Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Economic Impact (economic + impact)
Selected AbstractsCLIMATE CHANGE AND FISHERIES: ASSESSING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN ICELAND AND GREENLANDNATURAL RESOURCE MODELING, Issue 2 2007RAGNAR ARNASON ABSTRACT. . Climate changes in the 21st century are expected to significantly increase ocean temperatures and modify other oceanographic conditions in the North Atlantic. Marine biological research suggests that the impacts on the commercially most important fish stocks in the Icelandic-Greenland ecosystem may well be quite substantial. This will obviously lead to a corresponding impact on the economies of these two countries. However, the timing, extent and biological impact of global warming is quite uncertain. As a result the economic impact is similarly uncertain. This paper attempts to provide estimates of the impact of altered fish stocks due to global warming on the Icelandic and Greenland economies. The approach is one of stochastic simulations. This involves essentially three steps. The first is to obtain predictions of the impact of global warming on fish stocks and the associated probability distribution. For this we rely on recent marine biological predictions. The second step is to estimate the role of the fisheries sector in the two economies. This is done with the help of modern econometric techniques based on economic growth theory and historical data. Obviously these estimates are also subject to stochastic errors and uncertainty. The third step is to carry out Monte Carlo simulations on the basis of the above model and the associated uncertainties. The result of the Monte Carlo simulations consists of a set of dynamic paths for GDP over time with an expected value and a probability distribution for each future year. On this basis it is possible to calculate confidence intervals for the most likely path of GDP over time. The results indicate that the fisheries impact of global warming on the Icelandic GDP is more likely to be positive than negative but unlikely to be of significant magnitude compared to historical economic growth rates and fluctuations. The uncertainty of this prediction, however, is large. For Greenland, the impact on fish stocks and the GDP is highly likely to be positive and quite substantial relative to the current GDP. Due to less knowledge of the relationship between the fisheries sector and the Greenland economy, however, the confidence interval of this prediction is even wider than in the case of Iceland. [source] THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF VOLUNTARY ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF FIRMS: A CRITICAL REVIEWJOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SURVEYS, Issue 3 2009Esther Blanco Abstract New trends in studies on the governance of natural assets include substantial consideration of the role of voluntary initiatives. A traditional economic view states that there is a trade-off between being green and being competitive. According to that view, no voluntary environmental action is expected to occur. To undertake an in-depth analysis of the scope for voluntary action, this paper reviews empirical literature that analyzes the relationship between manufacturing firms' environmental initiatives or performance and economic results. This review moves beyond the general test of the ,pay to be green' hypothesis, preferring instead to systematize empirical results in more specific research questions. Empirical findings of the reviewed literature generally support that there is no penalty for being green. In addition, the typology of firms, the methods utilized for implementing environmental initiatives, the intensity of abatement efforts and stockholders' valuation of green firms have all been shown to have a sizeable influence on the actual economic results of environmental action or management. Consequently, the findings of this paper challenge the traditional strategic theory that predicts widespread free-riding; it holds major implications for environmental policy-making and environmental business decisions. [source] POTENTIAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CHANGES IN WATER AVAILABILITY ON AGRICULTURE IN THE TRUCKEE AND CARSON RIVER BASINS, NEVADA, USA,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 4 2006Levan Elbakidze ABSTRACT: Effects of climate change are likely to be detected in nearly all sectors and regions of the economy, with both winners and losers. One of the consequences of climatic changes could be altered regional water supplies. This paper presents an investigation of regional agricultural implications of changes in water availability. Specifically, using a profit maximization approach, the economic consequences of altered water availability in the Great Basin of Nevada are analyzed in terms of the effects on net returns of agricultural producers. Under the scenarios analyzed in this paper, it is found that with adequate water systems, increase in streamflow and consequent increase in water availability could significantly benefit agricultural producers of this region. Net returns to irrigators could increase by 8 to 13 percent, not taking into account the possibility of changes in crop yields and prices. It is also shown that the benefits from increased water availability are sensitive to likely crop yield and price changes. The potential for adverse effects of climatic changes on water supply is also considered by analyzing the effects of decreased water availability. Under decreased water availability scenarios, farmer net returns decrease substantially. [source] Organizational Form and the Economic Impact of Corporate New Product StrategiesJOURNAL OF BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING, Issue 1-2 2008Sheng-Syan Chen Abstract:, This paper examines the role of organizational form in explaining the economic impact of corporate new product strategies. I find that the wealth effects associated with the announcements of new product introductions are more favorable for introducing firms with focused activities than for those with diversified activities. The results hold even after controlling for other factors suggested in the literature that could affect the value of new product introductions. The findings in this study suggest that the efficient investment hypothesis dominates the internal capital markets hypothesis in terms of the net economic impact of new product introductions on the introducing firms. [source] A Community Perspective on Quantifying the Economic Impact of Teleradiology and TelepsychiatryTHE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2009Brian E. Whitacre PhD First page of article [source] Economic Impacts of Technology, Population Growth And Soil Erosion At Watershed Level: The Case Of the Ginchi in EthiopiaJOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2004B.N. Okumu A dynamic bio-economic model is used to show that, without technological and policy intervention, soil loss levels, income and nutrition could not be substantially or sustainably improved in a highland area of Ethiopia. Although cash incomes could rise by more than 40% over a twelve-year planning period, average per ha soil losses could be as high as 31 tonnes per ha. With the adoption of an integrated package of new technologies, however, results show the possibility of an average two-and-a-half-fold increase in cash incomes and a 28% decline in aggregate erosion levels even with a population growth rate of 2.3%. Moreover, a minimum daily calorie intake of 2000 per adult equivalent could be met from on-farm production with no significant increases in erosion. However, higher rates of growth in nutritional requirements and population introduce significant strains on the watershed system. From a policy perspective, there is a need for a more secure land tenure policy than currently prevailing to facilitate uptake of the new technology package, and a shift from the current livestock management strategy to one that encourages livestock keeping as a commercial enterprise. It would also imply a shift to a more site-specific approach to land management. [source] The genetic and economic impact of the CIMMYT wheat breeding program on local producers in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora MexicoAGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 5 2010Lawton L. Nalley CIMMYT; Public wheat breeding; Economic impact of technological change Abstract This article quantifies the productivity gain from CIMMYT-released semidwarf bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars over time, using test plot data from Mexico's Yaqui Valley. Previous studies have shown a deceleration in irrigated wheat yield growth since the 1980s, which could be due to slowing increase in genetic potential. Our results suggest that CIMMYT cultivars contributed a 0.46% annual increase (about 38 kg/ha annually) to wheat yields in the Yaqui Valley, which raised local wheat producers' revenue by an average of $4 million annually for the period 1990 to 2002, and by approximately $9 million in 2002. [source] Emerging patterns of cannabis and other substance use in Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory: a study of two communitiesDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2004ALAN R. CLOUGH Abstract A recent rise in cannabis use in Indigenous communities in northern Australia may have compounded existing patterns of other substance use. This paper describes these patterns in Arnhem Land in the ,Top End' of the Northern Territory (NT). Economic impacts of the cannabis trade are also described. In a descriptive cross-sectional study, random samples included 336 people (169 males, 167 females) aged 13,36 years. Consensus classification of lifetime and current use of cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, kava, inhalants (petrol) and other drugs was derived based on health workers' proxy assessments. A sample (n = 180, aged 13,36) was recruited opportunistically for interview. Lifetime cannabis users among those interviewed (n = 131, 81 males, 50 females) described their current cannabis use, usual quantities purchased and consumed, frequency and duration of cannabis use and other substance use. In the random samples, 69% (63,75%) of males and 26% (20,31%) of females were lifetime cannabis users (OR = 7.4, 4.5,12.1, p 5 0.001). The proportion of males currently using cannabis was 67% (60,73%) while the proportion of females currently using cannabis was 22% (16,27%) (OR = 7.9, 4.8,13.1, p 5 0.001). Current cannabis users were more likely than non-users to be also using alcohol (OR = 10.4, 4.7,23.3, p 5 0.001), tobacco (OR = 19.0, 7.9,45.8, p 5 0.001) and to have sniffed petrol (OR = 9.1, 4.6,18.0, p 5 0.001) but were less likely to be using kava (OR = 0.4, 0.2 ,0.9, p 5 0.001). Among those interviewed, higher tobacco consumption in current users and greater alcohol use in lifetime users was associated with increased cannabis use. Action is required to reduce cannabis use, especially in combination with other substances. [source] Economic impacts of bio-refinery and resource cascading systems: An applied general equilibrium analysis for PolandBIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 12 2007Adriana M. Ignaciuk Dr. Abstract Due to more stringent energy and climate policies, it is expected that many traditional chemicals will be replaced by their biomass-based substitutes, bio-chemicals. These