Social trust: Global pattern or nordic exceptionalism?

Cross-national comparative analysis of generalised social trust in 60 countries shows that it is associated with, and is an integral part of, a tight syndrome of cultural, social, economic, and political variables. High trust countries are characterized by ethnic homogeneity, Protestant religious traditions, good government, wealth (GDP per capita), and income equality. This particular combination is most marked in the high trust Nordic countries but when this group of outliners is removed from the analysis, the same general pattern is found in the remaining 55 countries, albeit in a weaker form. There are indications that rural societies tend to have comparatively low levels of generalized trust but no evidence that large-scale urban society tends to undermine trust. The cause and effect relations between trust and its correlates are impossible to specify but the results suggest that the ethnic homogeneity and Protestant traditions have a direct impact on trust, and an indirect one through their consequences for good government, wealth and income equality. The importance of ethnic homogeneity for generalised trust also suggests that the difference between particularised and generalised trust may be one of degree rather than kind. -- Generalisiertes Vertrauen in die Mitmenschen ist eng verknüpft mit einem Syndrom kultureller, sozialer, wirtschaftlicher und politischer Kontextmerkmale. Dies zeigt eine komparative Makro-Analyse mit 60 Ländern, basierend auf dem World Value Survey und Makro- Indikatoren. Insbesondere ethnische Homogenität, protestantische religiöse Tradition, hohe Regierungsqualität, Wohlstand und Einkommensgleichheit begünstigen ein hohes generalisiertes Vertrauen der Bevölkerung. Diese Merkmale finden sich in Kombination und besonders ausgeprägt in den nordischen Ländern, die auch die höchsten Vertrauenswerte aufweisen. Doch selbst wenn man die nordischen Länder als Ausreißer in der Analyse nicht berücksichtigt, sind für die verbleibenden 55 Länder dieselben Determinanten von Vertrauen wirksam, wenn auch in abgeschwächter Form. Zwar können die genauen Ursache-Wirkungszusammenhänge zwischen Vertrauen und den genannten Ländermerkmalen nicht spezifiziert werden. Jedoch legen die Ergebnisse nahe, dass ethnische Homogenität und Protestantismus zum einen auf direktem Wege ein Klima des Vertrauens erzeugen, zum anderen auf indirektem Wege, indem sie die Regierungsqualität, die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Einkommensverteilung beeinflussen. Die Bedeutung ethnischer Homogenität für Vertrauen wirft auch die Frage auf, ob zwischen partikularisiertem und generalisiertem Vertrauen wirklich wie oft angenommen ein fundamentaler Unterschied besteht oder ob dieser nicht eher gradueller Natur ist.

Who trusts? The origins of social trust in seven nations

This paper identifies six main theories of the determinants of social trust, and tests them against survey data from seven nations, 1999-2001. Three of the six theories of trust fare rather poorly and three do better. First and foremost, social trust tends to be high among citizens who believe that there are few severe social conflicts and where the sense of public safety is high. Second, informal social networks are associated with trust. And third, those who are successful in life trust more, or are more inclined by their personal experience to do so. Individual theories seem to work best in societies with higher levels of trust, and societal ones in societies with lower levels of trust. This may have something to do with the fact that our two low trust societies happen to have experienced revolutionary change in the very recent past, so that societal events have overwhelmed individual circumstances. -- Woher kommt Vertrauen in die Mitmenschen? In diesem Arbeitspapier werden Umfragedaten aus sieben Ländern verwendet, um die Stichhaltigkeit verschiedener Theorien über die Bedingungen für soziales Vertrauen auf der Individualebene zu überprüfen. Nur drei der sechs Theorien erweisen sich als erklärungskräftig. Erstens zeigen jene Bürger großes Vertrauen, die die Gesellschaft als wenig konfliktbelastet und als sicher wahrnehmen. Zweitens gehen gute informelle Sozialkontakte mit Vertrauen Hand in Hand. Und drittens sind die im Leben Erfolgreichen vertrauensvoller als die Verlierer. Die Ergebnisse zeigen darüber hinaus, daß individuenbezogene Theorien offenbar in „high-trust“- Gesellschaften besser funktionieren, während gesellschaftsbezogene Theorien in „lowtrust“- Gesellschaften erklärungskräftiger sind. Ein Grund dafür könnte sein, daß die beiden im Sample vertretenen Gesellschaften mit niedrigen Vertrauenswerten postsozialistische Länder sind, so daß die mit dem Zusammenbruch des Staatssozialismus und der Transformation zu Demokratie und Marktwirtschaft verbundenen sozialen Umbrüche individuelle Einflüsse in den Schatten stellen.

