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2821. What Can Kosovo Learn from Spain’s Transitional Justice Mechanisms in Shaping Collective Memory Post-Conflict?

Author:
Mrika Shala
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
Tension between truth and stability shapes how collective memory is constructed: whether through silence, selective narratives, or formal transitional justice policies. Kosovo’s post-conflict governance continues to be shaped by a central dilemma. Competing narratives of the war and its aftermath remain institutionally reinforced, and these divisions affect political legitimacy, minority participation, and security in ways that obstruct long-term integration. In the north of Kosovo in particular, cycles of disengagement, contested authority, and institutional crises show how memory politics and governance are intertwined, with consequences that extend beyond symbolism into day-to-day state functionality. This policy paper argues that truth-telling mechanisms do not automatically produce reconciliation. They only contribute to durable stabilisation when they are designed to survive political turnover, earn cross-community legitimacy, and connect credible documentation to public acknowledgement and institutional practice. Where these conditions are absent, truth initiatives can remain episodic, contested, or politically fragile, even when they involve serious institutional effort. Spain offers a practical comparator because it illustrates how a state can maintain stability while postponing full reckoning, and how delayed engagement with memory can generate long-run political and social costs. The point is not to treat Spain as a model to emulate, but to derive practical lessons on sequencing, institutional incentives, and the trade-offs between immediate governability and deeper reconciliation. The paper proceeds in four moves. First, it outlines the core features of Spain’s post-dictatorship approach to transitional justice and memory, focusing on the political logic of postponement and later reactivation. Second, it maps Kosovo’s truth-seeking and memorialisation landscape, including state initiatives, civil society documentation, and the constraints imposed by legitimacy contests. Third, it analyses how parallel governance, segregated information environments, and selective remembrance shape political participation and institutional trust, with particular attention to recent shifts in the north of Kosovo. Finally, it sets out recommendations that prioritise feasibility, institutional continuity, and cross-community legitimacy, aiming to strengthen Kosovo’s transitional justice architecture in ways that reduce the political rewards of denial and deepen incentives for participation. The discussion centres not on achieving complete consensus about the past, but on constructing a baseline of truth and mutual recognition and assessing Kosovo’s willingness to undertake this task at the present political juncture.
Topic:
Governance, Transitional Justice, Post-Conflict, and Collective Memory
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, Balkans, and Spain

2822. Strategic analysis of cyber conflicts: A game-theoretic modelling of global cyber crises in the 2000s

Author:
Esra Merve Çalışkan
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
In the rapidly evolving landscape of international relations, cyberspace has emerged as a new battlefield for interstate competition and conflict. The increasing digitalisation of our world necessitates a thorough understanding of cybersecurity and the strategic dynamics of cyber warfare. The current level of understanding of these issues is limited. This study aims to bridge this gap by employing game theory to analyse significant cyber crises that occurred during the 2000s. By modelling the preferences and strategies of states that have extended their global power struggles into the cyber domain, we seek to develop a framework for predicting systematic crises and conflicts in this arena. Our research examines eight case studies drawn from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. For each case, we define the actors, their strategies, preferences, and potential outcomes, culminating in the identification of Nash equilibria. Through comparative analysis, we highlight the similarities and differences in cyber conflict dynamics across these diverse regions. This study contributes to the literature on cyber conflicts in international relations through its innovative application of game theory modelling and comparative case analysis. We developed a novel analytical framework for explaining state behaviour in cyberspace. Our findings suggest that game theory and strategic analysis can serve as powerful tools for predicting state preferences in the cyber domain. The results indicate that aggressor states often adopt denial strategies, while victim states tend to respond with harsh retaliation. Furthermore, we observed that cyber operations during election periods are attractive to both aggressor and victim countries, but this tendency contributes to global instability. In conclusion, this research argues in support of the utility of game theory and strategic analysis in modelling and forecasting state preferences and behaviours in cyberspace. Our study not only contributes to the existing literature but also proposes methodological approaches for future research. The insights gained from this analysis are valuable for policymakers in formulating effective cybersecurity strategies and for scholars seeking to deepen their understanding of the complex interplay between technology, strategy, and international relations in the digital age.
Topic:
Cybersecurity, Geopolitics, Armed Conflict, Game Theory, and Modeling
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2823. Artificial intelligence in financial security: Legal challenges in Japan’s AML/CFT regime and comparative insights from selected EU countries

