted traffic; and (iii) induced traffic (consisting of generated, induced development, and transferred traffic.) To assess the efficiency of resource allocation, an SCBA is based on the consideration of social cost. From the perspective of allocative efficiency, as determined by an SCBA, a road project is regarded as economically viable when the current value of the reduction in recurring costs associated with the road during its service life exceeds the current value of the once-off investment cost of taking the road into service. Road provision and use have economic impacts. Unlike an SCBA, which focuses on the efficiency with which a road project increases accessibility for and the mobility of road users, a regional economic impact analysis (ECIA) focuses on the effectiveness of a project to affect the performance of the economy of a region by enhancing time and place utilities creation by non-road-users. Consequently, an analysis of the effect construction, operation and use of a road will have on regional economic performance should focus on their expected income multiplier and accelerator effects on the number and size of activities in the economy of a region. The following non-road-user groups can be distinguished: (a) The public, (b) landowners, occupants and land users, (c) roadside enterprises, (d) utility enterprises and (e) goods consignors and consignees (in their capacity as non-road-users). An ECIA is based on a consideration of market prices. In an ECIA the following objectives serve as criteria for judging the impact of a road project on the performance of the economy: • Economic growth (including economic development) • Full employment • Price stability • Balance of payments stability • Equitable distribution of income These impacts, regardless of how positive they may be, are not included in an SCBA for the following reasons: • A comprehensive economic assessment consists of two components that are performed in tandem, namely an SCBA and an ECIA. An SCBA relies on allocative efficiency as assessment criterion, while an ECIA relies on output effectiveness as assessment criterion. The inclusion of effectiveness criteria among efficiency criteria in an SCBA will result in a misrepresentation of project viability. • Double counting of benefits will occur when road user cost savings and economic impacts are combined. • Not all the economic benefits obtained through coordinated investment in various sectors, one of which may be a road, can be ascribed to the investment in the road alone. The reason for conducting an ECIA of a road project is to determine to what measure the analysed road is expected to affect the performance of the economy of the region concerned. Although the results of an ECIA do not form part of the outcome of an SCBA, an ECIA can be used as an instrument in the pursuit of the economic policy objectives of a government.

Die hoofdoel van die sosialekoste-voordeel-ontleding (SKVO) van 'n pad is om die inligting oor die koste en voordele te verskaf wat nodig is om die lewensvatbaarheid, al dan nie, van die voorsiening en gebruik van die pad te beraam. Die kostekomponent in die SKVO is die eenmalige investeringskoste om die pad tot stand te bring, en die voordeelkomponent is die daling van die herhalende koste wat uit die gebruik en instandhouding van die pad sal spruit. Die hoofdoel van die ekonomiese-impakontleding (EKIO) van 'n pad behels dat die verwagte gevolge van die voorsiening en gebruik van die pad op die ekonomiese vertoning van 'n bepaalde streek geïdentifiseer en bereken word. Dié ontleding berus hoofsaaklik op die volgende: (a) die beraming van die verwagte eenmalige streeksinkome-vermenigvuldigereffek wat uit die investeringsbesteding aan die pad sal spruit, en (b) die beraming van die herhalende streeksinkome-versnellereffek wat uit die gebruik en instandhouding van die pad sal spruit. Die ekonomiese uitwerking van 'n padprojek word nie by 'n SKVO ingereken nie. Die rede hiervoor is drievoudig: Eerstens berus 'n SKVO op toewysingsdoelmatigheid as beoordelingsnorm, en 'n EKIO op doeltreffendheid as beoordelingsnorm. Die kombinering van doeltreffendheidsnorme en doelmatigheidsnorme sal tot 'n wanvertolking van 'n projek se ekonomiese lewensvatbaarheid lei. Tweedens sal voordele dubbeld getel word indien padgebruikerskostebesparings en ekonomiese impakte saamgevoeg word. Derdens kan ekonomiese voordele wat verkry word deur gekoördineerde investering in verskeie sektore, waarvan een 'n pad is, nie alles aan investering in die pad toegeskryf word nie.

ABSTRACT This paper offers a quantitative explanation of the employment dynamics in the technology-based sectors and companies (tbs) of the network of Central-Northeast cities of Mexico (T-MEC network). The research questions are: Where, how much, in what tbs, and why did employment change in the T-MEC network, in its nodes, and its micro spaces, between 2015 and 2020? The method was the Spatial Shift-Share Analysis. It explains the performance of tbs employment as a multi-scale space-sector system. Medium cities are more efficient in producing tbs jobs than cities with higher populations and tbs employment, which shows the economic strength. The network depends on the Electronic Sector and manufacture of vehicular equipment. If the sector fails, the network collapses. The paper reveals which region, city and municipality offers greater/less competitive advantages, to what type of companies by sector and activity. It suggests some policy lines to leverage the network.

RESUMEN Explicamos cuantitativamente la dinámica del empleo en sectores y empresas de base tecnológica (SBT) de la Red de ciudades Centro-Noreste de México. Las preguntas de investigación son: ¿dónde, cuánto, en qué SBT y por qué cambió el empleo en la Red, sus nodos y sus microespacios, entre 2015 y 2020? El método fue el análisis de cambio y participación espacial. Exponemos el desempeño del empleo SBT como un sistema espacio-sectorial multiescalar. Las ciudades medias son más eficientes en la producción de empleos SBT que ciudades con mayor población y empleo SBT, lo que demuestra su fortaleza económica. La Red depende del sector electrónico y fabricación de equipo vehicular. Si el sector cae, la Red se desmorona. Develamos qué región, ciudad y municipio ofrece mayores/menores ventajas competitivas, a qué tipo de empresas por sector y actividad. Sugerimos algunas líneas de política para apalancar la Red.