Europaplattform: Wien-Brüssel
Policy Crossover Center: Vienna-Europe
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Flash Paper Series 2018

Flash Paper Series

Flash Paper Series 2018

Unsere Flash Paper Series ist dafür eingesetzt worden, um AutorInnen von Beiträgen zum jeweils aktuellen Research Topic die Möglichkeit zu geben, ihre Meinungen, Ansichten und Ideen herausstreichen zu können. Es wird damit der notwendige Raum eingeräumt, ein Research Topic in vielfältigen Dimension darzustellen. Im Sinne eines diskursiven und kritischen Austauschs zu einem Thema sei jedoch die Möglichkeit auch für die interessierte Öffentlichkeit gegeben, sich über das finale Produkt des Policy Brief hinaus - der oft eine Vielzahl an Ideen und Sichtweisen in ihren Details nicht ausreichend darstellen kann - über die konkreten Konzepte der einzelnen IdeengeberInnen zu informieren und im Detail nachzulesen. Die Querdenkerplattform distanziert sich hier bewusst von den einzelnen Meinungen der AutorInnen in den Flash Papers. Die Flash Paper Series steht demnach neben dem Output der Querdenkerplattform (Policy Brief, Working Paper) bzw. als Ergänzung dazu und schildert die Ansichten der AutorInnen in ihren einzelnen Beiträgen zum Research Topic im Detail. 

Our Flash Paper Series has been designed to give the single authors of the Research Topics an opportunity to highlight their opinions, views and ideas. This gives the necessary space to present a research topic in its variety of dimensions. According to a discursive exchange of opinions on a topic, however, also the interested public has the possibility to read about concrete concepts and ideas of an author, beyond the final product of the Policy Brief, which often can not adequately present a multitude of ideas and perspectives in its details. The Policy Crossover Platform dissociates from the individual opinions of the authors in the Flash Papers. Therefore, the Flash Paper Series complements the final output of the Research Topic (Policy Brief, Working Paper) and describes the views of the authors in their individual contributions to this topic in detail.


Flash Paper 8/2018

HOW THE MIGRATION WAVE CHALLENGES EUROPEAN IDENTITY

Abstract

For extended periods, the European integration project was an unquestioned success story, delivering advances such as the tariff union, the internal market, the single currency, and an ever-increasing number of Member States. European integration now seems to have come to a stalemate, or is even on a retreat, as demonstrated by the British exit vote and the lack of solidarity to jointly handle the immigration problem, fueled by untamed nationalism and populism. The following overview investigates the threat migration and national populism means for the evolving European identity and proposes policies to avert further damage to the European integration project.

Handler, H. (2018), How the Migration Wave challenges European Identity, Policy Crossover Center: Vienna-Europe, Flash Paper 8/2018


Flash Paper 7/2018

IT’S THE DEMOGRAPHY, STUPID. THE PROBLEMS OF AFRICA CAN ONLY BE SOLVED IF THE POPULATION EXPLOSION IS STOPPED

Abstract

A crucial factor regarding Africa ́s problems is often omitted: The population explosion. The African population has quintupled since 1960 and shall again quadruple to 4,5 billion people, according to the UN-prognosis for 2100. 1 This development causes or at least aggravates poverty, starvation, soil erosion and hence climate change, unemployment, distribution battles, etc. Education of especially woman and systematic family planning should be top priorities, but have been mostly neglected so far. And yet there are role models, e.g. Iran and Rwanda. Only countries which are determined to reduce fertility and which achieve measurable goals should be supported, otherwise aid is hardly effective.

Gleissner, R. (2018), It’s the Demography, Stupid. The Problems of Africa can only be solved if the Population Explosion is stopped, Policy Crossover Center: Vienna-Europe, Flash Paper 8/2018.


Flash Paper 6/2018

THE POST-COTONOU EU-ACP PARTNERSHIP: HOW TO NUDGE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC COUNTRIES TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION TO LOW-EMISSION ECONOMIES

Abstract

With negotiations on a new political agreement with the ACP-group (Sub-Saharan Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) already being under way, the European Union needs to set out a strategy that tackles both climate change and green industrial development. While targets such as ensuring energy access for everyone, mitigating poverty and fostering economic growth in someof the world’s least developed countries remain as urgent as ever, achieving them must not harm the climate. In order to do so, ACP-countries will need to leapfrog directly towards renewable energy sources. With regard to both its historic responsibility towards ACP countries, as well as its own massive contributions to global emission levels in the past, the EU should pursue an ambitious approach to support their African partners in the process of transition towards low- emission economies. In this Flash Paper, we want to stress the urgency to act and propose a number of measures to attain the Paris climate goals. First, the history of EU-ACP relations and the current state of affairs will be discussed. In the second part of the paper, six measures to tackle emissions in the new political agreement will be proposed.