Author:
Dawid Trela
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
This study examines the legal and regulatory challenges in deploying artificial intelligence (AI) within anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing (AML/CFT) systems in Japan (focal case) and in Germany, France, and Poland (purposive comparators). It identifies intra- and cross-jurisdictional gaps; assesses alignment with FATF Recommendations 1 and 15, the GDPR, and the EU AI Act; and distils transferable best practices. Doctrinal legal analysis and normative comparative methodology were employed, with limited functional observations where supervisory practice is documented. Sources include statutes and regulations, supervisory guidance, and case law issued from May 2015–May 2025, notably the EU AML package (Reg. (EU) 2024/1624; Dir. (EU) 2024/1640; Reg. (EU) 2024/1620) and the AI Act (Reg. (EU) 2024/1689), as well as FATF materials and national guidance (BaFin, CNIL/Tracfin, JFSA). All jurisdictions permit AI in AML/CFT, yet frameworks remain fragmented and under-specified for algorithmic decision-making. Key gaps concern liability for algorithmic outcomes; tensions between transparency/explainability and tippingoff; and safeguards for automated decisions (GDPR Art. 22). Germany/France show higher supervisory maturity (explainability, auditability, DPIA, human-in-the-loop), whereas Japan/Poland rely chiefly on general data-protection duties with limited AML/AI-specific guidance, indicating the need for governance-heavy, auditable, human-in-the-loop designs. Better coordination of the AML, AI, and data-protection regimes is required to ensure both effectiveness and fundamental-rights protection. Japan could benefit from EU practices by formalising human-in-the-loop requirements for high-impact AML decisions, mandating DPIAs, enhancing auditability/reporting for high-risk models, and expanding regulatory sandboxing. The EU should continue aligning the AI Act with the AML Regulation (via AMLA guidance), clarifying oversight, documentation, and explainability expectations for AML use cases.
Topic:
European Union, Accountability, Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection, and Financial Security
Political Geography:
Europe, France, Poland, Germany, Japan, and Asia

2824. Cybersecurity and incident response processes for maintaining operational security and continuity at vocational education institutions

Author:
Anna-Liisa Ojala
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
The presence of cybersecurity in educational institutions, including vocational education and training (VET), plays a vital role in ensuring the overall societal security in an increasing digital world. This study explores how staff of VET institutions respond to suspected cybersecurity incidents, focusing on reporting channels and methods used. The objective is to better understand incident response practices in the under-researched VET context, with special attention given to the human and organisational aspects of cybersecurity. VET institutions operate digital systems that mirror real workplace environments and often handle authentic customer data, exposing them to risks that differ from those of general education settings. A qualitative methodology was employed, consisting of thematic interviews with twenty-seven staff members across three Finnish vocational schools. The analysis was guided by the Situation Awareness in Cybersecurity Incident Response model and the Zone of Proximal Development framework, allowing for a deeper exploration of how staff perceive and act upon potential threats. Although formal reporting procedures exist, staff frequently rely on informal networks and direct contact with IT support. Urgent cases are often communicated via phone, a method perceived as efficient but lacking in documentation and structure, which can hinder post-incident analysis and learning. Improving cybersecurity incident response in VET institutions requires the integration of formal digital tools with flexible, human-centred communication methods. Strengthening these systems is essential, not only for protecting sensitive data, ensuring continuity, and creating safer learning environments, but also for reinforcing the digital resilience of society as a whole.
Topic:
Education, Cybersecurity, Social Security, and Vocational Education
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2825. Technological maturity for Jeune École: The case of Ukraine’s naval strategy

