Suchergebnisse

With ever growing automation of public transport automated shuttles offer an attractive alternative in areas where traffic regulations limit the deployment of large buses (city centres) or where low degrees of utilization renders the manual vehicles operation non-economical (last mile). The low capacities of shuttles in combination with the human factor (driver or conductor) makes capacity management a greater challenge for the user. Capacity management describes the allocation of available seats in a vehicle, e.g., when buying a ticket. In this paper, we present the results of series of studies where capacity management in automated shuttles has been tested via instruments that are currently available in public transit (audio announcements, in-shuttle displays, booking apps). We found that measures during and after boarding are not sufficient and that capacity management in automated shuttle requires a more detailed planning of pre-boarding stages; when boarding automated shuttles as opposed to non-automated public buses the flexibility is reduced. The paper concludes with discussion and recommendations for an optimal capacity management d.

During the 1920s the New York Stock Exchange's position as the dominant American exchange was eroding. Costs to customers, measured as bid-ask spreads, spiked when surging inflows of orders collided with the constraint created by a fixed number of brokers. The NYSE's management proposed and the membership approved a 25 percent increase in the number of seats by issuing a quarter-seat dividend to all members. An event study reveals that the aggregate value of the NYSE rose in anticipation of improved competitiveness. These expectations were justified as bid-ask spreads became less sensitive to peak volume days.

This paper assesses the capacity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to moderate great-power relations in East Asia, especially in light of recent regional developments that have challenged ASEAN's traditional modus operandi and its corporate cohesion. The first of three sections argues that capacity emerges not from institutional arrangements but rather the social relationships that give rise to particular institutions, and therefore can only be understood relationally. A number of key relationships are highlighted and explored in the rest of the paper. First, the relationships among regional great powers, which are considered in section two. Second, the relationships among ASEAN states, and between ASEAN states and their own societies, which are considered in section three. The paper's basic argument is that the first set of relationships is essentially what gives ASEAN its capacity to play a wider regional role. However, it also sets profound constraints for what this role can involve in practical terms. The second set of relationships also creates serious and deep constraints that are often not well understood. However, despite the serious limitations on ASEAN's leadership role, unless the first set of relationships change, this role is likely to continue, regardless of how frustrating or ineffectual it might be. Adapted from the source document.

When donors take the driver 's seat, Africans move to the back seat. When donors try to do the same thing in Vietnam, Vietnamese get out of the car.—AnonymousAfrica's brain drain to the North is part of a much larger story of the capacity-building challenges facing the continent. During the past 20 years African economies struggled through what are often referred to as the "lost decades." The region's economies have been characterized by dependence on economic aid and technical assistance. It is surmised that there are more expatriate "experts" in Africa now than at any time since independence. Technical assistance rose from US$1 billion in 1971 to US$4 billion in 1995. Africans themselves have, as the epigram suggests, taken the back seat, and the skilled ones among them have increasingly migrated abroad.

This paper tests the empirical importance of the price dispersion predictions of the Prescott-Eden-Dana (PED) models. Equilibrium price dispersion is derived in a setting with costly capacity and demand uncertainty where different fares can be explained by the different selling probabilities. The PED models predict that a lower selling probability leads to a higher price. Moreover, this effect is larger in more competitive markets. Despite its applications to several important market phenomena, there exists little empirical evidence supporting the PED models, mostly because of the difficulty of coming up with an appropriate measure of the selling probabilities. Using a unique panel of U.S. airline fares and seat inventories, we find evidence that strongly supports both predictions of the models. After controlling for the effect of aggregate demand uncertainty on fares, we also obtain evidence of second degree price discrimination in the form of advance-purchase discounts.

