(No)competition in the Spanish retailing gasoline market: a variance filter approach

Various methodologies in economic literature have been used to analyse the international hydrocarbon retail sector. Nevertheless at a Spanish level these studies are much more recent and most conclude that generally there is no effective competition present in this market, regardless of the approach used. In this paper, in order to analyse the price levels in the Spanish petrol market, our starting hypothesis is that in uncompetitive markets the prices are higher and the standard deviation is lower. We use weekly retail petrol price data from the ten biggest Spanish cities, and apply Markov chains to fill the missing values for petrol 95 and diesel, and we also employ a variance filter. We conclude that this market demonstrates reduced price dispersion, regardless of brand or city.Competition, Petrol, Variance filter analysis, Gibbs sampling, Markov chain Monte Carlo.

Vertical relations and local competition : an empirical approach

The analysis of vertical industry relations forms an essential element in the field of industrial organization. This paper tests hypotheses derived from transaction cost theory and the principal-agent problem in Chile’s petrol market. It shows that local competition plays an important role in the choice of a disintegrated vertical structure, and that low levels of service investment have the same effect. Conversely, the number of own-brand outlets and a high level of investment in services reduce the probability of disintegration. The paper demonstrates that vertical disintegration has a null effect on wholesale petrol prices and a positive effect on retail petrol prices of between 1.6 and 7 per cent, depending on fuel type

"Debating as a classroom tool for adapting learning outcomes to the European higher education area"

The creation of the European Higher Education Area has meant a number of significant changes to the educational structures of the university community. In particular, the new system of European credits has generated the need for innovation in the design of curricula and teaching methods. In this paper, we propose debating as a classroom tool that can help fulfill these objectives by promoting an active student role in learning. To demonstrate the potential of this tool, a classroom experiment was conducted in a bachelor’s degree course in Industrial Economics (Regulation and Competition), involving a case study in competition policy and incorporating the techniques of a conventional debate (presentation of standpoints, turns, right to reply and summing up). The experiment yielded gains in student attainment and positive assessments of the subject. In conclusion, the incorporation of debating activities helps students to acquire the skills, be they general or specific, required to graduate successfully in Economics.European Higher Education Area; Debating; Industrial Organization; Academic Success; European Credit Transfer System. JEL classification:A23, B4, I2.

Price rivalry in airline markets: a study of a successful strategy of a network carrier against a low-cost carrier

Competition in airline markets may be tough. In this context, network carriers have two alternative strategies to compete with low-cost carriers. First, they may establish a low-cost subsidiary. Second, they may try to reduce costs using the main brand. This paper examines a successful strategy of the first type implemented by Iberia in the Spanish domestic market. Our analysis of data and the estimation of a pricing equation show that Iberia has been able to charge lower prices than rivals with its low-cost subsidiary. The pricing policy of the Spanish network carrier has been particularly aggressive in less dense routes and shorter routes.Airlines, competition, low-cost carriers JEL classification:L13, L59, L71

«Con medios humanos y divinos» : la lucha contra la enfermedad y la muerte en Alicante en el siglo XVIII

El amplio abanico de posibilidades que la población alicantina del siglo XVIII tuvo para afrontar el problema de la enfermedad es el núcleo central de este trabajo. Junto a profesionales sanitarios con formación regular como médicos, cirujanos, barberos o parteras, se encontraban otros sanadores de muy variado tipo y también recursos religiosos. El estudio contempla de forma global y articulada toda la gama de posibilidades asistenciales y terapéuticas, reconstruyendo las características de las diferentes alternativas sanadoras. La interpretación de los resultados se realiza en el marco de los esquemas historiográficos desarrollados en los últimos años sobre el mercado médico en su doble vertiente económica y cultural

A propósito de "el Baldaet". Curanderismo y asistencia ante la enfermedad

Partiendo del caso de José Cerdá Baeza, "El Baldaet", curandero que ejerció en el Alicante de finales del siglo XIX, ejemplificamos el tipo de información que se puede extraer de la práctica de este tipo de personajes. El conocimiento de esta realidad, junto con el de la asistencia profesional y la autoatención permiten tener un cuadro completo de todas las alternativas que la población utilizaba para prevenir y enfrentar la enfermedad. Encuadramos este caso en la corriente de creciente atención que la historiografía médica presta a las alternativas asistenciales diferentes de la medicina científica-occidental

Protomedicato y curanderismo

Este breve trabajo revisa sumariamente la atención prestada al curanderismo por la historiografía médica española. Se apunta lo poco que sabemos y las posibilidades que para aumentar este conocimiento podría ofrecer una institución como el Protomedicato. Finalmente se revisan las posibilidades que un estudio del curanderismo puede ofrecer para el conocimiento de la asistencia sanitaria del pasado

Análisis de la normativa administrativa en relación a la aplicabilidad del artículo vigésimo cuarto transitorio de la Reforma Tributaria

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la normativa administrativa dictada por el Servicio de Impuesto Internos (SII), el Banco Central (BC) y la Unidad de Análisis Financiero (UAF), para efectos de aclarar los requisitos para acogerse al beneficio de la extinción de las obligaciones y sanciones tributarias, además de las aquellas cambiarias, civiles y de otra naturaleza, de acuerdo a lo prescrito por el artículo 24° transitorio de la Ley 20.780, su naturaleza jurídica, el procedimiento administrativo aplicable y los eventuales y esperados efectos que tendrá para el contribuyente al acogerse a esta amnistía

Reseñas

Mikel ASTRAIN GALLART, Barberos, cirujanos y gente de mar. La sanidad naval y la profesión quirúrgica en la España Ilustrad