Textile and tourism sectors are two important industries in the Portuguese economy. However, its high exposure to both internal and international economic volatility make the companies operating in these economic sectors particularly vulnerable to economic crises, such as the ones which have been impacting Portugal and the European Union. The objective of this paper is to evaluate and understand the impact of size and age on the financial health of textile and tourism companies, measured by economic indices. An empirical based model is proposed. Its implications are derived and tested on a sample of 4061 Portuguese companies from textile and tourism sectors, during the period 2005-2009. The findings suggest that age has a major impact on the risk of failure, rather than size. Whereas the effect of age is generally positive regarding the financial health of the company, the effect of size is less clear and ultimately depends on the age of the company.
As the amount of debt has gradually increased, particularly in recent years, Portugal is currently one of the European countries exhibiting one of the highest levels of overall indebtedness, including in both sovereign and private sectors. Indeed, this condition is the outcome of increasing levels of debt assumed not only by the government, but also by companies and families, being the later mostly due to mortgage loans and due charges. This paper focuses on the study of borrowing by Portuguese households. The research has been made in respect to the notion of debt, the consequences of recent developments in debt, among other factors. In order to analyse the factors that are most associated with debt, a study was developed using two multiple regression models, one using a longer time series and another shorter, evaluating the effect of several variables, such as consumption, savings, unemployment, inflation and interest rates, in order to check whether they could be associated with a higher level of debt. ; Compete;FCT
Textile and tourism sectors are two important industries in the Portuguese economy. However, its high exposure to both internal and international economic volatility make the companies operating in these economic sectors particularly vulnerable to economic crises, such as the ones which have been impacting Portugal and the European Union. The objective of this paper is to evaluate and understand the impact of size and age on the financial health of textile and tourism companies, measured by economic indices. An empirical based model is proposed. Its implications are derived and tested on a sample of 4061 Portuguese companies from textile and tourism sectors, during the period 2005-2009. The findings suggest that age has a major impact on the risk of failure, rather than size. Whereas the effect of age is generally positive regarding the financial health of the company, the effect of size is less clear and ultimately depends on the age of the company.
Public debt has diverse effects on GDP varying from country to country and resulting from a number of different factors. This project is dedicated to research the effects of various macroeconomic indicators on GDP, with an emphasis on debt related predictors, using a multiple linear regression model. Findings of this research confirm the hypothesis that country determinants influence the efficiency of public borrowing and its effect on GDP. Surprisingly, no relation between debt crisis, level of government debt and its effect on GDP could be found. On the contrary, private borrowing showed a positive effect on the economy in every country where it resulted statistically significant. Interesting results were achieved concerning the openness of the economy and foreign direct investment. They were unequal, whereas initially supposed to be mostly positive.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.em.17.3.2108
Intensive global competition, higher customer expectations and greater focus on quality have resulted in much greater requirements placed upon employees today than decades ago. The challenge has been to internalize a new type of organizational behavior in order to operate successfully under unfamiliar conditions. Professors have to choose the best skills developing methods for students. This paper introduces students' skills development methods' evaluation. Authors look for those evaluation's differences in two older European Union countries Spain and Portugal, one of the newest European Union country's Lithuania, candidate to European Union, situated in Europe and Asia – Turkey, and then Iran – the Middle East. The empirical research is based on theoretical background and presets investigation of student's skills, developing factors and differences according to students' nationality.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.em.17.3.2142
The influences of personality traits and business barriers on entrepreneurial behaviour have been studied by numerous researchers. However, the mechanisms by which changes in institutional contexts and personality traits affect individuals' entrepreneurial motivation have not received enough attention from researchers. This paper aims to fill this gap in the literature by examining the joint effects of personality traits and business barriers on one's motivation to engage in entrepreneurial activity. A structured questionnaire was developed to capture the above linkages. To measure the latent variables, factor and reliability analyses were utilised. To examine the relationships, a regression analysis was performed on a unique dataset of respondents from three counties: Czechia, Hungary, and Serbia. The results show that personality traits positively influence motivation towards entrepreneurship. Furthermore, external barriers (ecological and technological issues), and infrastructure factors positively affect entrepreneurial motivation. From an academic viewpoint, personality traits and motivation to engage in entrepreneurial activity can be nourished by education, highlighting the role of universities in this regard. Our paper's findings should trigger the interest of policymakers who aim to introduce new instruments or change the existing ones (designing policies) to boost entrepreneurship.