Author:
Guntis Skunstiņš
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
This paper conducts an in-depth study on how Ukraine changed the balance of military power in the Black Sea. It conceptualises the idea that the development of modern military technology has reached a level of maturity, providing a new perspective for the Jeune École concept. The paper uses the process tracing method to establish a timeline from Russian full blockade to Ukrainian sea denial. The battlefield application of anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) in the early stages of the war created the necessary conditions for establishing sea denial, followed by the continued use of ASCM, aerial drones, and maritime drones to consolidate the initial successes. The international community observed Ukraine’s deployment of unmanned systems with great interest, heralding it as the dawn of a new era in naval warfare. However, when analysed in depth, it becomes clear that traditional weaponry played the decisive role in achieving sea denial initially. Only after the Russian Federation’s fleet had been forced from the coastal waters did naval drones begin to extend and solidify the denied area. The research further indicates that even a smaller state can produce significant strategic effects using anti-ship cruise missiles and swarming maritime drones—principles rooted in the historic Jeune École doctrine. Findings reveal that technological advances have significantly mitigated the traditional limitations of small platforms, especially in adverse conditions. As such, the combination of Jeune École’s asymmetric maritime strategy and modern unmanned systems offers a viable blueprint for smaller nations to challenge superior naval forces, dispute blockades, and achieve effective sea denial.
Topic:
Science and Technology, Military Strategy, Navy, Russia-Ukraine War, and Warfare
Political Geography:
Europe and Ukraine

2826. Enhancing maritime infrastructure security through AI-driven naval drone operations in the Southern Baltic Sea

Author:
Krzysztof Pająk
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
This study aims to explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI)-supported drone operations as a proactive response to increasing maritime threats, particularly in the southern Baltic Sea, and to analyse the applicability of autonomous systems in protecting ports, offshore platforms, subsea cables, and pipelines under conditions of spatial congestion and geopolitical risk. This study adopts a qualitative analytical approach, grounded in the review of relevant literature, official reports, and statistical data from a variety of international and academic sources. The research process involves the analysis of existing materials to identify key patterns and trends related to maritime infrastructure and security in the southern Baltic Sea. Through inference, the study aims to draw reasoned conclusions from available data, particularly where direct evidence was limited due to the emerging nature of the subject matter. AI-enhanced naval drones can significantly improve the monitoring and protection of maritime infrastructure through continuous, real-time, and autonomous operations. The deployment of such systems enables faster threat detection and decision-making, thereby enhancing the resilience of critical assets, such as wind farms, subsea cables, and ports. Overall, this information should contribute to national defence and stability. In the face of rapid transformation in the southern Baltic Sea, driven by increasing maritime traffic, energy demands, and offshore development, the integration of AI and autonomous systems into maritime operations is essential in order to ensure effective spatial and security management. Unmanned vehicles, supported by AI, will become a cornerstone of maritime defence, enabling constant surveillance and rapid response to evolving hybrid threats.
Topic:
International Security, Biosecurity, Drones, Navy, Maritime, and Artificial Intelligence
Political Geography:
Europe and Baltic Sea

