Austria's Potential for Trade in Services

We estimate the potential for trade in services in a 2-step approach using a gravity model for a sample of bilateral service trade flows in individual service categories between 65 countries over the period 2000 to 2005. In particular, we focus on the Austrian economy's potential for untapped trade in services which appears to be substantial. While Austria's travel services are reaching their potential, there is still ample room for exports of commercial services. Our analysis further points to the fact that this lack of exploiting the potential arises less from legal and institutional features as measured by OECD regulation indicators, but rather from other structural features of the Austrian economy.export of services, trade in services, commercial services, gravity modelling, regulation

Macroeconomic consequences of global endogenous migration: a general equilibrium analysis

In this paper, we analyze the consequences of endogenous migration flows over the coming decades in a dynamic general equilibrium model of the world economy. Such an approach has two major benefits. First, it offers a global perspective on the economic consequences of international migration flows by taking into account effects on both the destination and the origin regions. Second, by allowing migration flows to be related to economic fundamentals, they are determined endogenously in the model. We proceed by estimating the determinants of migration in an econometric model and then endogenizing migration flows by introducing the estimated relationships between demographic and income developments in our world model. We show that (i) migration could have a substantial impact on GDP growth in sending and destination regions; (ii) endogenizing migration induces important changes in the volume and the distribution of migration flows between regions compared to the United-Nations projections; (iii) the size of these flows, although substantial, will not be sufficient to counteract the impact of population ageing in the receiving regions.CGEM, Migration, International capital flows.

The physiotherapy management of thoracotomy patients: a survey of current practice in Gauteng

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physiotherapy Johannesburg, 2015Physiotherapy treatment is an essential component in the management of patients after open thoracic surgery in order to prevent respiratory complications and improve shoulder and thoracic cage mobility (Reeve, 2008). To date, limited research has been done on patients who have had open thoracotomy surgery. The body of knowledge and evidence on physiotherapy management of thoracotomy patients need to be addressed. The aim of this research report was to establish which physiotherapy treatment modalities are used in the management of thoracotomy patients in Gauteng. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the data for this descriptive, cross sectional study. A sample of convenience was used and questionnaires were distributed to all physiotherapists registered with the SASP (South African Society of Physiotherapy) in Gauteng. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics committee. An expert panel established the content validity of the questionnaire. The provisional questionnaire was piloted electronically via survey monkey. Invitations for participation in the main study were sent out after amendments were made to the questionnaire following the pilot study. Data for the main study was collected over a period of two months. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 1389 physiotherapists registered with the SASP in Gauteng. Three hundred and twenty three physiotherapists (23.3%) responded. Only 141 of the responders were eligible for inclusion in the study. Ninety-five respondents indicated that they only see thoracotomy patients while still in hospital, 25 said they see these patients only after discharge while 21 respondents treated these patients both during and after hospital stay. The majority of physiotherapists who treat thoracotomy patients were females between the ages of 23 to 69. Results indicated that pre-operative physiotherapy management was most commonly determined by the patients’ risk profiles and consisted of information and respiratory techniques. Prophylactic post-operative management was high and in accordance with studies from Reeve et al (2007) and Agostini et al (2013). The modalities used most commonly were respiratory techniques with deep breathing exercise (97.6%: n=83), coughing (95.3%; n=81) and ACBT (82.4%: n=70), scoring highest. Exercise interventions used were early mobilistation (95.3%; n=81), trunk- (85.9; n=73) and upper limb mobility exercises (91.8%; n=78). Limited modalities focused on treating pain with OMT (11.8%; n=10) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (12.9%; n=11), being the modalities of choice. Post-hospital discharge physiotherapy management was uncommon with only 32.6% (n=46) of respondents treating patients during this phase. During the first six weeks after discharge the main focus of treatment was on respiratory difficulties (64%; n=41). After six weeks the focus moved to treating pain (57.8%; n=37). Management choices during all phases of contact with patients undergoing open thoracotomies were influenced by personal experience and established practice protocols as mentioned in the questionnaire. Conclusion: High quality evidence regarding the management of patients after open thoracic surgery still seems to be limited when compared to other high risk surgery groups (Reeve, 2008). Considering this, it seems that physiotherapists in Gauteng are using the relevant techniques to prevent and manage postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients that undergo open thoracic surgery. Pre- and post-operative techniques most commonly used were respiratory techniques and early mobilisation. Management choices seem to be predominantly affected by experience and established practice protocol. There is a lack in pain management for these patients both during and after hospital stay

Macroeconomic Consequences of Global Endogenous Migration: A General Equilibrium Analysis

In this paper, we analyze the demographic and economic consequences of endogenous migrations flows over the coming decades in a multi-regions overlapping generations general equilibrium model (INGENUE 2) in which the world is divided in ten regions. Our analysis offers a global perspective on the consequences of international migration flows. The value-added of the INGENUE 2 model is that it enables us to analyze the effects of international migration on both the destination and the origin regions. A further innovation of our analysis is that international migration is treated as endogenous. In a first step, we estimate the determinants of migration in an econometric model. We show, in particular, that the income differential is one of the key variables explaining migration flows. In a second step, we endogenize migration flows in the INGENUE 2 model. In order to do so, we use the econometrically estimated relationships between demographic and income developments in the INGENUE model, which enables us to project long-run migration flows and to improve on projections of purely demographic models.CGEM, Migration, International capital flows

Pain management in sports medicine: Use and abuse of anti-inflammatory and other agents

Over the last two decades, the health benefits associated with increased physical activity have been established.1 However, with increased participation in physical activity comes a subsequent increase in sports and exercise related injury. It is estimated that there are over 4.2 million visits to the emergency rooms for sport and exercise related acute injury in the United States alone, and at least that number of visits due to chronic sport and exercise related injury.2,3 This article will focus on the use of pharmacological agents in the acute management of these injuries

Jet lag and environmental conditions that may influence exercise performance during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held in South Africa in June/July 2010. This is the largest international sports event ever to be held in this country. At this time 32 international football teams, with their management and supporters, will travel to South Africa. These players and visitors will be exposed to changes in time zones (those travelling from continents in the East and West) as well as different environmental conditions. In particular, for the players, the achievement of peak sporting performance during this event is most important. It is well established that, in order to achieve peak exercise performance, many variables need to be optimised. These variables include physical and mental training, rest, nutrition, team dynamics and tactics. However, adjustments to differences in time zones as well as environmental factors on and around the playing field can also have a significant impact on exercise performance. In this review, the potential effects of “jet lag”, as well as several important environmental conditions, on exercise performance will be discussed. The climatic, atmospheric and weather conditions that are likely to be prevalent in each of the South African host cities at the time of the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be reviewed. Finally, practical recommendations to deal with the effects of jet lag, as well as guidelines to optimise performance under different environmental conditions that are expected during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will be provided

Price Convergence in the European Union: Within Firms or Composition of Firms?

In this paper we use data on French export prices at the disaggregated firm and product level to evaluate the effect of economic integration on price convergence. We use the European integration ‘experiment' and firm-level data on export prices to distinguish between two possible margins of adjustment: At the intensive margin economic integration induces different pricing strategies within the firm, whereas at the extensive margin it affects the composition of firms with different pricing strategies. In our sample price convergence is 40 percent faster in the European Union than in an appropriately defined control group. 30 percent of this effect can be attributed to the fact that a higher share of firms with a low propensity to price discriminate serve European markets