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Abstract Purpose The study aims to evaluate: (1) How university students from interior architecture can create a forward-looking "Sensory Living" brief informed by both external autism experts and a specialist tutor, evidenced through Leeds City Council's live autism adult accommodation project. (2) Issues involved with moving an experimental studio teaching model online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach A grounded theory approach informs an innovative teaching model, run over two years, to create a better normal; challenges and opportunities are critiqued. Findings Feedback from experienced autism-specific experts raises recurring sensory and communication issues which frame a series of design problems to help inform the student briefs. Students learn that the designer as advocate for vulnerable users is imperative. Aspects of online teaching that can benefit an experimental studio teaching model are identified. Practical implications Identification of the responsive "Sensory Living Model" illustrates (1) How local authorities can avoid seclusion and integrate meaningful "continuous learning opportunities" into autism-friendly adult accommodation for post-pandemic health and wellbeing. (2) How to embed autism-friendly design in the university curriculum. Social implications The study helps address some of the UK Government's "National strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026". Originality/value "Ten Novel Sensory Living Themes" are uncovered to help inform the design of autism-friendly adult accommodation. These are of value to (1) local authorities and design practitioners in formulating design briefs and (2) universities in educating future designers of inclusive spaces.

AbstractAttempts to diversify the commodity composition of developing countries' exports are a familiar response to the problem of export instability. Important arguments have tended to be discussed, however, in relative isolation. This paper combines arguments about instability and comparative advantage with basic welfare analytics to examine whether diversification generates 'desirable' outcomes. It is argued that there are important differences between 'small' and 'large' exporters, and that reducing the degree of export instability is not in itself sufficient to justify diversification. These conclusions contrast with the customary acceptance of diversification as an unqualified part of development policy.

Develops a time-series model which is then applied to data for a sample of developing countries. Suggests that export instability does affect both capital goods imports and, to a lesser extent, domestic investment. (Abstract amended)

Over the past decade several authors have argued that the traditional emphasis on the role of demand factors in determining the export performance of developing countries is largely misplaced and that supply rather than demand factors play the dominant role. The purpose of this article is to examine the relative importance of the determinants of export performance.

Commodity diversification has been widely adopted by developing countries as a policy measure to tackle the problem of export instability. Arguments about diversification have emphasized the role of external demand conditions & the need to export manufactures. The importance of random supply factors in determining earnings from primary products has been overlooked as a potential source of greater stability. A model of commodity earnings is developed that distinguishes between market-related & producer-specific components of instability. Application to the export structures of 28 primary exporters suggests that this approach represents a useful guide to policymakers. 1 Table. HA.

On the basis of the Markowitz model of portfolio analysis, a model is proposed for the impact of diversification of trade on fluctuations in the export earnings of developing countries. It is found that diversification does not invariably reduce or eliminate export fluctuations, & may involve a cost in terms of lost export earnings. 1 Figure, 30 Equations. Modified HA.