Ordinal Welfare Comparisons with Multiple Discrete Indicators: A First Order Dominance Approach and Application to Child Poverty

We develop an ordinal method for making welfare comparisons between populations with multidimensional discrete well-being indicators observed at the micro level. The approach assumes that, for each well-being indicator, the levels can be ranked from worse to better; however, no assumptions are made about relative importance of any dimension nor about complementarity/substitutability relationships between dimensions. The method is based on the concept of multidimensional first order dominance. We introduce a rapid and reliable algorithm for empirically determining whether one population dominates another on the basis of available binary indicators by drawing upon linear programming theory. These approaches are applied to household survey data from Vietnam and Mozambique with a focus on child poverty comparisons over time and between regions.

Mozambique's Future: Modeling Population and Sustainable Development Challenges

What are the prospects for sustainable development over the next 20 years in Mozambique? Although it looks as if much of the development prospects are determined by such inherently unpredictable events as war, peace, and weather calamities, there are also many changes and patterns which have a long-term stability and which change only slowly over time. For example, socio-demographic changes, such as labor force skills, and population health have a long momentum. These are very important indicators for the economic development potential of a country. Also, although it is impossible to predict a particular year of heavy rains or droughts, there are long time series of weather from which we can calculate the country's vulnerability to single- or multiple-year weather disasters. To focus our efforts in answering this bold question, we concentrate on four issues: (1) Can poverty be erased in the next 20 years? (2) How will school enrollment lead to higher skills in the labor force by 2020? (3) What role will water play in development, in particular, water provision by rain to rural areas, and infrastructure to cities? (4) And, most importantly, what will be the impacts of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the next decades

E-learning courses at italian national institute of health: characteristics of dropout participants

Background. Over the last decades, the number of health professionals who participate in Continuing Medical Education (CME) through e-learning, has rapidly grown, due to its flexibility. In Italy, healthcare professionals in active clinical practice are required to keep their knowledge up to date, through this scheme.One of the most relevant challenges is represented by dropouts. Recent CME studies emphasize the dropout rates between 30% and 60 %. Since 2004, the Training Office of the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) provides CME e-learning courses in public health, using Active and Problem Based Learning (PBL) methodology. The aim of this study was to identify characteristic of dropout participants in e-learning courses delivered during the 2017-2019 CME triennium. To understand factors that underline the dropout rate and consequently, hypothesize actions to improve retention and completion rates. Methods. First we analyzed 21 courses (n= 44.630 participants) within the triennium 2017/19. Henceforth, we chose a single course for retrospective analysis. We ran a linear probability model through Stata 14.2, on age, gender, region, type of profession and occupation. Finally, we developed a matrix, based on the 7 steps of PBL, to identify the critical points of participants withdrawal. Results. On the triennium 2017/19, we found the mean dropout rate of 34% and completion rate of 66%, with a great variability according to the level of interaction, enrolment modality, and accreditation. Based on five points LIKERT scale questionnaire on participants satisfaction into contents of the course, teaching methodology and platform function, out of 44.630, around 26635 (61.6%) who filled in the questionnaire, expressed their satisfaction (4.57 points out of 5). In the retrospective analysis, out of 11.198 participants, the retention rate was 6356 (56,8%) and dropout rate of 43,2% (n=4842). According to linear probability model, significance is noted on gender and age. Occupation type seems not to have significant differences in terms of retention between freelancers and unemployed compared to employed. Between regions and professions, there is also a variation in retention. Conclusions. The results shade a light on key variables may be contributing to retention and dropouts, including critical points at the courses offered by ISS. Levels of interaction, gender and age seems to play a key role on participants to withdraw either remain in the course

Empirical Relationships Between Investment Decisions and Potential Output: The Case of Mozambique

This paper focuses on the relationship of investments decisions, in consistence with the endogenous potential output growth hypothesis, in Mozambique. The VAR method was used to make the empirical analysis of potential output and investment decisions between the periods of 1996:1 to 2012:4. The potential output was not an observed variable and it was estimated using the Hodrick-Prescott Filter. The results from the impulse responses from VAR (3) model through the 10 quarters, have shown that the potential output responds positively through the period of analysis to changes in investment. And in the same way investments respond passively to shocks on potential output. This results highlighted important implications for conduction of economic policy as a whole. Keywords: Aggregate Demand, Potential output and Investment

Location based multimedia application for mobile gadgets

Nowadays tourists all around the world don't fully enjoy their vacations as they intended to. In order to assist tourist on their trip planning a location-based multimedia application is proposed. This application uses specific location points as the main criteria for retrieving and/or uploading information. It also allows the user to contribute to the application by uploading data. Therefore, tourist will be able to retrieve data related to where they are, as they travel. Also they will be able to contribute with data that they gather while traveling. In this paper, the main parts that constitute the application are discussed, along with the methodologies taken to develop the application, as well as some of the tools that will be used to develop the application. Furthermore, using a Gantt chart, I give a brief preview of the tasks that are going to be completed throughout the development of the project

