Explaining the Changing Institutional Organisation of Dutch Farms: The Role of Farmer's Attitude, Advisory Network and Structural Factors

Although the family farm remains the dominant organisational form for farms there are changes in the legal mode of organisation. Applying the new institutional economics and economic organisation theory the different organisation modes are explained, mainly in terms of control and income rights. Important factors are (limited) liability, risk-bearing costs, transaction costs, and residual control and income rights. In an empirical follow-up, based on a sample among 3100 farmers in the Netherlands, the impact of farmers' attitudes, farm advisory network, and structural variables on organisation choice are analysed. Especially the financial advisors appear to play a significant role in the choice of organisation mode. Other factors are age, branche (horticulture, factory farming), and farm size.farm organisation, ownership and management, liability, risk, residual control and income rights, attitudes, advisory network, Farm Management, Industrial Organization, Q12,

Why Are Farmers Going Multifunctional?

The European farm model is aimed at stimulating and facilitating multifunctional agriculture. This paper presents the results of research into the factors determining the adoption of multifunctional activities. In the paper survey results from 495 farms, spread all over the Netherlands, were used. Binomial logit models were estimated for multifunctional activities in general and four specific activities. Trust in the government is an important explaining factor for participation in nature conservation and recreation, however, less important for services and selling products. Location of the farm is important for nature conservation, services, and recreation. Attitude variables are particularly important for participation in nature conservation and day and stay recreation.multifunctionality, land use, agricultural policy, Agricultural and Food Policy, Land Economics/Use, G18,

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THE DUTCH NATURE CONSERVATION POLICY: DIRECT, INDIRECT EFFECTS AND TRANSACTION COSTS OF THE ECOLOGICAL MAIN STRUCTURE IN THE NETHERLANDS

The scattering of nature areas in the Netherlands and the increased demand for nature lead to a governmental project in 1990 to complete a network of nature favouring areas, the ecological main structure, in 2018. The financial and economic costs and benefits of this project were analysed. Targets for purchasing of agricultural land and conversion into nature were adjusted several times as the land price doubled between 1995 and 2000. The purchasing rate still has to double, which will probably drive up the land price even further. The alternative is long-term contracts with farmers or private landowners for nature conservation.cost-benefit analysis, transaction costs, land market, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Cultural and institutional determinants of bilateral trade flows

Contains fulltext : 47079.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)28 p

An ensemble approach to quantify global mean sea-level rise over the 20th century from tide gauge reconstructions

We present an ensemble approach to quantify historical global mean sea-level (GMSL) rise based on tide gauge reconstructions. This approach combines the maximum internal uncertainty across the ensemble with an estimate of structural uncertainty to provide a conservative estimate of the total uncertainty. Comparisons of GMSL rise over the 20th century based on deltas and linear trends (and their respective uncertainties) are consistent with past Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments and show good agreement with satellite altimeter timeseries. Sensitivity tests show that our estimates of GMSL rise are robust to the choice of reference period and central estimate timeseries. The methods proposed in this study are generic and could be easily applied to other global or regional climate change indicators.Non peer reviewe

Collectieve versus individuele contracten voor natuurbeheer

In dit onderzoek staat de vraag centraal of collectieve contracten in vergelijking met individuele contracten efficiënter zijn en/of een grotere ecologische effectiviteit hebben. Daarbij is bijzondere aandacht gegeven aan de rol die agrarische natuurverenigingen kunnen spele

Античные и средневековые городища на дне Иссык-Куля

В статье дается обзор результатов многолетних подводных археологических разведок на озере Иссык-Куль. Приводятся данные по местоположению некоторых затопленных городищ античности и средних веков (Тору-Айгыр, Кара-ой, Чигу). Описываются наиболее интересные артефакты, найденные на дне озера.В статті дається огляд результатів багаторічних підводних археологічних розвідок на озері Іссик-Куль. Наводяться дані про місцезнаходження деяких затоплених городищ античності і середньовіччя (Тору-Айгир, Кара-ой, Чігу). Описуються найцікавіші артефакти, знайдені на дні озера.The article is a review of the results of many years’ underwater archaeological researches at lake Issik Kul. Data about the place of location of some Ancient and Medieval towns (Toru-Aygir, Kara-oy, Chigu) are given. Most interesting artefacts found at the bottom of the lake are described

Rethinking Sea-Level Projections Using Families and Timing Differences

In the recent decade, many global and regional sea-level rise (SLR) projections have been published, which raises questions for users. Here, we present a series of strategies to help users to see the forest for the trees, by reducing the number of choices to be made. First, we use the similarities in the methodologies and contributing sources of the projections to group 82 projections from 29 publications into only 8 families. Second, we focus on the timing of reaching several global mean SLR thresholds, and the uncertainty therein, rather than the projected value in the year 2100. Finally, we combine the information on timing and families to define three categories which can support decision making. For global mean SLR up to 0.50 m the differences in timing are small, regardless of climate scenario or family, clearly indicating a timing window for adaptation decisions. For larger global mean SLR (0.75–1.00 m), the climate scenario becomes more important for the uncertainties in timing, but the SLR threshold will be crossed within a limited window of time, supporting adaptation decision making on the medium to long term. Beyond 1.00 m the differences between the families and climate scenario strongly determine the uncertainties in timing, and more information is needed, for instance using early warning signals, before decisions for adaptation can be made. We make recommendations on how each of these three categories, combined with the lead time and lifespan of adaptation options, can inform decisions on adaptation strategies using adaptation pathways planning

Diagnostic performance of preoperative CT in differentiating between benign and malignant origin of suspicious gallbladder lesions

Purpose: To determine diagnostic performance of preoperative CT in differentiating between benign and malignant suspicious gallbladder lesions and to develop a preoperative risk score. Method: All patients referred between January 2007 and September 2018 for suspicion of gallbladder cancer (GBC) or incidentally found GBC were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were excluded when preoperative CT or histopathologic examination was lacking. Two radiologists, blinded to histopathology results, independently reviewed CT images to differentiate benign disease from GBC. Multivariable analysis and internal validation were used to develop a risk score for GBC. Model discrimination, calibration, and diagnostic performance were assessed. Results: In total, 118 patients with 39 malignant (33 %) and 79 benign (67 %) lesions were included. Sensitivity of CT for diagnosing GBC was 90 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 76?97). Specificity rates were 61 % (95 % CI: 49?72) and 59 % (95 % CI: 48?70). Three predictors of GBC (irregular lesion aspect, absence of fat stranding, and locoregional lymphadenopathy) were included in the risk score ranging from -1 to 4. Adequate performance was found (AUC: 0.79, calibration slope: 0.89). In patients allocated >0 points, the model showed higher performance in excluding GBC than the radiologists (sensitivity 92 % [95 % CI: 79?98]). Moreover, when allocated >3 points, the risk score was superior in diagnosing GBC (specificity 99 % [95 % CI: 93?100]). Conclusions: Sensitivity rates of CT for differentiation between benign and malignant gallbladder lesions are high, however specificity rates are relatively low. The proposed risk score may facilitate differentiation between benign and malignant suspicious gallbladder lesions