innovations, however, can influence land allocation since the demand for land dedicated to specific crops might increase. Moreover, it can have an influence on traditional agricultural production. In this paper, we use an applied general equilibrium framework, in which we include two different bio-refinery processes and incorporate so-called cascading mechanisms. The bio-refinery processes use grass, as one of the major inputs, to produce bio-nylon and propane-diol (1,3PDO) to substitute currently produced fossil fuel-based nylon and ethane-diol. We examine the impact of specific climate policies on the bioelectricity share in total electricity production, land allocation, and production quantities and prices of selected commodities. The novel technologies become competitive, with an increased stringency of climate policies. This switch, however, does not induce a higher share of bioelectricity. The cascade does stimulate the production of bioelectricity, but it induces more of a shift in inputs in the bioelectricity sector (from biomass to the cascaded bio-nylon and 1, 3PDO) than an increase in production level of bioelectricity. We conclude that dedicated biomass crops will remain the main option for bioelectricity production: the contribution of the biomass systems remains limited. Moreover, the bioelectricity sector looses a competition for land for biomass production with bio-refineries. [source] Management of chronic hand eczemaCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 4 2007Thomas L. Diepgen Hand eczema (HE) is one of the most frequent skin diseases and has often a chronically relapsing course with a poor prognosis resulting in a high social and economic impact for the individual and the society. In this article, we highlight the results of an expert workshop on the ,management of severe chronic hand eczema' with the focus on the epidemiology, the burden of severe HE, its classification and diagnostic procedures, and the current status of treatment options according to an evidence-based approach (randomized controlled clinical trials, RCTs). We conclude that despite the abundance of topical and systemic treatment options, disease management in patients with severe chronic HE is frequently inadequate. There is a strong need for RCTs of existing and new treatment options based on clearly diagnosed subtypes of HE and its severity. [source] Antipsychotic combination therapy in schizophrenia.ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2002A review of efficacy, risks of current combinations Objective:, To review the literature on efficacy and risks of combining antipsychotics (atypical with atypical or conventional) and suggest a rationale and strategies for future clinical trials. Method:, A computerized Medline search supplemented by an examination of cross-references and reviews was performed. Results:, Empirical evidence for the efficacy of combining antipsychotics is too limited to draw firm conclusions. The practice of augmenting clozapine with more ,tightly bound' D2 receptor antagonists as exemplified by risperidone augmentation of clozapine has some empirical and theoretical support. The risks of augmentation strategies have not been studied systematically. No study has examined the economic impact of combination treatment. Conclusion:, Further trials of antipsychotic combination therapies are needed before this currently unsupported practice can be recommended. Rationales for combination treatment include a broadening of the range of receptor activity or an increase in D2 receptor occupancy with certain atypical agents. Trial methodology needs to take into account subject characteristics, duration of treatment, optimization of monotherapy comparators, and appropriate outcome measures. [source] Naturalization and invasion of alien plants: concepts and definitionsDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 2 2000David M. Richardson Abstract., Much confusion exists in the English-language literature on plant invasions concerning the terms ,naturalized' and ,invasive' and their associated concepts. Several authors have used these terms in proposing schemes for conceptualizing the sequence of events from introduction to invasion, but often imprecisely, erroneously or in contradictory ways. This greatly complicates the formulation of robust generalizations in invasion ecology. Based on an extensive and critical survey of the literature we defined a minimum set of key terms related to a graphic scheme which conceptualizes the naturalization/invasion process. Introduction means that the plant (or its propagule) has been transported by humans across a major geographical barrier. Naturalization starts when abiotic and biotic barriers to survival are surmounted and when various barriers to regular reproduction are overcome. Invasion further requires that introduced plants produce reproductive offspring in areas distant from sites of introduction (approximate scales: > 100 m over < 50 years for taxa spreading by seeds and other propagules; > 6 m/3 years for taxa spreading by roots, rhizomes, stolons or creeping stems). Taxa that can cope with the abiotic environment and biota in the general area may invade disturbed, seminatural communities. Invasion of successionally mature, undisturbed communities usually requires that the alien taxon overcomes a different category of barriers. We propose that the term ,invasive' should be used without any inference to environmental or economic impact. Terms like ,pests' and ,weeds' are suitable labels for the 50,80% of invaders that have harmful effects. About 10% of invasive plants that change the character, condition, form, or nature of ecosystems over substantial areas may be termed ,transformers'. [source] The Economic