Natural Resource Revenues: An opportunity to grow? Estimating the effect of royalties on Colombian departments Abstract: Do royalties from the natural resource extraction contribute to economic growth in the Colombian context? To answer this question, this study examines the allocation and use of royalties in the 32 Colombian departments between 2005 and 2019, period that spans two different governance schemes. Using panel data analysis, it finds that from the allocation perspective, there are indications of the natural resource curse in producing departments. In terms of the returns of the investments, the results highlight issues related to the efficiency and quality of public investment in the main sectors, despite the significant contribution of the 2011 royalties’ reform to address revenues mismanagement and equity issues. These results point to imbalances in the royalties’ policy, thus contributing to inform the current debate on energy transition and future policy reforms. Resumen: ¿Contribuyen las regalías provenientes de la extracción de recursos naturales al crecimiento económico en el contexto colombiano? Para responder a esta pregunta, este estudio examina la asignación y el uso de las regalías en los 32 departamentos colombianos entre 2005 y 2019, periodo que abarca dos esquemas de gobernanza diferentes. Utilizando análisis de datos de panel, encuentra que desde la perspectiva de la asignación, hay indicios de la maldición de los recursos naturales en los departamentos productores. En términos de los retornos de las inversiones, los resultados destacan problemas relacionados con la eficiencia y la calidad de la inversión pública en los principales sectores, a pesar de la importante contribución de la reforma de las regalías de 2011 para abordar la mala gestión de los ingresos y los problemas de equidad regional. Estos resultados apuntan a desequilibrios en la política de regalías, contribuyendo así a informar el debate actual sobre la transición energética y las futuras reformas de política.

Abstract: In this thesis, I test if the effect of state intervention on economic growth and inequality depends on the level of institutional quality a country presents. I use three different proxies to measure the degree of state intervention in the economy, then I specify a model which includes an interaction term between rule of law and one of the proxies of state intervention. The model is tested in a cross-panel dataset for at most 58 countries in 7 three-year periods, from 1998 to 2018. I find evidence for a non-linear relationship between income per capita and state intervention when the latter is proxied as market openness, varying on the level of rule of law. Contrary to expectations, countries with better institutional quality do not benefit the most from freer markets. As for inequality, I find non-robust evidence of a crossover interaction between public employment and rule of law, yet this result is not economically meaningful. Resumen: En esta tesis, compruebo si el efecto de la intervención estatal sobre el crecimiento económico y la desigualdad depende del nivel de calidad institucional que presenta un país. Utilizo tres indicadores distintos para medir el grado de intervención estatal en la economía y, a continuación, especifico un modelo que incluye un término de interacción entre la variable de Estado de Derecho (rule of law) y uno de los indicadores de intervención estatal. El modelo se testea en una base de datos de panel con un máximo de 58 países en 7 períodos de tres años, de 1998 a 2018. Encuentro pruebas de una relación no lineal entre la renta per cápita y la intervención estatal cuando esta última se aproxima como apertura del mercado, variando en función del nivel de Estado de Derecho (rule of law). Contrario a lo esperado, los países con mejor calidad institucional no son los que más se benefician de mercados más libres. En cuanto a la desigualdad, encuentro pruebas no robustas de una interacción cruzada entre el empleo en el sector público y el Estado de Derecho, aunque este resultado no es económicamente significativo.

