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Copyright of Futuribles is the property of Futuribles SARL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The author discusses demographic and subsistence crises in connection with precautionary issues from the 14th century to 2012. Consequences regarding such crises such as decreases in marriage, child birth, the intervention of public authority, and resorting to prayers are noted. Topics include the great famine of 1315 and its impact on the European population, the famine of 1481 during the reign of French King Louis XI, and agricultural and commerce development during the 20th century, which greatly reduced famines.

The article presents a reflection on the period of crisis that occurred in the last centuries of the Middle Ages, between the 14th and 15th centuries, and which consisted in famine, financial crises, and risky fiscal experimentations. Particular focus is given to the beginning of this crisis period. The conjuncture of 1300 is discussed. The food shortages that struck all the European regions at this period are explored. The environmental context is analyzed. The commercialization of the rural society is examined.

The article focuses on the economic aspect of the history of the Middle Ages in Western countries. Certain approaches regarding what was in effect in terms of prices at this period, notably in the land market, are examined, and the results of recent analyses on this subject are commented on. A discussion on the impact of the presence of the figure of purchase and marketable exchanges in the daily life of people is proposed. The way that prices were created and diffused is analyzed in the article.

The 2008-2009 financial crisis, which affected banks in the European Union, draws attention to how vulnerable eastern and central European countries are to the flow of capital from western European banks and to balance-of-payment crises. These countries face two sorts of financial risks, which have increased since 2000: first of all, the direct financial exposure between western European banks and these countries; and secondly, the risk of regional contagion owing to spillover effects and a common creditor channel, as parent banks pass their problems on to regional subsidiaries. Estonia runs both these risks whereas Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary are the most exposed to foreign debt-holders. Though apparently less exposed to the direct risk than to the indirect one, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are not protected from banking problems and could fall victim to regional contagion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historical Review / Revue Historique is the property of Institute for Neohellenic Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Futuribles is the property of Futuribles SARL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This examination of changes in central and eastern Europe, first in the context of world history, confirms by comparative historical analyses that the transformation has indeed been unique. It has been the only total transformation that has taken place peacefully, without violence and at an astonishingly fast pace, in the main direction of the economic and political changes of Western civilization. From this perspective, it is an exemplary success story. From the perspective of everyday life however, the results are less convincing. A considerable part of the people are experiencing serious economic difficulties. Their sense of loss is intensified by various cognitive problems. Based on the current generation's experience, it would be unwarranted to evaluate the changes as a clear-cut success. Although both perspectives have their justifications, it would be erroneous to consider them to be equivalent or to weigh them on the same scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Futuribles is the property of Futuribles SARL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the 1990s, central and eastern European economies redirected their external trade towards the EU. Most of these countries have joined the EU, and will soon be joining the euro area, whence the possibility of external asymmetric shocks resulting from an overdependence on a sector or destination. Two indicators (sectoral and geographic) are worked out to measure the exposure to trade shocks: the symmetry of the export structures of a future member with the euro area and its trade openness. Central and eastern economies can thus be classified by their compliance with the Kenen criterion, revised and transposed to the geographic diversity of exports. In comparison with the two countries of the euro area most vulnerable to sectoral and geographic shocks (Finland and Ireland), the results indicate a high exposure to such a risk. Bulgaria, Slovakia and, even more, Estonia and Latvia stand out on the list of pairs by country/branch and country/destination that are liable to be at the origin of a macroeconomic shock. Since Bulgaria and Latvia have not actually started converging with the euro area, they might consider postponing membership in the EMU or implementing a cyclical stabilization fund before joining. This recommendation runs counter to the endogenous OCA theory, which is invoked when intra-industry trade grows. But an increase in the proportion of such trade between an economy in central or eastern Europe and the euro area does not necessarily reduce exposure to the aforementioned shocks. During the 1990s, growing intra-industry trade went in hand with increasing vulnerability to sectoral shocks in Latvia, evidence of this being what happened in the branch of textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a discourse related to the production of European statistics on incomes, poverty or living conditions. Construction of various statistical indicators by using comparable statistical data of one European country with the other; Requirement to translate indicators into target variables as part of the process to produce desired statistics; Citation of various characteristics of the indicators under the prevalent competition between various countries of Europe.

Comments on the stakes and controversies associated with defining and counting the homeless in Europe. Production of a common definition for the homeless population of Europe; Deductions from a survey undertaken to understand the meaning of homeless people; Points of debate when it comes to comparing the living conditions of various European countries.

The article discusses how consumer goods companies such as Unilever are proposing to sell smaller, individualized, and cheaper products to European consumers who are adapting to Europe's economic conditions. It notes how businesses are preparing for Europe's return to poverty, the cost of producing smaller-sized products, and the two kinds of minidoses which could develop including ones destined for people on fixed budgets and ones associated with quality and luxury.