Impact of International Migration within The UK EconomyECONOMIC OUTLOOK, Issue 4 2006Article first published online: 13 NOV 200 There is a vociferous debate regarding the extent, impact and future policy direction of international migration. This has intensified following the expansion of the European Union and the accession of the eight Central and Eastern European countries. This article explores the recent trends in net migration, looking particularly at the impact at the sectoral and regional level. It finds that foreign workers appear to have had a significant economic impact in filling skills gaps and in helping to arrest population decline in those regions where previously this had been a fact of economic life. [source] Baghouse system design based on economic optimizationENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 4 2000Antonio C. Caputo In this paper a method is described for using economic optimization in the design of baghouse systems. That is, for a given emission control problem, the total filtration surface area, the overall pressure drop, fabric material effects, and the cleaning cycle frequency, may all be evaluated simultaneously. In fact, as baghouse design parameters affect capital and operating expenses in interrelated and counteracting manners, a minimum total cost may be searched defining the best arrangement of dust collection devices. With this in mind, detailed cost functions have been developed with the aim of providing an overall economic model. As a result, a discounted total annual cost has been obtained that may be minimized by allowing for optimal baghouse characterization. Finally, in order to highlight the capabilities of the proposed methodology, some optimized solutions are also presented, which consider the economic impact of both bag materials and dust properties. [source] Health care resource utilization in patients with active epilepsyEPILEPSIA, Issue 5 2010Tobias Kurth Summary Purpose:, To evaluate health care resource utilization (HRU) in active epilepsy. Methods:, Thomson-Reuters insurance databases included 14 million persons in 2005,2007. We extracted information for individuals with insurance claims suggestive of epilepsy. Using iterative expert classification, we sorted patients by type of epilepsy. For each type we calculated prevalence and HRU. A distance analysis identified closely similar types, and a principal components analysis revealed dimensions of variation in HRU. Results:, The prevalence of active epilepsy was 3.4 per 1,000. Most common diagnoses among 46,847 patients were generalized convulsive epilepsy (33.3%) and complex partial seizures (24.8%). Patients averaged 10 physician visits per year, 24 diagnostic tests/procedures per year, >30 drug dispensings per year, and <1 emergency room (ER) visit per year, the minority of each of these being related to epilepsy. Female patients generally had more HRU, and HRU increased with age. Patients were hospitalized most frequently for disorders other than epilepsy. HRU was similar for most epilepsy types, excepting grand mal status, epilepsia partialis continua, and infantile spasms. The first principal components of HRU variation was nonepilepsy HRU, followed by components of epilepsy-related medications, other epilepsy/emergency care, and epilepsy visits/diagnostic procedures. Discussion:, The prevalence of active epilepsy in the United States is substantially less than the prevalence of any history of recurrent seizure. Nonepilepsy-related HRU dominated HRU in epilepsy patients and was the principal source of variation. There is a core set of epilepsy diagnoses, the HRU patterns of which are indistinguishable, whereas patients with grand mal status, epilepsia partialis continua, and infantile spasms all have distinct patterns. To provide more specific insights into the economic impact of the condition, studies of HRU in epilepsy should make a distinction about epilepsy-related and unrelated care. [source] New Mexico's 1998 drive-up liquor window closure.ADDICTION, Issue 5 2004Study II: economic impact on owners ABSTRACT Aims This study examined the economic impact of the New Mexico legislative action closing drive-up liquor windows on the retail establishments that operated them. Design A telephone survey was conducted 20 months after the closure seeking information and owners' opinions about how their outlets had changed since the closure and how this affected their business. In addition, 2 years of aggregated pre- and post-closure total gross receipts revenues were obtained from the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, with convenience stores as a comparison group. Findings Interviews were completed for 149 of 220 establishments. Over one-quarter of former drive-up liquor windows (28%) had been converted to ,step-in' sales, defined as an outside door where customers can stop and enter the premises while their car is running. Almost two-thirds (61%) of owners reported decreased annual gross revenues following closure, with a reported average 15% reduction in alcohol sales. This is consistent with findings of decreased gross receipts for operators of non-urban, but not urban, drive-up liquor windows compared to convenience store gross receipts. Almost three-quarters (72%) of those surveyed would re-open the drive-up window if the law were rescinded. Conclusion Over one-quarter of the drive-up owners converted to step-in alcohol sales that still allow a form of drive-up liquor sales. Despite this, the forced closure of New Mexico's drive-up liquor windows negatively impacted total sales and liquor sales revenues of establishments that operated them. [source] Role of Manganes in the Soldering Reaction in Magnesium High Pressure Die