As the amount of debt has gradually increased, particularly in recent years, Portugal is currently one of the European countries exhibiting one of the highest levels of overall indebtedness, including in both sovereign and private sectors. Indeed, this condition is the outcome of increasing levels of debt assumed not only by the government, but also by companies and families, being the later mostly due to mortgage loans and due charges. This paper focuses on the study of borrowing by Portuguese households. The research has been made in respect to the notion of debt, the consequences of recent developments in debt, among other factors. In order to analyze the factors that are most associated with debt, a study was developed using two multiple regression models, one using a longer time series and another shorter, evaluating the effect of several variables, such as consumption, savings, unemployment, inflation and interest rates, in order to check whether they could be associated with a higher level of debt. ; This work is funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors - COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the project with the reference PEst-C/CJP/UI4058/2011 ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
The main objective of this paper is to examine the effects of the Trade Pillar of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union (AACUE) on the Panamanian exports to the European Union (UE) by the means of Static Shift-Share versus Dynamic Shift-Share analyses. To achieve this objective, both Static and dynamic Shift-Share analysis methodology was applied to recent data on Panama-European Union trade allowing to compare the results obtained from the two analysis models, therefore contributing to a better understanding of the evolution of the exports from Panama to European Union countries, under the AACUE. In terms of static versus dynamic Shift-Share analyses it is possible to observe that the results obtained in each analysis were approximate, apart some exceptions. However, dynamic analysis eliminates errors presented by the static analysis. Thus, the results of the dynamic analysis can be considered more comprehensive and robust. Overall, according to the dynamic Shift Share analysis employed, it is observed that Panama's exports to the European Union were affected by decreases to countries such as: Germany, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Italy, Poland and Sweden. Concurrently, decreases on the exports of the following products were recorded as well: other fresh and frozen vegetables, fresh fruits. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Textile and tourism sectors are two important industries in the Portuguese economy. However, its high exposure to both internal and international economic volatility make the companies operating in these economic sectors particularly vulnerable to economic crises, such as the ones which have been impacting Portugal and the European Union. The objective of this paper is to evaluate and understand the impact of size and age on the financial health of textile and tourism companies, measured by economic indices. An empirical based model is proposed. Its implications are derived and tested on a sample of 4061 Portuguese companies from textile and tourism sectors, during the period 2005-2009. The findings suggest that age has a major impact on the risk of failure, rather than size. Whereas the effect of age is generally positive regarding the financial health of the company, the effect of size is less clear and ultimately depends on the age of the company. DOI:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3p471
Dinoponera lucida é uma formiga endêmica da Mata Atlântica e desde 2003 está na lista de espécies ameaçadas de extinção. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi relatar a ocorrência desta formiga em uma área sob ação antrópica no Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brasil, fora da sua área de distribuição geográfica conhecida Cinquenta exemplares dessa formiga foram coletadas em uma área próxima a cidade de Ponto dos Volantes e levadas para o laboratório de Controle Biológico de Insetos em Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil, colocadas com álcool a 70% e enviadas ao Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo, Brasil, para identificação. Mapas foram elaborados para ilustrar a distância do ponto de coleta dos exemplares de D. lucida a sua distribuição geográfica e o levantamento da vegetação predominante do município de Ponto dos Volantes. Este é o primeiro relato de D. lucida no nordeste de Minas Gerais, Brasil. A maioria dos indivíduos de D. lucida estava morta ou quebrada, mas as possíveis causas como a destruição de seu habitat ou competição não foram determinadas. A presença desta formiga fora de sua área endêmica inicial indica a possível presença de populações isoladas de D. lucida.
