32 research outputs found
Influencia del nivel educativo en la convergencia de las regiones españolas y portuguesas
This article empirically analyses regional convergence between Spanish and Portuguese NUTS-3 regions during the period 2000-2015, considering the spatial dependence between these units and the role of educational attainment in this process. After some considerations regarding the model to be estimated, exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) is applied to detect two regional clusters grouped by regional product per inhabitant: high-income regions (located in the north-eastern third of the Iberian Peninsula) and low-income regions. For both clusters, various models of educational attainment are examined. These models reveal the presence of regional convergence, and enable us to detect the spatial spillovers that drive this process, which differ between the two clusters. In particular, we observe the influence of tertiary education on the reinforcement of income convergence within the high-income cluster, while for the low-income cluster this role is largely played by secondary education, but in the opposite direction.En este artículo se analiza la convergencia regional entre las regiones españolas y portuguesas NUTS-3 durante el periodo 2000-2015, prestando especial atención a la dependencia espacial existente entre dichas unidades, así como al papel del nivel educativo en dicho proceso. Después de unas consideraciones relativas al modelo a estimar, el análisis exploratorio de datos espaciales permite detectar la existencia de dos clústeres regionales en Producto Regional por habitante: regiones de renta alta (situadas en el tercio nororiental de la península ibérica) y las regiones de renta baja. Tras explorar diferentes modelizaciones que integran el nivel educativo para ambos clústeres, los resultados obtenidos nos permiten afirmar la existencia de convergencia regional, así como estimar los desbordamientos espaciales que derivan de ese proceso, también diferentes para ambos clústeres. En concreto, se observa el efecto positivo que la educación terciaria tiene en el refuerzo de la convergencia en renta para el clúster de renta alta, mientras que para el de renta baja dicho papel lo desempeña en buena medida la educación secundaria, pero en sentido contrario
Computer games and the study of terminology: An application to national accounts
This paper introduces a computer application, based on The Alphabet Game, designed to assist students of all disciplines understand the key academic concepts used in their respective fields, with specific application to economics and the study of national accounts. This approach offers a valuable contribution, in view of the difficulties often encountered in presenting key national accounting concepts in a dynamic and appealing manner. Due to the flexibility of the application, it can also be adapted to other fields of knowledge requiring the use of specialized or technical concepts. To assess the game’s impact on enhancing learning, students of national accounts in economics were asked to assess their participation by means of an attitudinal survey focusing on motivation, quality of learning, and the effective use of time. The survey was completed by 60 students from two Spanish universities. The overall assessment of the game was strongly correlated with its contribution to the memorization of concepts, usefulness, and enjoy ability. The second evaluation assessed the impact of the game through measurement of its effect on academic performance, with students´ academic records related to the scores from both individual and group gameplay. The assessment was done using a multivariate analysis consisting of a set of semi-logarithmic regression models in which the exam score was the dependent variable and a combination of game results according to the version played (individual, group, or both) were the explanatory variables. All combinations indicated that the individual game is much more strongly related to overall academic performance than the group score. However, to better assess the game, a control group, homogeneous samples, or pre- and post-tests should be used. Finally, to improve the game’s impact on learning, it can be used as a compulsory scoring activity, or a badge system could be implemented. Nonetheless, this tool should only be understood as an inextricable part of other assessment and learning activities.Biblioteca de la Universidad de Granad
Análisis dinámico de los efectos de la estructura de demanda sobre crecimiento y medio ambiente en Andalucía
En este trabajo se relaciona la especialización productiva de una región española (Andalucía) con el crecimiento económico, el consumo de recursos naturales y la polución atmosférica. Para ello, nos hemos centrado en dos de los recursos naturales básicos, como son el agua y la energía, así como en otros indicadores de calidad atmosférica, tales como las emisiones de CO y SO2. La metodología seguida parte de la aplicación de la dinámica de sistemas, proponiendo un modelo que pone en relación ciertas variables medio ambientales con las de otros subsistemas (laboral y macroeconómico). En el modelo se integran las tablas input-output de Andalucía (Instituto de Estadística de Andalucía) y los resultados recientes, respecto a consumos de agua, energía y emisión de contaminantes, obtenidos en la contabilidad ambiental, elaborada por la Consejería de Medio Ambiente de esta Comunidad Autónoma.environment economics, dymamic systems, input-output analysis, regional analysis
Assessing regional convergence of the size of middle classes in Euro-Mediterranean countries
Historically, Euro-Mediterranean European countries have presented high levels of intra- and interregional socio-economic inequalities and are regular recipients of financial support under European Union Cohesion Policy. This paper provides evidence of regional convergence in the size of lower- and upper-middle-income classes across regions of France, Greece, Italy and Spain for the period 2004-17. Our results also reveal that changes in class size in neighbouring regions are associated with changes in the same direction in the lower- and upper-middle classes of the region of interest. As regards growth of class size in neighbouring regions, the convergence process is offset in both middle-income groups, but only partially for the upper-middle class. Furthermore, the economic cycle affects the process of regional convergence in the size of the middle class, although the effects are non-homogeneous for both middle-class groups. While increases or decreases in gross domestic product (GDP) do not seem to be closely related to upper-middle-class size, relatively persistent decreases rather than increases in GDP over time tend to be more linked to lower-middle-class size. These findings point to significant differences in the convergence dynamics between lower- and upper-middle classes, with the former being more sensitive to both neighbouring regions and the business cycle.University of MalagaUniversity of GranadaRegional Government of Andalusia [UMA18-FEDERJA-005]Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [AEI/10.13039/501100011033
