Why the world economy needs, but will not get, more globalization in the post-COVID-19 decade.

Contractor argues that the coronavirus outbreak only had temporary effects on the global economy, and that post COVID-19 globalization will resume. We posit that the pandemic will have significant long-lasting effects on globalization. Our arguments are grounded in three observations. First, the pandemic has increased inter- and intra-country inequalities and has reversed trends in poverty reduction, which will intensify anti-globalization sentiments in the future. Second, the pandemic has fueled populism, nationalism, and the return of the interventionist state in the economy, which has paved the way for a rise in protectionism. Third, governmental responses to the COVID-19 crisis have undermined the multilateral institutions that have thus far facilitated globalization. These forces have resulted in growing global uncertainty and higher costs in international transactions. We argue that global value chains' reconfiguration will result in a less globalized, and more regionally fragmented world economy. We conclude by suggesting two fertile opportunities for international business scholars: researching commitment failure in international transactions and studying resilience, as illustrative examples of lines of inquiry that can help explain why this latest pandemic will compromise trends in globalization that have dominated the world economy for a long time.

Contractor argumente que l'épidémie de coronavirus n'a eu que des impacts temporaires sur l'économie mondiale et que la globalisation post COVID-19 reprendra. Nous postulons que la pandémie aura des effets durables importants sur la globalisation. Nos arguments reposent sur trois observations. Premièrement, la pandémie a accru les inégalités intra- et inter-pays et a inversé les tendances liées à la réduction de la pauvreté, ce qui intensifiera les sentiments anti-globalisation à l'avenir. Deuxièmement, la pandémie a alimenté le populisme, le nationalisme et le retour de l'État interventionniste dans l'économie, ce qui a ouvert la voie à une montée du protectionnisme. Troisièmement, les réponses gouvernementales à la crise du COVID-19 ont affaibli les institutions multilatérales qui ont jusqu'à présent facilité la globalisation. Ces forces ont entraîné une incertitude globale croissante et des coûts plus élevés dans les transactions internationales. Nous argumentons que la reconfiguration des chaînes de valeur globales se traduira par une économie mondiale moins globalisée, mais plus fragmentée au niveau régional. Nous concluons en suggérant deux opportunités fertiles pour les chercheurs en affaires internationales : mener la recherche sur l'échec de l'engagement dans les transactions internationales et étudier la résilience comme exemples illustratifs des pistes de recherche qui permettraient d'expliquer pourquoi cette pandémie actuelle compromettra les tendances de la globalisation lesquelles ont dominé l'économie mondiale depuis longtemps.

Contractor sostiene que el brote del coronavirus solamente tuvo efectos temporales en la economía global, y que la globalización post COVID-19 se reanudará. Planteamos que la pandemia tendrá importantes efectos duraderos en la globalización. Nuestros argumentos se basan en tres observaciones. Primero, la pandemia ha aumentado las desigualdades entre países y dentro de los países y ha invertido las tendencias de reducción de pobreza, lo cual va a intensificar los sentimientos anti-globalización en el futuro. Segundo, la pandemia ha alimentado el populismo, el nacionalismo, y el retorno al Estado intervencionista en la economía lo cual preparó el camino para un aumento del proteccionismo. Tercero, las respuestas gubernamentales a la crisis del COVID-19 ha debilitado las instituciones multilaterales que han facilitado hasta ahora la globalización. Estas fuerzas han provocado un aumento de la incertidumbre global y un mayor costo en las transacciones internacionales. Sostenemos que la reconfiguración de las cadenas globales de valor tendrá como resultado una economía mundial menos globalizada, y más fragmentada regionalmente. Concluimos sugiriendo dos oportunidades propicias para los académicos de Negocios Internacionales: la investigación del fracaso del compromiso en las transacciones internacionales y el estudio de la resiliencia, como ejemplos ilustrativos de las líneas de investigación que pueden ayudar a explicar por qué esta última pandemia pone en peligro las tendencias de la globalización que han dominado que han dominado la economía mundial durante mucho tiempo.

