Intergenerational Transmission of Human Capital in Brazil: Differences According to Race and Region

The main objective of the research is to analyze the relationship between human capital formation, and processes of economic growth and social development by exploring the use of the population's nutritional and health variables to assess the quality of human capital and the mechanisms through which this capital is transmitted between generations among people of different races living in different regions of Brazil. This research includes considerations on recent advances in the economic growth theory that relates health, human capital, and long-term economic growth (see Fogel, R.W. "The Impact of Nutrition on Economic Growth", July/2001.) The evidence is obtained from the analysis of an important Brazilian database, “Pesquisa de Padrão de Vidaâ€, the Brazilian version of the World Bank´s “Living Standard Measurement Surveyâ€, conducted between 1996 and 1997, for the Northeast and Southeast Regions. The model we developed has two phases. In phase one we verified the factors which explain the differences in human capital formation between races, using the region and the area where the person lived as control variables. This part of the study focuses on information pertaining to economically active individuals (people between 19 and 59 years-old, both genders)with the purpose to analyze the connection between individuals' health variables, such as height and health status, and socioeconomic variables, like income and educational attainment, In phase two, the factors that explain the differences in the intergenerational transmission of human capital among races, were determined; area (urban x rural) and region were used as control variables. This part of the study focuses on information pertaining to individuals belonging to the same group, with at least one child to raise (2 to 21 years-old, both genders) in order to evaluate the intergenerational transmission of human capital. Results lead to the conclusion that relevant investments in human capital formation, such as educational attainment, create better opportunities to the individual in terms of employment and income. Beyond these primary effects, however, there are secondary effects, mainly based on the transmission of human capital formation through generations, which result in population lifestyle changes, economic growth and development.

Can we measure hospital quality from physicians' choices?

In this paper, we propose an alternative methodology for ranking hospitals based on the choices of Medical School graduates over hospital training vacancies. Our methodology is therefore a revealed preference approach. Our methodology for measuring relative hospital quality has the following desirable properties: a) robust to manipulation from hospital administrators; b) conditional on having enough observations, it allows for differences in quality across specialties within a hospital; c) inexpensive in terms of data requirements, d) not subject to selection bias from patients nor hospital screening of patients; and e) unlike other rankings based on experts' evaluations, it does not require physicians to provide a complete ranking of all hospitals. We apply our methodology to the Spanish case and find, among other results, the following: First, the probability of choosing the best hospital relative to the worst hospital is statistically significantly different from zero. Second, physicians value proximity and nearby hospitals are seen as more substitutable. Third, observable time-invariant city characteristics are unrelated to results. Finally, our estimates for physicians' hospital valuations are significantly correlated to more traditional hospital quality measures

A methodology to measure hospital quality using physicians' choices over training vacancies

In this paper, we propose an alternative methodology to rank hospitals based on the choices of Medical Schools graduates over training vacancies. We argue that our measure of relative hospital quality has the following desirable properties: a) robustness to manipulation from the hospital's administrators; b) comprehensiveness in the scope of the services analyzed; c) inexpensive in terms of data requirements, and d) not subject to selection biases. Accurate measures of health provider quality are needed in order to establish incentive mechanisms, to assess the need for quality improvement, or simply to increase market transparency and competition. Public report cards in certain US states and the NHS ranking system in the UK are two attempts at constructing quality rankings of health care providers. Although the need for such rankings is widely recognized, the criticisms at these attempts reveal the difficulties involved in this task. Most criticisms alert to the inadequate risk-adjustment and the potential for perverse consequences such as patient selection. The recent literature, using sophisticated econometric models is capable of controlling for case-mix, hospital and patient selection, and measurement error. The detailed data needed for these evaluations is, however, often unavailable to researchers. In those countries, such as Spain, where there is neither public hospital rankings nor public data on hospital output measures such as mortality rates our methodology is a valid alternative. We develop this methodology for the Spanish case. In a follow-up paper we will present results using Spanish data. In Spain graduates choose hospital training vacancies in a sequential manner that depends on their average grade. Our framework relies on three assumptions. First, high quality hospitals provide high quality training. Second, graduates are well informed decision makers who are well qualified to assess hospital quality. Third, they prefer to choose a high quality vacancy rather than a low quality one ceteris paribus. If these assumptions hold, then the first physicians to choose are likely to grab the best vacancies while the ones who choose last are stuck with the worst available. Thus, it is possible to infer from physicans' choices quality differentials amongst hospitals. We model the physician's decision as a nested-logit a la McFadden. Unlike in standard applications of McFadden's model, in our application the choice set is not constant across physicians but it shrinks along the sequential hospital choice proces

