The rapid growth of FinTech (financial technology) companies has brought significant transformation in the global financial landscape (Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), 2021). This disruption is intensifying after the COVID-19 pandemic (International Monetary Fund (IMF), 2022). The decentralized …

In contrast to common believe, evidence shows that the Dutch economy does not depend on the state of the German business cycle. An analysis of annual GDP growth data on different geographical levels (country, province, regions) reveals only very limited correlation between the economic growth in the …

Sharks are ecological important inhabitants of most of the world’s oceans and seas. Still their life-history, which is dictated by slow growth rates and late maturity, makes most species, especially demersal- and coastal sharks, prone to exploitation through target- and nontarget fisheries. Another threat …

Ecosystem engineering research has recently demonstrated the fundamental importance of non-trophic interactions for food-web structure. Particularly, by creating benign conditions in stressful environments, ecosystem engineers create hot beds of elevated levels of recruitment, growth, and survival of …

The outbreak of the Eurozone economic crisis in 2008 caused one of the most difficult challenges in the history of the European Union. Output and employed decreased and faith in the European project diminished. Leading European policy makers identified fiscal irresponsibility by some member states as …

This thesis considers the extent to which German fiscal policy can be used as a blueprint in other Eurozone countries that need revision after the crisis. This thesis also aims to discover the negative and positive sentiments regarding a common fiscal union in Eurozone countries and what exactly the …

A (semi-)closed greenhouse is a novel greenhouse with an active cooling system and temporary heat storage in an aquifer. Air is cooled, heated and dehumidified by air treatment units. Climate in (semi-)closed greenhouses differs from that of conventional open greenhouses. The aims of our research were …

Students' educational careers in Higher Education: a search into key factors regarding study outcome One of the political goals of the EU is to develop 'the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010'. The Dutch knowledge economy faces an increased demand for highly-educated inhabitants, …

Ever since the fall of communism Russia has been going through periods of transition. Gorbatchev brought 'glasnost' to the country. Yeltsin brought private ownership, immense freedom but pulled the country into a complete post-communist chaos. Putin restored the sense of order and stability and brought …