Abstract: This thesis aims to discuss and analyze the influence of women's work on the social construction of the Tarapacá territory, located in the Amazon region of Colombia. Tarapacá was established as a Colombian district as a result of the territorial conflict between Colombia and Peru over the Amazonian border. The period studied extends from the 1930s, when the border conflict occurred, to the year 2022. The research is based on historical documentary sources, interviews, and academic works that highlight the ways in which women understand, produce, and transform the environment. The theoretical framework falls within the field of environmental history with a focus on gender. The study of the relationships between gender and the environment throughout the history of this Amazonian territory seeks to document the legacy of women and understand how it manifests in the present. This work analyzes the relationship of women with the territory from the perspective of socio-spatial formation, considering the historical influence of their work in the construction of social space. Among the results, it is highlighted that the colonialist view tends to treat nature as passive and subordinate, resulting in the oppression of both nature and individuals considered ""non-agents"" and ""non-subjects,"" especially indigenous women. An approach aligned with the perspective of Well-Living (in Spanish, Buen Vivir) of the Andean-Amazonian peoples challenges this view and recognizes the agency and subjectivity of all living beings. For Amazonian women, their connection with nature is used as a strategy to position themselves in the political sphere, sustain life, and protect their territories. This symbolic and practical relationship with the environmental surroundings is fundamental for cultural preservation and resistance against exploitation and territorial dispossession. Resumen: Esta tesis tiene como objetivo discutir y analizar la influencia del trabajo de las mujeres en la construcción social del territorio de Tarapacá, ubicado en la región amazónica de Colombia. Tarapacá fue establecido como un distrito colombiano como resultado del conflicto territorial entre Colombia y Perú por la frontera amazónica. El período estudiado abarca desde la década de 1930, cuando ocurrió el conflicto fronterizo, hasta el año 2022. La investigación se basa en fuentes documentales históricas, entrevistas y trabajos académicos que destacan las formas en que las mujeres conocen, producen y transforman el ambiente. El marco teórico se enmarca en el campo de la historia ambiental con enfoque de género. El estudio de las relaciones entre género y ambiente a lo largo de la historia de este territorio amazónico busca documentar el legado de las mujeres y comprender cómo se manifiesta en el presente. El trabajo analiza la relación de las mujeres con el territorio desde la perspectiva de la formación socioespacial, considerando la influencia histórica de sus trabajos en la construcción del espacio social. Entre los resultados, se destaca que la visión colonialista tiende a tratar la naturaleza como pasiva y subordinada, lo que ha resultado en la opresión tanto de la naturaleza como de las personas consideradas ""no agentes"" y ""no sujetos"", especialmente las mujeres indígenas. Un enfoque cercano a la perspectiva del Buen Vivir de los pueblos andinoamazónicos desafía esta visión y reconoce la agencia y subjetividad de todos los seres vivos. Para las mujeres amazónicas, su vínculo con la naturaleza es usado como una estrategia para posicionarse en el ámbito político, sustentar la vida y proteger sus territorios. Esta relación simbólica y práctica con el entorno ambiental es fundamental para la preservación cultural y la resistencia contra la explotación y la desposesión territorial.

Abstract: Background: Multidrug resistant TB cases have been on the rise, risking advances in TB prevalence and control. Early diagnosis and targeted initial treatment are paramount for effective management and control of spreading of MDR/XDR-TB cases Methods: 161 isolates from patients with L-J culture confirmed TB in Lima, Peru, were tested with MODS+ assay, the diagnostic test and Sensititre, the reference standard. Analysis of growth patterns of bacteria in both methods were used to determine susceptibility/resistance of each isolate to three first line and six second line anti-TB agents, using two different critical concentrations (CC) for each antibiotic. Results: Agreement between susceptibility profiles and operational characteristics of diagnostic test yielded high performance and strong agreement with rifampicin 1μg/ml (agreement percent 90%, Kappa value 0.80) and amikacin 1μg/ml (agreement percent 96%, Kappa value 0.81), moderate for isoniazid 0.4μg/ml (agreement percent 89.4%, Kappa value 0.78), moxifloxacin at both CC’s 0.5μg/ml and 0.25μg/ml (agreement percent 93 and kappa values 0.73 for both), levofloxacin 2μg/ml (agreement 93%, kappa 0.69) and amikacin 2μg/ml (agreement 96%, Kappa 0.81), minimal for levofloxacin at CC 1.5μg/ml (agreement 90%, kappa 0.57) kanamycin at both CC’s 10μg/ml and 5μg/ml (agreement 87%, kappa 0.52) and ethionamide 5μg/ml (agreement 89%, kappa 0.46), weak for PAS 10μg/ml (agreement percent 93.9, kappa value 0.29), and none for ethambutol (Kappa value 0.02 for CC 10μg/ml, 0.07 for CC 5μg/ml). Conclusions: MODS+ assay is a cost-effective option for the diagnosis of TB and MDR/XDRTB, specially, in low resource settings with high TB incidence. Further operational research using lower CC’s, results read on different days and placed in settings with high and low TB and MDR/XDRTB burden could offer better sensitivities and wider applicability of results.

