Browse by: "2006"

This report is a tribute to the people living in areas that, 20 years after still live with the effects of the Chernobyl disaster. It shares the experiences of radiation protection professionals who reached out to some of those impacted by the Chernobyl accident, engaging to assist them to become knowledgeable and active managers of their own radiation exposure while living in a radioactively contaminated environment. Active stakeholder involvement gave these residents the capability to participate in the decision-framing process to address their issues regarding the rehabilitation of their living conditions in the contaminated territories. This more inclusive approach to decision-framing and issue resolution allowed the affected residents to gain greater control over their future. The report also describes stakeholder involvement initiatives from Norway and the United Kingdom, as examples from countries further afield. In the conduct of ongoing reviews of existing nuclear and radiological emergency protocols and preparing for emerging threats it is important to consider and implement as appropriate the many lessons learnt from the Chernobyl accident...

Spatial and Temporal Time Series Conversion - A Consistent Estimator of the Error Variance-Covariance Matrix. Abstract: We focus on the problem of time series conversion from low to high frequency satisfying the twofold temporal and spatial constraint. We offer a simple solution to variance-covariance matrix estimation of the error terms. Since the residuals of high frequency equations of the indicated indicator model are not observable, we inferred the characteristics of their stochastic process through both a specific hypothesis (VAR 1 process) and estimation of the related annual model. We derive a consistent estimator of the variance-covariance matrix and we prove that Di Fonzo's (1990) estimator based on this matrix is asymptotically equivalent to a GLS estimator.

This case study considers the substantial reforms to the South African public expenditure management system undertaken since the mid-1990s. The key aspects of the reform process have been: establishing the institutional framework for budget reforms through the “new” Constitution and further national legislation and practice; adopting a multi-year budget framework and top-down budget process; developing a framework for public financial management and reporting; improving the classification system of public finances; and creating a performance-oriented public service. South Africa has successfully implemented a number of these reforms and has radically altered the way in which it budgets for public services and how it accounts for public expenditure and commitments. The case study concludes by drawing on the lessons learned through this process.

A review has been conducted of the documentation developed by Andra, collectively known as the Dossier 2005 Argile, by an international review team (IRT) of independent specialists covering all relevant aspects of research, safety assessment, and the geological sciences. As described below, the Dossier represents a key milestone in the programme of work, for which Andra is responsible, to assess the feasibility of the deep geological disposal of high-level and long-lived radioactive waste in France. This report presents the consensus view of the IRT. It is based on the documentation of the Dossier 2005 Argile, but it also draws importantly on information exchanged in writing with Andra in answers to questions raised by the review team, and on direct interactions with staff from Andra during two working seminars in France. Also, in order to fulfil its mandate, the IRT reviewed materials external to the Dossier, namely the document concerning the R&D Programme for a potential new phase of work in the period 2006-2010, in a draft, provisional version.

This paper seeks to provide an empirical measure of the (absolute and relative) size of the relative price effect, the wealth effect and the insurance effect for a specific policy package: the arable crop regime of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union (EU).

This article follows up on monitoring and analysing developments and structural issues related to risk capital undertaken by the OECD since the mid-1990s. Risk capital, i.e. finance for fast-growth SMEs, should help to foster entrepreneurship and a high rate of company formation which is seen as essential to achieving full employment.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection was first established in 1928, as the International X-ray and Radium Protection Committee, linked to the International Congresses of Radiology. In 1950 it was restructured and renamed. Although its parent organisation remains the International Society of Radiology (ISR, the professional society of radiologist physicians), it has greatly broadened its interests to take account of the increasing uses of ionising radiation outside the medical area and practices involving the generation of radiation and radioactive materials. The Commission is a non-profit-making organisation, financed mainly by voluntary contributions from national and international bodies with an interest in radiological protection. Some additional funds accrue from royalties on the Commission’s publications. Members’ institutions also provide support by making in-kind contributions.