Socially Responsible Investments: An International Empirical Study Of Time-Varying Risk Premiums

This paper empirically analyses the performance of Socially Responsible Investments (SRI) by applying an asymmetric BEKK GARCH model which estimates conditional systematic risk and varying risk premiums. We evaluate the performance of SRI from an international perspective, comparing sustainable indexes with conventional indexes, and we apply our model to three regions: the USA, Europe, and Asia Pacific. We respectively compare the Dow Jones Sustainability United States Index, the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index, and the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia/Pacific Index with conventional indexes, namely the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Dow Jones Europe Index, and the Dow Jones Asia/Pacific Index. Our model estimations are based on weekly data from January 2004 to November 2013. Our results show that sustainable indexes exhibit lower risk premiums than conventional ones. However each of the three regions studied has its own specificity in terms of investor behavior toward SRI, including the impact of the subprime mortgage crisis

TEFL in High Schools and the Urgent Need to Step in

أقصد من كتابتي لهذه المقالة النقدية الكشف عن ظاهرة أثارت فضولي وكذلك فضول مفتشةمتدربة، وهي تدهور تدريس اللغة الإنجليزية في الثانويات التأهيلية العمومية مقارنة مع الثانويات الإعدادية. وقدحاولت إعطاء بعض الأمثلة لهذا التدهور، ثم قدمت بعض الحلول التي أراها ناجعة لتدريس ممنهج ومرتكز علىأسس بيداغوجية صلبة و مقاربات تربوية وعلمي

Caractérisation de la morphologie des pièces obtenues en moulage par injection et en injection-soufflage par la technique de spectroscopie infrarouge

Principe de mesure de l'orientation moléculaire par la technique de spectroscopie infrarouge en mode de réflexion -- Principe de la technique de microtomie -- Synthèse des articles et lien avec l'ensemble des travaux -- Moulage par injection -- Moulage par soufflage -- The build-up and measurement of molecular orientation, crystalline mophology and residual stresses in injection-molded parts -- An experimental technique for the characterization of molecular orientation through the thickness of plastic products -- Effect of polymer properties on the structure of injection-molded parts -- A new approach to the characterization of molecular orientation in uniaxially and biaxially oriented samples of poly(éthylène terephthalate)

A Simple Technique to Estimate the Flammability Index of Moroccan Forest Fuels

A formula to estimate forest fuel flammability index (FI) is proposed, integrating three species flammability parameters: time to ignition, time of combustion, and flame height. Thirty-one (31) Moroccan tree and shrub species were tested within a wide range of fuel moisture contents. Six species flammability classes were identified. An ANOVA of the FI-values was performed and analyzed using four different sample sizes of 12, 24, 36, and 50 flammability tests. Fuel humidity content is inversely correlated to the FI-value, and the linear model appears to be the most adequate equation that may predict the hypothetical threshold-point of humidity of extinction. Most of the Moroccan forest fuels studied are classified as moderately flammable to flammable species based on their average humidity content, calculated for the summer period from July to September

The Effects Of Regulation And Supervision On European Banking Profitability And Risk: A Panel Data Investigation

This paper studies the effects of regulatory and supervisory policies on profitability and risk-taking for European banks over the period 2005 to 2011. As these effects may vary according to the banks, we apply the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) for dynamic panels to capture further heterogeneous supervision effects before and after the subprime crisis. Accordingly, our findings provide three interesting results. First, strengthening regulations and supervision improves profitability and boosts the stability of European banking systems. Second, our findings highlight a positive correlation between capital adequacy, deposit insurance systems, and banks’ profitability. Third, we note that stepping up supervisors’ powers reduces risk-taking and promotes banking stability

Methodological Guidelines for Structural Modeling in Marketing:A Case Study of Ooredoo

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of corporate social responsibility on the brand equity of the company “Ooredoo”. Structural equations have become a key method and experimental means for the development of humanities using various advanced methods and technologies. The independent variables of the study are corporate social responsibility towards shareholders, environment, customers and local communities, and the dependent variable brand equity. To achieve the above objectives, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to a sample of (354) subjects. The collected data were analyzed using data analysis software(SMARTPLS). The study found that the impact of corporate social responsibility on Ooredoo's brand equity is approximately (32.2%). The study recommends businesses invest in CSR activities to create sustainable brands and achieve brand equity.<br/

The role of citizenship values and civic education for the development of social skills at secondary schools

This paper seeks to empirically investigate the question of citizenship values and civic education in Moroccan secondary schools. It undertakes a comparative study based on an interdisciplinary approach in order to measure the presence of these values in Physics and English educational practices. The study is realized via a questionnaire administered to and interviews conducted with practicing teachers of Physics and English throughout different schools in Morocco. Data collection and analysis were performed by adopting a statistical descriptive method. The study is accomplished by targeting a number that reached 84 teachers in both disciplines. Our results demonstrate that teachers have different conceptions concerning values and they show less interest in implementing those values in the teaching/learning operation. Physics teachers believe that Physics as a purely scientific discipline cannot lead itself to integrating citizenship values and they can be integrated only in Humanities disciplines. Furthermore, we find that teachers not only never benefited from a basic or in-service training but also professional interaction among them about those values is very lacking. Besides, a considerable number of respondents agree that citizenship values are decreasing among learners. In this sense, majority of respondents suggest that training, motivation and well-prepared institutional strategies are fundamental prerequisites to overcome those difficulties.