Casting,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 12 2003C. Tang The significance of soldering in high pressure die casting (HPDC) of magnesium alloys could have a major economic impact on die casters and a study of the soldering phenomenon during HPDC of magnesium alloys has been undertaken. In this paper results of dip tests are presented involving the immersion of samples made from H13 tool steel into molten magnesium alloys with different aluminium and manganese contents. [source] Commercialization of Nanostructured Metals Produced by Severe Plastic Deformation ProcessingADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 5 2003T.C. Lowe Abstract The promise of nanotechnology is increasingly being realized as governments, universities, public and private research laboratories, and the various industrial sectors devote resources to this emerging area. Estimates for the economic impact of nanotechnology on existing global markets exceed 700 billion by the year 2008. Nanomaterials are projected to be one of the earliest components of nanotechnology to appear in commercial applications. Amongst the emerging new nanomaterials, bulk nanostructured metals produced by severe plastic deformation (SPD) have shown promise in a wide range of application areas. In this paper, we overview developments in severe plastic deformation technology, emphasizing progress since the international workshop "Investigations and Applications of Severe Plastic Deformation" held 2,8 August 1999 in Moscow, Russia. Then, we overview some of principal areas of application for SPD metals and alloys. [source] Is it possible to identify early predictors of the future cost of chronic arthritis?FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2009The VErA project Abstract This study was conducted to identify early predictors of the total cost of inflammatory arthritis (IA). One hundred and eighty patients affected by undifferentiated arthritis (UA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were included in the French Very Early rheumatoid Arthritis (VErA) cohort between 1998 and 2001. Health economic data for 2003 were collected using a patient self-questionnaire. Results were analysed in terms of direct, indirect and total costs in 2003 euros (2003,) for the population as a whole and in diagnostic subgroups. A payor perspective (the French National Health Insurance, in this case) was adopted. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify predictors of total cost from among the criteria assessed on recruitment. Results of the study showed that for the study population as a whole, the mean total cost was ,4700 per patient. The costs attributable to the RA and UA sub-groups were ,5928 and ,2424 per patient, respectively. In a univariate analysis, certain parameters were significantly correlated with a higher cost of illness. In the multivariate analysis, some of these parameters were further identified as being predictive of higher cost. Two strong significant, early predictors of total cost were identified: higher pain (P = 0.002) and the presence of rheumatoid factor (P = 0.004). In the RA sub-group, lower grip strength of the dominant hand (P = 0.039) was another predictor of the illness's subsequent economic impact. In conclusion, our data show that simple clinical and laboratory parameters can be used early in the course of IA to predict the condition's impact on healthcare budgets. [source] Cost minimization analysis to compare activated prothrombin complex concentrate (APCC) and recombinant factor VIIa for haemophilia patients with inhibitors undergoing major orthopaedic surgeriesHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 5 2009P. O. BONNET Summary., Benefits of bypassing agents for maintaining haemostasis in major surgeries have been described in the literature; however, their use has a substantial economic impact. This study assessed the cost of FEIBA, an activated prothrombin complex concentrate and recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) when used in inhibitor patients undergoing major surgeries. After reviewing published literature, a cost minimization model was developed describing dosing regimens recommended and used during major surgeries for FEIBA (pre-operative: 75,100 U kg,1; postoperative: 75,100 U kg,1 q 8,12 h days 1,5 and 75,100 U kg,1 q 12 h days 6,14) and rFVIIa (pre-operative: 90 ,g kg,1; intra-operative: 90 ,g kg,1 q 2 h; postoperative: 90 ,g kg,1 q 2,4 h days 1,5 and 90 ,g kg,1 q 6 h days 6,14). Using a 75 kg patient and US prices, total drug cost was calculated for three scenarios: use of FEIBA or rFVIIa alone and a third case combining rFVIIa pre- and intra-operative and FEIBA throughout a 14-day postoperative period. Dosage amounts of modelled bypassing agents were similar to cases in the literature. Using FEIBA instead of rFVIIa would decrease total drug cost by >50% and save over $400 000 per surgery. Sequential use of both bypassing agents would increase total drug cost by 9% when compared with FEIBA alone, but would remain >40% lower than rFVIIa alone. Univariate sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness of results. As large amounts of bypassing agents are necessary for patients with inhibitors to undergo major surgeries, cost is a major consideration. Use of FEIBA alone or in combination with rFVIIa has emerged as a cost-saving approach. [source] Hospital Economics of the HospitalistHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 3 2003Douglas Gregory Objective To determine the economic impact on the hospital of a hospitalist program and to develop insights into the relative economic importance of variables such as reductions in mean length of stay and cost, improvements in throughput (patients discharged per unit time), payer