Conflicting Views on Fair Siting Processes: Evidence from Austria and the U.S.

The authors maintain that, by granting legitimacy to different notions of fairness and building on common values such as responsibility, it is possible to design siting procedures that promote social cohesion, trust and a sense of fair play

Impact of lower oil prices on renewable energy technologies

The impacts of reduced oil prices on the economic viability of selected technologies which utilize solar, wind and biomass energy sources are examined. The technologies include dendrothermal, bagasse, fuel alcohol, wind electric, biomass gasifiers, solar water heaters, photovoltaic water pumps, and wind pumps. Specific projects in each of these categories are reviewed with oil prices above US$28 bbl, and their economic justifications recalculated at a range of lower oil prices. The findings indicate that the economic sensitivity of renewable energy technologies is mainly a function of scale and project location. Renewable energy technologies that compete directly in the modern large scale sector, such as dendrothermal are the most adversely affected by falling oil prices. Remote and rural applications are less affected because of their generally smaller sizes, and the reduced availablility and consequently greater costs of petroleum fuels.Energy and Environment,Energy and Poverty Alleviation,Environmental Economics&Policies,Energy Demand,Oil Refining&Gas Industry

Quarterly Economic Commentary, Winter 2013

The Irish economy has turned the corner and domestic demand in 2013 is estimated to have grown by 0.9 per cent, the first increase in this aggregate since the crisis began. It is a portent of a stronger recovery in 2014 and 2015. On top of this mild recovery in domestic demand, there is a continuing stimulus to the economy from the export sector, in particular from the growth in exports of services. When taken together these developments mean that GNP is likely to have grown by 2 per cent this year and the current-account surplus is likely to have further increased on the 2012 outturn

Análisis del efecto que tiene la selección del modelo de construcción de portafolio óptimo y de valoración en riesgo de mercado en la administración de la riqueza

Como consecuencia del desarrollo económico vivido en las últimas décadas, se ha producido un fenómeno superavitario de riqueza en la sociedad, el cual requiere de una adecuada planeación financiera y un eficiente manejo de los excedentes económicos; esto ha hecho que la teoría de la administración de la riqueza (Wealth Management) juegue un papel protagónico al momento de la toma de decisiones de inversión -- Desconocer esta teoría puede llevar a un inversionista a tomar decisiones sin fundamentos, las cuales no conllevan al punto óptimo donde se maximicen las utilidades con el menor riesgo posible -- Entendiendo esto, expondremos cómo la selección entre dos métodos de construcción del portafolio óptimo y el cálculo del valor en riesgo, al parecer una decisión poco trascendental o poco conocida para un inversionista, puede afectar directamente la rentabilidad de un fondo a causa de la respectiva recomposición del portafolio que ocasiona cada métodoAs a consequence of the economic development experienced in the last decades, there has been a surplus wealth phenomenon in society, which requires adequate financial planning and efficient management of economic surpluses -- This has led to the theory of the administration of Wealth Management plays a leading role when making investment decisions -- Not knowing this theory can lead an investor to make decisions without fundamentals, which do not lead to the optimum where profit maximizes with the lowest possible risk -- Understanding this, we will explain how the selection between two methods of constructing the optimum portfolio and the calculation of the value at risk, apparently a decision little transcendental or little known for an investor, can directly affect the profitability of a fund because of the respective recomposition of the portfolio that causes each metho

Trade Unions and the 2016 UK European Union Referendum

This article reports on pre and post interviews with trade union leaders and senior Trade Union Congress (TUC) and union officials who held campaign responsibilities for the 2016 UK European Union (EU) Referendum. We consider the development of union policy towards the EU, the determination of unions’ final positions, campaign resources and media, the arguments made and the drivers of and constraints upon active campaigning. Campaign intensity, resourcing and strategic decision-making varied widely across unions and was frustrated by resource constraints, fear of alienating members and in some cases lack of priority. We conclude that unions must be better prepared to commit material resources and national officers’ time so that campaign issues are effectively framed in terms of member concerns

Quarterly Economic Commentary, Spring 2014

GNP, which provides the best measure of the standard of living (and output) of Irish residents, is estimated to have grown by 3.3 per cent2 in 2013. This shows an economy that is recovering quite vigorously. The continuing improvement in the current account of the balance of payments, the rapid growth in employment and the signs of a pick-up in investment all point to a continuation of the recovery into 2014. As a result, on the basis of the information available to us today, we expect growth in GNP in 2014 of 3.5 per cent and that this pattern will continue into 2015, resulting in growth in GNP next year of 3.7 per cent

A systematic review and meta-regression analysis of the vitamin D intake-serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D relationship to inform European recommendations

The present study used a systematic review approach to identify relevant randomised control trials (RCT) with vitamin D and then apply meta-regression to explore the most appropriate model of the vitamin D intake–serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) relationship to underpin setting reference intake values. Methods included an updated structured search on Ovid MEDLINE; rigorous inclusion/exclusion criteria; data extraction; and meta-regression (using different model constructs). In particular, priority was given to data from winter-based RCT performed at latitudes >49•58°N (n 12). A combined weighted linear model meta-regression analyses of natural log (Ln) total vitamin D intake (i.e. diet and supplemental vitamin D) versus achieved serum 25(OH)D in winter (that used by the North American Dietary Reference Intake Committee) produced a curvilinear relationship (mean (95% lower CI) serum 25(OH)D (nmol/l) = 9•2 (8•5) Ln (total vitamin D)). Use of non-transformed total vitamin D intake data (maximum 1400 IU/d; 35µg/d) provided for a more linear relationship (mean serum 25(OH)D (nmol/l) = 0•044 × (total vitamin D) + 33•035). Although inputting an intake of 600 IU/d (i.e. the RDA) into the 95% lower CI curvilinear and linear models predicted a serum 25(OH)D of 54•4 and 55•2 nmol/l, respectively, the total vitamin D intake that would achieve 50 (and 40) nmol/l serum 25(OH)D was 359 (111) and 480 (260) IU/d, respectively. Inclusion of 95% range in the model to account for inter-individual variability increased the predicted intake of vitamin D needed to maintain serum 25(OH)D ≥50 nmol/l to 930 IU/d. The model used to describe the vitamin D intake–status relationship needs to be considered carefully when setting new reference intake values in Europe

Quarterly Economic Commentary, Autumn 2013

Understanding the pattern of growth in the Irish economy is very difficult this year. Many of the key indicators that one would normally rely on are affected by special factors. In particular, the data for industrial output, exports and, hence, GDP, are driven by an exceptional fall in the profitability of the pharmaceutical sector, a fall which has little if any direct impact on Irish economic welfare in the short run. For this reason, in explaining the current trends in the Irish economy we concentrate on GNP as a measure of economic welfare, a measure which is largely unaffected this year by these special factors

Electronic Performance Support Systems: An Assistive Technology Tool for Secondary Students with Mild Disabilities

Further information may be found at http://kidtools.missouri.edu/AboutKTSSPrograms.phpThis article presents the results of a qualitative study investigating the usability and perceived effectiveness of StrategyTools™, an electronic performance system support designed for secondary students with mild disabilities to use independently in classroom and home situations. The StrategyTools software contains 39 computerized research-based strategy tools to support learning, behavior, and transition in high school and beyond