			Home About us Contact

Financial Savings (financial + savings)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Humanities and Social Sciences	60%

Selected Abstracts

Waste Minimisation Clubs: a cost-efficient policy instrument?

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 6 2001
Stefan Henningsson
The total amount of solid waste generated in Europe is estimated to grow by 10% every year and there is increased concern over the associated environmental impacts. As a result, the minimization of waste at source in business and industry is a top priority in the European Community's waste strategy. In the UK, regional Waste Minimisation Clubs (WMCs) have been established to promote sustainable waste management in business and industry. The company clusters taking part in these clubs have reported financial savings combined with reductions in environmental impact. These results are disseminated to encourage further savings by the UK industry. This paper examines the savings as well as the costs involved in ten WMCs. It finds that there is a lack of standardization in the reporting of WMC results. This makes it difficult to evaluate the influence of WMCs, whilst also having an adverse effect on the credibility of waste minimization in business. Despite these problems, the paper finds that there is still strong evidence to suggest that these ten WMCs have been efficient in stimulating cost savings by industry, with an average rate of return on investment of 170%. It also finds that the financial benefits for companies are key outcomes of WMCs and that these benefits significantly exceed the estimated social benefits of the reduced environmental burden. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source]

Son Preference and Access to Social Insurance: Evidence from China's Rural Pension Program

POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, Issue 1 2010
Avraham Ebenstein
Many scholars argue that the persistence of son preference in China is driven by greater anticipated old-age support from sons than from daughters and the absence of formal financial mechanisms for families to save for retirement. The introduction of a voluntary old-age pension program in rural China in the 1990s presents the opportunity to examine (1) whether parents with sons are less likely to participate in pension plans and (2) whether providing access to pension plans affects parental sex-selection decisions. Consistent with the first hypothesis, we find that parents with sons are less likely to participate in the pension program and have less financial savings for retirement. Consistent with the second hypothesis, we find that an increase in county-level pension program availability is associated with a slower increase in the sex ratio at birth. [source]

A collaborative approach to the environmental assessment process prior to oil exploration activities offshore the Falkland Islands

AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 1 2002
Liz Hopkins
Abstract 1.Operating Companies awarded acreage in the Falkland Islands First Offshore Licensing Round began exploration for oil and gas in 1996. Appropriate environmental management is an important aspect of exploration activities in any new frontier area and the Falklands Islands were no exception. Operators with drilling commitments established the Falklands Operators Sharing Agreement (FOSA), which included an Environmental Workgroup (EWG) to take responsibility for the environmental issues associated with exploration activities. 2.The EWG was established early in the exploration programme and commissioned a number of specific environmental studies relating to the offshore environment of the Islands. The data made available by this research provided a valuable input to the assessment of potential environmental impacts from the planned exploration activities. By undertaking environmental impact assessments prior to exploration activities FOSA were able to identify and adopt operational and management controls to ensure potential environmental impacts were, where possible, minimized or avoided. 3.The EWG also provided the main point of contact with the regulators on environmental matters and through the Falkland Islands Exploration & Production Environmental Forum facilitated consultation with government departments such as Fisheries, and other stakeholders such as Falklands Conservation. 4.The co-operative approach taken by the operators with regard to the environmental management of the exploration activities offshore the Falkland Islands is considered to have been very successful. The most obvious benefits were through the shared resources resulting in financial savings, however, other benefits have included, avoiding duplication of effort, the promoting of ,working togetherness' and a reduced burden on consultees. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Six of the Best, Colorectal 20

BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue S1 2002
D.L. Francis
Aims: Surgical resection is the only potential cure for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM), but patient selection relies on accurate preoperative staging. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of routinely using whole-body FDG-PET (WBPET) for preoperative staging of patients being considered for resection of CLM. Methods: A prospective study of patients referred for possible hepatic resection was undertaken. Patients were initially staged by spiral CT and subsequently underwent WBPET. These modalities were considered independently before findings were compared and a decision regarding patient management was made. Accuracy of each modality was compared with histology, clinical/radiological follow-up or operative findings if appropriate. Results: Twenty-nine patients were recruited. Ten solitary CLM were correctly identified by both WBPET and CT. Nineteen patients had multiple CLM or extrahepatic disease, of these CT correctly staged seven patients (36 per cent), understaged 10 patients (53 per cent) and overstaged two (11 per cent). WBPET correctly staged 18 patients (95 per cent) and overstaged just one (5 per cent). WBPET was more sensitive and specific (100 and 92 per cent, respectively) for detecting multiple CLM and extrahepatic disease compared to CT (41 and 83 per cent). As a result of routine WBPET, patient management was altered in 10 patients (34 per cent), of whom four (14 per cent) avoided inappropriate surgery. Conclusions: WBPET is both more sensitive and specific in the preoperative staging of CLM, and we recommend its inclusion in the management algorithm of all patients being considered for hepatic resection. Altered patient management such as avoiding inappropriate laparotomy may also ultimately lead to financial savings. [source]

Everybody needs good neighbours: an evaluation of an intensive project for families facing eviction

CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK, Issue 2 2002
Malcolm Hill
ABSTRACT This paper presents details of a largely qualitative evaluation of an intensive multi-method Project, with a residential component, which aims to help families facing eviction to overcome their housing-related difficulties. The families served by the Project had a host of other problems related to parenting, with child care and protection issues, addictions and mental health difficulties figuring prominently. Just over half the referrals came from the local authority housing services, with nearly all the remainder coming from the social work department. The majority of families made good progress, but in some cases it proved harder to have an impact on parenting than on tenancy-related matters. Nevertheless, the Project was deemed to have helped some families stay together or be reunited, resulting in substantial financial savings for social work services. Crucial ingredients were good management, stable staff, shared ,ownership' by other agencies, a repertoire of challenging methods, and a holistic approach. [source]