1,707 research outputs found
Alternative Paths toward a Low Carbon World
No full textThis paper analyzes the economic and investment implications of a series of climate mitigation scenarios, characterized by different levels of ambition in terms of long term stabilization goals and the transition to attain them. In particular, the implications of fairly ambitious scenarios are investigated for the first time by means of the model WITCH. Although milder climate objectives can be achieved at moderate costs, our results show that stringent stabilization paths, compatible with the target of the European Union and the G8, might have important economic repercussions. The timing of mitigation action influences the cost of meeting a target as well the stringency of the targets we can aspire to. To contain costs it is crucial to rely on a wide mitigation portfolio. Strong reductions in energy consumption through enhanced energy efficiency and life style changes are needed to achieve stringent climate policies. The analysis carried out in the present paper contains several idealistic assumptions that could be violated in the real world where some technologies may not be fully available, technology transfers and diffusion are imperfect, some world regions may not accept to reduce their GHG emissions, trading might be limited to some sectors or to a fraction of the total abatement effort, etc. This would increase the challenge of climate protection and the costs of reducing GHG emissions.Climate Policy, Stabilization Costs
Climate Policy after 2012
No full textDiscussion over post-2012 climate policy is now entering a crucial phase. Despite the potential great risks of prolonged global warming, the success of an international climate stabilization agreement hinges to a great extent on its economic feasibility. This article makes precise the assumptions that underpin current mainstream estimates of the costs of controlling climate change and provides quantitative estimates of cost differentials under different scenarios. In particular, the article analyses the role of three utmost factors in the economic cost of a climate treaty: energy technology development; the participation rate of developing countries; and the timing of global action. We show that all three factors have a major impact on policy macroeconomic costs. Addressing them effectively is therefore indispensable in ensuring the feasibility of any international agreement to control global warming. Therefore, we propose a series of policy recommendations that can help addressing the issues of technology, timing and participation, and that represent key policy implications for a post-2012 climate policy. (JEL codes: C72, H23, Q25, Q28) Copyright The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Munich. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected], Oxford University Press.
Libertà, pluralismo e liberalismo : la lezione di Isaiah Berlin
No full textAn essay on the political philosophy of Isaiah Berlin, and in particular on his pluralism. The author deals with Berlin ideas as well as with the development of his intellectual outloo
Il nostro teatro quotidiano. Per Cuocolo/Bosetti Iraa Theatre
No full textDopo la personale del 2015 promossa dal Centro Culturale il Funaro di Pistoia, questa retrospettiva ripercorre i venti anni di attività della coppia d’arte e di vita Renato Cuocolo e Roberta Bosetti con una selezione degli spettacoli più significativi di Interior Sites Project. Avviato nel 2000 con le creazioni monstre The Secret Room (visto da 16.600 persone) e The Diary Project (che resta in scena per 16 giorni, 24 ore al giorno senza interruzioni e viene visto da 35.400 persone), il progetto dispiega un’epica del quotidiano in cui realtà e finzione si sovrappongono, prediligendo ambienti non teatrali – case private, hotel, gallerie d'arte, automobili – per pochi spettatori alla volta. La protagonista e agente è Roberta, personaggio sui generis che si nutre delle identità biografiche di Cuocolo e Bosetti ma vive di finzione teatrale.