2827. When Citizen Action for Accountability Boosts Legislative Oversight: The Multiply-Ed Experience in the Philippines

Author:
Joy Aceron and Abrehet Gebremedhin
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Accountability Research Center (ARC), American University
Abstract:
The Philippines has long been confronting an education crisis. This was exacerbated by Covid-19, which prevented tens of millions of public school students from going to school. As a response, the national government developed a new education system to enable learners to continue learning amid the global health emergency. Such drastic changes in the education system and long-standing systemic problems in education governance prompted accountability checks to be undertaken in state and society to ensure responsiveness to learners and effectiveness in bringing forth education reforms. This Accountability Note on education reform in the Philippines presents an empirical pathway by which two distinct but complementary bodies have interfaced for a shared agenda of systemic education reform. These two parallel processes—an independent, citizen-led civil society organization, Multiply-Ed, and a congressional oversight committee, the Education Commission II (EDCOM II)—emerged with overlapping findings, actions, and agendas, showing the value of synergy between citizen-led action and government oversight. We demonstrate that accountability processes within the state and society can converge and reinforce each other even when there is no normalized collaboration. Common issues are tackled, institutional interfacing paves the way for information and knowledge to be shared, and commitment to the overarching shared goal of education reform is reaffirmed. However, even beyond converging findings, independent citizen-led monitoring like that conducted by Multiply-Ed has a distinct added value for the education sector. Through its movement-based approach to accountability, Multiply-Ed has identified an action-oriented reform agenda overlooked by legislative oversight mechanisms, that can help advance and sustain the reforms. This Accountability Note provides key takeaways for both social constituencies and government duty-bearers seeking to identify and address shared agendas through accountability. • Independent accountability efforts of state oversight bodies such as EDCOM II and citizen-led monitoring initiatives like Multiply-Ed can produce shared agendas and findings that are mutually reinforcing and may lead to progress towards common goals. • In the case of the interface between civil society accountability efforts and government oversight in the education sector in the Philippines, a shared agenda of enhancing the role of local governments, ensuring timely access to learning resources, ensuring teaching quality, and providing an adequate budget for education has been reinforced. • By bringing in the perspectives of citizens through platforms such as school governance councils, independent citizen-led monitoring provides a distinct added value beyond state oversight, offering solutions that are action-oriented and systemic, and sustain accountability amid the dynamics of political elites. • Mutually-reinforcing agendas and processes shared between civil society accountability actors and government oversight bodies can be key to harnessing state-society synergy, and pivotal in enabling progress towards power-shifting reforms.
Topic:
Civil Society, Education, Governance, Reform, and Accountability
Political Geography:
Asia and Philippines

2828. Open Parliaments in Africa

Author:
Idah Knowles
Publication Date:
09-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Accountability Research Center (ARC), American University
Abstract:
An open parliament is one that makes legislative work transparent, participatory, and accountable, fostering a two-way relationship between citizens and their representatives. Across Africa, advances towards parliamentary openness have been lauded as governance breakthroughs, but what difference have they made in practice? Openness can sometimes be reduced to dashboards, consultations, and scorecards, prioritizing visibility over influence. The risk is that open parliament initiatives create the illusion of participation rather than meaningful change. Accountability emerges only when openness makes parliaments more responsive to their people and, by extension, executives more responsive to their parliaments. This paper examines Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to assess whether open parliament reforms have resulted in institutional uptake and shifts in power dynamics, and where they have fallen short. Across cases, two conclusions stand out. Transparency has clearly expanded, and in some moments these tools have enabled civic actors to expose wrongdoing or shape reforms. At the same time, responsiveness is uneven, and executive dominance, partisan discipline, and structural exclusion continue to blunt accountability. Open parliament in Africa is less a finished reform than a contested process: progress is real but partial, and the challenge ahead is to link visibility to responsiveness so that citizens are not only seen and heard, but also heeded.
Topic:
Governance, Accountability, Transparency, and Pan-African Parliament (PAP)
Political Geography:
Kenya, Africa, South Africa, and Ghana

2829. Upwelling: Fishers Organizing for their Rights and Sustainable Fisheries

Author:
Judy Gearhart and Connor Moynihan
Publication Date:
05-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Accountability Research Center (ARC), American University
Abstract:
Fishers face increased risks to their lives and livelihoods. Climate change and overfishing are sending fishers out to sea for longer periods of time or at distances beyond the capacity of their vessels. In response, fishers are pursuing new strategies to organize, build power, and defend their rights. This paper presents lessons from fisher organizing in diverse sectors. It aligns with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 188 (C 188) on Work in Fishing, which defines fishers as all those working in marine capture, from artisanal fisherfolk to workers on the distant water fleet (DWF). The research reviews organizing trends in six countries and identifies common challenges and factors contributing to fisher organizing. In all six countries—Ecuador, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico, Taiwan, and Thailand—new organizing initiatives have recently emerged. This research considers a range of dynamics that affect fisher organizing and their ability to access information, seek remedy, and influence policy outcomes. It provides insights from interviews with organizers and other fishery experts. The findings highlight areas where more work and strategizing are needed to build stronger and more influential fisher organizations.
Topic:
Climate Change, Sustainability, Labor Rights, and Fisheries
Political Geography:
Africa, Indonesia, Taiwan, Asia, Latin America, Mexico, Thailand, Ghana, and Ecuador

