Experiential knowledge EK) is a source of knowledge that has the potential to provide valuable input into various forms of resource and environmental planning and management. The application of EK is currently inconsistent and research is needed to improve its use. The goal of this study was to examine the possibility of using EK to complement and augment the use of science in resource and environmental planning and management in north-eastern British Columbia. Personal semi-structured interviews, content analysis, and the Delphi technique were used to uncover attitudes towards the use of EK. This study surveyed attitudes of government, industry, local holders of EK, and First Nations representatives in north-eastern British Columbia. Attitudes towards the use of EK are mixed. Most interviewees were supportive of the idea of EK being utilised； however, there was some reservation towards its use when exploring means for its integration into resource and environmental planning and management. Interviewees believed that multiple holders and types of EK are available in north-eastern British Columbia, that EK produces information of similar quality to science, and that it is capable of providing added value to planning and management efforts. However, several interviewees questioned the validity of EK, stating that it is affected by bias, that the credibility of holders of EK needs to be assessed, and that at least occasional verification of EK is required. Challenges arise in applying EK to resource and environmental planning and management due to unclear and inconsistent methods and processes for its utilisation. Moreover, strained relationships and mistrust between planning and management decision-makers and local sources of EK results in hesitations to share EK. The results of this study suggest that any increase in the use of EK in resource and environmental planning and management in north-eastern British Columbia requires efforts to rebuild relationships between the users and the providers of EK； furthermore, the processes by which EK is incorporated into resource and environmental planning and management need to be evaluated, clarified, and consistently applied.
Archive for January, 2012:
The use of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) for air navigation purposes: Benefits, vulnerabilities of the systems and legal issues
The existing air navigation services have many shortcomings and a reform was necessary. The new systems (CNS/ATM systems) will be largely dependent on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) which can bring significant benefits to air navigation in terms of safety, efficiency, capacity, and economy. However, GNSS have weaknesses which can be reduced but will never be fully eliminated. Depending solely on a system that can be disrupted is not acceptable for safety of life applications, such as aviation. The implementation of GNSS also raises unique legal issues and ICAO has been working on the establishment of a legal framework for GNSS since 1992. Nevertheless, disagreement between states on the need for an international convention remains significant. Legal discussions should not slow down the implementation of GNSS which, when used in conjunction with terrestrial navigation aids, have the potential to revolutionize air navigation.
Les facteurs determinants de l’extension du role des filiales implantees dans un PED: Application au cas de la Tunisie (French text)
Recent researches in the field of international business have revealed the existence of a number of lacunae in the understanding of the function of subsidiaries in developing countries. This is particularly suggestive of the ways they operate in such countries, the ways they build capacities in a relatively underdeveloped market, and the ways their correspondent Head Quarters value their strategic responsibilities’ evolution. The present thesis explores the key determinants that contribute to the evolution of the role assigned to eight western subsidiaries in Tunisia. It is mainly for this reason that we have followed the multiple case studies’ approach throughout this study. Since researches on western implantation in the developing countries have largely focused on the conditions of the foreign direct investment (FDI), it is to be stressed, very little has been written on the reality of the functioning and the dynamics of the development of western subsidiaries. The data analysis permit us to maintain that the subsidiaries’ growth trajectory takes the form of a two-phase sequence that is consecutive in time: In a first phase, the subsidiaries begin by acquiring new competences which allow them to integrate more value added activities. The subsidiaries that succeeded in attaining the second phase are increasingly intervening in the strategic decisions related to their growth and this, far beyond a purely operational role. These subsidiaries have succeeded in enlarging their regional responsibilities within the multinational. However, it is to be noted that no subsidiary has yet succeeded in reaching a global extension of their strategic role. Moreover, in all the subsidiaries explored in our study, the evolution of responsibilities is never initiated by the head quarters. It is, rather, dictated by the local environment (i.e., exogenous determinants) and negotiated by the subsidiary itself (i.e., endogenous determinants).
Interest rate modelling: The market models approach
The market models are the recent most popular approach for interest rate modelling. This thesis presents two market models: the LIBOR market model and swap rate market model. A comprehensive review of the LIBOR market model is provided. We are interested in the calibration and implementation of the LIBOR market model. We provide a thorough analysis on the appropriateness of the LIBOR market model, the optimal specification and calibration of the model. Numerical experiments are taken for the calibration. We implement the model by means of Monte Carlo simulation of the forward rate dynamics and then examine the performance of the calibration. Our study have shown that the calibration is effective, accurate and optimistic. It is believed that the technique we develop and use in this study will prove to be useful in practice.