Working Poverty and Quality of Employment: The Great Refugee Crisis in Middle Eastern Host Countries
This paper focuses on the distribution of the working poor by income level across countries and examines how indicators
such as the level of unemployment, the labour force, and the number of self-employed, impact that distribution. In addition,
it also examines the impact of official development assistance and the massive influx of refugees as a result of the Syrian
conflict. Four income levels of the working poor are analysed using the panel data technique. The sample includes the 5
main host countries (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey) for the period from 1991 to 2021. Our results confirm that
unemployment is not a significant predictor for developing countries, so we recommend indicators of job quality. Moreover,
our results confirm a low impact of refugees on the labour market in host countries. Furthermore, the effect of selfemployment
on the income level of the working poor is positive but limited
Why Do Regions Differ in Growth? The Productivity of the Eurozone and Its Contribution to the Added Value of Its European Neighbors
Despite the fact that the European integration process has intensified cooperation among
European partners, the significant impact on growth represented by the recent lengthy periods
of productivity stagnation in European countries still remains unexplained, as are the growing
disparities among the more advanced countries of the integrated economy. This paper focuses on
long-term economic growth based on productivity and its components, as well as on the effects of
integration of EMU and non-EMU member states. The use of spatial econometric models allows
us to incorporate the interactions among European countries into growth models. In line with
neoclassical growth models, our results contribute to explaining how the growth of a eurozone
country is related to the economic growth of its neighbors. Moreover, we confirm the relevance
of eurozone countries’ interactions in times of crisis (2009–2018), as European countries generate
spatial spillover effects that link their economic cycles. Although capital stock (i.e., investment) has a
positive effect on the eurozone’s growth, its slowdown cannot compensate for the effect of declining
labor-force participation, which is proven to be a crucial factor for growth. Likewise, immigration
flows affect economic growth, but this differs according to the workers’ level of education.SEJ-60
Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)
Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters.
Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs).
Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio
EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial
More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369
All-cause mortality in the cohorts of the Spanish AIDS Research Network (RIS) compared with the general population: 1997Ł2010
Abstract Background: Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has produced significant changes in mortality of HIVinfected persons. Our objective was to estimate mortality rates, standardized mortality ratios and excess mortality rates of cohorts of the AIDS Research Network (RIS) (CoRIS-MD and CoRIS) compared to the general population. Methods: We analysed data of CoRIS-MD and CoRIS cohorts from 1997 to 2010. We calculated: (i) all-cause mortality rates, (ii) standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and (iii) excess mortality rates for both cohort for 100 personyears (py) of follow-up, comparing all-cause mortality with that of the general population of similar age and gender. Results: Between 1997 and 2010, 8,214 HIV positive subjects were included, 2,453 (29.9%) in CoRIS-MD and 5,761 (70.1%) in CoRIS and 294 deaths were registered. All-cause mortality rate was 1.02 (95% CI 0.91-1.15) per 100 py, SMR was 6.8 (95% CI 5.9-7.9) and excess mortality rate was 0.8 (95% CI 0.7-0.9) per 100 py. Mortality was higher in patients with AIDS, hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection, and those from CoRIS-MD cohort (1997. Conclusion: Mortality among HIV-positive persons remains higher than that of the general population of similar age and sex, with significant differences depending on the history of AIDS or HCV coinfection
Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Largest HIV-1 CRF02_AG Outbreak in Spain: Evidence for Onward Transmissions
Background and Aim: The circulating recombinant form 02_AG (CRF02_AG) is the predominant clade among the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) non-Bs with a prevalence of 5.97% (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 5.41–6.57%) across Spain. Our aim was to estimate the levels of regional clustering for CRF02_AG and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the largest CRF02_AG subepidemic in Spain.Methods: We studied 396 CRF02_AG sequences obtained from HIV-1 diagnosed patients during 2000–2014 from 10 autonomous communities of Spain. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 391 CRF02_AG sequences along with all globally sampled CRF02_AG sequences (N = 3,302) as references. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis was performed to the largest CRF02_AG monophyletic cluster by a Bayesian method in BEAST v1.8.0 and by reconstructing ancestral states using the criterion of parsimony in Mesquite v3.4, respectively.Results: The HIV-1 CRF02_AG prevalence differed across Spanish autonomous communities we sampled from (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 52.7% of the CRF02_AG sequences formed 56 monophyletic clusters, with a range of 2–79 sequences. The CRF02_AG regional dispersal differed across Spain (p = 0.003), as suggested by monophyletic clustering. For the largest monophyletic cluster (subepidemic) (N = 79), 49.4% of the clustered sequences originated from Madrid, while most sequences (51.9%) had been obtained from men having sex with men (MSM). Molecular clock analysis suggested that the origin (tMRCA) of the CRF02_AG subepidemic was in 2002 (median estimate; 95% Highest Posterior Density-HPD interval: 1999–2004). Additionally, we found significant clustering within the CRF02_AG subepidemic according to the ethnic origin.Conclusion: CRF02_AG has been introduced as a result of multiple introductions in Spain, following regional dispersal in several cases. We showed that CRF02_AG transmissions were mostly due to regional dispersal in Spain. The hot-spot for the largest CRF02_AG regional subepidemic in Spain was in Madrid associated with MSM transmission risk group. The existence of subepidemics suggest that several spillovers occurred from Madrid to other areas. CRF02_AG sequences from Hispanics were clustered in a separate subclade suggesting no linkage between the local and Hispanic subepidemics