methods of reimbursement, and the cost of the hospitalist program. Data Sources The primary data source was Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston. Patient demographics, utilization, cost, and revenue data were obtained from the hospital's cost accounting system and medical records. Study Design The hospitalist admitted and managed all patients during a six-week period on the general medical unit of Tufts-New England Medical Center. Reimbursement, cost, length of stay, and throughput outcomes during this period were contrasted with patients admitted to the unit in the same period in the prior year, in the preceding period, and in the following period. Principal Findings The hospitalist group compared with the control group demonstrated: length of stay reduced to 2.19 days from 3.45 days (p<.001); total hospital costs per admission reduced to $1,775 from $2,332 (p<.001); costs per day increased to $811 from $679 (p<.001); no differences for readmission within 30 days of discharge to extended care facilities. The hospital's expected incremental profitability with the hospitalist was,$1.44 per admission excluding incremental throughput effects, and it was most sensitive to changes in the ratio of per diem to case rate reimbursement. Incremental throughput with the hospitalist was estimated at 266 patients annually with an associated incremental profitability of $1.3 million. Conclusion Hospital interventions designed to reduce length of stay, such as the hospitalist, should be evaluated in terms of cost, throughput, and reimbursement effects. Excluding throughput effects, the hospitalist program was not economically viable due to the influence of per diem reimbursement. Throughput improvements occasioned by the hospitalist program with high baseline occupancy levels are substantial and tend to favor a hospitalist program. [source] Assessing the long-run economic impact of labour law systems: a theoretical reappraisal and analysis of new time series dataINDUSTRIAL RELATIONS JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008Simon Deakin ABSTRACT Standard economic theory sees labour law as an exogenous interference with market relations and predicts mostly negative impacts on employment and productivity. We argue for a more nuanced theoretical position: labour law is, at least in part, endogenous, with both the production and the application of labour law norms influenced by national and sectoral contexts, and by complementarities between the institutions of the labour market and those of corporate governance and financial markets. Legal origin may also operate as a force shaping the content of the law and its economic impact. Time-series analysis using a new data set on legal change from the 1970s to the mid-2000s shows evidence of positive correlations between regulation and growth in employment and productivity, at least for France and Germany. No relationship, either positive or negative, is found for the UK and, although the United States shows a weak negative relationship between regulation and employment growth, this is offset by productivity gains. [source] The Stock Market Reaction to the Enron-Andersen Affair in SpainINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AUDITING, Issue 1 2006Cristina de Fuentes Barbera This paper investigates whether listed Spanish companies audited by Andersen have suffered any negative economic impact due to the scandal surrounding Andersen's work in Enron Corporation. To that end, we have measured the economic consequences, if any, of Andersen's loss of reputation by examining the reaction in terms of movements in the stock prices of its client companies using an event study methodology. We have analysed abnormal returns on the stock prices of all firms listed in the Spanish Interconnected Market around two event dates: the date of Andersen's public admission that it had destroyed significant financial documents related to Enron Corp. and the date Dynegy Inc. announced the withdrawal of its takeover offer. The results of our empirical analysis do not support the hypothesis that companies audited by Andersen suffered any significant drop in stock price as a result of the scandal affecting their auditor. [source] Health services use in women with a history of bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorderINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 1 2005Ruth H. Striegel-Moore PhD Abstract Objective The current study examined health services use during the past 12 months in a sample of young women with a history of an adolescent eating disorder (bulimia nervosa [BN] or binge eating disorder [BED]). Method A community sample of 1,582 young women (mean age = 21.5 years) was classified, based on a screening interview (and, for eating disorder diagnosis, confirmatory diagnostic interview), into one of three groups: BN or BED (n = 67), other psychiatric disorder (n = 443), and no adolescent psychiatric disorder (n = 1,072). Results A history of BN/BED in adolescence was associated with elevated health services use, but this was a general effect associated with having a psychiatric disorder, not an effect specific to the diagnosis of an eating disorder. Total service days, outpatient psychotherapy visits, and emergency department visits were elevated in the combined group of BN/BED and other psychiatric disorder participants relative to the healthy comparison group. The women with BN/BED did not differ significantly from the women with a non,eating-related psychiatric disorder in the use of these services. Discussion The similarity of health services use in young women with BN or BED and those with other psychiatric disorders underscores the clinical and economic impact of these eating disorders. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Cost of Alzheimer's disease in a developing country settingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 7 2005M. Zencir Abstract Purpose To evaluate the economic impact of AD in Denizli, Turkey. Design and Methods This observational study was conducted with 42 AD patients and their primary caregivers. During the initial interview, demographic data and medical histories were collected with questionnaires. For an observational period of 15 days, data on time spent for patient care were collected using standard forms. Calculations on direct cost (e.g. per day medication, outpatient physician visits during the last 3 months), indirect cost (e.g. time spent for care by caregiver for daily living (ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL)) were made by summing up and taking averages of the appropriate items. ANOVA, and linear regressions were the methods for comparisons. Results The primary caregivers of the patients mainly were their children and/or spouses. The maximum mean time spent (h/week) was 21.0 (17.5) for severely damaged cognition. The average annual cost per case was between $1,766 [95% Confidence Intervals (CI); 1.300,2.231] and $4,930 (95% CI; 3.3714,6.147). The amount of caregiver cost was the most significant item in the overall cost and it showed an increase with the declining cognitive function of patients. Daily medication cost reflected the same pattern. In contrast, cost of outpatient physician was the lowest among the patients with the worst cognition. Conclusions These results suggest that recently AD has become a significant cost for developing countries. This pilot study gives an idea of the cost of AD in developing countries where determining the actual cost can be difficult. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The economic burden of depression and the cost-effectiveness of treatmentINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2003Philip S. Wang Abstract Cost-of-illness research has shown that depression is associated with an enormous economic burden, in the order of tens of billions of dollars each year in the US alone. The largest component of this economic burden derives from lost work productivity due to depression. A large body of literature indicates that the causes of the economic burden of depression, including impaired work performance, would respond both to improvement in depressive symptomatology and to standard treatments for depression. Despite this, the economic burden of depression persists, partly because of the widespread underuse and poor quality use of otherwise efficacious and tolerable depression treatments. Recent effectiveness studies conducted in primary care have shown that a variety of models, which enhance care of depression through aggressive outreach and improved quality of treatments, are highly effective in clinical terms and in some cases on work performance outcomes as well. Economic analyses accompanying these effectiveness studies have also shown that these quality improvement interventions are cost efficient. Unfortunately, widespread uptake of these enhanced treatment programmes for depression has not occurred in primary care due to barriers at the level of primary care physicians, healthcare systems, and purchasers of healthcare. Further research is needed to overcome these barriers to providing high-quality care for depression and to ultimately reduce the enormous adverse economic impact of depression disorders. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Assessing the economic impact of wind farms on tourism in Scotland: GIS, surveys and policy outcomesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010Geoff Riddington Abstract The impact of wind farms on the environment and subsequently on tourism is the subject of much heated debate. The research was concerned with making a robust quantitative assessment of the economic impact, to help resolve the debate and inform government policy on planning for renewable energy. In addition to a broad description of the intercept surveys and the advanced local economic models used to ascertain impact, the research details two novel elements; a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) model for the analysis of the number of tourists and bed spaces exposed to wind farms and a large internet-based survey of the willingness to pay for landscape. The research found a very small but significant negative economic impact and, on the basis of the survey information, suggests ways of minimising this impact. Both GIS modelling and internet surveying were found to be extremely useful and, it is suggested, both should become standard tools for the tourism researcher. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Can Migration Foster Development in Mexico?INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 5 2009Inequality, The Case of Poverty The impact of migration on development can be analysed from a number of perspectives. This article focuses on poverty and inequality. It assesses the relative contribution of migrants to Mexico,s economy through remittances, compared to other Latin American countries; analyses the distributional impact of remittances (with an emphasis on the poor), and compares this impact to the counterfactual impact of migrants' stay-at-home income. It explains the processes leading to scant economic success rates among poor international migrants. Finally, it describes the nature and impact of current Mexican migrant-oriented policies, and recommends a shift in focus, to lessen emigration, increase the income of migrants, promote returns, and bolster the economic impact of returning migrants. [source] OECD Efforts to Address the Measurement and Policy