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

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

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 &lt; 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