Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

The COVID-19 pandemic is a critical juncture for global development. Under the label of “Team Europe”, the EU has sought to mobilize rapid development assistance to support partners in addressing the impacts of the crisis, while promoting joined-up approaches among European actors to assert itself in a changing and competitive geopolitical context. This article assesses how substantive and process-oriented EU development policy norms are reflected in the Union’s global COVID-19 response. Focusing on the EU’s response during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020, the article shows that the EU’s response to this extraordinary crisis consisted of a deepening of EU integration. In so doing, the EU emphasized process-oriented over substantive norms in its development policy.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a critical juncture for global development. Under the label of “Team Europe”, the EU has sought to mobilize rapid development assistance to support partners in addressing the impacts of the crisis, while promoting joined-up approaches among European actors to assert itself in a changing and competitive geopolitical context. This article assesses how substantive and process-oriented EU development policy norms are reflected in the Union’s global COVID-19 response. Focusing on the EU’s response during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020, the article shows that the EU’s response to this extraordinary crisis consisted of a deepening of EU integration. In so doing, the EU emphasized process-oriented over substantive norms in its development policy.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a critical juncture for global development. Under the label of “Team Europe”, the EU has sought to mobilize rapid development assistance to support partners in addressing the impacts of the crisis, while promoting joined-up approaches among European actors to assert itself in a changing and competitive geopolitical context. This article assesses how substantive and process-oriented EU development policy norms are reflected in the Union’s global COVID-19 response. Focusing on the EU’s response during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020, the article shows that the EU’s response to this extraordinary crisis consisted of a deepening of EU integration. In so doing, the EU emphasized process-oriented over substantive norms in its development policy.

Child malnutrition is an enormous public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this paper, we study the relationship between non-maternal adult female household members (AFHMs) and under-5 child nutritional outcomes using nationally representative Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data, 2016. Because most of the primary inputs that go into the production of child health are intensive in maternal time, having additional AFHMs may ease the time constraints of the child's mother. We use anthropometric measures such as height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) to measure stunting and underweight, respectively, as objective indicators of child nutritional status. Among our sampled households, we find that 40% of the children are stunted, 18% severely stunted, 27% underweight and 8% severely underweight. Furthermore, about 20% of the sampled children live with at least one extra non-maternal AFHM. The multivariate regression results suggest that an additional AFHM is associated with significantly higher HAZ and WAZ scores and less likelihood of severe stunting compared with children living with fewer AFHMs. Finally, the paper discusses the potential pathways through which non-maternal AFHMs can influence child nutritional status.

Child malnutrition is an enormous public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this paper, we study the relationship between non-maternal adult female household members (AFHMs) and under-5 child nutritional outcomes using nationally representative Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data, 2016. Because most of the primary inputs that go into the production of child health are intensive in maternal time, having additional AFHMs may ease the time constraints of the child's mother. We use anthropometric measures such as height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) to measure stunting and underweight, respectively, as objective indicators of child nutritional status. Among our sampled households, we find that 40% of the children are stunted, 18% severely stunted, 27% underweight and 8% severely underweight. Furthermore, about 20% of the sampled children live with at least one extra non-maternal AFHM. The multivariate regression results suggest that an additional AFHM is associated with significantly higher HAZ and WAZ scores and less likelihood of severe stunting compared with children living with fewer AFHMs. Finally, the paper discusses the potential pathways through which non-maternal AFHMs can influence child nutritional status.

Child malnutrition is an enormous public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this paper, we study the relationship between non-maternal adult female household members (AFHMs) and under-5 child nutritional outcomes using nationally representative Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data, 2016. Because most of the primary inputs that go into the production of child health are intensive in maternal time, having additional AFHMs may ease the time constraints of the child's mother. We use anthropometric measures such as height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) to measure stunting and underweight, respectively, as objective indicators of child nutritional status. Among our sampled households, we find that 40% of the children are stunted, 18% severely stunted, 27% underweight and 8% severely underweight. Furthermore, about 20% of the sampled children live with at least one extra non-maternal AFHM. The multivariate regression results suggest that an additional AFHM is associated with significantly higher HAZ and WAZ scores and less likelihood of severe stunting compared with children living with fewer AFHMs. Finally, the paper discusses the potential pathways through which non-maternal AFHMs can influence child nutritional status.

Die Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) hat sich im Rahmen einer neuen Strategie ein Inflationsziel von künftig zwei Prozent gesetzt. Dazu ein Statement von Marcel Fratzscher, Präsident des Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin):

Mit ihrer neuen Strategie verschafft sich die Europäische Zentralbank mehr Spielraum, um in Zukunft noch flexibler agieren zu können. Anders als die US-amerikanische Notenbank verpflichtet sie sich nicht zu einer durchschnittlichen Inflation in Höhe von zwei Prozent, also nicht zur Kompensation einer schwachen Preisentwicklung durch eine deutlich höhere. Somit kann die EZB im Rahmen ihrer Geldpolitik in einigen Situationen stärker und in anderen schwächer reagieren. Gleichzeitig lässt die Strategie jedoch wichtige Fragen offen, beispielsweise wie groß und wie lange die EZB gewillt sein wird, Abweichungen der Preisentwicklung vom Zwei-Prozent-Ziel zu tolerieren. 

