Preferential tariffs and development of Norwegian rose import from Africa
Purpose Imports of cut roses increased after Norway implemented a preferential tariff scheme for the Least Developed Countries in 2002. When the scheme was extended to more countries in 2008 – among them Kenya – imports exploded. This article studies the subsequent changes in supply channels, import costs and the way Norwegian firms imported. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data, obtained through interviews among five rose importers, are combined with quantitative data for all importing firms and transactions in Norway for years 2003–2014. These data are analysed in light of recent economic theories on international trade. Findings When Kenya was included in the scheme, imports from Europe and domestic production in Norway decreased substantially. Imports from some African countries with low income levels also declined. Importing under GSP involves high fixed import costs due to stringent procedures. Each firm’s imports increased gradually, and over time learning may have facilitated importing. Direct trade with African producers and control over the logistics chain seem to have become more important. Research limitations/implications The analysis build mainly on data for Norwegian importers, not for African exporters. Managerial or Policy implications Simplifying the GSP procedures could increase Norwegian imports from developing countries and induce establishment of new trade relationships, perhaps also for other products than roses. Originality/value Using a mixture of original qualitative data as well as unique, detailed and comprehensive quantitative data, the article provides new insights into how a developed country’s preferential tariff reductions towards developing countries affect trade and buyer-supplier relationships.
Hvilken liberal orden?
Vesten må også gå i seg selv for å finne løsninger på den ilberale ordens krise.
Hvordan påvirker pandemien den liberale orden?
Koronakrisen vil føre til at dagens verdensorden går en usikker fremtid i møte.
The Impact of Covid-19 on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
• Women appear to be disproportionately affected by Covid-19 • Pushback on global commitment to gender equality • Gender equality and human development are correlated: focussing on gender equality will have a catalytic effect on the SDGs • The increasing strain on peace operations is likely to have a negative effect on the WPS agenda.
Handelen med medisinske varer og Covid-19
Koronaepidemien har synliggjort sårbarhet for medisiner og medisinsk utstyr. Skaper globalisering større eller mindre sårbarhet? - Flertallet av verdens land importerer sin medisin, og bare 18 land er netto eksportører. - Eksporten er dominert av Vest-Europa, med Kina og India et stykke ned på listen. - Globalisering har ført til spredning av risiko for medisinske varer med flere leverandørland og mindre konsentrasjon av eksporten. En hovedgrunn er økt eksport fra små land i Europa. - På mer detaljert varenivå er bildet mer blandet, med økt konsentrasjon i en del tilfeller. - Eksportrestriksjoner bidrar til markedskollaps og økte priser, som særlig rammer fattige land som importerer alt de trenger. - For Norge er europeisk samarbeid viktig for medisinsk beredskap.
Preventing Organized Crime. The Need for a Context-Sensitive, System-Wide Approach.
Recent years have seen important developments regarding the UN Security Council and the UN Secretariat. The Security Council, which has increasingly recognized organized crime as a serious threat to international peace and security—especially in relation to terrorism—has begun using sanctions to deal with organized crime and trafficking in Mali and Libya. Further, serious and organized crime (SOC) police units have been established in several UN field operations, including in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mali. However, there is still no UN-wide policy on organized crime, and the issue has been conspicuously absent from recent strategic documents such as the Action for Peacekeeping Declaration (A4P). This report argues that there is need for a UN system-wide approach to peace operations for preventing and addressing organized crime, and its links to terrorism. To achieve this, UN member states and the UN Secretariat should seek to consolidate and broaden its nascent law enforcement capacity- building police approach into a context sensitive, system-wide approach. Six specific recommendations for the way forward are offered.
Covid-19 og globalisering: Et fattigdomsperspektiv på turisme og inntektsoverføring fra migranter
• Reduserte inntektsoverføringer og fall i turisme vil ha effekter for de norske hovedsamarbeidslandene. • Effektene er store og vil trolig vare en tid (flere år). • Bortfall av turisme kan i disse landene ramme 9 millioner direkte, og 23 millioner i et bredere perspektiv. • Fall i inntektsoverføringer kan ha store negative effekter, og er spesielt viktig for Nepal, Ghana, Myanmar og Uganda. • Økonomiske tiltak i OECD-landene er innrettet slik at de kompenserer arbeidsfolk og små bedrifter for tap som følge av nedstenging av aktivitetene de lever av. Et lignende prinsipp kan legges til grunn for kortsiktig bistand for å avverge at flere faller under fattigdomsgrensen.