Who trusts? The origins of social trust in seven nations

"This paper identifies six main theories of the determinants of social trust, and tests them against survey data from seven nations, 1999-2001. Three of the six theories of trust fare rather poorly and three do better. First and foremost, social trust tends to be high among citizens who believe that there are few severe social conflicts and where the sense of public safety is high. Second, informal social networks are associated with trust. And third, those who are successful in life trust more, or are more inclined by their personal experience to do so. Individual theories seem to work best in societies with higher levels of trust, and societal ones in societies with lower levels of trust. This may have something to do with the fact that our two low trust societies happen to have experienced revolutionary change in the very recent past, so that societal events have overwhelmed individual circumstances." (author's abstract)"Woher kommt Vertrauen in die Mitmenschen? In diesem Arbeitspapier werden Umfragedaten aus sieben Ländern verwendet, um die Stichhaltigkeit verschiedener Theorien über die Bedingungen für soziales Vertrauen auf der Individualebene zu überprüfen. Nur drei der sechs Theorien erweisen sich als erklärungskräftig. Erstens zeigen jene Bürger großes Vertrauen, die die Gesellschaft als wenig konfliktbelastet und als sicher wahrnehmen. Zweitens gehen gute informelle Sozialkontakte mit Vertrauen Hand in Hand. Und drittens sind die im Leben Erfolgreichen vertrauensvoller als die Verlierer. Die Ergebnisse zeigen darüber hinaus, daß individuenbezogene Theorien offenbar in 'high-trust'-Gesellschaften besser funktionieren, während gesellschaftsbezogene Theorien in 'low-trust'-Gesellschaften erklärungskräftiger sind. Ein Grund dafür könnte sein, daß die beiden im Sample vertretenen Gesellschaften mit niedrigen Vertrauenswerten postsozialistische Länder sind, so daß die mit dem Zusammenbruch des Staatssozialismus und der Transformation zu Demokratie und Marktwirtschaft verbundenen sozialen Umbrüche individuelle Einflüsse in den Schatten stellen." (Autorenreferat

Ocean Acidification as a Problem in Systems Thinking

The emerging problem of ocean acidification provides a clear signal that we need to think and act differently about our stewardship of the ocean, its resources, and the services it provides to society. No longer can we afford to address environmental problems in the ocean on a reductionist, case-by-case basis, because the number of problems requiring attention has grown so large that the problems now are stacked one on top of another. Moreover, many of these problems are growing rapidly; for example, the contemporary rate of ocean acidification exceeds that at any time in the past 300 million years. Nor are these environmental problems independent of each other: the problems interact via synergies and feedbacks that can amplify or dampen the problems’ effects on ocean systems. Uncertainties abound in terms of rates, interactions, and outcomes, and are magnified by the number of variables changing in concert. Clearly, we need to embrace holistic thinking about resource management in the ocean in order to sustain the properties and functions we derive from it. Systems science offers one means of thinking holistically about ocean systems and its inherent complexity, interconnectedness, and dynamism. Indeed, the existing concept of marine ecosystems is based in systems science, as is the concept of marine social-ecological systems, and systems thinking underlies much of contemporary ocean science. Systems thinking is especially appropriate to the problem of ocean acidification because of its dynamic nature, association with other stressors, and cross-scale interactions. Unlike some environmental problems in which the causative drivers are local, ocean acidification is caused by global processes that are expressed regionally and that can be exacerbated at local scales

Social trust: global pattern or Nordic exceptionalism?

"Cross-national comparative analysis of generalised social trust in 60 countries shows that it is associated with, and is an integral part of, a tight syndrome of cultural, social, economic, and political variables. High trust countries are characterized by ethnic homogeneity, Protestant religious traditions, good government, wealth (GDP per capita), and income equality. This particular combination is most marked in the high trust Nordic countries but when this group of outliners is removed from the analysis, the same general pattern is found in the remaining 55 countries, albeit in a weaker form. There are indications that rural societies tend to have comparatively low levels of generalized trust but no evidence that large-scale urban society tends to undermine trust. The cause and effect relations between trust and its correlates are impossible to specify but the results suggest that the ethnic homogeneity and Protestant traditions have a direct impact on trust, and an indirect one through their consequences for good government, wealth and income equality. The importance of ethnic homogeneity for generalised trust also suggests that the difference between particularised and generalised trust may be one of degree rather than kind." (author's abstract)"Generalisiertes Vertrauen in die Mitmenschen ist eng verknüpft mit einem Syndrom kultureller, sozialer, wirtschaftlicher und politischer Kontextmerkmale. Dies zeigt eine komparative Makro-Analyse mit 60 Ländern, basierend auf dem World Value Survey und Makro-Indikatoren. Insbesondere ethnische Homogenität, protestantische religiöse Tradition, hohe Regierungsqualität, Wohlstand und Einkommensgleichheit begünstigen ein hohes generalisiertes Vertrauen der Bevölkerung. Diese Merkmale finden sich in Kombination - und besonders ausgeprägt - in den nordischen Ländern, die auch die höchsten Vertrauenswerte aufweisen. Doch selbst wenn man die nordischen Länder als Ausreißer in der Analyse nicht berücksichtigt, sind für die verbleibenden 55 Länder dieselben Determinanten von Vertrauen wirksam, wenn auch in abgeschwächter Form. Zwar können die genauen Ursache-Wirkungszusammenhänge zwischen Vertrauen und den genannten Ländermerkmalen nicht spezifiziert werden. Jedoch legen die Ergebnisse nahe, dass ethnische Homogenität und Protestantismus zum einen auf direktem Wege ein Klima des Vertrauens erzeugen, zum anderen auf indirektem Wege, indem sie die Regierungsqualität, die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Einkommensverteilung beeinflussen. Die Bedeutung ethnischer Homogenität für Vertrauen wirft auch die Frage auf, ob zwischen partikularisiertem und generalisiertem Vertrauen wirklich - wie oft angenommen - ein fundamentaler Unterschied besteht oder ob dieser nicht eher gradueller Natur ist." (Autorenreferat