2830. Ten Dimensions of Network Strengthening: Lessons from Health Rights Advocates in Guatemala, Mexico, and the Philippines

Author:
Julia Fischer-Mackey, Joy Aceron, Hilda Argüello Avendaño, Benilda Batzín, Francisco Gómez Guillén, and Rosaura Medina
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Accountability Research Center (ARC), American University
Abstract:
Maintaining and strengthening networks of volunteers is central to the health rights advocacy work of four civil society organizations (CSOs) in Guatemala, Mexico, and the Philippines who have worked through networks to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent healthcare (RMNCAH) services for marginalized communities. Their experience shows that networks of volunteers that represent marginalized populations and have the skills to engage with public authorities at different levels of government can confront the political and policy issues necessary to improve RMNCAH care. This Accountability Note captures the reflections of these CSOs on ten dimensions of network strengthening that they consider critical to their efforts to strengthen volunteer networks.
Topic:
Civil Society, Advocacy, Public Health, Marginalization, and Volunteers
Political Geography:
Asia, Philippines, Latin America, Mexico, and Guatemala

2831. Paraguayan consumer import choice for twenty products from four countries

Author:
Michael J. Pisani, Rubén Alderete, and Silvio Eduardo Becker
Publication Date:
08-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Centro de Análisis y Difusión de la Economía Paraguaya (CADEP)
Abstract:
Over the past few years, we have published several open access articles featuring Paraguayan consumer behavior with a focus on general attitudes toward imports and imports from specific countries. More specifically, we have studied the propensity, morality, and openness of Paraguayans to choose domestic versus imported goods. In this study, we preview a set of 20 products that were evaluated by 363 middle- and upperclass Paraguayans in 2022 as to their necessity, importance, and familiarity among Paraguayan consumers.
Topic:
Economy, Trade, Imports, Consumer Behavior, and Goods and Services
Political Geography:
South America and Paraguay

2832. The Scale and Policy Implications of Nonfinancial Business Rents

Author:
Marc Jarsulic
Publication Date:
08-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
The behavior of monopolies has been in the news. A federal judge, for example, recently decided that Google’s monopolistic behavior with respect to its search engine violated antitrust law. The FTC has brought actions against other large businesses, challenging what they allege are illegal attempts to create or enhance monopoly power. Regardless of how these individual legal actions play out, there is abundant evidence that barriers to competition and the market power of firms have increased over time. Since market power allows firms to earn rents – i.e. supra-competitive profits – an empirical measure of aggregate rent can serve as an index of market power. Moreover, when rents are large enough, they affect the distribution of income. This paper estimates rent as a share of gross value added for the nonfinancial business sector (NFB), and for the nonfinancial corporate sector (NFC), using distinct estimation techniques. The results are remarkably similar, and the estimates indicate that rent extraction is an important mechanism by which the income distribution has been skewed upward. Estimated NFB rents, for example, were $1.7 trillion in 2023. The results point to an important policy option: a tax on rents to support important social programs such as Medicare/Medicaid, which will at the same reduce the economic and political power of the largest monopolies and their owners.
Topic:
Finance, Business, Monopoly, Rent, and Antitrust
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2833. “Bailouts as Far as the Eyes Can See: A Critique of the “Money View” in the Age of Trumpism”