This article provides a critical analysis of the development of public administration education in the context of five post-Soviet, transitional, and authoritarian Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan from early independence to the present time (1991–2019). The study is based on a review of Master of Public Administration (MPA) programmes offered by Public Administration Academies in each of these five Central Asian countries, a focus group with local academics, extensive secondary data analysis, and critical reflections of a local scholar with six years of MPA teaching experience in a Kazakhstani university. This article highlights context-specific challenges in design and implementation of the MPA programmes in Central Asia. These challenges include the: ambiguous role of Public Administration Academies; programme design; pedagogical issues; and weak research capacity. It is argued that the MPA programmes in Central Asia often provide an example of 'mimicry' of European/North American programmes with peculiar features of their local context. Public Administration Academies in Central Asia are highly politicised and strongly controlled by authoritarian governments. This study will be of particular interest not only to public administration scholars from all post-Soviet countries which share the Soviet legacy and socio-economic challenges, but also for scholars teaching in other authoritarian contexts.

'This starkly lucid and timely book absorbs the nuances of the largest festival – the elections – of the world's largest democracy. Hailing from a political family, the author conveys his passion and knowledge on the intricacies, as well as the heat and dust of his national fête. All data and events have been methodically examined in this absorbing analytical work which is an indispensable and scholarly book on the Indian elections.' – Thankom Arun, Professor at the University of Essex, UK This book provides a quantitative analysis of eight elections and an insight into voting patterns, detailing the election result for each candidate, for all the constituencies, in every Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Bicameral-Parliament) general election from 1962 to 2014. The central purpose of this interrogation of data is to give shape to the notion of 'electoral efficiency', or the capacity of a part to convert votes into parliamentary seats. Parlia mentary elections in India – and also elections to its state assemblies – are conducted under the First Past the Post (FPTP) system whereby a single representative for each of the 543 constituencies is elected as a Member of the Lok Sabha, on the basis of obtaining the largest number of all the candidates contesting that constituency. In brief, Votes, Parties, and Seats provides an in-depth study of the results of parliamentary general elections in India, and sheds light on why some parties are more efficient than others.

"This starkly lucid and timely book absorbs the nuances of the largest festival - the elections - of the world's largest democracy. Hailing from a political family, the author conveys his passion and knowledge on the intricacies, as well as the heat and dust of his national fête. All data and events have been methodically examined in this absorbing analytical work which is an indispensable and scholarly book on the Indian elections."--Thankom Arun, Professor at the University of Essex, UK This book provides a quantitative analysis of eight elections and an insight into voting patterns, detailing the election result for each candidate, for all the constituencies, in every Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Bicameral-Parliament) general election from 1962 to 2014. The central purpose of this interrogation of data is to give shape to the notion of 'electoral efficiency', or the capacity of a part to convert votes into parliamentary seats. Parliamentary elections in India - and also elections to its state assemblies - are conducted under the First Past the Post (FPTP) system whereby a single representative for each of the 543 constituencies is elected as a Member of the Lok Sabha, on the basis of obtaining the largest number of all the candidates contesting that constituency. In brief, Votes, Parties, and Seats provides an in-depth study of the results of parliamentary general elections in India, and sheds light on why some parties are more efficient than others.

