Author Archive

This paper argues against a natural resource curse for human development. We find evidence that changes in human development from 1970 to 2005, proxied by changes in the Human Development Index, are positively and significantly correlated with natural resource abundance. While our results are consistent with those of other authors […]

One of the participants called it the “fairytale town”. He was talking of Rietberg, a small city near the head office of the Bertelsmann Stiftung (Gütersloh). This was a nice setting for the second FutureChallenges Regional Editors Workshop from 16th May to 18th May. FutureChallenges’  Regional Editors coordinate regional groups […]

With the race on to reduce global warming and fossil fuel dependency, experts in alternative energy see a bright future for renewable resources like wind, solar, hydro-power and geothermal energy. QUEST and Climate Watch team up to look at the “Smart Grid” of the future and how it might be […]

“ The Smart Grid: An Introduction” is a publication sponsored by DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability that explores – in layman’s terms – the nature, challenges, opportunities and necessity of Smart Grid implementation.  Additional books, released in 2009, target the interests of specific stakeholder groups: Consumer Advocates, […]

This video shows the importance of smart grids focussing on energy supply in Austria (in German). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0hp5Aru3XI