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Devils and Dust (The Jack Keller Thrillers)
by J.D. RhoadesFourth in the critically acclaimed series featuring bounty hunter Jack Keller, &“a fun character to root for and more than a little reminiscent of Jack Reacher&” (Library Journal). After years in exile, living a quiet life in the desert, Keller is pulled back into the fray when Angela—his friend and former employer—tracks him down with a desperate plea for help. Oscar Sanchez, Angela&’s husband and Keller&’s best friend, has vanished while searching for the sons he was trying to reunite with their family. As Keller dives into the investigation, he&’s forced to confront not only ruthless human traffickers, drug lords, and a violent white supremacist cult, but also his own buried demons—and his unresolved feelings for Angela. From the brutal border towns of Mexico to the swampy prison camps of South Carolina, Keller will face enemies driven by greed, power, and a twisted sense of righteousness. But one thing is certain: when Jack Keller is on your trail, he&’s not just bringing justice—he&’s bringing hell with him . . . &“For fans of high-octane thrillers that don&’t ignore character development, Rhoades belongs on the same reading list with Stephen Hunter, Lee Child, and Randy Wayne White.&” —Booklist &“Rhoades&’ skill will keep readers going.&” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch &“Excellent . . . a real page-turner.&” —Mystery Scene
Under the Skin
by Susanna RogersShe survived the attack—but the real danger is just beginning. Starting over has never been more deadly than in this mind-bending psychological thriller. A year ago, Kate Mamotte fought back. Her husband died. She lived. Yet escaping isn&’t the same as moving on. Desperate for a fresh start, she returns to Perth, where a housesitting gig, a temperamental cat, and a too-helpful neighbor, Ryan, offer a distraction. Then the flowers arrive. From her dead husband. The police think she&’s unraveling. But as Kate digs into the past, she uncovers an affair, a child, and a deadly secret worth killing for. The threats escalate. And someone is watching. She thinks she&’s pieced it all together—until the real killer steps out of the shadows . . . A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gillian Flynn and Lisa Jewell.
L’irrationnel à l’épreuve de la littérature: Figures, textes et pratiques
by Jean Valenti María Fernanda Arentsen Jorge Machín LucasNullement limité à un domaine de connaissances, à l’exclusion d’autres champs symboliques, l’irrationnel est polymorphe, relatif et contextuel. Il agence aussi bien des trajectoires in-signifiantes que sur-signifiantes, chacune difficilement conciliable avec la vraisemblance textuelle ou la rationalité sociale en vigueur à tel moment. Irréductible à une formule à visée universelle, il s’inscrit dans une stratigraphie culturelle, choquant les habitudes d’interprétation de nos soidisant modernes sociétés édifiées sur la raison et le consensus.Depuis la nuit des temps, la littérature constitue l’un des espaces d’expression privilégiés de l’irrationnel. Elle est suffisamment plastique et ouverte pour en être infléchie. Dans tous les cas de figure, la sensibilité moderne veut que l’élément irrationnel implique son contraire. Il évoque toujours a contrario son opposé, l’étalon qui permet justement de le juger comme irrationnel. Un puissant mécanisme négatif opère donc au sein de la littérature irrationnelle au niveau même de ses dispositifs scripturaux et sémiotiques. Il en découle une expérience esthétique et une expérience de pensée singulières que ce collectif d’auteurs cherche à comprendre à partir de textes littéraires variés. Trois grandes figures permettent d’en rendre compte: figures de l’opposition, du dialogue et de l’intégration. La première d’entre elles court-circuite nos aptitudes à faire sens selon certaines normes et valeurs intersubjectives. Elle remet en question nos présupposés de cohérence et nos intuitions de pertinence. La corrélation entre le rationnel et l’irrationnel sur les plans social et littéraire y atteint à sa plus haute tension. La seconde figure entretient également un rapport critique aux normes sociales et esthétiques, mais elle inaugure un dialogue (implicite ou explicite) avec elles afin de souligner leurs insuffisances. Cette figure en appelle donc au changement; elle s’oppose à l’exclusion et à la confrontation ouverte, mais elle interpelle l’adaptation. La dernière figure rapproche au point de les fondre en un ensemble les éléments rationnels et irrationnels jugés auparavant incompatibles. La proximité ainsi établie lui confère une dimension conjonctive.Ces trois figures contiennent toute la richesse et la complexité des tensions signifiantes, des jeux contrastés et des charges symboliques entre les agencements jugés cohérents et irrationnels dans les textes littéraires.
