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"Peter Stehman resurrects the details of a sinister World War I hate crime perpetrated on American soil against a German immigrant. During a time when America had been whipped into an intolerant patriotic frenzy by government propaganda and hate mongering, this story illuminates a dark past that still bleeds into today"--

Questionnaire with information about James Leonard Wheeler's service in World War I, 1917-1919, unsigned but probably completed by Wheeler or the committee sometime between 1922 and 1925. ; Questionnaire originally part of a survey of Norwich University alumni conducted by a "Norwich in the World War" committee consisting of Charles N. Barber (chairman), Carl V. Woodbury, K.R.B. Flint, and Gustaf A. Nelson. Data from these questionnaires may have been used in a chapter of "Vermont in the world war, 1917-1919" by Harold P. Sheldon (1928). Transcription by Carina Berg. Transcriptions may be subject to error.

ABSTRACTThis study applies 'old' and 'new' second‐generation panel unit root tests to check the validity of the long‐run real interest rate parity (RIP) hypothesis for ten Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) with respect to the Euro area and an average of the CEECs' real interest rates. When the 'new' panel unit root tests are carried out relative to the Euro area rate as reference, we confirm the results of previous studies that support the RIP hypothesis, and the results of the 'old' tests used as a benchmark. Nevertheless, when the 'new' tests are performed using the average of the CEECs' rate as reference, our results are mitigated, revealing that the hypothesis of CEECs' interest rates convergence cannot be taken for granted. From a robustness analysis perspective, our findings indicate that the RIP hypothesis for CEECs should be considered with caution, because the RIP hypothesis is sensitive to the retained reference rate for computing the real interest rate differential, and also to the retained countries in the sample.

The factors that make a society sustainable, or vulnerable to collapse, can rarely be discerned within a human lifetime. Sustainability challenges develop over periods of decades, generations, or centuries. Sustainability must therefore be a historical science. A major challenge of the IHOPE program is how to draw valid comparisons among different kinds of societies, existing at different times, that can clarify our contemporary problems of sustainability. This paper develops and illustrates a theory for understanding sustainability and collapse that has cross-cultural applicability. Illustrating the theory by the collapse of the Western Roman Empire yields new insights into what it means to be a sustainable society. Comparison to the Maya reveals that, despite many differences, the Roman Empire and Maya polities underwent similar patterns of cultural evolution, and developed similar vulnerabilities. Comparison of both historical cases to the sustainability challenges of today demonstrates that contemporary industrial societies face evolutionary processes similar to those experienced by the Romans and the Maya. This analysis yields several points that are worthwhile for policy makers to understand. [collapse, complexity, energy, Maya, Roman Empire, sustainability]

Major reforms and public sector efforts in recent years have focused on improving conditions for increased private sector financing. However, and despite numerous financial institutions operating in the market, financial services penetration remains low. While much progress has been made, challenges remain in terms of affordability and ease of access to finance. Banks are a major source of funding to the private sector and small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in particular, with highly standardized credit products. Other Financial Institutions (OFIs) face a number of growth and market development challenges to effectively serve the lower end of the SME segment, including funding difficulties and institutional capacity. The government plays a critical role through the development banks in promoting credit to SMEs through guarantees and second tier finance programs. The legal framework for immovable collateral (real estate) is affected by high origination costs and lengthy enforcement procedures. The legal framework for movable collateral (equipment, inventory, accounts receivables, and cash) has been modernized. Challenges remain to unify the legal framework and address enforcement delays.