An experimental analysis of grandfathering vs dynamic auctioning in the EU ETS

This study constitutes a first attempt to experimentally test the performance of a 100% auction versus a 100% free allocation of CO2 permits under the rules and parameters that mimic the EU ETS (imperfect competition, uncertainty in emissions’ control, and allowing banking). It also incorporates a first attempt to include in the analysis measures of the risk preferences of subjects participating in emission permits experiments. Another distinctive feature of this study is the implementation of a theoretically appropriate auction format for the primary allocation of emission permits. Our experimental results indicate that the EU ETS has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions, achieving targets considerably more restrictive than the current ones at high efficiency levels, both with auctioned and free emission permits. Auctioning, however, reveals a clear potential to do better than grandfathering the initial allocation of permits. In addition, the results reveal that concerns about undue scarcity, and corresponding high prices, in secondary markets generated by a primary auction market are not warranted under the proposed dynamic auction format.EU ETS, auctioning, grandfathering, banking, Ausubel auction

Reconhecimento, validação e certificação de competências profissionais (RVCC-PRO) – Limitações e potencialidades dos processos

Este artigo decorre duma investigação sobre o Processo de Reconhecimento, Validação e Certificação de Competências no Centro Novas Oportunidades do Centro de Formação Profissional de Évora. Pretendeu-se compreender o processo e a estratégia de qualificação profissional dos participantes, o impacto da obtenção da certificação na sua vida, em termos pessoais, familiares, profissionais, sociais, educativos e formativos. Trata-se de um estudo de caso de carácter exploratório, para o qual se construiu um inquérito por questionário para conhecimento da realidade. Entre os principais resultados alcançados regista-se a existência dum elevado grau de satisfação pessoal e a inexistência de benefícios profissionais que levem a mudanças de paradigma

O Reconhecimento, Validação e Certificação de Competências Profissionais (RVCC-PRO) – Limitações e potencialidades do processo

Este artigo decorre duma investigação sobre o Processo de Reconhecimento, Validação e Certificação de Competências no Centro Novas Oportunidades do Centro de Formação Profissional de Évora. Pretendeu-se compreender o processo e a estratégia de qualificação profissional dos participantes, o impacto da obtenção da certificação na sua vida, em termos pessoais, familiares, profissionais, sociais, educativos e formativos. Trata-se de um estudo de caso de carácter exploratório, para o qual se construiu um inquérito por questionário para conhecimento da realidade. Entre os principais resultados alcançados regista-se a existência dum elevado grau de satisfação pessoal e a inexistência de benefícios profissionais que levem a mudanças de paradigma

Dilemas e desafios do Reconhecimento, Validação e Certificação de Competências Profissionais (RVCC-PRO) – Uma abordagem sociológica

Este artigo decorre duma investigação sobre o processo de certificação no Centro Novas Oportunidades do Centro de Formação Profissional de Évora. Pretendeu-se compreender o processo e a estratégia de qualificação profissional dos participantes, o impacto da obtenção da certificação na sua vida, em termos pessoais, familiares, profissionais, sociais, educativos e formativos Trata-se de um estudo de caso de carácter exploratório, para o qual se construiu um inquérito por questionário para conhecimento da realidade. Entre os principais resultados alcançados regista-se a existência dum elevado grau de satisfação pessoal e a inexistência de benefícios profissionais com a participação no processo de reconhecimento

An experimental analysis of grandfathering vs dynamic auctioning in the EU ETS

This study constitutes a first attempt to experimentally test the performance of a 100% auction versus a 100% free allocation of CO2 permits under the rules and parameters that mimic the EU ETS (imperfect competition, uncertainty in emissions’ control, and allowing banking). It also incorporates a first attempt to include in the analysis measures of the risk preferences of subjects participating in emission permits experiments. Another distinctive feature of this study is the implementation of a theoretically appropriate auction format for the primary allocation of emission permits. Our experimental results indicate that the EU ETS has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions, achieving targets considerably more restrictive than the current ones at high efficiency levels, both with auctioned and free emission permits. Auctioning, however, reveals a clear potential to do better than grandfathering the initial allocation of permits. In addition, the results reveal that concerns about undue scarcity, and corresponding high prices, in secondary markets generated by a primary auction market are not warranted under the proposed dynamic auction format.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) - POCTI/ECO/45435/0

More on the dynamic Vickrey mechanism for multi-unit auctions: an experimental study on the emission permits initial auction

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the multiple-units auction literature, by testing the performance of the dynamic Vickrey auction (the Ausubel model), in an experimental setting, representing the functioning of an emission permits market with an Ausubel auction for the initial allocation of permits. Other features of the experiment include the possibility of banking and the inclusion of uncertainty, and the parameters were set so as to replicate an environment similar to the EU-ETS market. Our results reveal that emission permits are not exactly allocated as theoretically predicted in the Ausubel auction although the differences are not statistically significant. Comparison of our results with previous experimental studies on the same auction mechanism, although under very different conditions, indicate no relevant differences exist on the Ausubel auction performance, which is an important policy indication when decisions are being taken on the implementation of several auctions for multiple units, namely in the context of the EU-ETS.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)We thank FCT for research support under grant POCTI/ECO/45435/02. Financial support from NIMA is also appretiated