Contractor argumenta que o surto de coronavírus teve apenas efeitos temporários na economia global e que a globalização pós-COVID-19 será retomada. Postulamos que a pandemia terá efeitos significativos de longa duração sobre a globalização. Nossos argumentos são baseados em três observações. Em primeiro lugar, a pandemia aumentou as desigualdades entre e dentro dos países, e reverteu as tendências de redução da pobreza, o que intensificará sentimentos antiglobalização no futuro. Em segundo lugar, a pandemia alimentou o populismo, o nacionalismo e o retorno do estado intervencionista na economia, o que abriu caminho para um aumento do protecionismo. Em terceiro lugar, respostas governamentais à crise do COVID-19 minaram as instituições multilaterais que até agora facilitaram a globalização. Essas forças resultaram em crescente incerteza global e custos mais altos nas transações internacionais. Argumentamos que a reconfiguração das cadeias globais de valor resultará em uma economia mundial menos globalizada e mais regionalmente fragmentada. Concluímos sugerindo duas oportunidades férteis para acadêmicos de negócios internacionais: pesquisar falhas de comprometimento em transações internacionais e estudar resiliência, como exemplos ilustrativos de linhas de pesquisa que podem ajudar a explicar por que esta última pandemia comprometerá tendências da globalização que dominaram a economia mundial por um muito tempo.

Bulgarian Bone Marrow Donors Registry--past and future directions.

Recently Bulgarian Bone Marrow Donors Registry (BBMDR) has been established and since August 2005 it has been a member of Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide. Currently the number of healthy donors included in the BBMDR is relatively low. All donors included in the BBMDR are typed for HLA-A, -B, -DRB loci. Phylogenetic analysis based on HLA allele frequencies shows that Bulgarians were characterized with closest genetic similarity to Macedonians, Greeks, Romanians, Cretans and Sardinians in comparison to the other European and Mediterranean populations. On the contrary the second largest ethnic minority-the Roma were the closest to the other Roma populations and North Indians. These differences were due to the predominance of alleles and haplotypes that are specific for the Asian and the other Roma populations. These specific genetic profiles in the Bulgarian ethnic minorities justify the need of an adequate representation of minorities in BBMDR. Future directions for BBMDR development are discussed, including an increase of the total number of donors and these for ethnic minorities, as well the enhancement of the level of resolution of the HLA typing for the donors in the registry.

Immunological markers contributing to successful aging in Bulgarians.

In order to clarify immunogenetic markers contributing to successful aging, HLA and cytokine gene profiles were analyzed in healthy elderly Bulgarians. Family segregation analysis was performed to define combined effect of haplotypes and immunophenotype profiles. The results of this study did not reveal any statistically significant allele and haplotype frequency differences between elderly and control group. In families with two generations longevity members we did not observed HLA alleles and haplotypes associated with autoimmunity. IL-10 genotype -1082G/A, -819 C/C, -592 C/C, related to the intermediate production, was positively associated, while genotype -1082A/A, -819 C/T, -592 C/A, related to the low level of production, was negatively associated with longevity in Bulgarians. This effect was modulated by IL-6 and IFNgamma genotypes associated with the low level of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. Immunophenotypic studies indicated lower relative and absolute numbers of CD3+8+, CD8+28+ and CD8+57+ cells in elderly people. Analysis in families showed that although most pronounced in the elderly group, lower numbers of CD8+ T cells were also found in middle aged and young members of the families compared to the age matched controls. A progressive CD8+28+ cell subsets decline was seen with aging. In addition, we did not observed the 'immune risk phenotype' which is a marker of an increased inflammatory activity. Based on the results of this study, it seems reasonable to suggest that a combination of specific immunogenetic and immunophenotype profiles could contribute to the successful aging and to maintaining healthy status in elderly.