Local communities and sport activities expenditures and image: residents’ role in sustainable tourism and recreation

The practice of sports by resident communities is a tool for healthy lifestyles, inclusive growth and the promotion of sustainable cities. Nevertheless, the relationship between sport, tourism and recreation still remain an under researched theme. Focusing on the economic pillar of sustainability, this study intends to quantify and analyse the economic costs incurred by families in formal and informal sport practices, as well as the contribution of these activities and related events to the territory's image projection and attractiveness, by overlapping resident's and visitor's perception of sports in the destination. Applied to the municipality of Guimaraes (Portugal), this analysis of the sports consumer's behaviour contributes to filling the gap of knowledge resulting from the studies that, as a rule, exclusively evaluate the investments (supply) and/or the expenses (demand) of events and not the regular practice of sport. A total of 179 questionnaires were applied to residents throughout 2017, through the self-administrate questionnaire method. Findings reveal that residents see sports as one of the factors contributing to the identity of the municipality, underlying motivations for participation as the search for happiness, health, wellbeing, and fun. Expenditures generate multiplier effects in the local economy, allowing to compare growth scenarios. This analysis is a scientific instrument to support territorial innovation and the decision at the local level of public policies for sustainable development, in agreement with objective eight of sustainability defined by the United Nations.Funding Agency Municipality of Guimaraes/Sports Studies Centre of Guimaraesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Measurement of National Non-Visible Wealth through Intellectual Capital

The economy of knowledge requires measures of national wealth that take into account aspects not contemplated by GDP, in order to portray the situation of a country more truthfully. In this paper, we use a new model to measure the intellectual capital of nations, adapted from microeconomics. It is based on the observation of hidden capital as implicit generator of long-term wealth, considering not only sustainability and social wellbeing, but also intangible assets such as human development, economic structure, international trade, foreign image and innovation. This empirical study reveals the importance of hidden capital in a nation’s wealth, making the difference where economic growth is concerned, as the most developed countries record the highest scores of efficiency in terms of intangible capital.knowledge economy indicators, hidden wealth, intangibles, GDP

Identifying welfare effects from subjective questions

The authors argue that the welfare inferences drawn from subjective answers to questions on qualitative surveys are clouded by concerns about the structure of measurement errors and how latent psychological factors influence observed respondent characteristics. They propose a panel data model to high-quality panel data for Russia for 1994-96, they find that some results widely reported in past studies of subjective well-being appear to be robust but others do not. Household income, for example, is a highly significant predictor of self-rated economic welfare; per capita income is a weaker predictor. Ill health and loss of a job reduce self-reported economic welfare; per capita income is a weaker predictor. Ill health and loss of a job reduce self-reported economic welfare, but demographic effects are weak at a given current income. And the effects of unemployment is not robust. Returning to work does not restore a sense of welfare unless there is an income gain. The results imply that even transient unemployment brings the feeling of a permanent welfare loss, suggesting that high unemployment benefits do not attract people out of work but do discourage a return to work.Economic Theory&Research,Services&Transfers to Poor,Public Health Promotion,Environmental Economics&Policies,Labor Policies,Safety Nets and Transfers,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Inequality,Governance Indicators

Indigenous wellbeing in Australia: evidence from HILDA

This study explores the subjective wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. Abstract Report focusses on mean levels of self-reported life satisfaction, inequality in life satisfaction within the Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian populations, and the prevalence and severity of dissatisfaction with one’s life. Evidence on differences in the determinants of life satisfaction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is provided. Results indicate that Indigenous life satisfaction peaked in 2003 and has since declined. We also find that inequality in life satisfaction is greater for Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians. Despite a downward trend in the level of dissatisfaction for non-Indigenous Australians, dissatisfaction among Indigenous Australians has remained relatively unchanged

New Perspectives in Economic Value Assessment as an Integration of Social Accountability. A Practical Application in the Spa Industry

In trying to understand the history of spa activities in Italy from an economic perspective, one could but acknowledge the importance of the efforts spa resorts are making today to differentiate their activities with the purpose of tackling the crisis of the sector that started in the 90’s and was worsened by Law no. 323 of 2000 concerning the reorganization of the spa industry. One of the most valuable among the multiple communication tools available for the entities of the sector is the social balance, whose aim is accountability towards all the stakeholders concerning the added value created and distributed, a tool that may find a useful integration in the calculation of the economic impact produced on the reference territory. This work, after a brief overview of the most accredited literature on social reporting and economic impact analysis, with a special reference to the tourism industry, will more specifically investigate the idea of combining these two tools to enhance the social and economic function of corporate information.Social balance, added value, economic impact, Spa

