Impact of introducing ecoinnovation measures on productivity in transport sector companies

The transport and storage sector, like other sectors of the Spanish economy, is experiencing the effects of the current economic crisis. The Annual Services Survey prepared by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) shows that between 2008 and 2013 there was an 11.9% reduction in turnover and an 18.3% reduction in paid workers in companies in sector. However, in the same period, there was a 7.8% increase in labour productivity. The main aim of this study was to determine the impact of factors related to innovation and the environment, among others, on labour productivity in the Spanish transport and storage sector. Few studies are available on this topic, which is most likely due to the scant statistical information available for the sector analysed. The structural analysis model used in this study was an extended version of the wellknown Cobb‐Douglas production function applied to data obtained from the Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC). PITEC is a panel type database (for 2003‐2013), which was developed jointly by the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Financial Intermediation, Variability and the Development Process

In this paper we have built a model of financial intermediation that explains the GDP variability pattern of an economy during the development process. In our model, per capita is more volatile in the middle-income economies than in both low and high-income economies. We show that, if the model economy is in the early or in the mature stages of development there is a unique equilibrium. However, in the middle stages of development multiple equilibria arise. Moreover, we find that in economies with imperfect credit markets, per capita output volatility tends to be higher than in economies with perfect or non-existent credit markets.Externalities, market imperfections, growth, multiple equilibria, sunspot equilibria

Aspects of rain forest nutrient dynamics at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico.

Several aspects of nutrient cycling were studied in the Lowland Tropical Rain Forest at Los Tuxtlas. This is at (18° 34' - 18° 36’ N, 95° 04' - 95° 09' W) and represents the northernmost extension of the rain forest Formation in the New World. The relationships among the forest structure, small litterfall production (22 months), small litterfall element concentrations, and soil nutrients were investigated. The degree of nutrient resorption between fresh and dehisced leaves was evaluated for several tree species. The forest had a preponderance of mesophylls, a relatively low tree species diversity, basal area, and small litterfall production. An estimation of leaf litterfall contribution was provided for 119 woody species and the temporal variation of the leaf litterfall was described. Soil nutrient concentrations were high probably owing to the volcanic eruption of 1793. Nutrient-element concentrations were relatively high in the small litterfall and fresh leaves, and nutrient resorption was relatively low. The soil nutrient concentrations in pastures of 12, 32, and 52 years of age were compared with the forest and were relatively high in spite of their maintaining a high density of cattle. The soil under isolated trees in the pastures had higher nutrient concentrations than the open pastures. There was a higher diversity of seedling species under the isolated trees but a growth experiment in a tree nursery did not show differences among the soils from the undisturbed forest, open-pastures and under the isolated trees. It seems that soil nutrients are always high at Los Tuxtlas and override any effect of nutrient addition by the isolated trees

Valuing qalys at the end of life

There have been changes in the way that NICE evaluates medical treatments for patients who are in the last stages of their lives. If medicines fulfil some criteria to be considered “end of life” NICE considers if QALYs gained under these circumstances should receive an extra weight. In this paper we provide evidence about the social support that this policy may have. We present the result of three surveys conducted in the Spanish general population (n=813). Survey 1 compared increases in life expectancy for patients at the end of their lives with health gains from temporary health problems. Survey 2 compared health gains for temporary health problems with health gains from end of life palliative care. Survey 3 compared increases in life expectancy with palliative care in both cases for end of life patients. Preferences were elicited with Person Trade-Off and Willingness to pay techniques. Our results suggest that QALYs for end of life treatments have a higher social value than for temporary health problems. However, we also find that people discriminate between different ways of health gains within End of Life treatment. People seem to attach a greater weight to palliative care than to life extension.QALY weights, end of life, palliative care, life extension

Business and editorial practices in digital native media in Mexico: an investigation into media routines

The current Mexican news market for online news is composed of legacy media companies that migrated to the internet, as well as media outlets that were born on the internet, known as digital native media. This new generation of news sites currently rank among the top read media in the country, exemplifying the evolution of the journalism environment and raising questions about the strategies they applied to become profitable news companies in a highly competitive industry. This research interviewed 10 decision makers from 10 of the 15 most read digital native media in Mexico to document their organizations' business practices and how these ultimately impact the news they produce, under the perspective of the Hierarchy of Influences Model from Shoemaker and Reese. The study focused on the Organizations and Routines levels of influence, contributing to mass media research from the perspectives of media funding, and Mexican digital journalism.Includes bibliographical references