Abstract: The central aim of this research is to scrutinize the liability regime associated with environmental harm resulting from mining activities in the Area. The thesis endeavors to identify and analyze the gaps in the existing legal framework, particularly under UNCLOS. It questions whether the current standards, which are predominantly based on negligence, are sufficient for safeguarding the ecological integrity of this vital global common. The research is driven by the pressing need for an effective legal regime that aligns with the CHM principle and adequately protects the marine environment from the risks of deep-sea mining. Resumen: El objetivo central de esta investigación es examinar el régimen de responsabilidad asociado con el daño ambiental resultante de las actividades mineras en la Zona. La tesis se esfuerza por identificar y analizar las lagunas en el marco legal existente, especialmente bajo la Convención de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar (UNCLOS). Se cuestiona si las normas actuales, que se basan predominantemente en la negligencia, son suficientes para salvaguardar la integridad ecológica de este vital bien común global. La investigación se impulsa por la apremiante necesidad de un régimen legal efectivo que se alinee con el principio del Patrimonio Común de la Humanidad (CHM) y proteja adecuadamente el medio ambiente marino de los riesgos de la minería en el lecho marino profundo.

Abstract: The following document is a proposal to enhance and improve the way in which the Colombian craft sector exposes and sells its products, through a unified platform in which stories, craftsmen, creative professionals, and products converge in a dynamic and simplified way. Here they may show the modern, fresh, high aesthetic and professional face of the Colombian craft sector, always having as a horizon the new global dynamics of digitalization and virtualization of everyday life. In this process, the Association Artesanías de Colombia is taken as the main reference, being the main channel that groups and manages the national artisan activity, the platform is formulated as the future tool for the management of the artisan sector. Facing problems that the artisans manifest, punctually the lack of visibility and participation in new markets, the physical limitations that they have to exhibit and sell their products, followed by the low participation in exhibitions and fairs. In order to face these inconveniences, which overwhelm Colombian artisans on a daily basis, the document begins by reviewing the artisan sector as such, identifying its principles and values. This is followed by the evaluation of initiatives and programs that have been and are still in place, focusing on the digital development of the sector, and reviewing interesting national and international case studies of collaborations between the artisan sector and the creative industries, highlighting the importance of these joint ventures for obtaining results that combine contemporaneity with tradition. Finally, the thesis closes with a proposal for the design of a system that simplifies the essential components of the craft sector, enhancing the relationship between craftsman and designer, giving special emphasis to the way in which products are displayed digitally using 3d scanner methods, thus raising the level and homogeneity of the platform. Link to the website prototype: https://www.figma.com/proto/zpEVy5JmhPjY7lfvWqjFMB/Artesanias?node-id=1-6&scaling=minzoom&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node-id=1%3A6

