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Average Income (average + income)
Selected AbstractsInnovative Governance and Development in the New Ireland: Social Partnership and the Integrated ApproachGOVERNANCE, Issue 1 2004J. D. House Since the mid-1980s, the economy of the Republic of Ireland has displayed a remarkable turnaround. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown at a faster rate than any developed country in the world. The government's deficit has been cut severely and the debt-to-GDP ration sharply reduced. Average incomes have risen significantly, and the unemployment rate reduced dramatically. This article documents these changes. Its main purpose, however, is to provide a plausible explanation for the "Irish miracle." While many factors have been important,support for the Economic Union's regional development programs, a favorable tax structure, locational and language advantages for attracting multinational corporations, strong education and training programs,these factors in themselves do not explain the emergence of the "Celtic tiger." They were in place before the mid-1980s when Ireland was suffering from a fiscal, economic, and political crisis. Instead, the article argues, it was the creative and innovative response of Irish leaders in government, industry, and labor movement and community organizations to the crisis, and the subsequent institutionalization of this response in a new form of governance, that has been the catalyst for the Irish success story. Based on the thorough background research of the Economic and Social Research Council, a farsighted group of leaders developed a strategic plan in 1987 that provided a blueprint for constructive economic and social change. This was then formally instituted for wage restraint on the part of labor in return for income tax and social supposed provisions by government. Irish social Partnership is modeled to some extent on Northern European corporatism. The article reviews corporatism as an early form of innovative governance, using classical corporatism in Sweden and competitive corporatism in the Netherlands to illustrate how this approach has evolved over the years. Dutch economic success in recent years is due in part to its new form of corporatism that has helped it become globally competitive. It is argued, however, that Irish social partnership goes beyond continental corporatism in several important ways. It is more inclusive, covering a large array of social interests; it is more strategic, with a well-articulated integrated approach to social and economic development that is self-corrective and articulated in a new national agreement every three years; and it is more firmly institutionalized in both government and nongovernment agencies in the country. Social partnership and the integrated approach have become part of the culture of the new Ireland. This innovative form of governance underlies the Irish turnaround and augurs well for the future. It can also serve as a model, with appropriate modification tailor-made to each case, for other jurisdictions hoping to emulate Ireland's success. [source] Valuing avoided morbidity using meta-regression analysis: what can health status measures and QALYs tell us about WTP?HEALTH ECONOMICS, Issue 8 2006George Van Houtven Abstract Many economists argue that willingness-to-pay (WTP) measures are most appropriate for assessing the welfare effects of health changes. Nevertheless, the health evaluation literature is still dominated by studies estimating nonmonetary health status measures (HSMs), which are often used to assess changes in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Using meta-regression analysis, this paper combines results from both WTP and HSM studies applied to acute morbidity, and it tests whether a systematic relationship exists between HSM and WTP estimates. We analyze over 230 WTP estimates from 17 different studies and find evidence that QALY-based estimates of illness severity , as measured by the Quality of Well-Being (QWB) Scale , are significant factors in explaining variation in WTP, as are changes in the duration of illness and the average income and age of the study populations. In addition, we test and reject the assumption of a constant WTP per QALY gain. We also demonstrate how the estimated meta-regression equations can serve as benefit transfer functions for policy analysis. By specifying the change in duration and severity of the acute illness and the characteristics of the affected population, we apply the regression functions to predict average WTP per case avoided. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] IS ECONOMIC GROWTH GOOD FOR THE POOR?INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC REVIEW, Issue 4 2008TRACKING LOW INCOMES USING GENERAL MEANS We propose the use of an alternative methodology to track low incomes based on Atkinson's "equally distributed equivalent income" functions or "general means" and present a new characterization to justify their application. To evaluate the effects of growth on lower incomes, growth rates are compared for two income standards: the ordinary mean and a low-income-sensitive general mean. The question is: How closely related are these two variables? After estimating the growth elasticity, we find that it is not significantly different from zero. Thus, it cannot be concluded that poorer incomes grow proportionately to increases in the average income. [source] Obesity and associated modifiable environmental factors in Iranian adolescents: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program , Heart Health Promotion from ChildhoodPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2003RoYA Kelishadi Abstract Objective:,To evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian adolescents and their relationship with modifiable environmental factors. Methods:,The subjects of the present study were 1000 girls and 1000 boys, aged between 11 and 18 years selected by multistage random sampling, their parents (n = 2000) and their school staff (n = 500 subjects) in urban and rural areas of two provinces in Iran. Data concerning body mass index (BMI), nutrition and the physical activity of the subjects were analyzed by SPSSV10/Win software. Results:,The prevalence of 85th percentile , body mass index (BMI) < 95th percentile and BMI > 95th percentile in girls was significantly higher than boys (10.7 ± 1.1 and 2.9 ± 0.1%vs 7.4 ± 0.9 and 1.9 ± 0.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). The mean BMI value was significantly different between urban and rural areas (25.4 ± 5.2 vs 23.2 ± 7.1 kg/m2, respectively; P < 0.05). A BMI> 85th percentile was more prevalent in families with an average income than in high-income families (9.3 ± 1.7 vs 7.2 ± 1.4%, respectively; P < 0.05) and in those with lower-educated mothers (9.2 ± 2.1 vs 11.5 ± 2.4 years of mothers education, respectively). The mean total energy intake was not different between overweight or obese and normal-weight subjects (1825 ± 90 vs 1815 ± 85 kCal, respectively; P > 0.05), but the percentage of energy derived from carbohydrates was significantly higher in the former group compared with the latter (69.4 vs 63.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). Regular extracurricular sports activities were significantly lower and the time spent watching television was significantly higher in overweight or obese than non-obese subjects (time spent watching telelvision: 300 ± 20 vs 240 ± 30 min/day, P < 0.05). A significant linear association was shown between the frequency of consumption of rice, bread, pasta, fast foods and fat/salty snacks and BMI (, = 0.05,0.06; P < 0.05). A significant correlation was shown between BMI percentiles and serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein,cholesterol and systolic blood pressure (Pearson's r = 0.38, ,0.32 and 0.47, respectively). Conclusions:,Enhanced efforts to prevent and control overweight from childhood is a critical national priority, even in developing countries. To be successful, social, cultural and economic influences should be considered. [source] Otolaryngology Retirement Profile in the Southeastern United States,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 2 2002W. Frederick McGuirt Sr. Abstract Objective To document retirement-related issues and trends among otolaryngologists. Study Design Survey of 438 retired members in the Southern geographical region of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc. Methods A questionnaire was mailed to retired members, completed anonymously, and returned to the author. Results A total of 138 (31.5%) surveys were received. Respondents' average age at retirement was 63.2 years; approximately half had retired in the last 5 years. Since 1995, most had left either a group practice (45%) or a solo practice (41%). The majority of respondents (40%) retired for previously planned or personal reasons. Two thirds of respondents reported that they were more satisfied with retirement than expected. This greater satisfaction was seen in those with a higher average income after retirement. The most common advice for colleagues still practicing was to save more money and invest more money. Conclusions Although these results are biased because of a self-selected group of respondents, they illustrate that for this group of retired otolaryngologists, although retirement is being planned for, it is not occurring earlier than in previous years. The experience of retirement was largely positive for these respondents. [source] A healthy diet consistent with Australian health recommendations is too expensive for welfare-dependent familiesAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 6 2009Christine Kettings Abstract Objective: Examine the cost of healthy food habits for welfare-dependent families in Australia. Method: A seven-day meal plan was developed, based on Australian public health recommendations, for two typical welfare-dependent families: a couple-family (two adults, two children) and a one-parent family (one adult, two children). The cost of the meal plan was calculated using market brand and generic brand grocery items, and total cost compared to income. Results: In Australia, the cost of healthy food habits uses about 40% of the disposable income of welfare-dependent families. Families earning an average income would spend only 20% of their disposable income to buy the same healthy food. Substituting generic brands