A Lethal Walk in Lakeland (A Walk Through England Mystery)
by Nicholas GeorgeFans of Carlene O&’Connor&’s Irish Village mysteries will love the latest novel in this cozy series set in the beautiful English countryside and featuring San Diego sleuth Rick &“Chase&” Chasen. Chase has two compelling reasons for returning to England—a group walk along the famed Coast to Coast trail in the picturesque Lake District, and a chance to further his relationship with Mike, the handsome Devonshire doctor he met on his last trip. The walkers, including Chase&’s dear friend and fellow Anglophile Billie Mondreau, assemble at a Whitehaven hotel and begin their adventure with the traditional &“baptism of the boots&” in St. Bee&’s Bay. But they&’ve barely begun traveling eastward with their genial guide than the group dynamics turns unexpectedly rocky. The problem is the Uptons—a wealthy family who have arrived from Texas, and whose squabbling antics continually overshadow the bucolic surroundings. Brock Upton, tall and commanding, is traveling with his pint-sized wife and his three siblings, along with a family friend. Every member of the party cites a different reason for joining the tour, and Chase&’s instincts tell him they&’re all lying. Brock&’s heart condition hinders their progress through the Lake District&’s hills and dales. But that proves the least of their problems when one of the Uptons is fatally poisoned. Years of secrets and grudges emerge, along with a decades-old family mystery. And only Chase&’s investigative expertise can find the answers—and uncover a killer in their midst before tragedy befalls the tour again . . .
Darkness Avenged: Revenge, Like Desire, Can Last For All Eternity (Guardians of Eternity #10)
by Alexandra IvyA search for a traitor draws two vampires closer in this paranormal romance by the New York Times–bestselling author of Fear the Darkness.The search for a traitor . . . As the demon world celebrates the defeat of the Dark Lord, the vampire Santiago&’s mood remains bleak. He still yearns for sensual, raven-haired Nefri, who has inexplicably disappeared. But brooding for Nefri is a luxury Santiago does not have. His traitorous sire, Gaius, is unleashing a violent scourge upon the mortal world, and Santiago must stop him before it&’s too late . . .. . . leads to a dangerous seduction To her dismay, the all-powerful Oracles have sent Nefri on her own mission to find Gaius, and failure is not an option. Nefri's search leads her to the vampire&’s abandoned lair—and straight into Santiago&’s path. It&’s clear Santiago intends to seduce her, but then an ancient, banished evil reappears, threatening to thrust the world into a madness it cannot survive . . .Praise for Alexandra Ivy &“Ivy always packs her books with buckets of action, emotion and sexy sizzle. Another winner!&” —Romantic Times on Devoured by Darkness &“The romantic dynamic is smoldering, and the seduction focuses on compelling trust, increasing the appeal.&” —Publishers Weekly on My Lord Vampire
Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #9)
by Alexandra IvyA beautiful werewolf and her ferocious protector face deadly enemies and dark desires in a supernatural romance by the New York Times bestselling author. Cassie is a werewolf prophet blessed with visions that portend the fate of the world. A rare and delicate creature, she must be protected at all costs. Enter Caine, a powerful cur turned pureblooded Were whose recent tangles with a demon lord have left him in serious need of redemption. Caine is duty-bound to keep Cassie out of danger—and that includes resisting his potent urge to seduce her. As Cassie's mysterious visions lead them in and out of danger, Caine becomes increasingly certain that he has found his true mate. Cassie is charmed and frightened by Caine's magnetism. But she can't afford to doubt Caine now. A deadly enemy bent on destruction is closer than they realize—and only they can keep chaos from ruling the world.