Challenges Posed by the Information SocietyINTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL REVIEW, Issue 1 2003Andrew W. Wyckoff Summary The OECD has acted as a forum for the discussion of policies regarding the information society for over 20-years, producing guidelines and recommendations in areas such as privacy of personal information, computer security, cryptography, regulatory reform of communications, and most recently on-line consumer protection and the taxation of e-commerce. By and large, this work was undertaken without the benefit of statistical measures. But the economic performance of a number of OECD Member countries during the 1990s underscores that the policy challenges being posed by the information society are increasingly economic in nature,how ICT is affecting productivity, growth rates, inflation, labour markets etc.,necessitating the need for statistically rigorous data. This paper outlines how recent efforts by national statistical offices to improve this situation have allowed researchers to gain new insight into the economic impact associated with ICTs and applications like e-commerce, leading to a number of policy recommendations as to how best to exploit the economic potential of these technologies. The paper ends by outlining important policy issues that require new statistical efforts. Résumé L'OCDE offre aux gouvernements depuis plus de 20 ans un cadre de discussion sur les questions liées à la société de l'Information et propose des lignes directrices ainsi que des recommandations sur des sujets tels que la vie privée et l'informatique, la sécurité informatique, la cryptographie, la réforme réglementaire en matière de communications et, plus récemment, la protection des consommateurs en-ligne et la fiscalité en matière de commerce électronique. Jusqu'ici, ce travail a été plus ou moins accompli sans le bénéfice d'études statistiques approfondies. Cependant, à en juger des performances économiques d'un certain nombre de pays membres de l'OCDE au cours des années 90, il est évident que les problèmes auxquels est confrontée la société de l'Information ont un caractère de plus en plus économique,l'impact des technologies de l'information et des communications sur la productivité, les taux de croissance, l'inflation, le marché de l'emploi, etc.,et nécessitent des statistiques fiables. Le présent document explique comment les offices nationaux des statistiques ont contribué par leurs efforts à améliorer la situation en donnant aux chercheurs les moyens de mieux comprendre l'impact des technologies de l'information et des communications (TIC), notamment du commerce électronique, sur l'économie. Enfin, ce travail a abouti à un certain nombre de recommandations sur la meilleure façon pour les pouvoirs publics d'exploiter le potentiel économique de ces technologies. La dernière partie du document met en exergue des problèmes importants liés à la politique économique qui nécessitent de nouveaux efforts en matière de statistiques. [source] The potential role for economic instruments in drought management,IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE, Issue 4 2004Stephen Merrett changement du climat; gestion des sécheresses; irrigation; prix de l'eau Abstract Climate change in the twenty-first century will likely reduce the return period of drought events, indicating that drought management will be even more important in the future than it is already. In the case of England's Anglian region it is shown that two principal institutions are responsible for drought management,the Environment Agency and Anglian Water Services (AWS). The region has a fast-growing population of more than 5 million people, it has 58% of the most productive agricultural land in England and Wales, and in some summers irrigation can make up 50% of water use. An examination of the drought plans of the Agency and AWS demonstrates that in both cases the policy instruments that they deploy to manage drought are informational, infrastructural and regulatory. In neither case would they use water pricing as a management tool. Moreover, the government's drought plan guidelines for the water utilities make no reference to economic instruments of drought management nor do they suggest that utilities should review the economic impact on their customers of regulatory action. The principal issues that would arise if water charging were to be deployed as a drought management instrument are then reviewed. The paper concludes by proposing that national government should evaluate the feasibility, costs, benefits and risks of replacing the regulatory instruments of drought management by economic instruments. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Avec les changements climatiques prévus au vingt-et-unième siècle les périodes de sècheresse deviendront probablement plus fréquentes et la gestion de ces sécheresses deviendra plus problématique. Cet article indique que dans la région Anglian de l'Angleterre deux institutions ont la responsabilité de cette gestion: "the Environment Agency" et "Anglian Water Services". Un examen des plans d'action pour la sécheresse de ces deux institutions montre que, dans les deux cas, les instruments qui seront déployés seront soit informationels soit infrastructurels soit règlementaires. Il n'y a pas dans ces plans une seule référence au prix de l'eau comme instrument de gestion. De même les conseils du gouvernement national pour la préparation de ces plans ignorent les instruments économiques. L'article conclut que le gouvernement doit réviser la faisabilité des instruments de gestion des sécheresses, et d'estimation de leurs coûts et bénéfices pour introduire davantage d'instruments économiques. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||