Komnacky, M. (2018), The Post-Cotonou EU-ACP Partnership: How to nudge African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries towards Transformation to Low-Emission Economies: Vienna-Europe, Flash Paper 6/2018


Flash Paper 5/2018

CHINA ASCENDANCY,TRADE WAR,GLOBAL ORDER

Abstract

The global trade regime is breaking down. An all-out trade war has become a possibility. In order to prevent economic chaos, the European Union and China must devise new global trade and investment rules and commit to follow them.

Bayer, K. (2018), China Ascendancy, Trade War, Global Order, Policy Crossover Center: Vienna-Europe, Flash Paper 5/2018, Vienna. 


Flash Paper 4/2018

ECONOMIC LINKS BETWEEN EDUCATION AND MIGRATION: AN OVERVIEW 

Abstract

Among the many factors governing migration, education plays a major role, though more in the long run than for short-term floods particularly of irregular migration. Concerning the long run effects, the direction of causation and the slope of the connection are debated in theory. Education not only determines the mobility of people, it also is positively correlated with rising incomes. Empirical evidence shows that for people in developing countries, who are at the low end of the income distribution, more education and rising income levels are push factors for emigration. However, beyond a certain threshold further rising incomes tend to retard migration. As a result, education exhibits an inverted-U shaped relationship with migration. Another remarkable fact is that, on average, people who migrate are better educated than non-migrants back home as well as indigenous people in the host country. 

Handler, H. (2018), Economic Links between Education and Migration: an Overview, Policy Crossover Center: Vienna - Europe, Flash Paper 4/2018, Vienna. 


Flash Paper 3/2018

AUSTRIAN SCHOOL IN SHKODRA,ALBANIA,AS A BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION IN EDUCATION

Abstract

In 2007 the Austrian Technical College of Higher Education for Information Technology opened its gates in Shkodra, Albania. This school is part of the efforts of the Austrian government to support the economic, technological and social development of the West Balkan countries. This paper looks into the original intentions for the establishment of this school in the economically underdeveloped north of Albania. After ten years of operation a first attempt is made to assess how these intentions have been met. Do graduates of the school contribute to the development of the Albanian economy or do they contribute to the brain drain when highly qualified technicians leave their home country to live elsewhere in Europe? Will this school help Albania in its efforts to join the European Union? It is probably still too early to give final answers to these questions but it seems worthwhile to look at first trends.

Bruckner, G. (2018), Austrian School in Shkodra, Albania, as a Best Practice Example for European Integration in Education, Policy Crossover Center: Vienna - Europe, Flash Paper 3/2018, Vienna.


Flash Paper 2/2018

MIGRATION AND EDUCATION - BUILDING ON COMMON GROUNDS

Abstract

This paper aims to shed light on the multifaceted and interrelated processes of education and migration, assessing how investment in and improvement of education can contribute towards more effective migration management and mobilities, a partial prevention of emigration in countries of origin, selection and support of migrants in countries of transit and destination and a better integration. The three spotlights selected to provide insight into the prospects of investment in education are: a) the importance of equal access to and quality of education according to the findings of UNESCO and OECD reports, b) the significance of fostering human capital, and c) the prospects of mobility programmes. While, in terms of host countries and integration, a focus lies on European states – Austria, in particular – Middle Eastern and North African countries being the origin of significant numbers of migrants in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, will be in the centre of case studies with regard to mobility and exchange.

Kohlenberger, J. & Wurm, L. (2018), Migration and Education - Building on Common Grounds, Policy Crossover Center: Vienna-Europe, Flash Paper 2/2018, Vienna. 


Flash Paper 1/2018

IT’S THE IMPLEMENTATION,STUPID! EVIDENCE ON IMPROVING LEARNING OUTCOMES FROM THE COLOMBIAN ESCUELA NUEVA SCHOOL MODEL

Abstract

Escuela Nueva (New School), a school model designed to improve the learning outcomes of disadvantaged children, has officially been widely used in Colombia for years. However, the country’s performance on international standardized tests of learning remains poor. This study uses a mixed methods approach to analyze program implementation and learning outcomes (as measured by the standardized test Pruebas SABER 2013) and finds that the model indeed improves learning outcomes, but that its effectiveness depends strongly on proper program implementation, which is found to be lacking.

Hammler, K. (2018), It's the Implementation, Stupid! Evidence on Improving Learning Outcomes from the Colombian Escuela Nueva School Model, Policy Crossover Center: Vienna-Europe, Flash Paper 1/2018, Vienna.