The macroeconomic effects of public debt : an empirical analysis of Mozambique

Public debt has been rising markedly over the years, which suggests an increase in public expenditure financed by debt instead of taxation. There is no consensus on the economic implications of borrowing to finance public expenditure. We assess empirically the macroeconomic effects of public debt for the case of Mozambique over the period of 2000Q1- 2016Q4. We use a Vector Autoregression model to assess these effects through impulse response functions and variance decomposition. We conclude that debt service variables have much more negative effects on this economy than debt variables. Debt variables over the period of this study had no significant impact on the real output and the debt service component depressed the real output, increased the general price level and accounted for the depreciation on the domestic currency.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The macroeconomic effects of public debt: an empirical analysis of Mozambique

We assess empirically the macroeconomic effects of public debt for the case of Mozambique over the period of 2000Q1-2016Q4. We use a Vector Autoregression model to assess these effects through impulse response functions and variance decomposition. We conclude that debt service variables have more negative economic effects than debt variables. Debt variables over the period of this study had no significant impact on the real output and the debt service component depressed the real output, increased the general price level and accounted for the depreciation on the domestic currency.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Structural Change in Mozambique: Economic Performance Before and After the Civil War

This paper analyses the economic performance of Mozambique during the three different period, namely: pre civil war period (1980-1992), reconcstruction period (1992-2001) and stabilizaing periood (2001-2013). The apparent existence of structural change during these periods suggests that the civil war affect the economy. Annul macroeconomics time series data, such us the gross domestic product, foreign direct investment, gross capital formation, savings and the exports, were used. The study revealed that Mozambique economy has been subject to a structural change before and after the civil war. The confirmatory analysis was done using the Chow test. The results indicate that for the variables under investigation the endogenously determined break date closely correspond to the important phenomena in the performance of Mozambican economy since 1994

Oil Price Shocks and Their Effects on Mozambican Economy

In this paper, the oil price shocks and their effects on Mozambican economy is empirically analyzed for the time span covered by 1996:Q1-2012:Q4. The VAR methodology was used and the variables were Real Gross Domestic Product, Wages and Consumer Price Index. The results of the estimations, show a depressive impact on gross domestic product, increase in general the price level and the impact of an oil shock on wages is small and positive, in contradiction to conventional theory. In general, the wages decreases by an average of 1.5 percentage points. The key policy response to the impact of high oil prices is the extent to which governments have passed on the price increases to consumers, or have moderated them with subsidies, tax reductions, or pressure on oil companies to hold down price. Keywords: Oil prices, Mozambique, Vector Auto Regression. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-4-11 Publication date: February 29th 202

Sustentabilidade em bairros autoproduzidos de baixa renda. Abordagem focada no espaço coletivo O caso de George Dimitrov e Bagamoio em Maputo

A autoprodução do espaço urbano compreende um desafio global, tanto no campo teórico quanto na construção de caminhos efetivos para a sustentabilidade urbana. Embora este modo de produção esteja ligado à autoconstrução de moradias, a interface entre habitação e espaço coletivo é um local de coexistência de sistemas urbanos, muitas vezes produzidos na interface entre a racionalidade tecnocrática governamental e as práticas de sobrevivência, com implicações sistemáticas para a qualidade do habitat urbano. Reconhecendo o papel das práticas de autoprodução na trajetória urbana de várias cidades no contexto Sul global, e a maior vulnerabilidade observada em bairros com moradores de baixa renda, a presente pesquisa analisa as circunstâncias da qualidade do espaço coletivo em bairros autoproduzidos de baixa renda a respeito da sustentabilidade e busca pistas para construção de caminhos para a sustentabilidade urbana. A análise é feita a partir dos bairros George Dimitrov e Bagamoio, em Maputo, numa perspetiva comparativa analisando o processo, intervenções e materialidades. Como resultado, concebe-se que a autoprodução transcende o domínio da habitação e, nas condições de escassez de recursos, a melhoria da qualidade de vida a partir do espaço coletivo instiga parte significativa dos desafios para a sustentabilidade, ressalta a responsabilidade do executivo público e oferece possibilidades na minimização de problemas sociais consequentes da autoprodução. Sua concretização passa pela coprodução assente numa governança colaborativa, participação efetiva e fortalecimento institucional e das autoridades locais. Ademais, é observado que a melhoria do ambiente urbano, concretizado e mantido através de processos de autoprodução, deve captar potencialidades das práticas bem como ações incrementais e a gradual integração no sistema de gestão territorial a partir das políticas públicas. Por sua vez, estas devem ser (re)estruturadas para operar de modo integrado, baseado em evidências e ajustado à realidade socioeconómica, cultural e morfológica do tecido urbano