Public Policy exigencies for Platform Economy & Social Media regulation Is Politics underhandedly mining Social Networks? RL Vol XII No CCCIX, MMXVIII

Public Policy exigencies for

Platform Economy & Social Media regulation

Is Politics underhandedly mining Social Networks?

Public Lecture - RL Vol XII No CCCIX, MMXVIII

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Professor of Public Policy & Sustainable Institutional Reforms

https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Abstract

     Social media, through its heavy reliance on memes, is reshaping human language via unprecedented mixing of idioms, dialects, and alphabets. What long-term effects will it have on the way we speak, write and listen? Relative anonymity in social media is a double-edged sword: while users can express their ideas more freely, the space is also crowded by false alarms and an even newer player in the field — clandestine influencers who are learning the lexicon of new media. How do we balance anonymity with veracity? Netscape founder wrote a widely read essay in 2011 entitled, ‘Why software is eating the world’, but this was not taken seriously believing this was a metaphor. Now, the world faces the challenge of extracting the world from the jaws of Internet (Mcnamee, 2018).

         The platform economy is economic and social activity facilitated by platforms. Such platforms are typically online matchmakers or technology frameworks. By far the most common type are ‘transaction platforms’, also known as ‘digital matchmakers’. A second type is the ‘innovation platform’, which provides a common technology framework upon which others can build, such as the many independent developers who work on Microsoft's platform. Forerunners to contemporary digital economic platforms can be found throughout history, especially in the second half of the 20th century. Yet it was only in the year 2000 that the ‘platform’ metaphor started to be widely used to describe digital matchmakers and innovation platforms. Especially after the financial crises of 2008, companies operating with the new ‘platform business model’ have swiftly came to control an increasing share of the world's overall economic activity, many times by disrupting traditional business.

        The conflict, the desire to speak publicly and the fear of the consequences of this act or the burden of responsibility derives from the fact that the right to freedom of expression of the thoughts and feelings is the natural human right. Public policy on social media regulation is a legal, ethical and moral dispensation by the executive branch of government, curved out of constitutional, legislative and administrative laws, vis-à-vis a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. Social media must be regulated without hampering the bill of rights on freedom of expression but, for pundits it may suggests itself and seems within reach, only to elude; appears readily practicable only to resist realisation.

         Key words: public policy, regulatory environment, platform economy, social media, innovation platform, ’

See paper here or  https://www.academia.edu/36943048/Public_Policy_exigencies_for_Platform_Economy_and_Social_Media_regulation_Is_Politics_underhandedly_mining_Social_Networks_RL_Vol_XII_No_CCCIX_MMXV

Transcending Partisanship - Think Piece on Macro-Strategy & Meta-Policy Trajectories for Ethiopia’s Sustainable Revitalisation Think Piece - Annotated Summary RL Vol. XII No. CCCXCIV, MMXVIII

Transcending Partisanship

 Think Piece on  

Macro-Strategy & Meta-Policy Trajectories for Ethiopia’s Sustainable Revitalisation

Think Piece - Annotated Summary RL Vol. XII No. CCCXCIV, MMXVIII

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Professor of Public Policy & Sustainable Institutional Reforms

https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Abstract

Despite the upsurge of ethnic politics in the past generation,  it is abundantly clear that the bonds of Etyopiyawinet  are alive and well  (Donald Levine, 2005)

       The Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) emphasises macroeconomic stability as the primary policy objective, based on a case scenario of an average annual growth rate of 10% but the state still has snags in demarcating its governing and mercantile roles, resulting in significantly tinsel fiscal behaviour, added to the chronic economic disorderliness, tainted by graft and influence peddling. Hence, political reforms are essential for the implementation and sustainability of the change. Prime Minister Abiy inherits a spectacular economic and infrastructure growth, hundreds of thousands graduating yearly from vocational schools and universities, an increase in life expectancy of ten years in a decade and meeting the MDGs, but, as citizens become more educated, they demand a greater political voice, and that such demands must be met. Hence, the paper outlines a 24-month task for the Ethiopian leadership to achieve livelihood stability and bring in peace and security. The agenda for 2018-2020 encompasses public policy and public administration and economic and social governance.

        The action plan zero’s on the state’s essential task: participatory policy & strategy development; governance and administration refinement; kitchen cabinet think tank to support the Executive and liberalisation of SoEs with IPOs sold domestically and internationally. The private sector’s essential task hinges on technology transfer and development, investment promotion, employment generation and management and marketing research. Investment and the full or partial liberalisation of the huge parastatals through IPOs and reform of party endowments will advance structural transformation. The civil society agenda stems from a need for a politically assertive civil society in a democratic dispensation. The Academia’s essential task hones on think tanks that continually remodel, expand, advance, renovate, cultivate and develop mighty economies even when their models are doing well. It is focused on policy & strategy research and nation branding. Sen’s claim that no famine has occurred in history in a functioning democracy is not only a “Western” desire to impose good governance, it is a basic human right. Let this stand as a testimony to an open invitation of a renewed commitment to contribute to stemming the tide of famine, displacement and human distress but it suggests itself seems within reach only to elude and appears readily practicable only to resist realisation.