Abstract: Geographical Indication (GI) contains a number of economic tools and, due to the close relationship with their territory of origin, GIs are used as a mechanism to reach and benefit local communities through the increased remunerative value associated with their agricultural, handicraft and artisan production. Empirical evidence indicates GIs provide economic, social, and environmental effects over their territory of origin although; the grade of impact differs from case to case. Inadequate structures and weak governance also generate unexpected outcomes such as; abandonment of traditional practices, or the destruction of biodiversity —especially in developing countries where scarcity of economic resources and the inability of sustaining long–term commitments has been evident. GIs require a careful analysis of the circumstances in which the product is embedded under GI recognition, as well as the study of resources available for its implementation. GIs are a legitimate form of intellectual property —a status which guarantees the owner’s right to economically exploit it. Due to connection to the land, GIs could also generate social and environmental impacts over local communities that are not trivial. This paper aims to outline a GI implementation process that has a wider scope of variables, in order to obtain not only economic, but social and environmental benefits for the region to which the GI is linked. This paper is organized in two parts of three sections each. The first section describes the objectives, structure, and methodology used by the author. In the second, a “state of the art” for GI is explained; outlining some expected benefits and challenges. The third section establishes a legal basis for GIs, providing a background of the international legal schemes and current discussions. In Part 2, Section 4 analyses five existing GI cases; describing the circumstances and focus undertaken by GI policy makers. In the analysis that follows, specific patterns and relationships between variables and outcomes are discussed. Section 5 outlines an implementation process—including precise objectives, variables, and suggestions that can be adapted to specific circumstances. Section 6 summarises the main findings and final conclusions. Resumen: Las indicaciones geográficas (GIs por sus siglas in ingles) contienen un gran numero de herramientas, que debido a su estrecha relación con el territorio de origen, son utilizadas como un mecanismo que beneficia a las comunidades del lugar donde son producidas, este beneficio es generalmente concebido a través del mayor valor que el productor percibe dado el trabajo agrícola y artesanal relacionado con el GI. Aunque sus impactos difieren de caso a caso, evidencia empírica indica que GIs producen efectos económicos, sociales y ambientales sobre sus territorios de origen. Sin embargo, estructuras inadecuadas y pobre gobernanza pueden generar resultados inesperados tales como: abandono de practicas tradicionales o incluso, destrucción de la biodiversidad de la región – especialmente en países en desarrollo donde han sido evidentes la escases de recursos económicos y la inhabilidad de sostener compromisos al largo plazo. Por lo anterior, es claro que GIs requieren de un análisis cuidadoso sobre las circunstancias en las cuales el producto objeto de reconocimiento de GI es enmarcado, así como también, requiere de un estudio minucioso sobre los recursos disponibles para su implementación. GIs son una forma legitima de propiedad intelectual – un estatus que le garantiza al dueño del derecho a explotarlo económicamente. Debido a su estrecha conexión con la tierra, las GI también pueden generar impactos sociales y ambientales sobre las comunidades locales, adyacentes a su lugar de producción. Este documento tiene como objetivo establecer un proceso de implementación de GIs que logre obtener beneficios no solo económicos sino también sociales y ambientales a las regiones ligadas a las GIs. Este documento esta organizado en dos partes, cada uno con tres secciones. En la primera parte, la primera sección describe los objetivos, estructura y metodología utilizada por el autor. En la segunda sección, el “estado de arte” de GIs es explicado, resaltando algunos de los beneficios y retos que estas contienen. La tercera sección establece un base legal para las GIs, proporcionando un análisis general de los esquemas legales internacionales y las discusiones que se están llevando a cabo en el momento.

In Colombia the petrol supply sector lags well behind other sectors such as electricity supply, ports, and motorways, in undertaking an open policy. However, freeing the petrol supply market is considered necessary in order to release the state from the economic burden that it would otherwise have. This situation is particularly true in the oil industry, which is one of the most capital-intensive businesses. This thesis assesses the petrol supply chain in Colombia identifying the key driving factors, the companies involved and the challenges they are facing in the light of world and regional trends. In this way, a comparative assessment of the Colombian Oil Company (Ecopetrol) is undertaken looking at how other state-owned companies such as the Venezuelan, Brazilian, Mexican and the Argentinian are tackling similar problems. In addition, the thesis will assess what is the best trade off between importing and/or refining for supplying petrol to Colombia regarding three different schemes under three different scenarios of demand. The analysis considers environmental, institutional, technical and economic issues; the latter is assessed using a Linear Programming (LP) model. The paper concludes that the Colombian government should elaborate a white paper to restructure Ecopetrol. Administratively, the chairman should be appointed for a fixed period of time with the provide it with autonomy for selecting its most convenient business strategy. Ecopetrol should be opened up to both international competition and foreign partnership in order to compete in the global market. This would involve improving its competitiveness, pursuing international standards of efficiency and using benchmarking targets for its planning and development. In addition, the government and Ecopetrol should separate their accountancy; thus, subsidies for middle distillates consumed by low income groups should be funded through the national budget and not charged to Ecopetrol. Similarly, the government must commit to a policy of not withdrawing economic resources from Ecopetrol to finance independent projects. After undertaking this first series of measures, the next step should be setting a legal and stable framework for the capitalization and opening of Ecopetrol. In this way Ecopetrol should be listed in the stock exchange market both in the country and abroad initially offering a minority stake of its shares in the search for fresh capital, should reduce its political dependency and form strategic alliances to scale up its businesses and improve its efficiency.

