A Q Methodology approach to define urban sustainability challenges in a small insular city

The objective of this paper is to define what problems the city of Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira Island, Azores) faces in what regards urban sustainability, so as to improve the quality of life of the residents and to ensure the adequate growth and progress of the city in all areas, as possible. The main themes approached in this work were urbanism, the city’s current development level, public security, environment, culture and education, economy, funding, governance, migration, public participation and poverty. Selected stakeholders ranked statements pertaining each of these themes, from which we extracted three distinct social perspectives, one concerned with employment and the recovery of the city, another that praises the quality of human resources and a third that trusts the quality of the social infrastructure. All perspectives seem to agree that there are no public security problems in Angra, and that rebuilding is a more sustainable option. They also believe that there is adequate support for migrants, good dialogue between public bodies and social organizations, and that the population is willing to play a greater role in the city’s governance. Key-words: urban sustainability, q methodology, stakeholder perspectives

COMPORTAMIENTO DIARIO DEL MERCADO CONTINUO ESPAÑOL ANTE UN EVENTO LABORAL: UN ANALISIS EMPIRICO

The objective of this paper is to observe the reaction of the Spanish Stock Market tothe signature of a collective agreement at a company level, measuring abnormal returns,abnormal volume and the associated risk on the day the information reaches the market.Bearing in mind that this type of agreement tends to increase salaries with respect to those ofthe sector, the initial hypothesis is that a company agreement incorporates negativeinformation with the expectation of abnormal negative returns and positive volume on theevent day. The arrival of new information not only modifies the average expectedperformance of the group of companies concerned, but also affects performance volatility. Itis expected, according to the variant of the traditional hypothesis of market efficiency, thatrisk and expected performance will vary in the same direction, depending on the sign of theinformation on the company involved. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la reacción del precio, volumen negociado y volatilidad de las acciones de las compañías cotizadas en el mercado continuo español ante la firma de un convenio colectivo a nivel empresa. Teniendo en cuenta que este tipo de convenios sesga al alza los salarios respecto a los del sector, la hipótesis de partida es que un convenio de empresa incorpora información que podría considerarse de forma negativa por los inversores. Esto conllevaría la venta de los títulos de tal empresa y una caída en su precio. Por tanto, esperamos encontrar incrementos en el volumen negociado acompañados de rendimientos negativos para estas empresas en torno a la fecha del acontecimiento. Los resultados generales de este trabajo confirman esta hipótesis, si bien se observan reacciones distintas dependiendo del sector al cual pertenezca la empresa. Por otro lado, la llegada de la nueva información que contiene la firma del convenio, podría afectar a la volatilidad específica de dichos rendimientos. Cabe esperar, según la variante de hipótesis tradicional de eficiencia de mercado, que si la nueva información reduce la incertidumbre sobre los flujos futuros de las empresas que firman el convenio, la volatilidad específica de las mismas sea menor a partir de esa fecha. Así ocurre con los datos de nuestra muestra.Rentabilidades Anormales, Volúmenes Anormales, Volatilidad, Convenio Colectivo de empresa. Abnormal Returns, Abnormal Volume, Volatility, Collective Bargaining.

EFECTO SPILLOVER ANTE UN EVENTO LABORAL: UN ANÁLISIS EMPÍRICO PARA EL MERCADO CONTINUO ESPAÑOL

The aim of this paper is to analyse the reaction of the stock prices of competing companies to the signature of a firm-level collective agreement. Considering that this type of agreement slants to the rise the wages of these firms with respect to those of the sector, we have found empirical evidence that, for the Spanish Market, a firm-level agreement incorporates information that could be negatively considered by the investors of the companies which sign own agreement. This would entail a sale of the affected titles whose price would then fall. This paper analyses whether this labour event affects the stock price of competing companies, that is to say, whether a spillover effect exist. The arrival of the new information inherent in the signature of the agreement could differently affect competing companies based on the type of agreement they have in that moment: either a sectorial or a firm level one. The general results of this paper confirm the spillover effect, although different reactions are observed depending on the sector to which the company belongs, on its structure of negotiation and on the type of agreement they have. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el efecto desbordamiento o spillover del mercado continuo español ante la firma de un convenio colectivo a nivel empresa. Teniendo en cuenta que este tipo de convenios sesga al alza los salarios respecto a los del sector, empíricamente para el mercado español se ha demostrado que un convenio de empresa incorpora información que podría considerarse de forma negativa por los inversores de las empresas que firman convenio propio, lo que conlleva la venta de los títulos afectados y una caída en su precio. Este trabajo analiza si este evento laboral afecta al precio de las acciones de las empresas competidoras, es decir, si existe efecto spillover. La llegada de la nueva información que contiene la firma del convenio, podría afectar de distinta forma a las empresas competidoras en función del tipo de convenio que posean en ese momento, sectorial o empresarial. Los resultados generales de este trabajo confirman esta hipótesis, si bien se observan reacciones distintas dependiendo del sector al cual pertenezca la empresa, de su estructura de negociación y del tipo de convenio que posean.Efecto Industria, Convenios Colectivos, Rentabilidades Anormales, Estructura de Negociación Spillover Effect, Collective Agreement, Abnormal Returns, Structure of Collective Bargaining