Author:
Gerald Epstein and Aaron Medlin
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
Monetary and financial relations are changing rapidly around the globe under the contradictory forces of financial and digital globalization on the one hand, and geo-political disruption, disintegration, and re-ordering on the other. These tectonic forces pose enormous challenges for our economy and society in both the North and the Global South. Trump 2.0, his administration’s radical financial de-regulation agenda and their push for crypto asset mainstreaming are adding significantly to the likelihood of a great financial crash and consequent pressures on the Federal Reserve for financial bailouts. We argue that an increasingly popular set of financial analyses that go under the heading of the “Money View”, while extremely useful for understanding the nature and mechanics of global financial markets, is in danger of providing a “seal of approval” for these “lender of last resort” bail-outs that enable the expansion of this socially inefficient and dangerous monetary and financial system. We contend that Northern countries and especially those of the Global South should insulate themselves from these likely upheavals by resisting the siren calls for greater integration into this unregulated, U.S.- dominated global crypto ecosystem.
Topic:
Globalization, Finance, and Cryptocurrencies
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2834. Interstate Highways and Urban Blight: Evidence from Administrative Housing Data

Author:
Thomas Walter
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
This paper estimates the effects of the Interstate Highway System on proximate urban neighborhoods using detailed American Housing Survey data from the 35 most-populous US metropolitan areas. I begin by identifying seven adverse housing conditions and measuring their prevalence with respect to the observational housing units’ distance to the nearest Interstate. I then use weighted linear regressions to estimate the change in likelihood for the presence of each adverse condition when a housing unit is near an Interstate. I find that housing units within one kilometer of an Interstate are 50% more likely to report being near abandoned buildings, 43% more likely to report serious crime in their neighborhood, and 21% more likely to be deemed inadequate. Furthermore, residents of these Interstate-proximate units are 53% and 41% more likely to report dissatisfaction with their neighborhood and housing unit, respectively. To support these estimates by accounting for the fact that Interstates were often intentionally built through marginalized communities, I also employ an instrumental variable approach. My results provide new evidence and stylized facts on the Interstate system as a locus of urban blight.
Topic:
Transportation, Cities, Quality of Life, Housing, Neighborhoods, and Highway System
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

2835. Investing in Power: Unequal Exchange in Global Value Chains

Author:
James Heitz and William Milberg
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
The question of how value is distributed within global value chains (GVCs) is one of the central questions in contemporary research on trade and development and an analysis of power is central to understanding this issue. This paper extends existing research on distribution within global value chains by focusing on the issue of power in both product markets and supplier markets. We present a formal model in which lead firms capture a larger share of value-added, either through higher mark-ups – monopoly power – or lower unit costs goods purchased from suppliers – monopsony power. Maintaining or expanding this market power involves costly investments in intangible assets, with the nature of that investment depending on the characteristics of the GVC. This framework provides new insights into the distributive dynamics of value chains, including reputation effects tied to corporate social responsibility. In this way, the paper presents an innovative way of theorizing international trade, inspired by the unequal exchange tradition, that can be extended in future research.
Topic:
Economics, Human Rights, Finance, Macroeconomics, Global Value Chains, and Labor Market
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2836. Anchored Inflation With Differential Inflation Benchmarks

Author:
Thomas R. Michl
Publication Date:
09-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
This paper presents a model of inflation and distribution that features a structural difference between the wage Phillips curve and the price Phillips curve. The wage Phillips curve revolves around conditions in the labor market represented by the employment rate while the price Phillips curve revolves around conditions in the product market represented by capacity utilization. Differences in the relative bargaining power of workers and capitalist firms give rise to stabilizing real wage dynamics that lead to normal capacity utilization. Wage and price setting are each benchmarked to a different reference rate of price inflation, and both are anchored by the central bank’s inflation target. Price-setting by capitalist firms requires accurate projections (inflation expectations) of their competitors’ prices while the wage-setting reference rate reflects the delay in keeping up with past inflation that firms impose on workers, so that more anchoring represents the loss of working class bargaining power. Greater anchoring of the wage-setting reference rate relative to the price-setting rate makes real wages vulnerable to erosion from inflation. Capacity constraints also generate inflation that erodes wages. The model sheds some light on the recent post-Covid inflation through these channels.
Topic:
Economics, Employment, Inflation, and Labor Market
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2837. Inequality of Opportunity and Stratification Economics: Different Paths, Shared Concerns