Darkness Unleashed (Guardians of Eternity #5)
by Alexandra IvyA reclusive vampire and a beautiful werewolf find their fates and passions entwined in this paranormal romance by the New York Times bestselling author. A scarred and reclusive vampire, Jagr makes no secret of his disdain for others' company. But as a member of Chicago's powerful vampire clan, he has been charged with tracking down a missing werewolf pureblood. The problem is that Regan Garrett has no intention of complying. And though Jagr agreed not to harm an inch of this stubborn female's distractingly tempting body, he'll gladly kiss her into submission, awakening an urge he hasn't felt in centuries. . . Regan vowed never to be at the mercy of another man. That goes double for arrogant, steel-muscled vampires with eyes of ice. All Regan wants is revenge against those who imprisoned her. She doesn't need an ally. She certainly doesn't need a mate. But soon Regan will have to choose—between a lust for vengeance, and a passion as dark and dangerous as the night.
Motheater
by Linda H. CodegaIn this nuanced queer fantasy set amid the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, the last witch of the Ridge must choose sides in a clash between industry and nature. After her best friend dies in a coal mine, Benethea &“Bennie&” Mattox sacrifices her job, her relationship, and her reputation to uncover what&’s killing miners on Kire Mountain. When she finds a half-drowned white woman in a dirty mine slough, Bennie takes her in because it&’s right—but also because she hopes this odd, magnetic stranger can lead her to the proof she needs. Instead, she brings more questions. The woman called Motheater can&’t remember her true name, or how she ended up inside the mountain. She knows only that she&’s a witch of Appalachia, bound to tor and holler, possum and snake, with power in her hands and Scripture on her tongue. But the mystery of her fate, her doomed quest to keep industry off Kire Mountain, and the promises she bent and broke have followed her a century and half into the future. And now, the choices Motheater and Bennie make together could change the face of the town itself.
One Sharp Stitch (A Nimble Needle Mystery)
by Allie PleiterWhen thirty-something Shelby Phillips returns to her quiet hometown just outside of Asheville, North Carolina, she reluctantly takes over her mother&’s Nimble Needle needlepoint shop—and gets entangled in a murder investigation . . .It&’s only temporary. That&’s what Shelby Phillips tells herself when she returns to excruciatingly harmless Gwen Lake after her graphic arts career—and the office romance blooming with it—get tossed like rejected design mockups. Her plan is as simple and fool-proof as a tent stitch: manage the family needlepoint shop duringher parents&’ RV vacation. It&’s just a month. It&’s not as if they&’re retiring . . . right? When Shelby becomes responsible for hosting a trunk show with local vendors, she&’s determined to pull it off. Even if that means dealing with former classmate Kat Katsaros, a rising entrepreneur specializing in needlework scissors. Kat has changed since high school—and she&’s angling to take over the Nimble Needle herself. The tension unspools when Shelby makes a terrible discovery on the morning of the event: Kat&’s dead body. Shelby can&’t believe the death was an accident. That&’s why she&’s set on exposing who committed the murder with Kat&’s own equipment. She finds help in a new friend, a potential crush, and the surprising support of her sister and the Nimble Needle stitchers. Still, Shelby must move quickly to stop the crafty culprit before her maybe not-so-temporary new life in Gwen Lake comes apart at the seams . . .