Air carrier liability: Unfinished unification of private international air law
On 31 November 2003 the 1999 Montreal Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air entered into force. Its purpose was to consolidate and modernize the Warsaw system and to reunify the provisions of several international instruments of private international air law under one legal instrument. The Montreal Convention consolidates the positive elements of the Warsaw Convention, the Hague Protocol, the Guadalajara Convention, the Guatemala City Protocol and Additional Protocol Numbers 3 and 4. It also simplifies and modernizes the requirements of documentation relating to the carriage by air of passengers, baggage and cargo. Most importantly, the Montreal Convention modernizes of the liability regime for death and injury to passengers by adopting the passenger liability regime in the IATA Inter-carrier Agreement. It also modernizes the liability regime for damage to baggage and cargo and the delay. In spite of the foregoing, the Montreal Convention fails to advance the unification of private international air law any further than the Warsaw Convention. This thesis analyzes the provisions of liability regimes under the Warsaw System and the 1999 Montreal Convention. Chapter one studies the liability regime established under the original Warsaw Convention and the subsequent attempts by states, air carriers and other interested entities to update it. Chapter two analyzes the new regime of unlimited liability established by the 1999 Montreal Convention. Chapter three examines the liability of the air carrier for damage caused by terrorist activities. In an effort to demonstrate the innovative elements of the new Convention and to encourage states to ratify it, chapter four surveys the main benefits that have accrued to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its national air carrier upon ratification of the 1999 Montreal Convention.
Global governance and the Kimberley Process: The case of conflict diamonds and Sierra Leone
The doctoral thesis, Global Governance and the Kimberley Process: The Case of Conflict Diamonds and Sierra Leone, assesses the ongoing global governance efforts on conflict diamonds and the attendant prospects for improving human security in Sierra Leone. The thesis contends that the Kimberley Process is a promising example of an emerging form of global governance, as it seeks to impose strict verification and trade controls on diamonds through the collaboration of not only state actors, but also non-state actors such as diamond firms and industry associations as well as non-governmental organisations NGOs). Since 2000, this diverse set of actors has accomplished much in the way of regulating the global diamond industry and eradicating the trade of conflict diamonds. First, the thesis analyses how new forms of global governance comprised of networks of mixed-actor coalitions and partnerships of state and non-state actors at the global, regional, national, and local levels become a means to promote human security and influence international and national policy-making processes despite numerous obstacles. While still important in this era of emerging global governance, states and international organisations are no longer the sole players but rather are joined by various non-state actors in diverse forms of mixed-actor coalitions. Second, the thesis highlights the porosity of international borders in the context of insurgency and criminal activity. Illicit diamond mining may take place away from the scrutiny of government mines monitors, and even legally-mined diamonds may be smuggled across state borders with relative ease. Thus, the mineral is an attractive medium of exchange for insurgency movements as well as transnational and local crime networks. The research reveals that despite recent advances in regulation, diamond revenues have not resulted in envisioned human security gains in most African countries, including Sierra Leone. Illicit diamond mining and diamond smuggling contribute to regional instability, deter foreign investment, and divert funds that would otherwise be added to government revenues.
Balancing freedom of the press and the right to privacy: Lessons for China
The conflict inherent in balancing freedom of the press and the right to privacy invariably presents some controversial legal issues. In addressing the legal dilemmas posed by these competing interests, an in-depth analysis of the conceptual value of these two equally important rights becomes a preliminary starting point. Through its exploration of the history and development of the press and privacy laws in both the United States and Canada, this thesis examines the fundamental values enshrined in these two rights. The author holds that the freedom of the press contains no privilege under the law, but that it serves as the means to promote the public’s right to know in a democratic society, while the right to privacy offers an individual the autonomy to regulate his private affairs. By analyzing arguments of “pubic interest,” “public figure,” and “public privacy,” the author compares the theoretical approaches to and practical attempts at striking a balance between the interests of the press and the privacy of the individual in the United States and Canada. Finally, the essay proposes how these experiences may contribute to the construction of relevant Chinese laws.