The effect of buildings on atmospheric turbulence in open spaces in Western São Paulo State, Brazil

[EN] This paper seeks to identify a pattern of air turbulence that reflects the effect of buildings on air turbulence characteristics measured in open spaces in Western São Paulo State, Brazil. Atmospheric turbulence was estimated using high-frequency observations of the three orthogonal wind components (u, v, w). A CSAT3 sonic anemometer from Campbell Scientific Inc. (CSI) was deployed on the roof of a building, and the turbulent components (u', v', w') were systematically measured and recorded at 0.1 s and 5 min intervals, respectively, over 100 days between the end of summer (March 2015) and beginning of winter (July 2015) with a CR3000 automatic data acquisition system (CSI). The data analysis took into account the diurnal and nocturnal variability of the turbulence, and the experimental results revealed the existence of a daily vertical circulation pattern. The w component varied between 15 and 45 cm.s-1 on average, and the turbulent fluctuations observed indicated that an ascending component with a speed of up to 1 m.s-1 predominated during the middle of the day and early afternoon. Throughout the night until the early hours of the morning, a less robust, subsiding component with a speed of up to 0.5 m.s-1 was observed. The mean horizontal flow (u, v) was low-speed (around 1 m.s-1) and predominantly from the southeast. There was a consistent change in the direction of this wind, which changed to easterly during the morning as the ascending branch developed. We propose a model for air circulation close to the surface in which this change in direction of the wind is the main effect of the building on the observed turbulence.The author would like to thank the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for providing financial support (ref. no. 20011/08520-8) and the anonymous reviewers whose comments helped to improve this article.Machado, A. (2018). The effect of buildings on atmospheric turbulence in open spaces in Western São Paulo State, Brazil. En 24th ISUF International Conference. Book of Papers. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1211-1222. https://doi.org/10.4995/ISUF2017.2017.4832OCS1211122

Algunas adiciones y correcciones a la fauna de coleópteros de las islas Canarias

Two endomychid species described from El Hierro (Canary Islands) are removed from the Canarian fauna: Dapsa hierrensis Franz, 1976 is a synonym of Archipines intricata (Gorham, 1889), nov. syn., and the single specimen (holotype) was probably collected in Central America. Dapsa curta Franz, 1976 is also poorly described and based on a single female. Without a male it is not possible to assess with full confidence if it belongs to the African genus Danae or more probably to the Oriental genus Tragoscelis, and to which species. It is for sure not a Dapsa and its Canarian origin relates probably to another labeling error of the author, who also collected in Borneo, where this latter genus is present with 5 species. Consequently, Dapsa curta Franz, 1996 is proposed as nomen dubium. Furthermore, three genera are recorded for the Canaries for the first time: Silpha puncticollis Lucas, 1854 (Silphidae), the coffee bean borer Araecerus fasciculatus (DeGeer, 1775), and Bruchela rufipes (Olivier, 1790) both Anthribidae. Only the latter species can be considered as native; the other two are introduced recently and the Coffee bean weevil could become a pest.Dos especies de endomíquidos descritos de El Hierro (islas Canarias) se eliminan de la fauna canaria: Dapsa hierrensis Franz, 1976 es una sinonimia posterior de Archipines intricata (Gorham, 1889), nov. syn., y el único ejemplar conocido (holotipo) fue colectado probablemente en América Central. La descripción de Dapsa curta Franz, 1976 es muy pobre y se basa en una única hembra. Sin conocer el macho es imposible determinar con garantías si se trata del género Danae o, lo más probable, del género oriental Tragoscelis, o a cuál de sus especies pertenece, si no es nueva. Es seguro que no se trata de una Dapsa y el presunto origen canario radica seguramente en otro error de etiquetado del autor, que también colectó en Borneo, donde se conocen cinco especies de Tragoscelis. En consecuencia, se propone Dapsa curta Franz, 1996 como nomen dubium. Por otra parte, Silpha puncticollis Lucas, 1854 (Silphidae), y dos Anthribidae: el gorgojo del café Araecerus fasciculatus (DeGeer, 1775), y Bruchela rufipes (Olivier, 1790) son especies y géneros que se citan por primera vez para las Canarias. Solo la segunda de las especies puede considerarse nativa, mientras que las otras dos son introducciones recientes, y el gorgojo del café podría convertirse en una plaga