           Key words: GTP, peace, employment, investment, liberalisation, civil society, private sector, kitchen cabinet

Restricted / embargoed June 5, 2018

See paper here or  https://www.academia.edu/36789934/Transcending_Partisanship_Think_Piece_on_Macro-Strategy_and_Meta-Policy_Trajectories_for_Ethiopia_s_Sustainable_Revitalisation_RL_Vol._XII_No._CCCXCIV_MMXVIII

An Alpenglow of Peace & Prosperity beams over the Greater Horn of Africa & the Red Sea enclave – Beyond the Impasse in Eritrea and Ethiopia - RL Vol. XI No. CCXCVI, MMXVII

An Alpenglow of Peace & Prosperity beams over the Greater Horn of Africa & the Red Sea enclave –

Beyond the Impasse in Eritrea and Ethiopia

Public Lecture - RL Vol. XI No. CCXCVI, MMXVII

Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD

Professor of Public Policy & Sustainable Institutional Reforms

https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Abstract

Ethio-Eritrea relations go back thousands of years. The commonalty arising from shared language, religion, culture and history go back to Axumite kingdom more than 3000 years ago. In May 1993, Ethiopia recognised Eritrea as an independent and sovereign state, welcoming and accepting the near‑unanimous choice of independence by the Eritrean people. Historically, Abyssinia has been the target of attack for religious and territorial gain reasons. Dervish, Mahadists and Italian invaders have challenged Ethiopia that occupied one of the most geostrategic regions in the world – the Red Sea. It is not for naught that most Great Powers scrambled their navies to the region ostensibly to combat piracy in recent times. Ostensibly aggravating the region’s security was the Ethio-Eritrean war of 1998-2000 that claimed the lives of tens of thousands and gave terrorists a field day in the Horn. The two have never come face to face since then until now, when negotiations towards a détente and peace talks have started in earnest.

The resurgence of peace talks between the two sisterly nations will also be an antidote to the perennial challenges of poverty, illiteracy and human insecurity that have made the Horn of Africa a basket case for international charity, thousands drowning in the sea and butchered by human traffickers and terrorists. Moreover, peace in these two nations will have great dividends not only to their populace but also to the Horn at large. Beyond schmaltzy gestures and platitudes, issues of shared prosperity and the fate of communities in the border area would transform the containment into détente, if they agree based on the conciliatory give and take based on people’s priorities.

Indeed, there is no more compelling raison d'être nor a mission-objective so utterly entrenched in the preservation and, even advancement of human-kind, than a leadership that can lead a social league to relate cogently to a peaceful region. It enters politics and society in relatively abstract and plain form, yet pundits expect it to land itself to the immediate and vital socio-political experience. It may suggests itself, and seems within reach, only to elude and may appears readily practicable only to resist realisation. The ultimate goal of peace and prosperity must guide the negotiations as an open invitation and stand as a testimony to the commitment of both parties to an enduring statesmanship that can obviate the process

Key words: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Peace, Development, Border, Horn of Africa, GCC, Yemen,

See paper here or  https://www.academia.edu/36915584/An_Alpenglow_of_Peace_and_Prosperity_beams_over_the_Greater_Horn_of_Africa_and_the_Red_Sea_enclave_Beyond_the_Impasse_in_Eritrea_and_Ethiopia_RL_Vol._XI_No._CCXCVI_MMXVII

World Trade Tariff War and its impact on Sustainable Global Growth Public Policies - RL Vol. XII No. CCCXCV, MMXVIII

World Trade Tariff War and its impact on Sustainable Global Growth Public Policies - Public lecture series - RL Vol. XII No. CCCXCV, MMXVIII, Costantinos Berhutesfa Costantinos, PhD, Professor of Public Policy & Sustainable Institutional Reforms - https://addisababa.academia.edu/CostyCostantinos

Abstract

The reason why countries join WTO is that governments may be in the position to pursue what is known as beggar-thy-neighbour policies and that they will agree to sign international trade agreements as a way of mitigating the incentives to do so. The world economy became more interconnected towards the end of the millennium. No one should be surprised that there has been a backlash to globalisation, given the scale of disruption that has resulted from more interconnected economies. What is surprising is that it has arrived now. That is because globalisation, at least in the form we have known it, levelled off a decade ago. Moreover, that shows a crucial risk of the recent push to re-set the terms of the global economy — including tariffs on steel and aluminium and punitive actions against China that President Trump has introduced. It is coming after the major costs of globalisation have already been borne and it comes just as billions of people who have become integrated into the global economy over the last three decades are starting to become rich enough to become valuable consumers. Historically, the US has focused on staying out of trade wars. Not so under President Trump, who has announced plans to slap sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and asserted that trade wars are good and easy to win. The case the White House is making is that the tariffs necessary to protect vulnerable US industries and ultimately their effects will not be that big of a deal. Nevertheless, there is actually plenty of cause for concern. For the first time, the private sector has a recognised role in achieving the global development agenda. Indeed, in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), published in 2000, there was only a passing reference to the private sector, and that was to call on technology companies to enhance cell phone availability and internet penetration. With the private sector shackled by such trade wars, there will be little incentive to invest in human and sustainable development. In fact, now that traditional sources of development finance such as USAID and EU are also under threat from populist states that are trying to kill development aid for what it is worth. The Economist Intelligence Unit, says its analysis of a trade-war scenario between the US and China suggests that the US, and especially its consumers, would be amongst the biggest losers. Given globalised supply chains, however, the ramifications would be felt by producers and consumers far and wide. A global trade war could hurt consumers around the world by making it harder for all companies to operate, forcing them to push higher prices onto their customers.

Key words: trade war, trade deficit, protectionism, terms-of-trade, WTO sustainable growth,, public policies,

See lecture here or https://www.academia.edu/36893307/World_Trade_Tariff_War_and_its_impact_on_Sustainable_Global_Growth_Public_Policies