title: Does bribery sand or grease the wheels of firm level innovation: Evidence from Latin American countries

authors: Wellalage, Nirosha Hewa

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: This paper examines the effects of bribery on product and process innovation at the firm level in Latin American countries.  We provide insights into the heterogeneous effects of bribery on the types of innovations across firms.  Using the locality-sector average of bribe payments as a percentage of firm annual sales, we control for endogeneity bias, which is a recurring econometric problem in corruption-innovation studies. Overall, we find evidence to support the ‘sand the wheels’ hypothesis and argue that this negative effect is slightly higher in process innovation compared to product innovation. Using interaction terms to see the effects of bribery on different firm sizes and institutional structures, we find that bribery hurts firm innovation for micro and small firms, but not for large firms.  The results also suggest that the negative effect of corruption on firm level innovation is stronger for firms in weak institutional environments than for firms in strong institutional settings.  Practical interventions to promote strong institutional governance are not easy to arrange when corruption is endemic. Greater awareness of the extortionist environment of companies in these countries in the international community may bring pressures to bear for reform.

text: Does bribery sand or grease the wheels of firm level innovation: Evidence from Latin American countries This paper examines the effects of bribery on product and process innovation at the firm level in Latin American countries.  We provide insights into the heterogeneous effects of bribery on the types of innovations across firms.  Using the locality-sector average of bribe payments as a percentage of firm annual sales, we control for endogeneity bias, which is a recurring econometric problem in corruption-innovation studies. Overall, we find evidence to support the ‘sand the wheels’ hypothesis and argue that this negative effect is slightly higher in process innovation compared to product innovation. Using interaction terms to see the effects of bribery on different firm sizes and institutional structures, we find that bribery hurts firm innovation for micro and small firms, but not for large firms.  The results also suggest that the negative effect of corruption on firm level innovation is stronger for firms in weak institutional environments than for firms in strong institutional settings.  Practical interventions to promote strong institutional governance are not easy to arrange when corruption is endemic. Greater awareness of the extortionist environment of companies in these countries in the international community may bring pressures to bear for reform.

year: 2021-01-06

title: The effect of deferment length on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in established grazing pasture and under controlled conditions

authors: North, Elizabeth

subjects: Deferred

abstract: Perennial ryegrass is the dominant sown grass species in New Zealand, however its persistence in pasture is an issue for hill country farms. Deferring the grazing of a pasture over the reproductive cycle of ryegrass may influence changes in the above and below ground biomass of pasture plants and offers a low input and sustainable method for farmers to manage dry matter yields and quality of feed supply.
The aim of this study was to investigate the above and below ground changes in biomass and tiller production of perennial ryegrass under different lengths of deferment, after which standard rotational grazing or simulated grazing was resumed. Two trials were set up to investigate this. A field study was undertaken in an established ryegrass/clover-based pasture with three grazing treatments. Standard rotational grazing already in use on the field site (Def x0), a period of deferment over late spring/summer from November to February (Def x14) and a longer period of deferment from late spring to autumn (Def x27). After deferment, standard grazing was resumed. Above and belowground biomass, tiller densities, nutritive value, pasture composition and ground cover were measured. A glasshouse-based study investigated the effects on perennial ryegrass of different lengths of delayed defoliation and cutting treatments applied to simulate grazing. The control was cut when 2.5 to 3 new leaves per tiller had grown since the last cutting (Def x0); cutting of other treatments was delayed for an extra 4 (Def x4), 8 (Def x8) or 12 weeks (Def x12). After the delayed cutting, plants in each treatment were cut whenever there were 2.5 to 3 new leaves present per tiller. Both trials were affected by an extra-long period of rest between grazing or cutting treatments from the end of February to late April/early May due to Covid-19. This acted as an additional period of deferment for all glasshouse treatments and for Def x0 and Def x14 in the field.
The main results of the field study were that deferring resulted in higher tiller densities in winter and more accumulated dry matter before the deferred was opened for grazing than the rotational grazed control. There was also less bare ground compared with the control during summer. Nutritive value was lower during deferred periods but returned to the same value as the grazed control after standard rotational grazing resumed. There were no differences between any of the deferred treatments in root biomass. The percentage of ryegrass in total dry matter or ryegrass ground cover did not differ significantly between treatments.
In the glasshouse study, delayed defoliation increased leaf biomass, live tiller number and reproductive tiller number. Treatments with longer periods of delayed defoliation reach higher peaks in above ground dry matter and reproductive tiller number. There was a temporary increase in root biomass at depth for treatments with delayed defoliation in January. After standard defoliation resumed, Def x12 had a higher percentage of dead tillers and lower biomass by the end of the trial in July. There were no differences between treatments for live tiller number or root biomass once standard defoliation resumed.
The results suggest that a period of deferred grazing on pasture may improve dry matter yield and tiller densities of ryegrass after normal grazing resumes. The longer deferred treatment accumulated more dry matter in autumn, however it is not certain how the longer grazing rest between February and May affected potential differences between the shorter and longer deferred period. Results from the glasshouse saw no lasting benefit to ryegrass once standard defoliation resumed. Deferment length had no significant effect on belowground biomass. It is concluded that while deferred grazing may offer some benefits to a pasture, the persistence of ryegrass will not be improved by deferring grazing if other variables such as heat, moisture stress or timing of grazing are limiting potential growth. However, due to the unforeseen consequences of the Covid-19 lockdown, further research is recommended.