Hunt the Darkness: The Real Werewives Of Vampire County; When Darkness Comes; Real Vamps Don't Drink O-neg; And Hunted By The Others (Guardians of Eternity #11)
by Alexandra IvyWhen an irresistible witch seduces a vampire, their desire is dangerously powerful in this supernatural romance by the New York Times bestselling author. Always in control, the vampire Roke never lets his raw sensuality get the better of him. Yet somehow he's allowed the unthinkable to happen: a nymph-like witch named Sally has tricked him into mating with her. The pair will remain bound for eternity unless Sally breaks the spell. The trouble is, she has no idea how. Mating with Roke was an accident; at least that's what Sally keeps telling herself. Now, to release the spell, she must go on the hunt for her demon father. The search won't be easy with Roke shadowing Sally's every move. As they mate with a ferocity that leaves them both aching for more, Sally isn't sure if her world is more dangerous with Roke—or without him.
I Am Extraordinary
by Stephen CurryIn his sophomore picture book, NBA superstar Stephen Curry encourages kids to embrace the differences that make them extraordinary!It&’s the first day of school for Zoe, a young girl with hearing loss who dreams of playing on her school&’s soccer team. But, self-conscious of her hearing aids, Zoe is too nervous to try out. With the help of and perspectives from new friends, what begins as a bumpy, anxiety-filled start for Zoe, soon transitions into an eye-opening experience about what it means to be different—and what it means to be extraordinary. I Am Extraordinary teaches kids how to look inside themselves to find self-acceptance and the confidence to achieve any goal.
Seamanship Techniques: Shipboard and Marine Operations
by D.J. HouseIdeal for Merchant Navy Officers from Cadet rank to Master Mariner, the fifth edition of this highly respected book is in full colour, and has been updated to include more information on topics as diverse as electronic navigation and AIS technology whilst still including essential information on subjects such as safety at sea, rescue operations, watchkeeping duties and pollution control. It covers international standards and works well on courses throughout the world.Seamanship Techniques is written for serving mariners and nautical students from cadet to master level, studying for professional marine qualifications under the International Maritime Organization as per STCW requirements. Used by training establishments around the world, this best seller is the only reference to both shipboard practice and ship operations that seafarers will need.
Developing Windows-Based and Web-Enabled Information Systems (Data-Enabled Engineering)
by Nong Ye Teresa WuMany professionals and students in engineering, science, business, and other application fields need to develop Windows-based and web-enabled information systems to store and use data for decision support, without help from professional programmers. However, few books are available to train professionals and students who are not professional progra
Time and Narrative in Intelligence Analysis: A New Framework for the Production of Meaning (Studies in Intelligence)
by Joshua YapheThis book offers a new framework and set of standards for intelligence analysis, drawing from a variety of academic disciplines, such as philosophy, historiography, literary theory and semiotics.The US Intelligence Community is guided by a conviction that its practitioners are engaged in the scientific pursuit of fact-based evidence and its institutions uphold a set of tradecraft skills based on objectivity, timeliness and non-politicization that serve to define professionalism. That approach is counterintuitive to the way analysts actually seek to use language and rhetoric to convince and persuade readers, and counterproductive to the future recruitment and retention of subject matter experts. This book re-examines the assumptions and biases that underlie the intelligence profession in America and its increasing turn toward Artificial Intelligence, with case studies of declassified analytical products on Argentina, China, Iraq, Italy and South Africa.This book will be of much interest to students of intelligence, national security, philosophy, US politics and foreign policy.The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
The Mechanical Behavior of Salt XI
by Steven R. SobolikRock salt formations have long been recognized as a valuable resource - not only for salt mining but for construction of oil and gas storage caverns and for isolation of radioactive and other hazardous wastes. Current interest is fast expanding towards construction and re-use of solution-mined caverns for storage of renewable energy in the form of hydrogen, compressed air and other gases. Evaluating the long-term performance and safety of such systems demands an understanding of the coupled mechanical behavior and transport properties of salt. This volume presents a collection of 83 research papers defining the state-of-the-art in the field. Topics range from fundamental work on deformation mechanisms and damage of rock salt to compaction of engineered salt backfill. The latest constitutive models are applied in computational studies addressing the evolution and integrity of storage caverns, repositories, salt mines and entire salt formations, while field studies document in situ salt behavior and conditions at multiple scales. The volume is structured into ten themes:• Laboratory Testing• Field and Geological Investigations• Constitutive Modeling• Modeling and Simulation• Micromechanics and Microstructures• Salt Caverns, Cavern Abandonment & Long-Term Integrity• Crushed Salt Engineered Barriers• Geological and Engineered Barriers• Energy Storage and Mining Investigations• Geological Storage of HydrogenThe Mechanical Behavior of Salt XI will appeal to graduate students, academics, engineers and professionals working in the fields of salt mechanics, salt mining and geological storage of energy and wastes, but also to researchers in rock physics in general.