Changes of food habits in school-aged children and adolescents

O objetivo desta investigação foi conhecer as diferenças no padrão alimentar de estudantes que frequentam diferentes ciclos de estudo do ensino básico (2.º e 3.º ciclos do ensino básico). A amostra foi constituída por 529 adolescentes com13,32 (±1,59) anos, de numa escola pública portuguesa. A obesidade foi calculada através do IMC. Para recolher informação do padrão alimentar aplicou-se um questionário. O teste do Qui-Quadrado utilizou-se na comparação entre grupos. A prevalência de excesso de peso/obesidade foi de 22,8%. Verificou-se uma maior prevalência de excesso de peso/obesidade no 2.º ciclo (27,9% versus 18,9%, p=.015). Os estudantes mais velhos saltam mais refeições (primeiro-almoço p=.000, almoço p=.009, jantar p=.015), bebem mais refrigerantes (p=.046) e bebidas alcoólicas (p=.001). Quanto ao consumo de doces, fruta, vegetais e leite, não se observam diferenças estatisticamente significativas, entre os ciclos. Concluindo, verifica-se uma degradação do padrão alimentar na passagem do 2.º para o 3.º ciclo do ensino básico.The aim of this study is to compare the food pattern of students who attend different school grades. The sample consisted of 529 adolescents with 13.32(±1.59) years, from a Portuguese public school. Obesity was calculated using BMI. A questionnaire was applied to collect information on the food pattern. The chi-square test was used to compare the two groups. The overall prevalence of overweight + obesity was 22.8%. The group that attended 5th and 6th grades present a higher prevalence of overweight +obesity in (27.9% versus 18.9%, p=.015). Older students skip more meals (breakfast p=.000, lunch p=.009, dinner p=.015), drink more soft drinks (p=.046) and alcoholic drinks (p=.001). Regarding the consumption of sweets, fruit, vegetables and milk, there are no statistically significant differences between the grades. In conclusion, there is a trend of an unhealthy food pattern from the 5th and 6th grades to the 7th, 8th and 9th grades.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bioclimatic solutions in vernacular architecture: transition spaces

The traditional architecture is founded as a defining element of the identity of a region, and its essence should be preserved and conserved by means of maintenance and recovery actions. Thus, the best solutions and proposals for intervention should be looked for but this doesn’t imply a back to back innovation and at construction progress. This work includes the description of techniques for maintenance and conservation of bioclimatic solutions found and inventoried in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, with special focus on a unique bioclimatic solution known as Transition Spaces (from the interior to the exterior of the buildings and vice-versa), whose main purpose is to ensure protection from the elements when entering or exiting buildings, to contribute to the improvement of the buildings thermal performance and to create sheltered interior/exterior living spaces. This architectural characteristic is based on the building’s solar exposure, predominant winds and geographical and topographic conditions. It is important to recover the historical heritage in a sustainable manner, allowing it to become an engine of development for both urban and small rural centres that exist in the periphery of the bigger cities

Bioclimatic solutions existing in vernacular architecture - geothermal climatization

The traditional architecture is founded as a defining element of the identity of a region, and its essence should be preserved and conserved by means of maintenance and recovery actions. Thus, the best solutions and proposals for intervention should be looked for but this doesn’t imply a back to back on both innovation and construction progress. This work is part of the BIOURB project, a cross-border project between Portugal and Spain, which intended to contribute to the change of the current constructive model towards a more sustainable bioclimatic model, both environmentally and economically, reducing buildings energy consumption and raising the value of bioclimatic heritage along the border region. This paper includes the description of a series of tasks in order to perform buildings maintenance and rehabilitation, dignifying the built heritage and enhancing the use of traditional materials and techniques, with a view to economic and environmental sustainability. It is intended to provide a set of relevant information for those who have the responsibility or the concern to extend the life of buildings and disclose among users, current and potential, good and bad, options for the conservation and rehabilitation as well as anomalies that currently affect buildings. Geothermal climatization is one of the eight bioclimatic solutions identified using renewable energies. This climatization system takes advantage of the thermal characteristics of the in depth ground which presents constant temperatures throughout the year (also, temperature increases with depth). These steady temperatures are easy to find when one get into buried spaces of buildings by checking that they are cooler in summer and have warm temperatures in winter. Taking advantage of the ground characteristics is reflected a bit everywhere in buried constructions that are therefore more protected from the weather. Buried spaces without any day lighting, excavated in earth and stone, were the most often used for preserving food and wine. The main purposes of this work are to analyse this type of bioclimatic solution, to provide conservation, preservation and rehabilitation techniques, as well as to cope with the benefits of the principles of traditional architecture that should integrate and inspire the bioclimatic construction

Hábitos alimentares dos idosos portadores de diabetes mellitus

A dieta é um dos componentes do estilo de vida que exerce uma maior influência na saúde. Uma alimentação equilibrada ajuda a reduzir o risco de determinadas patologias e pode melhorar a qualidade de vida das pessoas com doenças crónicas. Objectivos/Metodologia- Analisar os hábitos alimentares dos idosos portadores de Diabetes Mellitus. Procedeu-se a uma revisão da literatura publicada nos últimos 6 anos através de pesquisa bibliográfica na base de dados Scielo, PubMed/Medline, RCAAP. Resultados/Conclusões-Constatou-se que uma percentagem significativa dos idosos diabéticos possui hábitos alimentares que se afastam do padrão alimentar considerado nutricionalmente equilibrado.O seu padrão alimentar é caraterizado por um défice de consumo de frutos e produtos hortícolas. Os resultados evidenciam que é imperioso promover medidas onde uma alimentação saudável e equilibrada, conjuntamente com a prática regular de atividade física, constituam um aliado na prevenção e tratamento da Diabetes Mellitus