DIVULGACIÓN VOLUNTARIA ESTRATÉGICA ANTE UN NUEVO EVENTO LABORAL: EVIDENCIA EMPÍRICA PARA EL MERCADO CONTINUO ESPAÑOL

The aim of this paper is to analyse the disclosure activity in press around a labor event, for the companies quoted on Spanish continuous market and the reaction of stock prices of those firms affected by such events. The previous period to the signature of a firm level collective agreement offers potentially strong incentives for the firm its disclosure policy in the previous year to the signature. If the disclosure policy can increase the returns of the firm via a, reduction of asymmetric information or to hyping the stock price, this may result in a lower cost of capital. However the company can have incentives to change the opinion of the union about the solvency and futures cash flows of the firm, in such a form that the increase agreed in the wages is the minor possible. Therefore, the disclosure policy confronts a conflict of objectives. On the one hand, the desire to influence on the market with an aggressive policy of disclosure of good news, reducing the negative effect that the signature has on the market. On the other hand, the desire of the agreement being the most favourable for the firm. Our results provide evidence both directions. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la actividad de divulgación en prensa escrita alrededor de un evento laboral y los movimientos del precio de los títulos afectados por el evento, de las empresas cotizadas en el mercado continuo español. El periodo anterior a la firma de un convenio de empresa ofrece incentivos potencialmente fuertes para cambiar la política de divulgación de una compañía. Si la política de divulgación puede aumentar la rentabilidad de la firma, bien por reducción de la asimetría informativa o por promocionar la acción, ésta disfrutará de un coste de capital menor. Pero también la empresa puede tener incentivos para cambiar la opinión del sindicato acerca de la solvencia y futuros flujos de caja de la empresa, de tal forma que, el incremento pactado en los salarios sea lo menor posible. Por ello, la política divulgadora de la empresa afronta un conflicto entre el deseo de influenciar al mercado con una política agresiva de divulgación de buenas noticias, paliando el efecto negativo que la firma del convenio tiene sobre el mercado y, por otro lado, el deseo de que la negociación del convenio sea lo más favorable para la empresa. Nuestros resultados proporcionan evidencia de ambos casos.Divulgación Voluntaria Estratégica; Información Asimétrica; Rentabilidad Anormal; Negociación Colectiva. Disclosure; Asymmetry Information; Abnormal Returns; Collective Bargaining.

Efecto spillover ante un evento laboral, un análisis empírico para el mercado continuo español

The aim of this paper is to analyse the reaction of the stock prices of competing companies to the signature of a fi rm-level collective agreement. Considering that this type of agreement slants to the rise the wages of these fi rms with respect to those of the sector, we have found empirical evidence that, for the Spanish Market, a fi rm-level agreement incorporates information that could be negatively considered by the investors of the companies which sign own agreement. This would entail a sale of the affected titles whose price would then fall. This paper analyses whether this event affects the stock price of competing companies, that is, whether a spillover effect exist. The arrival of the new information inherent in the signature of the agreement could have a different effect on competing companies based on the type of competition in their industry. The general results of this paper confi rm the spillover effect, although different reactions are observed depending on the industry to which the company belongs and their level of concentration.El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el efecto desbordamiento o spillover del Mercado Continuo Español ante la fi rma de un convenio colectivo a nivel empresa. Empíricamente, para el mercado español, se ha demostrado que un convenio de empresa incorpora información negativa para los inversores por el hecho de que este tipo de convenios sesga al alza los salarios respecto a los del sector, lo que conlleva la venta de los títulos afectados y una caída en su precio. Este trabajo analiza si este evento laboral tiene también contenido informativo para los inversores de las empresas competidoras, es decir, si existe efecto spillover. La llegada de la nueva información que contiene la fi rma del convenio podría afectar a las empresas competidoras de distinta forma dependiendo del sector. Los resultados generales de este trabajo confi rman esta hipótesis, si bien se observan reacciones distintas dependiendo del sector al cual pertenezca la empresa y del nivel de concentración de la oferta productiva que posean

Strategic information in the collective bargaining: empirical evidence for the spanish continuous market