A literature review disclosed that even under very strict caries preventive control, in young Swedish people many initial approximal lesions slowly progress. A study was performed to investigate if the same trend could be seen in young Danish adults. In 1996 a group of Danish military conscripts were investigated clinically and radiographically. Based on the radiographs, one lesion with radiolucency up to one third in the dentine was randomly selected from each conscript. Contact was established with these former conscripts in 2002 and radiographs taken around 2002 were used to investigate the state of the selected lesions in terms of regression, stabilization or progression. It was observed that about 60% of the selected lesions had progressed during the 5 to 6 year period. Therefore there was a need to look for other preventive measures than those traditionally used in a Danish context, such as instructions in flossing and local application of fluoride. Looking through the literature, it was realized that sealing of occlusal lesions was highly effective but this procedure was not used on approximal surfaces. The next step was to investigate if it was technically possible to seal approximal lesions and if so what material should be used. A laboratory study was conducted in which 6 dental materials were compared in relation to: their handling, presence at the surface of the lesion, and ability to penetrate into a lesion. Based on that study Gluma One Bond® (Heraeus Kulzer) was selected to be used in further studies. The final step was an 18-month clinical investigation to evaluate the effect of sealing approximal lesions. About 80 young adults from Denmark and Colombia participated in this investigation; each had at least 2 initial approximal lesions. One lesion was selected for sealing; the other one acted as control. Baseline radiographs were taken by means of special equipment so new radiographs could be taken in the same position after 18 months. The sealing procedure was performed in accordance with the guideline designed in the laboratory study. The patient was instructed to floss all sealed and non-sealed approximal lesions. Radiographs were used to assess caries progression in the test and control lesions in three ways: by comparing baseline with final scoring of the lesions on the individual conventional radiographs, by reading the conventional radiographs as pairs and finally using subtraction radiography of digitized images. The examiner was blind to lesion type (test or control) for all comparisons and also blind to whether radiographs were baseline or follow up in the case of examinations of the single radiographs and paired comparison. Repeat assessment of the radiographs was conducted on 20% of the radiographs and the subtraction images. For the paired comparison of radiographs and subtraction radiography assessment significantly more control lesions progressed (47.2%; 85%) than test lesions (22.2%; 43%) (P-values<0.05). For the independent examination of the radiographs a similar pattern was seen but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P=0.06). In conclusion, many approximal lesions seemed to progress on young adults irrespective of the preventive regime they were advised to take. This study has developed and investigated a technique for sealing early approximal lesions which seems to be more effective at preventing lesion progression than conventional interventions such as brushing and flossing. There is a need however, for defining more precisely criteria at selecting lesions to be sealed; for developing better materials in terms of better penetration skill and that they stay there, and for clinical investigations which evaluate the long term effect of sealing the approximal lesions.

Se estudiaron las nociones de “significado musical” y “comunicación musical” en el contexto de la música popular usando una metodología cualitativa. Dos canciones de una banda de Funk-rock y 2 canciones de una banda de Jazz fueron usadas como estímulo. Seis integrantes de las bandas y un grupo de 14 participantes escucharon las canciones individualmente y se les pidió que indicaran qué momentos de la música llamaron su atención y luego que explicaran cuál era el significado de cada canción. Los principales resultados fueron: a) mientras escuchaban las canciones ni los músicos ni los oyentes no percibieron que la música expresara ideas o emociones la mayor parte del tiempo; b) el significado atribuido a las piezas dependió de las características objetivas de los objetos musicales que a su vez eran vinculadas con referentes semánticos por los participantes; c) esos referentes semánticos fueron proveídos frecuentemente por la letra de las canciones. Estos resultados fueron interpretados como evidencia de que el significado musical no es fijo sino contingente y que la comunicación de intenciones, ideas o emociones de músicos a oyentes no está garantizada, pero puede tener éxito si se cumplen algunas condiciones.