Agricultural Land-use Conflicts: An Economic Perspective

Ziemi rolnej przypisuje się wiele funkcji – jest zasobem zarówno gospodarczym, jak i przyrodniczym, kulturowym oraz symbolicznym. Wielofunkcyjność ziemi rolnej może jednak rodzić konflikty dotyczące jej wykorzystania, a te z kolei znaczne skutki ekonomiczne. Ekonomiści w swoich pracach nie podejmują jednak zazwyczaj tematu konfliktów. Celem pracy jest wypełnienie tej luki. W artykule przedstawiono koncepcje ekonomiczne, które mogą być wykorzystywane do badania konfliktów interesów związanych z użytkowaniem ziemi rolnej. Niniejsza praca koncentruje się na zagadnieniach metodologicznych i ma charakter przeglądowy. Wśród różnych szkół i teorii, które są przydatne w ekonomicznej analizie konfliktów, zwrócono szczególną uwagę na nową ekonomię instytucjonalną i teorię wyboru publicznego, które często są wykorzystywane także przez ekonomistów rolnictwa oraz środowiska i zasobów naturalnych. W artykule wskazano na duże znaczenie instytucjonalnych ram funkcjonowania rynku ziemi, w tym relacji kontraktowych i regulacji publicznej. Pokazano także, że ekonomia oferuje narzędzia do badania konfliktów na różnych płaszczyznach dzięki zwróceniu uwagi na odmienne interesy i zasoby ekonomiczne różnych aktorów oraz relacje między teraźniejszymi a przyszłymi potrzebami społeczeństw. Przedstawione zostały przykłady badań empirycznych na temat konfliktów dotyczących ziemi rolnej w Polsce.Agricultural land plays several functions; it is both an economic resource and a natural, cultural, and symbolic asset. The multifunctionality of agricultural land may, nevertheless, give rise to conflicts over its use and, as a result, generate significant economic costs. However, economists usually do not investigate conflicts. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap. The article focuses on methodological issues and outlines economic concepts that may be valuable to study land-use conflicts. Among the various approaches and theories that are important in the economic analysis of conflicts, special attention is paid to new institutional economics and public choice theory, which are often used by agricultural as well as environmental economists. The article highlights the importance of the institutional framework for a well-functioning land market. It concludes that economics can offer tools for studying conflicts by paying attention to the distinct interests and economic resources of different actors, as well as the relationship between present and future social needs. The paper also briefly reviews recent empirical research on landuse conflicts in Poland

Konflikty o ziemię rolną – perspektywa ekonomiczna

Agricultural land plays several functions; it is both an economic resource and a natural, cultural, and symbolic asset. The multifunctionality of agricultural land may, nevertheless, give rise to conflicts over its use and, as a result, generate significant economic costs. However, economists usually do not investigate conflicts. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap. The article focuses on methodological issues and outlines economic concepts that may be valuable to study land-use conflicts. Among the various approaches and theories that are important in the economic analysis of conflicts, special attention is paid to new institutional economics and public choice theory, which are often used by agricultural as well as environmental economists. The article highlights the importance of the institutional framework for a well-functioning land market. It concludes that economics can offer tools for studying conflicts by paying attention to the distinct interests and economic resources of different actors, as well as the relationship between present and future social needs. The paper also briefly reviews recent empirical research on landuse conflicts in Poland

1000 Liver Transplantations at the Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw - Analysis of Indications and Results

The aim of the study was to analyze indications and results of the first one thousand liver transplantations at Chair and Clinic of General, Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw.Material and methods. Data from 1000 transplantations (944 patients) performed at Chair and Clinic of General, Transplantation and Liver Surgery between 1994 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. These included 943 first transplantations and 55 retransplantations and 2 re-retransplantations. Frequency of particular indications for first transplantation and retransplantations was established. Perioperative mortality was defined as death within 30 days after the transplantation. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate 5-year patient and graft survival.Results. The most common indications for first transplantation included: liver failure caused by hepatitis C infection (27.8%) and hepatitis B infection (18%) and alcoholic liver disease (17.7%). Early ( 6 months) retransplantations were dominated by hepatic artery thrombosis (54.3%) and recurrence of the underlying disease (45%). Perioperative mortality rate was 8.9% for first transplantations and 34.5% for retransplantations. Five-year patient and graft survival rate was 74.3% and 71%, respectively, after first transplantations and 54.7% and 52.9%, respectively, after retransplantations.Conclusions. Development of liver transplantation program provided more than 1000 transplantations and excellent long-term results. Liver failure caused by hepatitis C and B infections remains the most common cause of liver transplantation and structure of other indications is consistent with European data