Identities in Antiquity (Rewriting Antiquity)
by Joseph Skinner Christina Tsouparopoulou Vicky ManolopoulouIdentities in Antiquity is a multi-disciplinary platform for the synthetic study of ancient identities, set in a more rounded and inclusive notion of antiquity.The volume showcases methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of ancient identities by scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds and career stages. In doing so, it promotes a more holistic approach to the study of ancient identities, facilitating comparisons between different periods and disciplines and generating new knowledge in the process. Chapters illustrating the intersecting, multifaceted, and mutable (or else highly immutable) nature of ancient identities address themes such as ethnicity, race, gender, mobility, religion, and elite and sub-elite identities – most notably that of the enslaved – in case studies spanning the ancient Mediterranean world and beyond, from the third millennium BCE until the early Middle Ages.The volume is suitable for students and scholars working on the Ancient Near East, the Graeco-Roman Worlds, Late Antiquity, and Byzantium, offering a valuable contribution to the study of past identities and the internal workings of ancient societies.
Room Acoustics
by Heinrich Kuttruff Michael VorländerWell established as a classic reference and specialized textbook since its first publication in 1973, Room Acoustics combines detailed coverage with a state-of-the-art presentation of the theory and practice of sound behaviour in enclosed spaces.This seventh edition is developed to cover new measurement and simulation techniques, including sections on spatial and directional analysis and on recent psychophysical experimental approaches to determining auditory perception in concert halls. Other important topics include the various mechanisms of sound absorption and their practical application, as well as scattering through wall corrugations. The design and performance of sound reinforcement systems is also updated. As in previous editions, special emphasis is placed on the properties and calculation of reverberation.The book particularly suits graduate students in the field, acoustical engineers, and architects.
Bridging the Technological Divide: Technology Adoption by Firms in Developing Countries
by Diego Comin Xavier Cirera Marcio CruzMany of the main problems facing developing countries today and tomorrow--growth, poverty reduction, inequality, food insecurity, job creation, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and adjustment to climate change--hinge on adopting better technology, a key driver of economic development. Access to technology is not enough: firms have to adopt it. Yet it is precisely the uptake of technology that is lagging in many firms in developing countries. Bridging the Technological Divide: Technology Adoption by Firms in Developing Countries helps open the “black box†? of technology adoption by firms. The seventh volume in the World Bank Productivity Project series, it will further both research and policy that can be used to support technology adoption by firms in developing countries.
The Global Findex Database 2021: Financial Inclusion, Digital Payments, and Resilience in the Age of COVID-19
by Asli Demirgüç-Kunt Leora Klapper Dorothe Singer AnsarThe fourth edition of the Global Findex offers a lens into how people accessed and used financial services during the COVID-19 pandemic, when mobility restrictions and health policies drove increased demand for digital services of all kinds. The Global Findex is the world’s most comprehensive database on financial inclusion. It is also the only global demand-side data source allowing for global and regional cross-country analysis to provide a rigorous and multidimensional picture of how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage financial risks. Global Findex 2021 data were collected from national representative surveys of about 128,000 adults in more than 120 economies. The latest edition follows the 2011, 2014, and 2017 editions, and it includes a number of new series measuring financial health and resilience and contains more granular data on digital payment adoption, including merchant and government payments. The Global Findex is an indispensable resource for financial service practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and development professionals.
