Shifting Economic Considerations (Asynchronous Session)
New Paradigms in Progressive Taxes: Decreasing Profits Law and a Proposal of Algorithm
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Alberto Saco
The logic of an efficient redistributive tax has to deal with its ability to relieve (in the simplest way) absolute and extreme poverty without charging wealthiest deciles with excessive taxes, decreasing their potential to invest and generate more wealth. Decreasing profits law must be considered to a fair approach. A fair theory of wealth redistribution (like helded by Rawls) must be, at the same time, optimal and simple, according to a basic algorithm. This paper proposes one based on deciles of wealth distribution and very simple maths.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving Development Goals View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Kent Neuerburg
The primary goal of economic development efforts is to provide for a healthier, more prosperous, and sustainable future. The United Nations current development program is centered around seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are setting the agenda for governments, international agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Recent advances in technology can play a significant role in reaching many of these goals. In particular, advances in artificial intelligence are creating opportunities in diverse fields which include poverty mitigation, healthcare, agriculture, resource management, and managing issues surrounding climate change. As with any new technology, there exist inhibitors to the distribution and integration of AI-powered solutions in the developing world. This paper addresses both the potential for and barriers against using AI-systems to address critical development efforts.
From Populism to Neopopulism in Latin America View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Magda von der Heydt
Latin American countries have had similar socioeconomic elements in their historical development. Interweaving political, economic, and social spheres, common patterns appear in successive periods of time in which analogous social-economic policies, leading social forces, and ideas concerning the role of the state emerge and fade. Based on these similarities, we can outline a periodization of this historical process. While the political, economic, and social spheres are intertwined and mutually supportive, a nation’s economic agenda is decisive for recognizing the pattern of development in each period. My book analyzes the historical patterns: populism (1940/50–1965), military dictatorships (1970s), ensuing neoliberal democratic governments (1980–2000), and return of populism in a new form called neopopulism (also known as new left, or pink tide) in South America and Mexico (2000–2015). Like from a bird’s perspective, the book shows the common trends of historical development in the region, yet acknowledging the differences between the countries. From the frog’s perspective, it presents detailed analyses of paradigmatic cases to help understand the specific manifestations of the trends in the different countries. A special emphasis of this book is the analysis of the constraints of the world economy during all these periods. Latin America has always been influenced of hegemonic powers: politically, through interventions, agreements, and military pacts; and economically, through direct investments, loans, trade agreements, and multilateral organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Recently, the global constellation has renewed its influence on Latin America with the economic and geopolitical ascent of China.
Whither Free Will: The Biopolitical Imperative of Regulating Online Behavioural Advertising View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Susan Hayes Stephan
Internet-connected devices are ubiquitous in today’s world, and behavioural, or “targeted,” advertising is incorporated in many of them. Through the tracking of individuals’ connected activities, online behavioural advertising (OBA) delivers advertisements targeted to an individual user based on sophisticated monitoring of demonstrated interests and activities. The increasingly complex thorough analysis of consumers’ online behavioural data takes place across platforms, potentially on every connected device. The biopolitical implications of constant behavioural tracking and analysis are substantial. Although a core process behind OBA appeared on a Google-backed patent application as early as 2003, there currently exist no consistently and successfully enforced regulations to inform businesses, consumers, and courts of the specific acceptable latitude and limits of targeted marketing. As advances in technology allow alarmingly more accurate behavioural targeting and consumers spend even more time online post-pandemic, it will be crucial from an economic and human rights perspective to follow a common and enforceable legal framework for OBA. After a brief technical overview of the OBA landscape and its ethical and biological risks, this paper examines the relevant legal framework in the EU, Canada, and the US. Next, it reviews some of the most significant regulatory hurdles to OBA regulation. Drawing on recent EU activity as well as the primarily self-regulatory approach of the US, the paper then suggests potential solutions to the seemingly overwhelming challenges of moderating the effects of OBA on global society.
Assessment of India's Trade Strategy in a Post-pandemic Era
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Manjari Balu
At the outset of the pandemic, geopolitics and trade scenarios are undergoing massive changes calling for a detailed evaluation of development in economic strategies. India, the most populous emerging nation with economic and military capability in South Asia plays a vital role in reorienting the trade situation in the region. Interpreted as an inward-looking strategy, atmanirbhar Bharat─ a ‘self-reliant’ strategy is the latest version of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As a successor of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, launched six years ago– the new blueprint is sought to accommodate the shortcomings of the former. South Asia contributes to the lowest trade of less than 5 percent in the region. In this paper, the trade performance of the South Asian countries is reviewed in the context of India adopting a quantitative framework to assess import and export performance post-COVID. The paper in specific, would critically review the trade policy strategy of India and detail the determinants of increasing trade. Despite the shrinking trade deficit, India suffers from certain other fundamental factors in trade strategy. Poor participation in the Global Value Chain, exporting capital intensive commodities, and lack of presence in any major trade bloc. In the crossroad of geopolitics and economics, this analysis considers India’s trade strategy in a post-pandemic world.
Digital and Decentralized Global Value Chains: Industry 4.0 and the Advent of Blockchain Technology View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Zhengqi Pan
International trade today is characterized by the geographical fragmentation and complex dispersion of production processes globally. Extant research on the governance of global value chains (GVCs) focuses on the role of firms, especially leading multinational corporations (MNCs), as well as national governments in shaping the processes, policies, and coordination within production networks. However, in a rapidly digitized global economy, characterized by the catchphrase "Industry 4.0", GVCs are becoming increasingly transparent and decentralized, given digital accounting and the high data visibility on production processes, with both MNCs and national governments no longer possessing a monopoly over information. This paper thus examines GVCs in the digital era, where the advent of blockchain technology augurs a fundamental shift on how transnational production processes are conducted and reported, and how supply chains are coordinated. In particular, how and under what conditions would blockchain technology shape GVC processes, coordination and governance? What are the resulting challenges of applying blockchain technology to GVCs? I argue that blockchain technology greatly enhances the transparency, traceability, accountability and coordination of production processes within GVCs, and also helps to shape socially responsible business policies, albeit national governments and lead firms remain vital stakeholders. This paper uses two current case studies -- the IBM Food Trust and the De Beers diamond blockchain programs -- to support my argument. Overall, this paper contributes to the international political economy literature by considering the digitization of international trade, and the impact of disruptive technologies such as blockchains on the conduct, coordination, and governance of GVCs.