for market brands reduced the weekly food cost by about 13%. This is one of few economic models to include generic brands. Conclusion: Compared with average-income Australian families, healthy food habits are a fiscal challenge to welfare-dependent families. Implications: These results provide a benchmark for economic and social policy analysis, and the influence disposable income has on prioritising healthy food habits. [source] Hepatitis B and C Viruses Infection, Lifestyle and Genetic Polymorphisms as Risk Factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Haimen, ChinaCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 12 2002Shun-Zhang Yu A case-control study was carried out to investigate the impact of factors including virus infection, aflatoxin B1, microcystins, smoking/drinking and dietary habits as well as genetic polymorphisms of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) and cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1), on susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Haimen, China. A total of 248 patients with HCC and 248 sex-, age- and residence-matched population-based controls were recruited into the study. Virus infection, and ALDH2 and CYP2E1 gene polymorphisms were assessed in 134 paired cases and controls. By univariate analysis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (odds ratio [OR]=9.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] =4.71,20.2), history of intravenous injection (OR=1.50; 95%CI=1.02,2.22), average income (OR=0.63; 95% CI=0.43,0.92), frequent intake of foods rich in protein, e.g., egg (OR=0.6; 95% CI=0.42,0.87), chicken (OR=0.53; 95% CI=0.35,0.79), pork (OR=0.67; 95% CI=0.46,0.98) and fresh fish (OR=0.58; 95% CI=0.39,0.87) significantly differed between cases and controls. However, peanut intake (OR=0.66; 95% CI=0.43,1.01), source of drinking water, including tap (OR=1.33; 95% CI=0.81,2.20), deep well (OR=0.94; 95% CI=0.56,1.55), shallow well (OR=0.85; 95% CI=0.55-,1.30), river (OR=0.95; 95% CI=0.65,1.38), ditch (OR=1.09; 95% CI=0.76,1.55) and pond water (OR=1.0; 95% CI=0.14,7.10) were not significantly associated with risk. Univariate analysis also indicated that the 1,1 genotype of ALDH2 (OR=1.38; 95% CI=0.86,2.23) as well as the Pst1- and Rsa1-digested c1/c1 genotype of CYP2E1 (OR=1.36; 95% CI=0.81,2.28), was slightly more frequent in the case group. On multivariate analysis, HBV infection (OR=13.9; 95% CI=5.78,33.6) and history of intravenous injection (OR=2.72; 95% CI=1.24,6.00) were still associated with significantly increased risk of HCC, while frequent intake of fresh fish (OR=0.32; 95% CI=0.12,0.86) decreased this risk. These findings suggest that whereas peanut intake, water sources as well as genetic polymorphisms in ALDH2 and CYP2E1 do not significantly correlate with the risk of HCC, HBV infection is a main risk factor, and dietary items rich in protein, especially fresh fish, might protect against the risk of HCC in Haimen, China. [source] Beyond Material Explanations: Family Solidarity and Mortality, a Small Area-level AnalysisPOPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, Issue 1 2010Jon Anson Social solidarity, being embedded in a network of binding social relationships, tends to extend human longevity. Yet while average incomes in the Western world, and with them, life expectancies, have risen dramatically, the second demographic transition has occasioned a breakdown in traditional family forms. This article considers whether these trends in family life may have slowed the rise in life expectancy. I present a cross-sectional analysis of Israeli statistical areas (SAs), for which I construct indexes of Standard of Living (SOL), Traditional Family Structure (TFS), and Religiosity (R). I show that (1) increases in all three of these indexes are associated with lower levels of mortality, (2) male mortality is more sensitive to differences in SOL and TFS than is female mortality, and (3) net of differences in SOL and TFS, there is no difference in the mortality levels of Arab and Jewish populations. [source] Income Growth and Earnings Variations in New Zealand, 1998,2004THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMIC REVIEW, Issue 3 2006Dean Hyslop This article analyses changes in the distributions of working-age individuals' earnings and total income in New Zealand over the period 1998,2004. We find that there have been broad gains in income across the distribution, suggesting the spoils of growth have been shared widely. Mean and median earnings increased 15 and 23 per cent respectively, while mean and median income increased 12,13 per cent. Inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, was more stable: earnings inequality fell 4 per cent, while income inequality was unchanged. The main drivers of the changes were employment and real wage growth. We estimate that roughly one-half of the growth in average incomes was due to employment growth, and one-quarter each to demographic changes and wage growth. The relative employment and wage contributions varied across the income distribution: employment growth dominated gains at the lower end of the distribution, while wage gains dominated changes at the higher end. [source] | ||||||||||||||||