Merging the Hypothetical Extraction Method and the Classical Multiplier Approach: A Hybrid Possibility for Identifying Key Distributive Sectors

The two main alternative methods used to identify key sectors within the input- output approach, the Classical Multiplier method (CMM) and the Hypothetical Extraction method (HEM), are formally and empirically compared in this paper. Our findings indicate that the main distinction between the two approaches stems from the role of the internal effects. These internal effects are quantified under the CMM while under the HEM only external impacts are considered. In our comparison, we find, however that CMM backward measures are more influenced by within-block effects than the proposed forward indices under this approach. The conclusions of this comparison allow us to develop a hybrid proposal that combines these two existing approaches. This hybrid model has the advantage of making it possible to distinguish and disaggregate external effects from those that a purely internal. This proposal has also an additional interest in terms of policy implications. Indeed, the hybrid approach may provide useful information for the design of ''second best'' stimulus policies that aim at a more balanced perspective between overall economy-wide impacts and their sectoral distribution.Sectoral linkages, Key sectors, Extraction methods, Multiplier methods.

Effects of Competition over Quality-Adjusted Price Indexes: An Application to the Spanish Automobile Market

Using a newly constructed data set, we calculate quality-adjusted price indexes after estimating hedonic price regressions from 1988 to 2004 in the Spanish automobile market. The increasing competition was favoured by the removal of trade restrictions and the special plans for the renewal of the Spanish automobile fleet. We find that the increasing degree of competition during those years led to an overall drop in automobile prices by 20 percent which implied considerable consumer gains thanks to higher market efficiency. Additionally, our results indicate that loyalty relevance and discrepancies in automobile reliability declined during those years. This is captured

Revisiting The Original Ghosh Model: Can It Be More Plausible?

We reconsider in this paper the alleged implausibility of Ghosh’s model and we do so reformulating the model to incorporate an alternative closure rule. Our proposed closure rule is in line with the original allocation rules defined by A. Ghosh. The closure solves, to some extent, the implausibility problem that was pointed out by Oosterhaven for then value–added is correctly computed and responsive to allocation changes resulting from supply shocks. Some numerical examples illustrate the sectoral and aggregate consistency of the allocation equilibrium.Multi-sectoral Input-Output Models, Market Economy, Planned Economy

A COMPARISON OF INPUT-OUTPUT MODELS:GHOSH REDUCES TO LEONTIEF (BUT 'CLOSING' GHOSH MAKES IT MORE PLAUSIBLE)

Ghosh's model is discussed in this paper under two alternative scenarios. In an open version we compare it with Leontief's model and prove that they reduce to each other under some specific productive conditions. We then move onto reconsidering Ghosh's model alleged implausibility and we do so reformulating the model to incorporate a closure rule. The closure solves, to some extent, the implausibility problem very clearly put out by Oosterhaven for then value-added is correctly computed and responsive to allocation changes resulting from supply shocks.Multi-sectoral Input-Output Models, Market Economy, Planned Economy.

RETHINKING ECONOMY-WIDE REBOUND MEASURES: AN UNBIASED PROPOSAL

In spite of having been first introduced in the last half of the ninetieth century, the debate about the possible rebound effects from energy efficiency improvements is still an open question in the economic literature. This paper contributes to the existing research on this issue proposing an unbiased measure for economy-wide rebound effects. The novelty of this economy-wide rebound measure stems from the fact that not only actual energy savings but also potential energy savings are quantified under general equilibrium conditions. Our findings indicate that the use of engineering savings instead of general equilibrium potential savings downward biases economy-wide rebound effects and upward-biases backfire effects. The discrepancies between the traditional indicator and our proposed measure are analysed in the context of the Spanish economy.

A NON-POSSIBILITY THEOREM FOR JOINT-STABILITY IN INTERINDUSTRY MODELS

Joint-stability in interindustry models relates to the mutual simultaneous consistency of the demand-driven and supply-driven models of Leontief and Ghosh, respectively. Previous work has claimed joint-stability to be an acceptable assumption from the empirical viewpoint, provided only small changes in exogenous variables are considered. We show in this note, however, that the issue has deeper theoretical roots and offer an analytical demonstration that shows the impossibility of consistency between demand-driven and supply- driven models.: Interindustry modeling, joint-stability, demand-driven, supply-driven.

BUDGET CONSTRAINED EXPENDITURE MULTIPLIERS

We show that standard expenditure multipliers capture economy-wide effects of new government projects only when financing constraints are not binding. In actual policy making, however, new projects usually need financing. Under liquidity constraints, new projects are subject to two opposite effects: an income effect and a set of spending substitution effects. The former is the traditional, unrestricted, multiplier effect; the latter is the result of expenditure reallocation to upheld effective financing constraints. Unrestricted multipliers will therefore be, as a general rule, upward biased and policy designs based upon them should be reassessed in the light of the countervailing substitution effects.Government multipliers, fiscal stimulus, expenditures substitution effects

Contributo para o plano nacional de saúde 2011-2016 a perspectiva da fisioterapia Isabel de Souza Guerra Janeiro