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la actividad de divulgación en prensa escrita para las empresas cotizadas en el Mercado Continuo que negocian un convenio laboral y cómo afecta esta política divulgadora al comportamiento del precio de los títulos afectados y al resultado final de la negociación. El periodo anterior a la firma de un convenio de empresa ofrece incentivos potencialmente fuertes para cambiar la política de divulgación de una compañía. Si la política de divulgación puede aumentar la rentabilidad de la empresa, bien por reducción de la asimetría informativa o por promocionar la acción, ésta disfrutará de un coste de capital menor. Pero también la empresa puede tener incentivos para cambiar la opinión del sindicato acerca de la solvencia y futuros flujos de caja de la empresa, de tal forma que, el incremento pactado en los salarios sea lo menor posible. Por ello, la política divulgadora de la empresa afronta un conflicto entre el deseo de influenciar al mercado con una política agresiva de divulgación de buenas noticias, paliando el efecto negativo que la firma del convenio tiene sobre el mercado y, por otro lado, el deseo de que la negociación del convenio sea lo más favorable para la empresa. Nuestros resultados proporcionan evidencia al respecto.The aim of this paper is to analyse the disclosure activity in press around a labour event, for the companies quoted on Spanish Continuous Market and the reaction of stock prices of those firms affected by such events and the result of the bargaining. The previous period to the signature of a firm level collective agreement offers potentially strong incentives for the firm to change its disclosure policy in the previous year to the signature. If the disclosure policy can increase the returns of the firm via a, reduction of asymmetric information or to hyping the stock price, this may result in a lower cost of capital. However the company can have incentives to change the opinion of the union about the solvency and futures cash flows of the firm, in such a form that the increase agreed in the wages is the minor possible. Therefore, the disclosure policy confronts a conflict of objectives. The desire to influence on the market with an aggressive policy of disclosure of good news produces both: on the one hand, the negative effect that the signature induces on the market and, on the other hand, the desire of the agreement being the most favourable for the firm. Our results provide evidence both directions

Divulgación voluntaria estratégica ante un evento laboral: evidencia empírica para el mercado continuo español

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la actividad de divulgación en prensa escrita alrededor de un evento laboral y los movimientos del precio de los títulos afectados por el evento, de las empresas cotizadas en el mercado continuo español. El periodo anterior a la firma de un convenio de empresa ofrece incentivos potencialmente fuertes para cambiar la política de divulgación de una compañía. Si la política de divulgación puede aumentar la rentabilidad de la firma, bien por reducción de la asimetría informativa o por promocionar la acción, ésta disfrutará de un coste de capital menor. Pero también la empresa puede tener incentivos para cambiar la opinión del sindicato acerca de la solvencia y futuros flujos de caja de la empresa, de tal forma que, el incremento pactado en los salarios sea lo menor posible. Por ello, la política divulgadora de la empresa afronta un conflicto entre el deseo de influenciar al mercado con una política agresiva de divulgación de buenas noticias, paliando el efecto negativo que la firma del convenio tiene sobre el mercado y, por otro lado, el deseo de que la negociación del convenio sea lo más favorable para la empresa. Nuestros resultados proporcionan evidencia de ambos casos.The aim of this paper is to analyse the disclosure activity in press around a labor event, for the companies quoted on Spanish continuous market and the reaction of stock prices of those firms affected by such events. The previous period to the signature of a firm level collective agreement offers potentially strong incentives for the firm its disclosure policy in the previous year to the signature. If the disclosure policy can increase the returns of the firm via a, reduction of asymmetric information or to hyping the stock price, this may result in a lower cost of capital. However the company can have incentives to change the opinion of the union about the solvency and futures cash flows of the firm, in such a form that the increase agreed in the wages is the minor possible. Therefore, the disclosure policy confronts a conflict of objectives. On the one hand, the desire to influence on the market with an aggressive policy of disclosure of good news, reducing the negative effect that the signature has on the market. On the other hand, the desire of the agreement being the most favourable for the firm. Our results provide evidence both directions

Performance of object recognition in wearable videos

Wearable technologies are enabling plenty of new applications of computer vision, from life logging to health assistance. Many of them are required to recognize the elements of interest in the scene captured by the camera. This work studies the problem of object detection and localization on videos captured by this type of camera. Wearable videos are a much more challenging scenario for object detection than standard images or even another type of videos, due to lower quality images (e.g. poor focus) or high clutter and occlusion common in wearable recordings. Existing work typically focuses on detecting the objects of focus or those being manipulated by the user wearing the camera. We perform a more general evaluation of the task of object detection in this type of video, because numerous applications, such as marketing studies, also need detecting objects which are not in focus by the user. This work presents a thorough study of the well known YOLO architecture, that offers an excellent trade-off between accuracy and speed, for the particular case of object detection in wearable video. We focus our study on the public ADL Dataset, but we also use additional public data for complementary evaluations. We run an exhaustive set of experiments with different variations of the original architecture and its training strategy. Our experiments drive to several conclusions about the most promising directions for our goal and point us to further research steps to improve detection in wearable videos.Comment: Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, ETFA, 201

Event Transformer+. A multi-purpose solution for efficient event data processing

Event cameras record sparse illumination changes with high temporal resolution and high dynamic range. Thanks to their sparse recording and low consumption, they are increasingly used in applications such as AR/VR and autonomous driving. Current top-performing methods often ignore specific event-data properties, leading to the development of generic but computationally expensive algorithms, while event-aware methods do not perform as well. We propose Event Transformer+, that improves our seminal work evtprev EvT with a refined patch-based event representation and a more robust backbone to achieve more accurate results, while still benefiting from event-data sparsity to increase its efficiency. Additionally, we show how our system can work with different data modalities and propose specific output heads, for event-stream predictions (i.e. action recognition) and per-pixel predictions (dense depth estimation). Evaluation results show better performance to the state-of-the-art while requiring minimal computation resources, both on GPU and CPU