Die neue Strategie der EZB stellt keinen Bruch mit der Bundesbank dar, sondern steht in guter Tradition selbiger und deren erfolgreicher Fokussierung auf Preisstabilität. Die neue Strategie wird in den kommenden Jahren nichts Grundlegendes am geldpolitischen Kurs der EZB ändern, denn die Zinsen werden wohl auch die nächsten zwei oder drei Jahre nahe Null verbleiben. Die Veränderung der Strategie wird die Aufgabe der EZB nicht leichter machen, da sie die Inflationserwartungen und damit auch die realisierte Preisentwicklung nicht schneller an das Zwei-Prozent-Ziel heranbringen wird. Die EZB hat sich nicht von den Attacken und Drohungen aus Deutschland beeinflussen lassen, sondern wird auch in Zukunft Anleihekäufe und negative Zinsen als Instrumente nutzen, um ihrem Mandat der Preisstabilität gerecht werden zu können. 

Der Fokus der neuen EZB-Strategie auf den Schutz von Klima und Umwelt ist richtig und notwendig, auch wenn ein deutlich ambitionierterer Ansatz wünschenswert gewesen wäre.

Zusammenfassung:

Die deutsche Wirtschaft ist stark globalisiert. Insofern hat Deutschland ein besonders großes Interesse an einer florierenden internationalen Wirtschaft, deren Zukunft jedoch aufgrund sich wandelnder Akteure und ihrer Rollen in Frage steht. In einem deutlichen Kontrast zur Bedeutung für den deutschen Wohlstand steht die Bedeutung des Themas in den Programmen der größeren Parteien zur Bundestagswahl 2021: Die Weltwirtschaft nimmt nicht viel Platz ein, angesprochen werden vorwiegend binnenwirtschaftliche Themen und Aussagen zu internationalen Abkommen bleiben unvollständig. Dabei wäre es für die WählerInnen wichtig zu wissen, welche langfristige Strategie Deutschland in der Weltwirtschaft verfolgen möchte.

On 29 June, G20 Ministers responsible for development policy convened for the first time under the Italian Presidency. The meeting saw the adoption of a detailed and ambitious policy communique that in addition to prompting international action is also expected to further inform the deliberations of other G20 ‘tracks’ that may affect developing countries. It seems particularly strategic to us that the meeting of Finance Ministers at the end of this week in Venice picks up and further develops on these commitments.

On 29 June, G20 Ministers responsible for development policy convened for the first time under the Italian Presidency. The meeting saw the adoption of a detailed and ambitious policy communique that in addition to prompting international action is also expected to further inform the deliberations of other G20 ‘tracks’ that may affect developing countries. It seems particularly strategic to us that the meeting of Finance Ministers at the end of this week in Venice picks up and further develops on these commitments.

On 29 June, G20 Ministers responsible for development policy convened for the first time under the Italian Presidency. The meeting saw the adoption of a detailed and ambitious policy communique that in addition to prompting international action is also expected to further inform the deliberations of other G20 ‘tracks’ that may affect developing countries. It seems particularly strategic to us that the meeting of Finance Ministers at the end of this week in Venice picks up and further develops on these commitments.

Many governments consider carbon taxation an efficient tool to reduce carbon emissions, but it can negatively affect welfare in terms of emission reductions versus reductions in output. So, how can carbon taxes be best introduced? In a new study using evidence from Mexico, we show that when governments cannot select the most optimal policy –simply taxing some energy sources but not others – this may have substantial implications on how emissions and output, and eventually welfare, are affected.

Many governments consider carbon taxation an efficient tool to reduce carbon emissions, but it can negatively affect welfare in terms of emission reductions versus reductions in output. So, how can carbon taxes be best introduced? In a new study using evidence from Mexico, we show that when governments cannot select the most optimal policy –simply taxing some energy sources but not others – this may have substantial implications on how emissions and output, and eventually welfare, are affected.

Many governments consider carbon taxation an efficient tool to reduce carbon emissions, but it can negatively affect welfare in terms of emission reductions versus reductions in output. So, how can carbon taxes be best introduced? In a new study using evidence from Mexico, we show that when governments cannot select the most optimal policy –simply taxing some energy sources but not others – this may have substantial implications on how emissions and output, and eventually welfare, are affected.

Das Team Informationstechnik der Abteilung Forschungsinfrastruktur gibt den Mitarbeitenden des DIW Berlin einen sicheren und stabilen Zugang zu modernen Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien. Außerdem berät und unterstützt es die wissenschaftlichen Abteilungen bei der Auswahl und Einrichtung individueller Computer- und Softwarelösungen für Forschungsprojekte.

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Ecological fiscal transfers (EFT) transfer public revenue between governments within a country based on ecological indicators. EFT can compensate subnational governments for the costs of conserving ecosystems and in principle can incentivize greater ecological conservation. We review established EFT in Brazil, Portugal, France, China and India, and emerging or proposed EFT in ten more countries. We analyse common themes related to EFT emergence, design and effects. EFT have grown rapidly from US$0.35 billion yr−1 in 2007 to US$23 billion yr−1 in 2020. We discuss the scope of opportunity to expand EFT to other countries by ‘greening’ intergovernmental fiscal transfers.