Solar energy technologies in sustainable energy action plans of italian big cities

Cities, accounting for more than 3/4 of global final energy consumption, are equipping themselves with governance tools to improve energy efficiency. In Europe, urban energy policy has adopted, only recently and voluntarily, the Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP), following the European Strategy 20-20-20. Italy, country most sensitive among European ones, accounts for 53% of SEAPs signatories. In order to evaluate how urban energy system in Italy can match sustainability European goals, it is necessary to analyse the technological options promoted by the energy policies for the urban environment. The paper presents the state-of-art of Urban Energy Planning in Italy, focusing on the implementation of Solar Energy technologies, and their role in new urban energy strategy instruments, i.e. SEAP, to promote renewables deployment. Carbon emission avoidance interventions planned by Italian big cities were analysed, highlighting the chosen Solar Energy technology. The aim of this paper is to discuss and evaluate the differences of solar energy harvesting in Italian urban scenarios, taking into account geographical and morphological constraints, and to compare the forecasts for 2020 and 2030scenarios, in accordance with European and National laws in force

The Glacier Complexes of the Mountain Massifs of the North-West of Inner Asia and their Dynamics

The subject of this paper is the glaciation of the mountain massifs Mongun-Taiga, Tavan-Boghd-Ola, Turgeni- Nuru, and Harhira-Nuru. The glaciation is represented mostly by small forms that sometimes form a single complex of domeshaped peaks. According to the authors, the modern glaciated area of the mountain massifs is 21.2 km2 (Tavan-Boghd-Ola), 20.3 km2 (Mongun-Taiga), 42 km2 (Turgeni- Nuru), and 33.1 km2 (Harhira-Nuru). The area of the glaciers has been shrinking since the mid 1960’s. In 1995–2008, the rate of reduction of the glaciers’ area has grown considerably: valley glaciers were rapidly degrading and splitting; accumulation of morainic material in the lower parts of the glaciers accelerated. Small glaciers transformed into snowfields and rock glaciers. There has been also a degradation of the highest parts of the glaciers and the collapse of the glacial complexes with a single zone of accumulation into isolated from each other glaciers. Reduced snow cover area has led to a rise in the firn line and the disintegration of a common accumulation area of the glacial complex. In the of the Mongun-Taiga massif, in 1995– 2008, the firn line rose by 200–300 m. The reduction of the glaciers significantly lagged behind the change in the position of the accumulation area boundary. In the past two years, there has been a significant recovery of the glaciers that could eventually lead to their slower degradation or stabilization of the glaciers in the study area

Addressing entrenched disadvantage in Australia

An estimated four to six per cent of Australia\u27s population experiences chronic or persistent poverty or deprivation. Executive Summary Entrenched disadvantage is a wicked problem for any society. Disadvantage of one form or another will always be with us, but when disadvantage is entrenched, some Australians are not able to play their full part in our economy and society. An estimated four to six per cent of our society experiences chronic or persistent poverty or deprivation. This represents both a tragedy for the individuals concerned and a loss of economic potential for the nation. While we have policies in place or in development to address disadvantage, it is not clear that we have recognised the need to address the deeper problem of long-term, persistent and chronic disadvantage. As a rich and successful society, we can clearly do better – others do. Two aspects of entrenched disadvantage are clear: The problem is both significant and complex; and Current policies to remove entrenchment are not working. The people who find it hardest to escape from disadvantage appear to fall into six main categories: 1. Older people; 2. Less-educated people; 3. Households with no employed members; 4. Particular geographic areas; 5. Indigenous Australians; and 6. Those with chronic health problems. Current policies are mainly designed to get people into, or back into, the labour market. While this is an appropriate objective, there are people in our society who need targeted and/or additional help to prepare themselves for ongoing employment. It is difficult to get or hold a job if you do not have anywhere to sleep or have ongoing health problems. It is hardly surprising then that disadvantage is cumulative: The longer a person spends with significant disadvantage, the more likely he or she is to be stuck there. Children who grow up in a home with entrenched disadvantage are also more likely to face the same problem. Related identifier: ISBN 0 85801 299

The Australian workplace barometer: report on psychosocial safety climate and worker health in Australia

The Australian Workplace Barometer project aims to provide science driven evidence of Australian work conditions and their relationships to workplace health and productivity, through a national monitoring and surveillance system. This report was commissioned by Safe Work Australia to provide a summary of the results from data obtained from six Australian states and territories: New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The data provides evidence relating to psychosocial risk factors in the working Australian population as well as an analysis of relationships between risk factors and employee health and motivational outcomes