Gobalisation is continuing to increase the cooperation and interconnectedness of all states' domestic and foreign policy. The Group of 20 (G20) is an institution that has seen both its birth and renewal stem from the aftermath of a crisis, giving it a stable, heroic and dependent mandate for political trust and attention. As a middle power, Australia is always looking for ways to promote its keen multilateral attributes and rising economic status; the G20 gave it the opportunity to do this at a premier, international level. The role that Australia has played and is capability for the future is the focus of this paper. To adequately assess this topic four main elements of the G20 are examined. First, the history of the G20 is considered. A close examination of the purpose behind the creation of the institution is undertaken. This historical context, describing the birth and reformation of the G20 indicates that Australia was fortunate to attain membership from this exclusive group. When the G20 was elevated to the level of premier global economic forum it gave the institution and its members new levels of success and global influence. Second, the motivations behind the protagonist and enthusiastic role of Australia in the reinvigoration of the G20 to its current leader level status are examined. Scrutiny of these motivations highlights the desired international, regional and domestic outcome from Australia's involvement and active participation in the forum. These motivations were condensed into four main themes: the elevation of regional importance and middle power status; invested interest in the agenda; Australia's heavy reliance on trade; and the need to project its power in an internationally significant forum capable of real change. The third and largest area of in-depth research surrounds the actual and potential contributions of Australia to the G20. The actual contributions of Australia mirror aspects of Australia's initial motivations, as well as promoting actual reform and leadership traits. Australia has made numerous meaningful and actual contributions to the G20 though its chairmanship in 2006, domestic stimulus package, working group negotiation skills and the ability to promote effective and legitimate discussions as a middle power. Australia's potential contribution is also extensive and multifaceted. Research indicates that Australia's experience as a resource and agriculture and regulator may extend transnationally in an effort to achieve G2O aspirations. There is also the potential for Australia to exude leadership abilities in the wake of leadership transiency, however this is a potential position that many similarly placed G20 members desire. Within this chapter the involvement of Australia in formal and informal outreach arrangements is examined. As the G20 grows in influence, there is an increasing need to maintain legitimacy through non-member involvement. Australia understands this requirement and has suggested aligning other international agenda and the interests of neighbouring states to the G20 agenda. This is a topic that Australia will need to develop if it wishes to uphold the credibility of the G20 and its decisions. The forth and final area of research pertains to the future position of the G20 as both a 'crisis response' and 'steering committee' for global economic cooperation. The expanding nature of global fora, in addition to the most recent G20 agenda, has demonstrated the political will (both from within and outside the G20) to broaden the agenda of the G20. This final chapter examines the practicality and workability of such expansion. There is a limit to the expansion of the G 20, if it wishes to remain dedicated to concrete action. The agenda must maintain an economic focus and continue to address international issues at a leaders-level to remain a premier forum within the patchwork of global institutions. In-depth examination of the G20's future also dispels the notion of fierce competition between the Group of 7 /8 (G7 / G8) and the G20. Both of these institutions will remain relevant for the international community in the foreseeable future given the unspoken division of labour created between them. In summary, this paper makes the research based assertions that Australia has made a meaningful contribution to the efforts of the G20 to date and has the capacity to continue this level of contribution in the future. Australia will have to increase its formal and informal outreach mechanisms to promote regional cohesion and safeguard the institutions legitimacy. Australia will also need to comprehend the restrictions on the G20's capacity to expand beyond economics. The need to tender issues for their economic value will be of critical importance to the G20 in the future. Furthermore, the relationship between the G7 /8 and the G20 will maintain contrasting international focuses with a healthy level of economic overlap.

AbstractAlthough the United States (US) federal bureaucracy is plagued by high vacancy rates generally, quorum requirements and small board sizes make vacancies particularly problematic within major independent regulatory commissions. Not all vacancies, however, are created equal. By statute, some major boards allow members to continue serving beyond their original term in the absence of a confirmed replacement. The difference between an empty seat and a holdover official is important as it can determine whether a board is functional or inoperable. In this article, we examine how the presence of holdover provisions within such commissions alters confirmation dynamics and vacancy rates. Evidence suggests that holdover provisions lead to quicker confirmation on nominations as well as fewer complete vacancies. Such structures thus help mitigate the short-term problems stemming from staffing independent regulatory boards, especially given the tendency towards obstruction in the US Senate.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age, gender, and target location upon arm reach capacity and posture. Background: The older adult population is growing in number. Their specific needs must be better understood to improve the design of work and life spaces. Method: Thirty-eight adults, divided into four groups according to their gender and age, participated in the experiment. They were asked to reach 84 targets located in a large space defined according to their anthropometry and reach capacities. Reach capacities and postures were analyzed. Results: On average, older participants showed shorter maximal reach distances (by 4.8% of upper limb length) as compared with younger participants. No gender difference was found for maximum reach distance. Age also had significant effects on reach posture, especially through its interactions with target azimuth. Older participants tended to use their trunk less whenever possible. Reduced neck and trunk/seat axial rotations were observed for the older participants when the target deviated from the sagittal plane. They compensated by a greater rotation of the pelvis with respect to the seat. Conclusion: Older people's reach capacities should be taken as references, rather than those of younger people, in order to accommodate a wider range of the population. Application: These results can be used to improve the arrangement of living spaces and work spaces for older people.