The Effect of Constitutional Commitment to Social Security on Social Expenditure Schemes

Hervorming Sociale Regelgevin

Hydrological connectivity does change over 70 years of abandonment and afforestation in the spanish Pyrenees

24 Pags.- 7 Figs.- 3 Tabls. The definitive version is available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-145XRunoff connectivity depends on topography, rainfall, man-made elements (terraces, trails, roads and drainage systems) and vegetation. In this study, we quantified the effects of 70 years of human activities on runoff connectivity in the mountainous Araguás afforested sub-catchment (17·2 ha; Central Spanish Pyrenees). The IC index of hydrological connectivity was chosen to perform this metric over six land use scenarios at high spatial resolution (1 × 1 m of cell size). The current scenario (year 2012) was simulated with three flow accumulation algorithms (MD, MD8 and D8). MD8 was linked with the most frequent hydrological response of the sub-catchment (rainfall intensity and stream flow during 7 years) and generated the most representative pattern of connectivity, especially in the linear landscape elements (LLE). This algorithm was chosen to simulate five past scenarios (1945, 1956, 1973, 1980 and 2006). In all scenarios, the highest connectivity appeared related to trails and roads, as well as to streams and gullies, whereas the lowest appeared related to stonewalls in 1945 and 1956 to hillslopes in 1973, and the following afforestation. Changes in connectivity mainly depended on the changes in the vegetation factor and in a minor way in the total length, spatial location and type of LLE. Afforestation promoted lower and more stable connectivity at both local and catchment scales.This research was supported by a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship in the project ‘MED-AFFOREST’ (PIEF-GA-2013-624974). Dr López-Vicente acknowledges the financial support of his postdoctoral contract to the project ‘EroCostModel’ (CGL2014-54877-JIN; Programme Jóvenes Investigadores), and Dr Nadal-Romero was a recipient of a Ramón y Cajal research contract. Both contracts are of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.Peer reviewe

Economic Effects of Social Protection

This thesis contains four empirical studies on the effects of social protection. In the first two studies, I use administrative microdata and employ quasi-experimental methods in which I compare a treatment group with a control group. Study 1 concludes that mandatory activation programs for young welfare recipients do not contribute to employment or to enrollment in education during an economic downturn, but are harmful to income protection. Study 2 concludes that the unemployment shock of a male partner has a large and persistent effect on household income and only 2-5% of this income loss is compensated by increases in female partner’s earnings from work. The last two studies use OECD panel data and employ international comparative research methods. Study 3 concludes that constitutional rights to social security have a positive effect on social expenditure, which is larger for expenditure targeted at the unemployed, a group that is perceived as less deserving by the public opinion compared to the elderly or disabled. Study 4 concludes that Social expenditure reduces poverty and inequality without being harmful for GDP growth. Targeted schemes are most effective in reducing poverty, while social expenditure types with a universal character are more effective in reducing inequality. Hervorming Sociale Regelgevin

Geoecology in Mediterranean mountain areas: a tribute to Prof. José María García-Ruiz

The origin of this special issue arose from a scientific meeting held in Logroño (Spain) in October 2014, under the theme Geoecology in extreme environments: mountains and semiarid areas (Arnáez et al., 2014). The main motivation of the event was to recognise, on the occasion of his retirement, the outstanding contribution of Prof. José María García-Ruiz to the progress of Geoecology in Mediterranean mountain areas. Prof. García-Ruiz (Zaragoza, 1949) was lecturer, between 1974 and 1987, at the University of Cáceres and La Rioja. As staff Scientist and later Professor at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), he was Head of the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC) (1987–1990) and Head of the Department of Global Change at the same institute, President of the Spanish Society of Geomorphology (1994–1996), besides a productive and tireless researcher..