Polynomiality of orbifold Hurwitz numbers, spectral curve, and a new proof of the Johnson-Pandharipande-Tseng formula

In this paper we present an example of a derivation of an ELSV-type formula using the methods of topological recursion. Namely, for orbifold Hurwitz numbers we give a new proof of the spectral curve topological recursion, in the sense of Chekhov, Eynard, and Orantin, where the main new step compared to the existing proofs is a direct combinatorial proof of their quasi-polynomiality. Spectral curve topological recursion leads to a formula for the orbifold Hurwitz numbers in terms of the intersection theory of the moduli space of curves, which, in this case, appears to coincide with a special case of the Johnson-Pandharipande-Tseng formula.Comment: 23 page

The reaction to Conchita Wurst’s victory at Eurovision highlights the polarisation over LGBTI rights across Europe

The Eurovision Song Contest, held on 10 May, generated controversy in some countries in Europe over the victory of Austrian singer Conchita Wurst. Roch Dunin-Wąsowicz writes on the political dimension to the contest and the wider issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights. He notes that the varied reactions between some countries in Central-Eastern and Western Europe highlight the polarised nature of LGBTI issues, but that the results of the public vote across Europe may mark a change of popular attitudes

The Eurovision in Ukraine was an exercise in soft power

Eurovision 2017, held in Kyiv, may have lacked overt politicisation when it came to the performances showcased on stage, especially in comparison to previous years. But as Roch Dunin-Wąsowicz argues, the contest nevertheless delivered a carefully constructed ideological message about Ukraine’s European aspirations and its pride in its cultural heritage and traditions, while also signalling comradeship with the Slavic world and Eastern Europe. The net result was a quintessential exercise in Eurovision’s enduring soft power

Integration of Poland into EU global industrial networks: the evidence and the main challenges

In this paper, we attempt to identify the achievements of one decade of transformation of the Polish economy in effecting the integration of its manufacturing sector with those of the broader European and global economy, using the automotive industry as an illustrative example. We begin with a broad picture of the current situation in Poland, looking particularly at the motivations of EU-based investors. We then discuss the automobile industry, again examining the motives of foreign investors and the effects of policy on their behavior. Next, we examine the chief public and private actors in the integration process, with a particular focus on their roles in trying to push Poland's integration in the direction of high value added and high innovation. Finally, we briefly discuss the impact of Poland's accession to the EU on industrial networking, and then summarize our conclusions and suggest a research framework for testing the hypothesis (formulated on the basis of our observations of the Polish case) that the market orientation of a given industry, measured by the ratio of the trade balance in that industry to its total domestic output, depends among other things on ownership structure, with the domestically-owned sector tending to use locally developed technologies and the foreign-owned sector tending to transfer in technology from abroad