Visible technologies, invisible organisations: An empirical study of public beliefs about electricity supply networks

Reducing carbon emissions in the energy system poses significant challenges to electricity transmission and distribution networks. Whilst these challenges are as much social as economic or technical, to date few research studies have investigated public beliefs about electricity supply networks. This research aimed to address this gap by means of a nationally representative study of UK adults (n=1041), probing beliefs about how electricity reaches the home, responsibility for electricity supply, associations with the words 'National Grid', as well as beliefs about the planning of new infrastructure. Findings suggest that electricity networks are represented predominantly in terms of technologies rather than organisations, specifically in terms of familiar, visible components such as cables or wires, rather than more systemic concepts such as networks. Transmission and distribution network operators were largely invisible to members of the public. In terms of planning new lines, most respondents assumed that government ministers were involved in decision-making, while local residents were widely perceived to have little influence; moreover, there was strong public support for placing new power lines underground, regardless of the cost. In conclusion, organisational invisibility, coupled with low expectations of participatory involvement, could provoke public opposition and delay siting new network infrastructure.Electricity supply networks Public beliefs Planning

Renewable Energy and the Fallacy of 'Green' Jobs

As the United States economy continues to struggle, many politicians and energy regulators have adopted a "green jobs" mantra. They espouse the view that policies mandating renewable resources will provide both environmental and economic salvation. Quite simply, forcing consumers to buy high-cost electricity from subsidized renewable energy producers will not and cannot improve economic well-being.

Designing Feed-in Tariff Policies to Scale Clean Distributed Generation in the U.S.

The diversity of institutions that govern, invest in, operate, and maintain the U.S. electric-delivery system pose many unique challenges to the implementation of feed-in tariffs and limit the applicability of direct policy comparisons from other countries pursuing FITs. This article recognizes these distinctive domestic attributes, discusses how FITs can fit into a policy framework to maximize a diverse portfolio of clean energy, and provides some principles for FIT policies in the U.S., with case studies outlining new FIT-style mechanisms in California and New York.

An integer programming dynamic farm-household model to evaluate the impact of agricultural policy reforms on farm investment behaviour

We develop a multi-objective farm-household dynamic integer programming model to simulate investment behaviour in different policy and price scenarios, with a particular focus on the decoupling of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The model takes into account the characteristics of individual assets, including ageing and fixity through the explicit consideration of transaction costs. A case study application in the context of arable farming in Northern Italy is provided as an example. The results emphasise different patterns of reaction of different farm-household types over time, as an effect of the varying opportunity costs of resources and initial asset endowments. Overall, this application highlights the potentialities and limits of the methodology. In particular, the approach proved to be effective in providing a variety of results depending on the individual features of each farm-household, such as the differences between: (a) a 'no reaction' attitude; (b) an adaptation of farm activity and assets; and (c) a radical reaction pattern guided by high-income alternatives to farming. This highlights the potential of this tool as a generator of ideas and working hypotheses. We argue that, in view of the further developments of the CAP, the use of instruments able to account for multiple objectives, dynamics and investment choices will become even more relevant in the analysis of EU agricultural policy.OR in agriculture Dynamic models Household models Multi-objective models Investment

La diversidad y el proceso docente educativo

En el trabajo se realiza un estudio sobre el proceso de formación y desarrollo de la personalidad de las nuevas generaciones, realizando un análisis de términos claves como: diversidad, individualidad, integración, segregación, homogeneidad, enfoque individual, diferenciado y personalizado, la atención a las diferencias individuales; escuela abierta a la diversidad. Teniendo como base la reconceptualización de la Educación Especial en Cuba: en el marco del proceso de optimización, donde se utilizan acciones para ofrecer una educación de más calidad a los escolares con necesidades educativas especiales y a toda la población escolar en general. La atención a la diversidad no es solamente a alumnos con determinada discapacidad, sino a todos los alumnos escolarizados en un centro, ya que todos son diversos y hay que dar igualdad de oportunidades y a la vez que una enseñanza individualiza a todos los alumnos.diversidad, proceso, docente, educativo.

The effect of physicians’ remuneration system on the Caesarean section rate: the Uruguayan case

Induced demand, Caesarian section delivery, Endogeneity, I11, I18, C35,