I quattro spettacoli qui riproposti descrivono il percorso condotto fino ad oggi dalla coppia con IRAA Theatre, la loro compagnia, lungamente basata a Melbourne (Australia) e dal 2000 riconosciuta come la principale compagnia australiana d'innovazione, presente coi suoi spettacoli in 26 paesi di 4 continenti. Il nostro itinerario parte proprio da un cult della loro teatrografia quale Roberta va in hotel (Private Eye, 2005), lavoro che attesta il passaggio dalla casa privata della coppia alle stanze d'hotel in cui Cuocolo e Bosetti transitano, passando dal recente Roberta fa una passeggiata (The Walk, 2014), in cui lo spazio privato e intimo si frange muto nel viavai del centro urbano. Col rientro della coppia in Italia e il trasferimento nella casa natale di Bosetti a Vercelli, si apre un nuovo ciclo creativo. La memoria e gli oggetti che riemergono dalla casa d’infanzia ritrovata innescano scintille e peripezie che portano, tra gli altri, a Roberta va al cinema (MM&M, 2015) fino all’ultimo, di prossimo debutto, Roberta va sulla luna, entrambi pensati come installazioni per spazi teatrali o gallerie d’arte. Per approfondire la creazione teatrale del duo e attraversare il loro “progetto d’interni”, questa retrospettiva offre anche l’occasione di un laboratorio teorico-pratico, che tocca alcuni nodi del lavoro artistico di Cuocolo/Bosetti, e una giornata con critici e operatori testimoni della parabola di IRAA Theatre, oggi depositata nel libro Interior Sites Project (Titivillus, 2017), una raccolta di interviste e dialoghi realizzati dal critico teatrale Laura Bevione intorno alla costellazione degli ultimi quindici spettacoli
Does corporate governance affect M&As’ impact on social and environmental performance? Evidence from Milan Stock Exchange’s listed firms
No full textThis study’s aim is twofold: (1) to explore the effect of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on bidders’ social and environmental performance, and 2) to determine the potential drivers of this process by focusing on corporate governance characteristics.The analysis is based on M&As performed by firms listed on the Milan Italian Stock Exchange during the 5-year period of 2018–2022. The research data were retrieved from the FactSet and Refinitiv Eikon databases and examined using regression analyses. The findings demonstrate that M&As positively affect social and environmental performance, as long as good corporate governance practices are in place. The current research draws on stakeholder-agency theory and identifies the potential drivers of the value creation process in the M&A context enhancing the limited existing literature on this topic. The findings highlight the role of corporate governance in strengthening the impact of M&As on bidders’ non-financial performance, offering valuable practical implications. First, investors and financial analysts should develop a comprehensive perspective to assess the M&A’s impact on non-financial performance. Second, regulators should consider strengthening specific corporate governance requirements. Finally, policymakers should encourage M&As undertaken by firms with sustainability-oriented boards of directors
Ouverture de ‘Integrated CSR Management’
No full textGlobalisation has drastically changed the competitive dynamics worldwide. Companies have continuously expanded their size, also through merger agreements. However, companies should maintain a positive interaction with all their stakeholders, which is favoured by the integration of financial, social and environmental concerns in business strategies and operations. Transparency on corporate social responsibility (CSR) plays a key role in a company’s long-term success
Microstructural and in vitro characterization of SiO2-Na2O-CaO-MgO glass-ceramic bioactive scaffold for bone substitutes
No full textIn the present research work, the preparation and characterization of bioactive glass-ceramic scaffolds for bone substitutes are described. The scaffolds were prepared by starch consolidation of bioactive glass powders belonging to the SiO2-Na2O-CaO-MgO system using three different organic starches (corn, potatoes and rice) as reported in a previous screening process [1]. The scaffolds, characterized by scanning electron microscopy, showed a porous structure with highly interconnected pores. The pores sizes assessed by mercury intrusion porosimetry put in evidence the presence of pores of 50-100 μm. The structure of the scaffolds was investigated by X-ray diffraction and revealed the glass-ceramic nature of the obtained material. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds were evaluated by means of compressive tests on cubic samples and the obtained results demonstrated their good mechanical strength. The in vitro bioactivity of the scaffolds was tested by soaking them in a simulated body fluid (SBF) and by subsequently characterizing the soaked surfaces by SEM, EDS and X-ray diffraction. Good in vitro bioactivity was found for the starting glass and for the obtained scaffolds. Moreover, the scaffold bioresorption, tested by measuring the samples weight loss in SBF at different periods of time, showed a partial resorption of the scaffolds. Cell culture testing of the three different scaffolds indicated no differences in cell number and in alkaline phosphatase activity; the morphology of the osteoblasts showed good spreading, comparable to bulk material which was used as the control. © 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc
Comparative in vitro study of four commercial biomaterials used for bone grafting.
No full textPurpose: This work aimed to study and compare the behavior of macrophages and human osteoclast-like cells cultured in contact with four commercial bone substitute materials used as graft for ridge augmentation techniques. Two materials are of natural origin and two are synthetic bone substitutes.
Methods: Macrophage activation and cytokine release were assessed using SEM analysis and a sandwich ELISA kit while the activity of human osteoclast-like cells was studied quantifying calcium released from the substrata studied together with SEM analysis of cell morphology and pit formation on the bone substitutes.
Results: Hydroxyapatite proved to be the greatest macrophage activator, while the bovine derived material turned out to be the only bone substitute that does not induce macrophages to release IFNg. No material had direct induction of osteoclast precursor differentiation even if mature osteoclasts showed the highest activity on the human derived material followed by bone ceramic, while the bovine derived material was the substrate with the least osteoclast activity.
Conclusions: The four materials reacted differently with the cells tested and between them, the bovine derived bone, being the lowest macrophage and osteoclast activator may be considered a good bone substitute for clinical situations requiring greater time of permanence of the material at the site of implantation, while human derived bone will be more suitable for clinical applications that require lower time of permanence
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