The informal economy is ever-present in developing countries. It is present in any worker and small business out of the state’s regulatory environment. Moreover, high poverty rates are also present...Show moreThe informal economy is ever-present in developing countries. It is present in any worker and small business out of the state’s regulatory environment. Moreover, high poverty rates are also present in such developing countries. Therefore, finding a way to address the informal economy to see whether poverty can be reduced is paramount. Thus, this thesis will explore the research question of: What state interventions to the informal economy can affect the countries’ poverty rates across different levels of economic development? For this purpose, this research will explore two state interventions: those facilitating business formalization and those providing social protection. By analyzing over 100 countries and conducting a multiple linear regression, this research has found a statistical effect of state interventions on the countries’ poverty rates. The findings show that state interventions can affect the poverty rates of developing countries. However, such an effect is contingent on matters such as the level of corruption and government effectiveness. Thus, these findings pave the way for future focus on how the countries’ institutional environment must be addressed when looking into how to target the informal economy to reduce poverty.Show less
The medical technique of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is barely available in developing countries because of its high cost and the strong requirements on infrastructure. To address this problem...Show moreThe medical technique of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is barely available in developing countries because of its high cost and the strong requirements on infrastructure. To address this problem, we are developing a permanent magnet-based head scanner that is affordable (<50,000 EUR) and portable. Here, we report on the first observations of magnetic resonance in our custom magnet array with a field strength of 59 mT. Using custom made volume coils, we observe using Hahn echo (Spin echo) and CPMG pulse sequences. We discuss the step towards 2D imaging using rotating spatially encoding magnetic fields (rSEMs) and show simulations that indicate this is feasible in our setup. Finally, we discuss the technical challenges that still have to be overcome to turn this prototype into a diagnostic device for those in need.Show less
This research investigates the progress of Indonesia as a technological state during the New Order era, with the aerospace industry in particular, and focuses on the current situation in Indonesia...Show moreThis research investigates the progress of Indonesia as a technological state during the New Order era, with the aerospace industry in particular, and focuses on the current situation in Indonesia to see if there are any similarities with the past notable.Show less
The presence of Shell in Nigeria has been a prominent feature in the international news media, due to Shell's alleged negative influence on the country's environment, society and political leaders....Show moreThe presence of Shell in Nigeria has been a prominent feature in the international news media, due to Shell's alleged negative influence on the country's environment, society and political leaders. This thesis aims to investigate how the presence and activities of Shell influence the behaviour of Nigeria's political elite by focussing on the bad norms of corruption and authoritarianism. Based on a number of middle range theories, it can be concluded that there is a negative relationship between Shell and Nigeria's leaders when it comes to corruption, but that the company is not responsible for the persistence of authoritarianism in the country.Show less