Palavras-chave: Adaptação. Formiga. Mata Atlântica. Fragmentação. Insetos.
Abstract
Dinoponera lucida is an endemic ant to the Atlantic Forest and since 2003 has been on the list of endangered species. The objective of this research was to report the occurrence of this ant in area under anthropic action in the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, outside its known geographic distribution area. Fifty ants were collected and taken to the Biological Control Laboratory of Insects in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, placed in70% alcohol and sent to the Federal Institute of Espirito Santo, Brazil to be identified. Maps were elaborated to illustrate the distance from the collection point of the D. lucida specimens to their geographic distribution and the survey of the predominant vegetation of the municipality of Ponto dos Volantes. This is the first report of D. lucida in the north of Minas Gerais State, Brazil.Most individuals of D. lucida were dead or broken, but possible causes such as the destruction of their habitat or competition were not determined. The presence of this ant outside its original endemic area indicates the possible presence of isolated populations of D. lucida.
Keyword: Adaptation. Ant. Atlantic Forest. Fragmentation. Insects.
This research aims to characterize the evolution of the trade relations between Panama and the European Union, specifically analysing Panama exports to the European Union market. To achieve this objective, the Shift-Share analysis methodology was applied to the most recent data on Panama-European Union trade available in the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat), comprehending the period between 2011 and 2016. Based on the analysis conducted, it was possible to observe that exports from Panama to the European Union experienced a slight average annual growth of 9.23%; and also that the main destination countries, which represent 96.48% of exports, were: Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Spain, France, Grace, Holland, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom and Sweden. Furthermore, the products which represent 95.19% of Panama exports were: other vegetables, fresh or frozen, fresh fruit; beverages; stimulants and spices; perishable foodstuffs; animal feeding stuffs and foodstuff waste; oil seeds and oleaginous fruit and fats; other machinery apparatus and appliances; leather, textiles and clothing; other manufactured articles and miscellaneous articles. A decrease in the exports of the following products was captured: oilseeds and oil fats, transport equipment, miscellaneous items and other products. According to the static Shift-Share analysis made, exports from Panama to the European Union were mostly affected by decreases in exports to countries such as Belgium, Spain, Greece, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, due to regional effects. Other decreased have been found in other EU countries as well. Conversely, Panama's exports to Cyprus, Denmark and the Netherlands registered growth mainly due to the regional component (growth of exports from Panama to that country); France recorded growth due to the effects of the structural component (growth in products exported by Panama); Germany and the United Kingdom recorded growth due to the effects of the national component (growth of exports to the EU). Besides the evidence shown and discusse, this research can be regarded as a significant contribution to the existing statistics on exports from Panama to the European Union and can be more broadly used as a tool to delineate corporate or national strategies to boost trade between two regions. ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Plumeria rubra L. é uma árvore rústica e pequena, com 4-8 metros de altura com folhas verdes grossas e suaves hastes, flores escuras e grandes que exalam uma fragrância agradável, similar aos de Jasminun sp. (Lamiales: Oleaceae). Esta planta é nativa da América Central, mas também foi introduzida na maioria das regiões tropicais e subtropicais do mundo em jardins, ruas e é usado para preparar colares e na medicina. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar um Lepidoptera desfolhador de P. rubra na Universidade Federal de Viçosa, em Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Este inseto foi identificado como Pseudosphinx tetrio (Linnaeus, 1771) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Suas lagartas têm corpo negro com anéis amarelos, cobertos com cerdas torácicas e falsas pernas abdominais laranjas. O seu comprimento pode atingir 6 cm, possui um processo em forma de espinho preto e característica na parte de trás do oitavo tergo. Adultos são grandes e cinzas com listras transversais pretas e envergadura de 12.7 a 14,0 cm. As fêmeas, geralmente, maiores que os machos e de cor mais clara. Pseudosphinx tetrio devem ser incluídos em programas de monitoramento de pragas P. rubra.Palavras-chave: Apocynaceae. Herbívoro. Lepidoptera. Inseto UrbanoAbstractPlumeria rubra L. is a rustic and small tree with 4-8 meters high with thick and smooth stems, dark green leaves and large flowers exuding a pleasant fragrance, similar to those of Jasminun sp. (Lamiales: Oleaceae). This plant is native to Central America but it was also introduced to most tropical and subtropical regions of the world in gardens, streets and used to prepare necklaces and in Medicine. The objective of this study was to identify a Lepidoptera defoliator of P. rubra at the Federal University of Viçosa in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This insect was identified as Pseudosphinx tetrio (Linnaeus, 1771) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Its caterpillars have black body with yellow rings, covered with bristles thoracic, and abdominal prolegs are orange . Its length can reach 6 cm and it has a black and characteristic spiniform process on the back of the eighth tergo. Adult are large and gray with black transverse stripes and wingspan from12.7 to 14.0 cm. Females are usually larger than males and lighter in color. Pseudosphinx tetrio should be included in monitoring programs of P. rubra pests.Keywords: Apocynaceae. Herbivore. Lepidoptera. Urban Insect.