text: The effect of deferment length on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in established grazing pasture and under controlled conditions Perennial ryegrass is the dominant sown grass species in New Zealand, however its persistence in pasture is an issue for hill country farms. Deferring the grazing of a pasture over the reproductive cycle of ryegrass may influence changes in the above and below ground biomass of pasture plants and offers a low input and sustainable method for farmers to manage dry matter yields and quality of feed supply.
The aim of this study was to investigate the above and below ground changes in biomass and tiller production of perennial ryegrass under different lengths of deferment, after which standard rotational grazing or simulated grazing was resumed. Two trials were set up to investigate this. A field study was undertaken in an established ryegrass/clover-based pasture with three grazing treatments. Standard rotational grazing already in use on the field site (Def x0), a period of deferment over late spring/summer from November to February (Def x14) and a longer period of deferment from late spring to autumn (Def x27). After deferment, standard grazing was resumed. Above and belowground biomass, tiller densities, nutritive value, pasture composition and ground cover were measured. A glasshouse-based study investigated the effects on perennial ryegrass of different lengths of delayed defoliation and cutting treatments applied to simulate grazing. The control was cut when 2.5 to 3 new leaves per tiller had grown since the last cutting (Def x0); cutting of other treatments was delayed for an extra 4 (Def x4), 8 (Def x8) or 12 weeks (Def x12). After the delayed cutting, plants in each treatment were cut whenever there were 2.5 to 3 new leaves present per tiller. Both trials were affected by an extra-long period of rest between grazing or cutting treatments from the end of February to late April/early May due to Covid-19. This acted as an additional period of deferment for all glasshouse treatments and for Def x0 and Def x14 in the field.
The main results of the field study were that deferring resulted in higher tiller densities in winter and more accumulated dry matter before the deferred was opened for grazing than the rotational grazed control. There was also less bare ground compared with the control during summer. Nutritive value was lower during deferred periods but returned to the same value as the grazed control after standard rotational grazing resumed. There were no differences between any of the deferred treatments in root biomass. The percentage of ryegrass in total dry matter or ryegrass ground cover did not differ significantly between treatments.
In the glasshouse study, delayed defoliation increased leaf biomass, live tiller number and reproductive tiller number. Treatments with longer periods of delayed defoliation reach higher peaks in above ground dry matter and reproductive tiller number. There was a temporary increase in root biomass at depth for treatments with delayed defoliation in January. After standard defoliation resumed, Def x12 had a higher percentage of dead tillers and lower biomass by the end of the trial in July. There were no differences between treatments for live tiller number or root biomass once standard defoliation resumed.
The results suggest that a period of deferred grazing on pasture may improve dry matter yield and tiller densities of ryegrass after normal grazing resumes. The longer deferred treatment accumulated more dry matter in autumn, however it is not certain how the longer grazing rest between February and May affected potential differences between the shorter and longer deferred period. Results from the glasshouse saw no lasting benefit to ryegrass once standard defoliation resumed. Deferment length had no significant effect on belowground biomass. It is concluded that while deferred grazing may offer some benefits to a pasture, the persistence of ryegrass will not be improved by deferring grazing if other variables such as heat, moisture stress or timing of grazing are limiting potential growth. However, due to the unforeseen consequences of the Covid-19 lockdown, further research is recommended.

year: 2020

title: A report to iwi on the kaupapa Māori environmental outcomes and indicators kete

authors: Jefferies, Richard

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: Tangata whenua in Aotearoa have been largely excluded from participation in local government  planning since colonisation, but tikanga and Māori values have for the past two decades been acknowledged in resource management and local government legislation, especially the Resource Management Act, 1991 (RMA) and Local Government Act, 2002 (LGA). For example, the RMA has provisions in over 30 sections for councils to give effect to Māori interests.

In practice, however, there is widespread concern that despite these provisions, Māori are largely excluded from local government resource management processes and their values subordinated to those of the wider community, particularly western scientific values.

This report describes research that resulted in a kaupapa Māori outcomes and indicators framework, and associated methods, that can be used by iwi to assess the quality of statutory plans and the environmental performance of councils in their rohe.

text: A report to iwi on the kaupapa Māori environmental outcomes and indicators kete Tangata whenua in Aotearoa have been largely excluded from participation in local government  planning since colonisation, but tikanga and Māori values have for the past two decades been acknowledged in resource management and local government legislation, especially the Resource Management Act, 1991 (RMA) and Local Government Act, 2002 (LGA). For example, the RMA has provisions in over 30 sections for councils to give effect to Māori interests.

In practice, however, there is widespread concern that despite these provisions, Māori are largely excluded from local government resource management processes and their values subordinated to those of the wider community, particularly western scientific values.

This report describes research that resulted in a kaupapa Māori outcomes and indicators framework, and associated methods, that can be used by iwi to assess the quality of statutory plans and the environmental performance of councils in their rohe.

year: 2009-06-30