Author:
Luis Monroy-Gómez-Franco
Publication Date:
09-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
This paper compares two approaches to the study of inequality that have recently consolidated as distinct fields: the economics of inequality of opportunity (IOp) and stratification economics (SE). IOp examines how circumstances beyond individual control shape inequalities, while SE emphasizes how institutions and group identities reproduce intergroup hierarchies. I argue that, despite distinct origins, the two frameworks can be viewed as complementary. To support this claim, I outline the main features of each theoretical framework and contrast them along several dimensions: their equalisandum, the role of social groups, primary unit of analysis, and their conception of how structural factors influence inequality. The analysis shows that the distance between the two approaches is less significant than often assumed. Their differences enhance their complementarity, positioning SE and IOp not as competitors but as mutually reinforcing frameworks for understanding inequality.
Topic:
Economics, Inequality, Equality of Opportunity, and Stratification Economics
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2838. For G20 Food Security Task Force: Food Price Stabilization in an Age of Overlapping Emergencies: The case for multilevel buffer stocks

Author:
Isabella M. Weber, Jayati Ghosh, Sophie van Huellen, Merle Schulken, and Sudeep Jain
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
Food price volatility is increasingly affected by overlapping emergencies including climate change, armed conflicts and trade wars. Buffer stocks can stabilize food prices and contribute towards long-term goals such as food sovereignty and sustainable farming. We propose a regional African food reserve comprising regionally grown and imported grain, to stabilize prices over time and across locations as well as to incentivize more sustainable food cultivation in the region. Additionally, we propose global virtual and physical reserves to stabilize the prices of globally traded commodities and support regional reserves.
Topic:
Agriculture, Food Security, Sustainability, Food Sovereignty, and Price Stabilization
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2839. Women, Peace and Security and Technology Futures: What World Are We Building?

Author:
Sahana Dharmapuri and Jolynn Shoemaker
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Our Secure Future
Abstract:
This report explores the links between technology, women's participation and security, and seeks to improve strategic decisions regarding technology norms and policies through the application of Women, Peace and Security principles. Technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and future innovations, is reshaping the world, with profound effects on peace and security. The preoccupation in policymaking on short-term, strategic advantages often leads to long-term, unintended consequences – especially for civilians and those disproportionately affected by instability, particularly women and girls. The growing intersection between government defense sector and the technology industry is, furthermore, squeezing out civil society voices and de-prioritizing human rights and humanitarian law. In this context, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda provides a necessary framework through which to assess the emerging technology landscape, identify existing policy blind spots and inform decision-making within both the defense and technology sectors. This white paper is a first step in integrating WPS into technology and security decisions. It explores the links between technology, women's participation and security, and seeks to improve strategic decisions regarding technology norms and policies by examining three critical blind spots in the development of technology and AI through the lens of the WPS framework.
Topic:
Security, Science and Technology, Women, Artificial Intelligence, Norms, Instability, Women, Peace, and and Security (WPS)
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2840. Shocks & Shifts: Impact of Major Donor Funding Cuts on LGBTI Intermediary Infrastructure – Summary Report

Author:
Global Philanthropy Project (GPP)
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Global Philanthropy Project (GPP)
Abstract:
Global LGBTI intermediary funders—key organizations that channel resources, strengthen local movements, and sustain essential infrastructure—are facing a period of acute instability. In July 2025, GPP surveyed 29 of the leading LGBTI intermediary funders. Their responses, combined with trends from the 2021–2022 Global Resources Report, reveal the profound and immediate effects of major donor withdrawals, particularly the rapid elimination of U.S. Government support. In the last Global Resources Report (for years 2021–2022), the 29 participating intermediary funders accounted for more than half (54%) of the number of grants awarded for work focused on LGBTI communities in the Global South and East (GSE). Given this, the key findings in this report map the tectonic shifts in ODA and philanthropy that are influencing the global LGBTI funding ecosystem. This report is a snapshot in time and provides the clearest picture yet of what intermediaries are experiencing in 2025, based on self-reported data. Through a range of upcoming research, GPP will continue to monitor and update on the shifting of the LGBTI funding landscape.
Topic:
Infrastructure, LGBT+, Donors, Funding, and Instability
Political Geography:
Global Focus