Airbnb,technological change and disruption in Barbadian tourism: a theoretical framework

This paper focuses on how Airbnb, an internet platform which has created the possibility for mass participation in the tourism market, is resulting in class conflict between new entrants and the ‘traditional’ tourism industry. Specifically, it studies how traditional tourism interests in Barbados have responded to Airbnb by seeking to restrict participation in the industry and presents this as a microcosm of broader class transitions and conflicts associated with new technologies. The paper utilises a Marxist theoretical perspective buttressed by Joseph Schumpeter’s theory of ‘creative destruction’ – places emphasis on the process of destroying productive systems to understand how specific industries expand and survive – and Clayton Christensen’s notion of ‘disruptive innovation’ – a process by which a disruptive product transforms a market – for studying how transformations in technology are impacting the tourism industry in Barbados. Its aim is to provide an account of how the process of disruption is unfolding in Barbados by highlighting the reactions of the main hotel lobby group to Airbnb, while also applying the ideas of Marx, Schumpeter and Christensen as useful theoretical lenses through which to examine the unfolding of the process of disruption of settled class and historical control of a dominant economic sector by new technologies.     

Predicting Peril or the Peril of Prediction? Assessing the Risk of CBRN Terrorism

Since the mid-1990s, academic and policy communities have debated the risk posed by terrorist use of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Three major schools of thought in the debate have emerged: the optimists, the pessimists, and the pragmatists. Although these three schools of thought draw on the same limited universe of data on CBRN terrorism, they arrive at strikingly different conclusions. Given the highly subjective process of CBRN terrorism risk assessment, this article analyzes the influence of mental shortcuts (called heuristics) and the systemic errors they create (called biases) on the risk assessment process. This article identifies and provides illustrative examples of a range of heuristics and biases that lead to the underestimation of risks, the overestimation of risks and, most importantly, those that degrade the quality of the debate about the level of risk. While these types of biases are commonly seen as affecting the public's perception of risk, such biases can also be found in risk assessments by experts. The article concludes with recommendations for improving the CBRN risk assessment process.     

人工智能对就业的影响：创造还是破坏？

近年来人工智能迅速发展，但其对就业不仅会产生创造效应，也会产生破坏效应。研究利用 2008—2016 年中国省级面板数据，探索在智能物质资本投入影响下不同地区和不同技能水平劳动力的需求变化， 分析人工智能通过创造效应和破坏效应对我国劳动力就业的影响和作用方向。研究发现：人工智能对不同技能 水平劳动力的就业影响方向不同，存在“两极化”趋势；产业结构升级将在一定程度上进一步加剧人工智能对 就业“两极化”发展的影响；人工智能对不同地区的不同技能水平的劳动力有差异性影响。研究建议，应进一 步加强教育培训，优化产业结构，完善社会福利，以应对人工智能的破坏效应，促进劳动力市场的稳定。     

投保人的告知义务再检讨

以保险法和海商法理论为指导,借鉴国外立法和司法实践,从确定告知义务的角度、广度、深度以及维度,对投保人或者被保险人的告知义务进行了全方位的研讨,力求对告知义务进行一个立体化的解析,以达到准确使用法律之目的。     

新时期加强党的建设的成功实践--苏联演变和解体的深刻教训与我党"三讲"教育的创造性探索

苏联演变和解体的根本性原因是苏共"砍倒"了马克思主义旗帜,没有从政治上正确认识和处理一些重大问题,严重脱离人民群众,并在解决自身问题上步入了岐途.党中央吸取东欧剧变、尤其是苏联演变和解体的深刻教训,倡导并开展"三讲"教育,是新形势下坚定对马克思主义的信仰和对社会主义的信念,强化政治意识和提高讲政治的具体能力,坚持党的宗旨和密切党群、干群关系,依靠自身力量和科学方法解决党内矛盾和问题、加强自身建设的一个创造性探索.     

The Complexity of Destruction in Darfur: Historical Processes and Regional Dynamics

This paper analyzes the complex historical and regional factors that contribute to the escalation of destruction from 2003 on in Darfur. Darfur is not an isolated case that suddenly erupted in violence. It is the most recent case in a long history of repeated violations by the Sudanese state against its citizens. From the use of proxy militias (the Janjaweed) to signing peace agreements that fragment and weaken the opposition, destruction in Darfur continues government strategies of divide and rule. At the same time, complex regional dynamics especially between Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic add to violence and instability within states and across borders. The paper emphasizes the speed with which during 2003–2005 over 2.4 million were uprooted from their homes and the ongoing vulnerability of internally displaced persons to attacks, disease and malnutrition. This restructuring of the population in Darfur is part of a strategy to control the populace and redistribute land and other resources. The multicausal origin of the conflict and its increasing complexity points to the difficulty of providing security for the people in Darfur and resolving the conflict.

韩国海上保险人代位求偿权行使条件

基于韩国保险人代位求偿权的立法规定,结合韩国法院的相关判例,从保险人代位求偿权的行使条件入手,对作为代位求偿权行使对象的第三人的范围、保险人部分赔付或自愿赔付等情况下保险人代位求偿权的成立与否等问题进行较为深入和详尽的介绍。     

从一起案件看盗窃罪和故意毁坏财物罪的区分

盗窃罪和故意毁坏财物罪的区分属于司法实践中的难题。要就盗窃罪和故意毁坏财物罪展开判断主要包括犯罪客观方面和主观方面两环节。而在盗取财物后又故意毁坏财物的,应该认定盗窃罪与故意毁坏财物罪均成立。     

背信犯罪解释论及立法论探讨

背信罪是伴随资本主义市场经济的发展和社会化的高度分工而出现的罪名。我国《刑法》分则中存在众多而零散的背信犯罪条文,但条文设计却具有相当的随意性,而且偏向于对国有公司、企业的特殊保护。我国已经进入市场经济时代,为有效保护法益,增设背信罪势在必行。通过条文的合理设计,完全可以避免背信罪成为新的口袋罪而侵犯人权。在增设背信罪之前,我们应当充分运用竞合论原理,将背信犯罪行为作为侵占罪、职务侵占罪、诈骗罪、故意毁坏财物罪等相应犯罪处理。评价背信行为造成的财产损害,应采取经济的财产说,原则上不处罚背信犯罪行为的片面对向犯。     

加强环境法制建设为可持续发展提供法律保障

环境问题是人类面临的重大问题之一.环境问题在我国尤为突出.为了解决环境问题,我们必须实施可持续发展战略.而可持续发展战略的实施,需要环境法制作保障.本文从环境立法、环境执法等方面提出了加强环境法制建设的一些措施.