家具设计的现代化

本文与《家具设计的现代》《家具设计的现代性》两文组成系列文章,意在从“现代、现代性和现代化”这三个视角来对现代家具设计形成一种新的认知。家具设计的现代化指的是现代家具设计的方法论,包括它的产业链建设、所采用工具和手段等。它牵涉到产业经济学和信息技术与计算机技术的诸多方面,但是更重要的是期待企业家和科技人员取得实践上的建树和创新。国内家具设计的现代化除了技术方面内涵以外,现在更紧迫的是观念上的现代化,它包括以社会、市场、技术和文化发展一脉相承的体系来看待设计的经济和技术要素的组合和发展。例如有些企业甚至要求设计公司具有全球活动的能力,特别是能够设计出在全球销售的产品;又例如在当今的家具国际贸易中,家具已成为“一种文化的传播”载体,因此家具的设计必须具有世界性特征的现代文化。

The Asymmetric Response of Older Male Labour Force Participation Rates to Pension Reform and Labour Market Variables

Increasing the labour force participation rates of older workers is a fundamental component of most OECD （Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development） countries＇ response to the fiscal pressures associated with ageing populations. Both pension reform and employment policies are key elements to achieving such increases in participation and reversing the early retirement trends of recent decades. Econometric modeling results from a panel of 12 OECD countries indicate that labour market variables have a greater influence than social security pension value or the standard age of retirement on the labour force participation rates of males aged 55-64 years. Further results from modeling the potential asymmetric response of participation rates to unemployment rates indicate that a decrease in unemployment rates has a greater impact upon increasing the labour force participation rates of older workers compared to the effect of an increase on unemployment rates has on discouraging participation. We found mixed results for the asymmetric response of participation to an increase or decrease in pension value. Findings thus emphasize the importance of labour market oriented policies to reduce unemployment rates in the developed economies in coming years to address ageing population concerns.

Status of the OECD-SERENA Project for the Resolution of Ex-vessel Steam Explosion Risks

OECD/NEA （Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency） launched the SERENA （steam explosion resolution for nuclear application） project to resolve internationally the ex-vessel steam explosion issue, which is one of major unresolved issues after a TMI-2 （three mile island-2） accident. One of main conclusions of OECD/NEA SERENA Phase 1, which was completed in 2005, was that some damage to the cavity is to be expected for an ex-vessel explosion. One major uncertainty that does not allow for a convergence toward consistent predictions was that there are no data on the component distribution in a pre-mixture at the time of an explosion, especially the level of the void. The other major uncertainty is the explosion behavior of corium melts. Therefore, SERENA Phase 2 was launched on October 1, 2007 to resolve the uncertainties of the coolant void and material effect by performing a limited number of well-designed tests with advanced instrumentation reflecting a large spectrum of ex-vessel melt compositions and conditions, and the required analytical work to bring the code capabilities to a sufficient level for use in reactor case analyses. The recent status of the OECD-SERENA Phase 2 project for the resolution of ex-vessel steam explosion risks will be described.

On the Relationship between China and the International Energy Agency

As China needs to play a more active role in global energy governance, it must create a diversified, multi-level system to enhance energy security and to alleviate environmental pressures. A China-IEA bilateral relationship exists under an Association Initiative, but a stronger bond is needed. Though it is not an IEA member, China's massive energy needs makes it sensible that the two sides overcome existing obstacles that include OECD membership, statistical information issues and energy autonomy. In this regard an "IEA+China" might be a feasible model.

China＇s Sovereign Balance Sheet and Its Risk Assessment

Using available data and necessary estimations, this paper provides a tentative picture of the balance sheet of China＇s sovereign account between 2000 and 2010. The main findings indicate that the net worth of China＇s sovereign assets had been positive and increasing during the period under review. This implies that the Chinese government has sufficient sovereign assets to cover its sovereign liabilities, therefore the likelihood of a sovereign debt crisis in China is extremely low in the near term. Moreover, although China＇s leverage ratio （total liabilities/GDP） is far lower compared to advanced economies, it seems higher than that of other major emerging economies such as Brazil, Russia, and India （BRIC）. In fact, the leverage ratio has been increasing rapidly over recent years and requires special attention. In particular, according to sector-specific analysis, high corporate liability ratios （percentage to GDP） constitute a major concern of China＇s national balance sheet. In 2010, this liability ratio exceeded l OO percent, which exceeds the 90 percent level observed in OECD countries. Lastly, this paper concludes that a sustainable economic growth and structural transformation of growth model are the fundamental means to taming China＇s balance sheet risks.