O manejo integrado de pragas prioriza o uso de táticas de controle, que reduzam o impacto ambiental causado pelo uso maciço e incorreto de produtos químicos sintéticos. A preservação e liberação de inimigos naturais, nos campos agrícolas, e a descoberta de novas moléculas com efeito inseticida extraídas de espécies vegetais têm obtido bons resultados no controle de pragas. Porém, o efeito do uso conjunto dessas táticas de controle é pouco explorado. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de óleos botânicos sobre os estágios imaturos de Trichogramma pretiosum em laboratório. Ovos de A. kuehniella colados em cartelas de papel foram expostos a fêmeas, previamente individualizadas, em tubos de vidro durante 24h. Decorrido esse período, os ovos supostamente parasitados foram mergulhados em soluções de óleo essenciais (Allium sativum, Mentha piperita e Syzygium aromarticum), inseticida lambda-cialotrina (testemunha positiva) e etanol (testemunha negativa) durante 5 segundos, secos à sombra por trinta minutos e colocados em tubos de vidro. Os tubos foram mantidos em câmara climatizada a 25 ± 2°C, 70 ± 10% de UR e fotoperíodo de 12 h. Os óleos essenciais de A. sativum, M. piperita and S. aromarticum e o inseticida lambda-cialotrina foram levemente tóxicos (classe 2) a pupas de T. pretiosum. A razão sexual não foi afeta por nenhum composto classificando-os como inócuo (classe 1). Os óleos e o inseticida testado podem ser utilizados em associação com T. pretiosum, desde que os protocolos de seletividade ecológica sejam respeitados.Palavras-chave: Produtos naturais, parasitóide de ovos, seletividade.AbstractIntegrated pest management prioritizes the use of control tactics that reduce the environmental impact caused by the massive and incorrect use of synthetic chemicals. The preservation and release of natural enemies in agricultural fields and the discovery of new molecules with insecticidal effect extracted from plant species, have obtained good results in pest control. However, the effect to the use in joint of these control tactics is little explored. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of botanical oils on the immature stages of Trichogramma pretiosum in the laboratory. Eggs of Anticarsia kuehniella glued on paper plates were exposed to previously individualized females in glass tubes for 24 hours. After this period, the supposedly parasitized eggs were immersed in essential oil solutions (Allium sativum, Mentha piperita and Syzygium aromarticum), lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide (positive control) and ethanol (negative control) for 5 seconds, dried in the shade for 30 minutes and placed in glass tubes. The tubes were kept in an air-conditioned chamber at 25 ± 2°C, 70 ± 10% HR and 12-h photoperiod. The essential oils of A. sativum, M. piperita and S. aromarticum and lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide were slightly toxic (class 2) to T. pretiosum pupae. The sex ratio was not affected by any compound by classifying them as innocuous (class 1). The oils and insecticide tested can be used in association with T. pretiosum, since the ecological selectivity protocols are respected.Keywords: Natural products, egg parasitoid, selectivity.