O Plano Nacional de Saúde (PNS) é um instrumento estratégico, adoptado por cada vez mais países, que permite o alinhamento das políticas de saúde, de forma coerente e fundamentada, com o objectivo da maximização dos ganhos em saúde para a população desse país… …Para tal, o processo de planeamento, de estratégia e de gestão das políticas de saúde deve ser cíclico, interactivo e amplamente participado. Deve ser explícito, fundamentado, monitorizável e avaliado, permitindo a (re)construção de novos planos que criem novas opções estratégicas para a melhoria cumulativa do sistema de saúde e da saúde das populações In Site do Plano Nacional de Saúde. Alto Comissariado para a Saúde. 2011-2016 A Fisioterapia é a terceira maior profissão prestadora de cuidados não só na Europa como também em Portugal. Existem no momento cerca de 6000 Fisioterapeutas no nosso País, grande parte com as suas licenciaturas realizadas em Escola Públicas e é esperável que sejam cerca de 10000 em 2015. Além do número de fisioterapeutas ter vindo a crescer substancialmente tanto nível nacional como internacional, outros factores têm contribuído para a visibilidade da profissão: a World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) – organização internacional que representava organismos mundiais de quatro profissões de saúde, - enfermeiros, médicos, dentistas e farmacêuticos - integrou recentemente a fisioterapia através da sua representante mundial, a World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT). A WHPA é, neste momento, a maior e mais poderosa organização mundial para os profissionais de saúde. Através das suas cinco organizações representa mais de 600 organizações nacionais filiadas, falando para 26 milhões de profissionais de saúde em mais de 130 países. Esta aliança permite o trabalho em colaboração, de profissionais de saúde de todo o mundo, estando a Fisioterapia ao nível das outras quatro grandes profissões de Saúde. Porém, verificamos não existir ainda em Portugal, compreensão das potencialidades do contributo do fisioterapeuta junto das populações, nem o seu efectivo aproveitamento, tendo os fisioterapeutas portugueses um forte sentimento de que as reais mais-valias da profissão não são reconhecidas. A fisioterapia é parte essencial dos sistemas de saúde. Os fisioterapeutas podem praticar independentemente de outros profissionais de saúde e também no contexto de programas e projectos interdisciplinares de habilitação/reabilitação, com o objectivo de restaurar a função e a qualidade de vida, em indivíduos com perdas ou alterações de movimento. Os fisioterapeutas guiam-se pelos seus próprios códigos e princípios de éticos. Pensamos ser tempo de ver reflectido no PNS o contributo específico destes profissionais e deixarmos de encontrar em todos os documentos da saúde a menção exclusiva a médicos e enfermeiros, inclusivamente em áreas típicas da prestação daqueles profissionais. Nesse sentido deverão ser utilizados os indicadores próprios dos recursos e da prestação em fisioterapia criados pelos próprios profissionais Existem já normas de boas práticas para os fisioterapeutas e para unidades de fisioterapia baseadas em normas internacionais emanadas pela World Confederation of Physical Therapy (WCPT) e adaptadas à realidade Portuguesa, que deverão servir de base ao exercício da fisioterapia

Explicit evaluation conceptions in teaching preschool education in Jalisco, Mexico

Este texto describe la primera etapa de una investigación más amplia para construir un modelo de evaluación para niños y niñas en educación preescolar. Esta etapa tiene como objetivo conocer las concepciones de las docentes en educación preescolar con respecto a la evaluación para conformar una base sustantiva que permita el diseño de una evaluación alterna para este nivel. Es un trabajo de investigación con un enfoque metodológico mixto (cualitativo y cuantitativo), se utiliza el método de análisis descriptivo a través de la aplicación de un cuestionario, pertinente para recuperar las concepciones explícitas o conocimientos previos. Los resultados dan cuenta de las concepciones de las educadoras con respecto a la evaluación en su práctica. Las docentes de la muestra conocen el carácter principal de la evaluación en preescolar, sin embargo, no dominan conceptualmente el fin fundamental, que es el de contribuir de manera consistente en los aprendizajes de los alumnos, a través de la observación, reflexión, identificación y sistematización de sus formas de intervención en la práctica en el aula. Los docentes usan más instrumentos de registro en sus procesos de evaluación, y menos proyectos de búsqueda de información, identificación de problemáticas y formulación de alternativas de solución. Asocian más a la evaluación con la información que requieren al inicio del trabajo en el ciclo escolar que con la evaluación permanente o final. De la misma manera, la concepción de evaluación es un proceso de una sola dirección, y no de retroalimentación entre los participantes.This paper describes the first stage of a wider investigation to build a model of evaluation for children in pre-school education. The objective in this stage is to know the teachers conceptions in pre-school education related to assessment in class, and to form a substantive basis that allows an alternative evaluation design for this level. It is a research with a mixed methodological approach (qualitative and quantitative), uses the method of descriptive analysis through the application of a questionnaire, relevant to retrieve explicit conceptions or knowledge. The results show the teacher’s beliefs of the assessment in their teaching practice. Sample teachers know the main character of the preschool evaluation, however, they do not conceptually dominate the fundamental purpose, which is to contribute consistently in learning of their students through observation, reflection, identification and systematization of the of their forms of intervention in practice in the classroom. Teachers use more instruments of registration in their processes of evaluation, and fewer search projects, problems identification and formulation of alternative solutions. They associated the assessment with the information required at the beginning of the school year, and not with permanent or final evaluation. The concept of evaluation is a one direction process, not a feedback between participants