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The Global Sanctions Data Base—Release 4: The Heterogeneous Effects of the Sanctions on Russia
No full textThis paper introduces the fourth release of the Global Sanctions Data Base (GSDB‐R4). Covering the period 1950–2023, it contains 1547 sanctions cases, including the recent ones against Russia. The GSDB‐R4 comes in two versions, a case‐specific and a dyadic version, both freely available upon request. To highlight one of the new features of the GSDB‐R4, we combine it with trade data until 2023 to study the effects of the sanctions on Russia's trade within an econometric gravity model. We find that, on average, the effects on trade between Russia and the sanctioning countries are negative and statistically significant, but relatively small. We also find that the effects are very heterogeneous across senders, including the EU members. Finally, our estimates identify the presence of a reduction in the direct bilateral trade costs in Russia's bilateral trade with India, China and Turkey, even after controlling for all possible general equilibrium effects. The implication is that such trade cost decreases may offset the effects of Western sanctions and even lead to net benefits for Russia
Construction Cost Estimation Across Continents
Full text linkThis master's thesis analyses the differences between rough cost estimates for construction projects in Africa and Europe or North America. To this end, expert interviews were conducted and analysed. In addition, a cost estimate was carried out in Botswana as part of a use case project.
The first chapter serves as a brief introduction to the topic of cost estimation and the use case project is presented shortly.
The second chapter gives basic knowledge about Botswana in terms of the environment, economy and politics. This is necessary to understand the environment of the use case project. There will also be a basic part about construction projects such as the structure, project phases and potential challenges. Because uncertainties play major role in construction projects, this chapter also provides some risk management approaches, which illustrate how do deal with uncertainties. In the end of chapter two three different cost estimation approaches are analysed. One of them will be used for the use case project.
The third chapter deals with the methodology. In order to gain a practical insight into the cost estimation process within construction projects, expert interviews were conducted and analysed. An important aspect was to highlight potential differences from the personal experience of the experts. The largest differences were found in the following categories: Risk Management, Resource Availability, Infrastructure, Regulatory Framework and Planning Strategies. Therefore, each category was analysed and evaluated to determine where the major differences in cost estimation lie within the continents.
The fourth chapter contains a rough cost estimation for a use case project in Botswana using the knowledge gained in the previous chapters. Firstly, the project is presented before going into detail about how the risk management of this project should be handled. Therefore, the potential risks are identified before some possible responses to these risks are given. Recommendations on how to deal with some risks in the future are also part of this chapter. This is done because not all risks can be included in the rough cost estimation, and they still need to be considered. The result of the rough estimation is then presented and evaluated.
The last and fifth chapter concludes this thesis. It evaluates the key findings on the cost estimation differences between the continents and draws a conclusion of the rough estimation on the use case project
Assessing the Environmental Impact of IoT Devices - Hotspots and Guidelines for a Better Understanding
No full textThis article presents a methodological framework for LCA studies of IoT solutions that captures the particularities of these devices and provides a complete picture of their environmental footprint. To this end, we start with a semi-structured literature review on LCA studies of IoT solutions, focusing on smart buildings and urban applications. Nine studies were analyzed and compared according to their system boundaries, environmental impact areas, and identified hotspots. Furthermore, we identify research gaps and challenges in conducting LCA studies and derive a framework for LCA studies of IoT solutions
Umsetzung von ESG-Sorgfaltspflichten im internationalen Konzern – Teil II: Implementierungsmaßnahmen
No full textNachdem im 1. Teil des Beitrags Anwendung, Reichweite und Umsetzung von ESG-Sorgfaltspflichten im internationalen Konzernverbund dargestellt wurden, widmet sich der nachfolgende 2. Teil des Beitrags den Implementierungsmaßnahmen der bestehenden Aufgaben und Pflichten
Feminist Entrepreneurship: A Qualitative Analysis of Value Alignment and Motivational Factors
No full textThis study explores the concept of feminist entrepreneurship through a qualitative content analysis of ten semi-structured interviews, investigating the influence of feminist values on the creation of ventures and the practices employed in business. The research addresses critical gaps in extant entrepreneurial research by examining the motivations and strategies of feminist entrepreneurs. The findings of this study demonstrate that feminist entrepreneurship is inherently intersectional, thereby transcending conventional profit-driven models. These entrepreneurs integrate values such as equal rights, diversity, and social change into their business strategies, viewing their ventures as platforms for socio-economic transformation. In contrast to conventional entrepreneurship, these ventures prioritize ethical goals and societal impact, positioning feminist entrepreneurship as a distinct subset of social entrepreneurship. The study underscores that these entrepreneurs are driven by aspirations beyond financial autonomy, seeking to cultivate flexible, appreciative work environments and culture and contribute to social justice. Despite challenges in a male-dominated corporate landscape, they demonstrate the potential for business to drive meaningful social change. This research offers a nuanced perspective on entrepreneurship, integrating social responsibility and personal fulfillment, thereby establishing a foundation for future investigations into feminist entrepreneurial practices. ©2025 IEE
Variation diminution and intervals of sign regular matrices
No full textA sign regular matrix is a matrix having the property that its non-zero minors of all orders have, for each order, an identical sign. Such matrices arise in a wide range of applications. In this paper, intervals of real matrices with respect to the usual entry-wise partial ordering are considered. Using variation diminution, it is shown that all matrices in such an interval are sign-regular with the same signature of their minors if a specified finite set of element matrices in the interval has this property
Leveraging Business-IT Collaboration
No full textThe IT Business Partner (ITBP) role is increasingly adopted to bridge the gap between business and IT and foster strategic alignment. Even though organizations still struggle with implementing an effective collaboration between business and IT, the design of this role and the challenges it faces remain underexplored. This study is the first scientific paper to examine the ITBP. Through a case study and expert interviews, it derives eleven key tasks, with relationship management and advice at its core, and 14 required skills for effectiveness. It identifies challenges of the ITBP role, such as organizational integration, skill gaps and a lack of strategic focus. This study contributes to the field by offering a comprehensive understanding of the ITBP's design and role for business IT alignment. It provides organizations with guidance on the implementation and skill development of the ITBP role. Future research should validate findings and further explore the role's effectiveness
CoKLIMAx: Integrating Copernicus and Local Climate Data for Human-Centred Urban Climate Resilience
No full textThis paper presents findings from the CoKLIMAx project, which investigates integrating environmental data from multiple sources —including Copernicus satellite observations, municipal geospatial systems, and citizen-contributed sensor streams—into adaptive urban planning frameworks. Using the City of Constance as a case study, the project examines how digitally mediated infrastructures can enhance municipal climate resilience when designed according to people-centred and participatory principles. Beyond technological enablement, the research emphasises structural and organisational constraints that inhibit implementation, such as institutional path dependencies, fragmented data governance, and the socio-political framing of climate information. Through the development of the AMCDS-Toolbox and the application of the PALM-4U urban climate model, CoKLIMAx offers a modular, transferable approach to support cross-sectoral, evidence-based decision-making in urban climate adaptation. The study concludes with insights for scaling and institutional embedding such systems in diverse municipal contexts
