University Institute of European Studies

Abstract This paper offers a qualitative discussion about the possibility of achieving a more balanced relationship between excellence (via meritocracy) and pluralism (via diversity) in the allocation of public funding in economic research. The historical and methodological transformations that have shaped the discipline call for abandoning a strict meritocratic approach to funding in favour of supporting more varied research projects that still meet high standards of scientific research. Such an approach would help avoid distorting the endogenous evolution of economics, encouraging the development of new alternative research programs and fields alongside the traditional mainstream orthodox neoclassical perspective. Accordingly, we argue that the historical and methodological evolution of a discipline should be considered among the possible criteria policymakers adopt for funding research allocation. To support this argument, we first examine how mainstream pluralism has progressively counterbalanced economic imperialism, thus calling for a more inclusive definition of meritocracy that fosters major diversity also in funding allocation. We then offer a Schumpeterian interpretation of advantages and limitations of both strict meritocratic and pluralistic approaches to funding. The paper concludes with some policy recommendations to promote diversity in research funding as a means to reduce inequalities in academic contexts, particularly within the so-called “dismal science”.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly become embedded in core domains of international concern, from autonomous weapons and cyber operations to biometric border control, digital trade, and financial regulation.While existing debated in international law tend to focus on discrete questions-such as the legality of lethal autonomous weapons or the human rights implications of algorithmic surveillance-much less attention has been paid to whether the international legal system, as a structure, is ready to govern AI as a cross cutting phenomenon. This article offers a structural readiness assessment of international law for artificial intelligence. It develops a three part framework centred on normative coverage (the extent to which existing rules and principles apply to AI mediated conduct), institutional capacity (the ability of international bodies to interpret, monitor, and enforce those norms), and adaptive flexibility (the systems capacity to adjust to rapid technological change without constant crisis driven reform). Drawing on doctrinal analysis and case studies relating to autonomous weapons, AI enabled surveillance, and cross border algorithmic regulation, the article argues that international law is normatively rich but institutionally thin and procedurally slow in AI sensitive areas, producing fragmented, reactive, and often ad hoc responses. It concludes that meaningful readiness for AI will depend less on drafting entirely new AI treaties and more on clarifying responsibility for AI mediated harm,strengthening oversight mandates of existing institutions, and developing interpretive principles tailored to algorithmic opacity,explainability,and systemic risk.

Substantial heterogeneity in behavioral traits has been observed across human societies, which have been linked to important differences in individual as well as societal outcomes. In this paper, we complement the existing literature by investigating the role of key behavioral traits, i.e. risk-taking, patience, altruism, and trust, at the population level in the design of new policies and institutions during an unexpected global crisis. Combining granular data on policy responses to the COVID-19 crisis with several pre-pandemic survey measures of behavioral traits in 109 countries, we observe robust relationships of significant magnitude. In particular, our findings underline that countries with higher levels of trust tended to respond later to the crisis; while populations that are patient, altruistic, and trusting are more likely to implement stringent policies in the medium and long-term. These results improve our understanding of how countries deal with global crises. They also supply an explanation for the lack of coordinated response at the international level during such events.

The purpose of this paper is to synthesise research to offer a deeper insight into how e-commerce affects consumer behaviour and vice versa. To explore the state-of-the-art of the literature and future trends, a bibliometric analysis of 351 articles with a comprehensive literature review has been performed. After identifying the leading journals, authors, publications, and main research themes in this domain, a content analysis has been conducted to unravel the academic hotspots and research fronts. The findings reveal that the articles range between two perspectives, namely the platform and the consumer. Five dimensions emerge from the interaction between consumers and platforms, such as e-commerce performance, information credibility and quality, trustworthy collaborative ecosystem, community commerce and advance application. Finally, we present a conceptual framework to systematise the five dimensions laying a foundation for further avenues of research.

Restoring defects of load-bearing connective tissues such as articular cartilage resulting from traumas, degenerative or age-related diseases remains a significant clinical challenge for clinicians due to the limited inherent repair capacity of articular cartilage. Tissue engineering has emerged as a potential alternative to the traditional surgical techniques, as it can be effectively used to regenerate bone, cartilage and the bone-cartilage interface. Several scaffold strategies have been developed and evaluated for osteochondral defect repair.

Abstract Archaeological excavations carried out in the square around the Cathedral of S. Giovanni in Turin brought to light burials referable to the medieval and Renaissance periods. The anthropological examination of the skeletal remains allowed to identify two skeletons from the medieval period (10th–11th centuries) and four skeletons from the Renaissance age (15th century) showing weapon‐related cranial injuries. These peri mortem lesions are indicators of interpersonal aggression and in particular of armed conflicts. The two individuals from the early medieval period presented three traumas consisting in sharp force lesions caused by bladed weapons. As regards the Renaissance sample, the majority of the nine peri mortem injuries were sharp force wounds, followed by a blunt force trauma. These distribution patterns might reflect different fighting techniques, whereas the side distribution and location of the skull trauma provide further indications on the fighting modalities. Identification of the weapons that caused these traumas is suggested. The lack of post‐cranial wounds at Piazza S. Giovanni might be explained by the greater attention paid to the head, which was the main target of attack, or by adequate protection of the body through medieval and Renaissance armours. Otherwise, the wounds in the body would have been found only in the soft tissues, with no involvement of the bones.Despite the presence of weapon injuries, the results obtained from the study of the Renaissance sample are different from the findings of other contemporary battlefields. It is highly likely that the individuals of the Renaissance age were not young soldiers employed in war episodes and brought back for burial in Turin after battles that had taken place elsewhere. Instead, they were probably individuals who had died in riots or in other violent city episodes, as the historical records for the Renaissance age seem to confirm. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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