A METHODOLOGY TO MEASURE HOSPITAL QUALITY USING PHYSICIANS' CHOICES OVER TRAINING VACANCIES

In this paper, we propose an alternative methodology to rank hospitals based on the choices of Medical Schools graduates over training vacancies. We argue that our measure of relative hospital quality has the following desirable properties: a) robustness to manipulation from the hospital’s administrators; b) comprehensiveness in the scope of the services analyzed; c) inexpensive in terms of data requirements, and d) not subject to selection biases. Accurate measures of health provider quality are needed in order to establish incentive mechanisms, to assess the need for quality improvement, or simply to increase market transparency and competition. Public report cards in certain US states and the NHS ranking system in the UK are two attempts at constructing quality rankings of health care providers. Although the need for such rankings is widely recognized, the criticisms at these attempts reveal the difficulties involved in this task. Most criticisms alert to the inadequate risk-adjustment and the potential for perverse consequences such as patient selection. The recent literature, using sophisticated econometric models is capable of controlling for case-mix, hospital and patient selection, and measurement error. The detailed data needed for these evaluations is, however, often unavailable to researchers. In those countries, such as Spain, where there is neither public hospital rankings nor public data on hospital output measures such as mortality rates our methodology is a valid alternative. We develop this methodology for the Spanish case. In a follow-up paper we will present results using Spanish data. In Spain graduates choose hospital training vacancies in a sequential manner that depends on their average grade. Our framework relies on three assumptions. First, high quality hospitals provide high quality training. Second, graduates are well informed decision makers who are well qualified to assess hospital quality. Third, they prefer to choose a high quality vacancy rather than a low quality one ceteris paribus. If these assumptions hold, then the first physicians to choose are likely to grab the best vacancies while the ones who choose last are stuck with the worst available. Thus, it is possible to infer from physicans’ choices quality differentials amongst hospitals. We model the physician’s decision as a nested-logit a la McFadden. Unlike in standard applications of McFadden’s model, in our application the choice set is not constant across physicians but it shrinks along the sequential hospital choice process

Health, human capital and economic growth in Brazil

The main objective of the research is to analyze the relationship between population health status, and processes of economic growth and social development in Brazil by exploring the use of the population's nutritional and health variables to assess the quality of human capital and the mechanisms through which these variables may impact the country’s economic performance in terms of human capital formation, long-term economic growth, and social development. This research includes considerations on recent advances in the economic growth theory that contains the relationship between health, human capital, and long-term economic growth, as well as empirical evidence obtained from the analysis of an important Brazilian database, the Living Standards Measurement Survey, (Pesquisa de Padrao de Vida - PPV), a household survey conducted between 1996 and 1997 in both the Southeast and Northeast Regions of Brazil. The first part of the study focuses on information from individuals belonging to the group of economically active population (people between 19 and 59 years-old, both genders) to analyze the connection of individuals' health variables, such as height and health status, with socioeconomic variables, like income and educational attainment, controlling by area of residence (rural vs urban) and region (Northeast vs Southeast) The second part of the study focuses on information from individuals belonging to the group of economically active population (19 to 59 years-old both genders) with at least one child to support (2 to 21 years-old, both genders) in order to evaluate the intergenerational transmission of human capital, that is, analyzing the relations among parents data on health and nutritional status, income and educational attainment and the investment he/she is providing to the formation of human capital of his/her own child, controlling by area of residence (rural vs urban) and region (Northeast vs Southeast). Results lead to the conclusion that improvements generated through human capital investments made in one individual by the family do not finish at the individual himself, but are propagated to the next generations, independently from mechanisms of income. That is, relevant investments in human capital development, as educational attainment, nutrition, and health, create better opportunities to the individual in terms of employment and income. However, beyond these primary effects, there are secondary effects, mainly based on the transmission of human capital formation through generations, that result in population lifestyle changes, economic growth and development.

La tierra de Alvargonzález : homenaje del teatro universitario "La Barraca" al gran poeta español Don Antonio Machado

Dedicado "al poeta Juan Ramón Jiménez"Copia digital. Valladolid : Junta de Castilla y León. Consejería de Cultura y Turismo, 2009-201