A Suzuki Coupling Based Route to 2,2'-Bis(2-indenyl)biphenyl Derivatives

Because of the promising performance in olefin polymerization of 2,2'-bis(2-indenyldiyl)biphenyl zirconium dichloride, we developed a new and broadly applicable route to 2,2'-bis(2-indenyl)biphenyl derivatives. Reaction of the known 2,2'-diiodobiphenyl with the new 2-indenyl boronic acid did not result in the desired 2,2'-bis(2-indenyl)biphenyl (10); instead an isomer thereof, (spiro-1,1-(2,2'-biphenyl)-2-(2-indenyl)indane), was obtained. It was found that compound 10 could be made via a palladium-catalyzed reaction of 2,2-biphenyldiboronic acid with 2-bromoindene under standard Suzuki reaction conditions. However, the yield of this reaction was low at low palladium catalyst loadings, due to a competitive hydrolysis reaction of 2,2-biphenyldiboronic acid. HTE techniques were used to find an economically viable protocol. Thus, use of the commercially available 1.0 molar solution of (n-Bu)4NOH in methanol with cosolvent toluene led to precipitation of the pure product in a fast and clean reaction, using only 0.7 mol % (0.35 mol % per C-C) of the expensive palladium catalyst.

Applying numerical continuation to the parameter dependence of solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation

In molecular reactions at the microscopic level the appearance of resonances has an important influence on the reactivity. It is important to predict when a bound state transitions into a resonance and how these transitions depend on various system parameters such as internuclear distances. The dynamics of such systems are described by the time-independent Schr\"odinger equation and the resonances are modeled by poles of the S-matrix. Using numerical continuation methods and bifurcation theory, techniques which find their roots in the study of dynamical systems, we are able to develop efficient and robust methods to study the transitions of bound states into resonances. By applying Keller's Pseudo-Arclength continuation, we can minimize the numerical complexity of our algorithm. As continuation methods generally assume smooth and well-behaving functions and the S-matrix is neither, special care has been taken to ensure accurate results. We have successfully applied our approach in a number of model problems involving the radial Schr\"odinger equation

Salish Sea ORCA buoy observations over the last decade: warmer and saltier than normal anomalies and their persistence

Profiling buoys take frequent (one to four times per day) measurements of water properties over the full water column. This allows characterization of short and long-term processes, including deep-water renewal events, surface influence of river runoff and heating, and tracking water mass properties. There are currently six ORCA (Oceanic Remote Chemical Analyzer) moorings in Puget Sound supported primarily by NANOOS and the Washington Ocean Acidification Center: South Hood Canal (Twanoh), central Hood Canal (Hoodsport), Dabob Bay, Admiralty Inlet (Hansville), Main Basin (Point Wells), and Southern Puget Sound (Carr Inlet). Profiling ORCA buoys have been operating in Puget Sound for over 10-15 years, depending on location. Anomalies of the real-time data (collected daily) compared to the long-term climatology illustrate times of higher than normal sea temperatures associated with marine heat waves, and times of higher than normal salinities associated with summer droughts. However, warm and salty anomalies have persisted in some years when those respective forcings (heat waves, summer droughts) were not occurring. We examine the record to elucidate annual differences and highlight basin differences in these signals. In the last six years, only 2020 and 2017 did not have predominantly warmer than average seawater temperatures. Higher than average salinities during summer have been noted for all years since 2014, except 2017. Temperature variations reflect the diverse oceanographic characteristics of Puget Sound’s sub-basins. Hood Canal, with strongly stratified waters, slow circulation, and deep water flushed by annual renewal, responds to atmospheric forcing differently than the Main Basin, which has stronger mixing that intensifies as this water feeds South Sound. Utilizing this longer view, we highlight emerging patterns and generalities in the anomalies, as well as sharp differences

Supporting diverse Pacific NW marine data access needs via the NANOOS Visualization system (NVS) and data services

Serving PNW users via the ANANOOS Visualization System: Data integration and management