Insect and Hydroponic Farming in Africa: The New Circular Food Economy (Agriculture and Food Series)
by Dorte Verner Afton Halloran Nanna Roos Surabian Maximillian Ashwill Saleema Vellani Yasuo KonishiWhile current agri-food production models rely on abundant supplies of water, energy, and arable land past practices point toward more affordable and sustainable paths. Different forms of insect farming and soilless crop farming, or hydroponics, have existed for centuries. In this report, the authors make a persuasive case that frontier agriculture, particularly insect and hydroponic farming, can complement conventional agriculture. As the report shows, insect and hydroponic farming can create jobs, diversify livelihoods, improve nutrition, and provide many other benefits in African and fragile, conflictaffected countries. Together with other investments in climate-smart agriculture, these technologies are part of a promising menu of solutions that can help countries move their land, food, water, and agriculture systems toward greater sustainability. This book is the World Bank's first attempt to look at insect and hydroponic farming as possible solutions to the world's climate and food and nutrition security crisis and may represent a new chapter in the Bank's evolving efforts to help feed and sustain the planet.
Reshaping Global Value Chains in Light of COVID-19: Implications for Trade and Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries
by Paul Brenton Maryla Maliszewska Michael J. FerrantinoGlobal value chains (GVCs) have driven dramatic expansions in trade, productivity, and economic growth in developing countries over the past three decades. Reshaping Global Value Chains in Light of COVID-19: Implications for Trade and Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries examines the economic impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic on GVCs and explores whether they can continue to be a driver of trade and development. The book undertakes the following: • Assesses what the impact of previous crises, such as the global financial crisis of 2008†“09, can say about of the resilience of GVC firms to shocks • Examines what high-frequency data on trade flows can show about the impact of COVID-19 during the sharp global recession of 2020 • Uses discussions with GVC firms to gain a deeper understanding of the impacts of—and their responses to—the COVID-19 shock • Explores simulations from a global economic model to assess the potential longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on low- and middle-income countries and key factors shaping the global economy, including the evolving role of China, the rise of trade restrictions, and policy responses to global warming • Asks what steps countries and international institutions can take to enhance the resilience of GVCs in low-income countries to future shocks. The analysis shows that well-operating GVCs are a source of resilience more than a source of vulnerability. Moreover, steps to maintain and enhance trade contribute to managing a crisis and recovery, while measures to reshore production make all countries worse off. This economic crisis offers countries an opportunity to reshape the global economy into a greener, more resilient, and inclusive system that is better equipped for a changing world. Trade is a powerful tool for achieving this aim.
Global Economic Prospects, June 2021 (Global Economic Prospects)
by World BankThe world economy is experiencing a very strong but uneven recovery, with many emerging market and developing economies facing obstacles to vaccination. The global outlook remains uncertain, with major risks around the path of the pandemic and the possibility of financial stress amid large debt loads. Policy makers face a difficult balancing act as they seek to nurture the recovery while safeguarding price stability and fiscal sustainability. A comprehensive set of policies will be required to promote a strong recovery that mitigates inequality and enhances environmental sustainability, ultimately putting economies on a path of green, resilient, and inclusive development. Prominent among the necessary policies are efforts to lower trade costs so that trade can once again become a robust engine of growth. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Global Economic Prospects. The Global Economic Prospects is a World Bank Group Flagship Report that examines global economic developments and prospects, with a special focus on emerging market and developing economies, on a semiannual basis (in January and June). Each edition includes analytical pieces on topical policy challenges faced by these economies.
Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities
by John Arzinos Christian De la Medina SotoDespite legal and social advances in the past two decades, sexual and gender minorities continue to face widespread discrimination and violence in many countries. This discrimination and violence lead to exclusion, which adversely impacts their lives, as well as the communities and economies in which they live. A major barrier to addressing this stigma and sexual orientation and gender identity(SOGI)-based exclusion is the lack of SOGI-specific data. Robust, quantitative data on di‚fferential development experiences and outcomes of sexual and gender minorities--especially those in developing countries--is extremely thin. This paucity of data jeopardizes the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and countries' commitment to the principle of 'leaving no one behind' in the eff‚ort to end poverty and inequality. 'Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities' assesses the unique challenges that sexual and gender minorities face in six important areas: (i) Criminalization and SOGI (ii) Access to education (iii) Access to the labor market (iv) Access to public services and social protection (v) Civil and political inclusion (vi) Protection from hate crimes. This report cov‚ers numerous policy recommendations to prevent and eliminate discriminatory practices in all of the areas covered. It also seeks to inflŽuence legislative changes and support research on institutions and regulations that can ultimately lead to poverty reduction and shared prosperity. At the same time, it acknowledges that the mere existence of inclusive laws and regulations does not ensure that sexual and gender minorities are free from discrimination--the enforcement of those laws is crucial. This publication, the first in a series of studies, will be expanded from the 16 countries included here to a wider set of countries for more in-depth quantitative analysis and to identify possible correlations with socioeconomic outcomes. It will seek to deepen knowledge, facilitate peer learning of good practices, and encourage reforms to increase the inclusion of sexual and gender minorities.
Women, Business and the Law 2021 (Women, Business and the Law)
by World BankWomen, Business and the Law 2021 is the seventh in a series of annual studies measuring the laws and regulations that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies. The project presents eight indicators structured around women’s interactions with the law as they move through their lives and careers: Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension. This year’s report updates all indicators as of October 1, 2020 and builds evidence of the links between legal gender equality and women’s economic inclusion. By examining the economic decisions women make throughout their working lives, as well as the pace of reform over the past 50 years, Women, Business and the Law 2021 makes an important contribution to research and policy discussions about the state of women’s economic empowerment. Prepared during a global pandemic that threatens progress toward gender equality, this edition also includes important findings on government responses to COVID-19 and pilot research related to childcare and women’s access to justice.
Revisiting Targeting in Social Assistance: A New Look at Old Dilemmas (Human Development Perspectives)
by Margaret Grosh Emil Tesliuc Phillippe Leite Matthew Wai-PoiTargeting is a commonly used, but much debated, policy tool within global social assistance practice. Revisiting Targeting in Social Assistance: A New Look at Old Dilemmas examines the well-known dilemmas in light of the growing body of experience, new implementation capacities, and the potential to bring new data and data science to bear. The book begins by considering why or whether or how narrowly or broadly to target different parts of social assistance and updates the global empirics around the outcomes and costs of targeting. It illustrates the choices that must be made in moving from an abstract vision to implementable definitions and procedures, and in deciding how the choices should be informed by values, empirics, and context. The importance of delivery systems and processes to distributional outcomes are emphasized, and many facets with room for improvement are discussed. The book also explores the choices between targeting methods and how differences in purposes and contexts shape those. The know-how with respect to the data and inference used by the different household-specific targeting methods is summarized and comprehensively updated, including a focus on “big data†? and machine learning. A primer on measurement issues is included. Key findings include the following: - Targeting selected categories, families, or individuals plays a valuable role within the framework of universal social protection. - Measuring the accuracy and cost of targeting can be done in many ways, and judicious choices require a range of metrics. - Weighing the relatively low costs of targeting against the potential gains is important. - Implementing inclusive delivery systems is critical for reducing errors of exclusion and inclusion. - Selecting and customizing the appropriate targeting method depends on purpose and context; there is no method preferred in all circumstances. - Leveraging advances in technology--ICT, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning--can improve targeting accuracy, but they are not a panacea; better data matters more than sophistication in inference. - Targeting social protection should be a dynamic process.