Access to postsecondary education: A comparative study of British Columbia and Ontario
The purpose of this study was to better understand government policies concerning access to postsecondary education in Ontario and British Columbia. The five questions guiding this study are: 1) What are the key postsecondary education access policies? 2) How does the policy environment influence postsecondary education policies? 3) What policy trends are associated with the government priorities or seat expansion, affordability and research and development? 4) What is the relationship between governments postsecondary funding policies and the economic environment? and 5) How do policies affect provincial postsecondary funding, enrollment, participation, tuition fees, and investment in research and development? The study provides a policy narrative of key postsecondary education access policies and analyses the key forces affecting these policies in the two provinces. The three key postsecondary education access policy areas include increasing capacity through seat and institutional expansion； enhancing affordability of postsecondary education to students through tuition fee regulation and student financial assistance； and expanding research and development. Policies in the two provinces have tended to be similar. Key factors that have affected policies include the historical development of postsecondary education, the socio-cultural values and expectations of the population； policy discussions among dominant stakeholders； the political ideology of the government party； and federal-provincial relations. This study also compares the policy trends and postsecondary education outcomes in both provinces for each of the above three policy areas. Major policy trends in capacity expansion include faster seat growth in the college sector than in the university sector； growing emphasis on meeting economic and labour demands, evolution of hybrid public institutions offering new applied degree programs, and emergence of private degree granting institutions. Key factors contributing to these policy trends include the belief that economic prosperity is linked with postsecondary education, severe limitations on public spending for postsecondary education especially during difficult economic times, and the historical binary structure of postsecondary education that contributed to shaping the emerging postsecondary landscape. There is apparently no consistent relationship between postsecondary funding trends and the economic environment in either province. As well, there are significant differences in funding trends between Ontario and BC. The study concludes with recommendations for policy makers and for future researchers.
Household behaviour models of smallholder agricultural producers in Zimbabwe: A risk programming approach
This thesis uses stochastic optimization models to examine the behaviour and risk attitudes for smallholder producers in Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study were to investigate: 1) whether leisure should be modelled explicitly in household models； 2) risk preferences for a sample of smallholder producers； 3) whether results of partial sector household models are improved by increasing numbers of sectors modelled； 4) whether results of household models are improved by increasing numbers of risk parameters modelled； and 5) the potential for using household models in policy analysis. A Utility Efficient risk programming model was used to study household behaviour. The study uses household-farm level data for a sample of 199 households in Chivi District. Results of investigations into whether leisure should be modelled explicitly in household models showed that leisure appeared to be relatively constant throughout the year. Results suggested that leisure need not be modelled explicitly. Results of risk preference estimation showed that, apart from indeterminate cases, all wealth groups generally displayed high levels of risk aversion when compared to previous literature. Since previous studies were largely based on developed country studies, high values obtained in this study seemed plausible given the low incomes in the study area. The issue of whether partial sector household models are improved by increasing the number of sectors modelled was investigated by comparing results for double and trisector models. Inconclusive results could be attributed to tradeoffs regarding complexities in modelling an extra sector i.e., woodlands) versus the added completeness of incorporating this sector. The issue of whether results of household models were improved by increasing the number of risk parameters modelled was investigated by comparing results for single and sector specific risk parameter models. There was little difference in results by wealth group suggesting that household behaviour could be adequately modelled using a univariate utility function. Results showed that such models may be successfully applied to model a policy situation. The model correctly predicted that an increase in cash would be directed towards increasing dryland agricultural activities and that cash amounts would have to be increased significantly to impact household livelihoods.
Modelling multivariate risk: Applications to term structure and derivative pricing
Chapter one introduces a multivariate process of stochastic positive semidefinite matrices, called the Wishart autoregressive WAR) process, and considers it as a dynamic model for stochastic volatility matrices. The process is a multivariate extension of the Cox-lngersoll-Ross process and has a number of attractive features: it is an affine process, provides closed-form formulas for nonlinear forecasting at any horizon, is invariant with respect to portfolio aggregation, can be formulated in discrete time or in continuous time. The Wishart process also admits factor representations, which lead to a reduction in the number of parameters. For illustration, the process is estimated from a sequence of intraday realized volatility-covolatility matrices. Chapter two extends to the multiasset framework the closed-form solution for options with stochastic volatility derived by Heston 1993). The multivariate extension introduces a risk premium in the return equation and considers a Wishart process for the dynamics of the stochastic volatility matrix. The multivariate model is an affine model with the special property that the Laplace transform moment generating function) of the joint process of asset returns and volatility admits a closed-form solution. This solution is the basis for pricing derivatives written on more than one asset. The approach is used to extend Mertons model Merton 1974)) for corporate default to a framework with stochastic liability, stochastic volatility and several firms. Chapter three reveals that the class of affine term structure models introduced by Duffie and Kan 1996) is larger than previously considered in the literature. Wishart quadratic term structure models are defined based on a Wishart process of fundamental risk factors. In this framework, we derive very simple parameter restrictions to ensure positive bond yields at all maturities and observe that the usual constraint that the volatility matrix of an affine process be diagonal up to a path independent linear invertible transformation can be considerably relaxed. The Wishart Quadratic term structure model is an extension of the univariate Cox-Ingersoll-Ross model and of the quadratic models introduced in the literature. Abstract shortened by UMI.)