Positional statement of companies＇ corporate governance rating reports： Evidence from Turkey

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development （OECD） defines corporate governance as, ＂the way in which boards oversee the running of a company by its managers, and how board members are in turn accountable to shareholders and the company.＂ In recent years the issue of corporate governance and committees related to it and their impacts on corporate performance have continued to gain widespread prominence in the capital market economy. Corporate Governance Rating is meant to indicate the relative level to which an organisation accepts and follows the codes and guidelines of corporate governance practices. The purpose of the paper is to examine the rating reports of 27 companies which have obtained the corporate governance rating by rating agencies. The study highlights that the ＂stakeholders＂ sections of the reports are the most powerful part of the reports whereas the ＂board of directors＂ sections are the weakest. Potential areas for improvements are also identified.

Probability Estimation of the Trophic Status of Lakes

Trophic status of some freshwater lakes all over the world, including Russia, Byelorussia, Japan, Sweden and China, has been assessed. The research submitted is based on the approach developed by OECD （Organization Economic Cooperation and Development）. Annual total phosphorus averages formed a classification system. A probability assumption for each water body to reach some given trophic status was taken into account. Probability distribution curves for the average lake phosphorus have been analytically approximated.

Compliance of Documentation Transfer Pricing Requirements in Foreign Direct Investment Enterprises in Vietnam

The increase of inter-boundary transactions brings a number of benefits for enterprises. However, even when benefits of transfer pricing are evident, multinational organizations still face legal challenges, including performing parts of transactions in another jurisdiction and motives of tax officials in investigating transfer pricing. This is especially true when countries do not want to lose benefits from tax collection. Therefore, many countries and organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development （OECD）, Pacific Association of Tax Administrators （PATA）, the European Union （EU）, and Vietnam have introduced requirements for transfer pricing documentation to prevent transfer pricing manipulation and maintain benefits from taxes. The aim of this research was to assess the compliance of those requirements of foreign direct investment （FDI） enterprises in Vietnam. This article which is a summary of our research includes the following sections： （1） OECD guidelines of transfer pricing documentation; （2） Vietnam regulations of transfer pricing documentation; （3） results of the research; and （4） discussion and conclusion.

Ethical Standards for Employers in the Local Administration Units： Republic of Macedonia

The extensive research on public ethics in the local administration is more than necessary. This paper identifies the basic values of and the challenges to Macedonian Legal System in this area, and explains the key ethical aspects, which should be implemented in practice by civil servants, who increasingly have to learn how to perform in accordance with ethical values. In this paper I will analyze the ethical values of civil servants laid down by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development （OECD） and the Civil Servants Agency in Macedonia, upon which the ethical principles for civil servants in the local administration units are intended to be set. This paper deals with the ethics of civil servants, assessment of best practices, and evaluation of positive and negative indicators. The paper concludes with a few recommendations for the next steps in this process; and some criteria for the consideration of future developments are suggested.

Sustainability： Corporate Responsibility for the Future Classroom

The machinery, equipment, inventory, and other assets of the 21 st century company without people to work them. Corporations, by leave of the accounting profession, have no real economic value continue to omit the value of human. And yet, there is a growing realization that people represent the largest proportion of corporate productive capacity relative to the current assets and fixed assets shown in corporate financial statements. This paper provides research on the top 50 of the Fortune 500 companies which confirm this material deficiency. There is a need to provide stakeholders with a ＂fair＂ knowledge of the value of corporate human capital to provide a higher standard of transparency and accountability in international financial reporting and to provide the basis for research into the sustainability and potential expansion of growth in the world economy. An appropriate standard for the valuation of human capital will provide the knowledge base for effective and efficient investment in human capital. Effective and efficient investment will be particularly valuable for governments and service industries and for those who wish to promote growth in Europe. Indeed, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development （OECD） is questioning the veracity of financial statements which fail to include ＂the most valuable＂ of corporate assets in their financial statements. Recently, the OECD has noted that human capital may be measurable ＂by the output potential of specific competencies＂; ＂the fruits of （corporate） investment＂; the objective measurement of the market ＂rental＂ price of human capital; and lastly, perhaps self-evident when it comes to physical capital, the output potential of corporate investment in their human capital inventory. This paper considers the conditions in the context of literature which reassesses theory and assumptions which have been made on the valuation of human capital. Human capital is a pre-requisite for tangible assets to be productive. The valuation of human capital will trigger the same sort of activity-based analysis of people power as computers brought to cost accounting. The knowledge century analysis of people power will take off when human capital is at last included in the list of assets on the corporate balance sheet.

Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis for the HELIOS Loop within the LACANES Benchmark

Within the OECD/NEA Benchmarking of Thermal-Hydraulic Loop Models for Lead-Alloy Cooled Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems （LACANES）, the Institute for Neutron Physics and Reactor Technology takes part in the validation process of system codes and the characterization of the thermal-hydraulic behavior of an experimental loop operated with liquid lead-bismuth-eutectics. To confirm the calculations, the results were compared to experimental data obtained from the HELIOS facility at the Seoul National University and to the results of other benchmark participants. The comparison showed that the calculations are within measurement tolerance but nevertheless discrepancies among the participants exist. The pressure drop estimation is determined by a variety of empirical correlations for the friction and the form loss coefficients. Hence, uncertainty and sensitivity measures were applied to find out which parameter is more relevant for the overall pressure drop. In the frame of this investigation, the system code TRACE and the software system for uncertainty and sensitivity, SUSA, were used. The results show that the total pressure drop varies between -30 and ＋15% related to the reference case.

Can Biochar Protect Labile Organic Matter Against Mineralization in Soil?

Biochar could help to stabilize soil organic （SOM） matter, thus sequestering carbon （C） into the soil. The aim of this work was to determine an easy method i） to estimate the effects of the addition of biochar and nutrients on the organic matter （SOM） mineralization in an artificial soil, proposed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development （OECD）, amended with glucose and ii） to measure the amount of labile organic matter （glucose） that can be sorbed and thus be partially protected in the same soil, amended or not amended with biochar. A factorial experiment was designed to check the effects of three single factors （biochar, nutrients, and glucose） and their interactions on whole SOM mineralization. Soil samples were inoculated with a microbial inoculum and preincubated to ensure that their biological activities were not limited by a small amount of microbial biomass, and then they were incubated in the dark at 21 ~C for 619 d. Periodical measurements of C mineralized to carbon dioxide （CO2） were carried out throughout the 619-d incubation to allow the mineralization of both active and slow organic matter pools. The amount of sorbed glucose was calculated as the difference between the total and remaining amounts of glucose added in a soil extract. Two different models, the Freundlich and Langmuir models, were selected to assess the equilibrium isotherms of glucose sorption. The CO2-C release strongly depended on the presence of nutrients only when no biochar was added to the soil. The mineralization of organic matter in the soil amended with both biochar and glucose was equal to the sum of the mineralization of the two C sources separately. Furthermore, a significant amount of glucose can be sorbed on the biochar-amended soil, suggesting the involvement of physico-chemical mechanisms in labile organic matter protection.

Populism and Political Party Institutionalisation in the Three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

The three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania make for interesting comparative case studies in the rise of contemporary populism in Europe. All three countries share a similar modem history, democratic political system, level of economic development and are in the same western-oriented regional clubs （NATO, European Union, OSCE, European Council and, in the case of Estonia and Latvia, OECD, etc.）. However, they do differ in the extent to which populism has played a role in their national politics. Populism has played a marginal role in Estonian politics, but has long been central to the Latvian party system and influential in Lithuanian politics. This article tackles two key issues in the study of populism. First, it focuses on political party institutionalisation as the key variable in explaining the differing impact of populist political parties across the Baltic states. It examines and explains the higher turnover of political party creation and destruction in Latvia and, to a lesser extent, Lithuania and argues that institutions--and par- ticularly the laws that frame party organisations and participation in elections-- create political opportunities for populist parties. The second part of the paper considers the different types of populist parties to have emerged in the Baltic states in recent decades. While previous studies of populism in the Baltic states （such as Auers and Kasekamp in J Contemp Eur Stud 17（2）：241-254, 2009; Auers and Kasekamp, in： Wodak et al （eds） Right wing populism across/beyond Europe, Bloomsbury Academic Press, London 2013） have explicitly focused on Radical Right Populist parties, this article additionally identifies a number of parties in the region that are not explicitly radical right, but are certainly populist.

Joint Press Release of the Third "1+6"Roundtable

China's Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council,together with World Bank Group (WBG)President Jim Yong Kim,International Monetary Fund (IMF)Managing Director Christine Lagarde,World Trade Organization (WTO)Director-General Roberto Azevedo,Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Angel Gurria,Financial Stability Board (FSB) Chairman Mark Carney and International Labor Organization (ILO) Deputy Director-General Deborah Greenfield (hereinafter referred to as "we"),held the "1+6"Roundtable in Beijing,and reached the following common understanding.