Production of (Pleasant) Time by Means of (Unpleasant) Time: Some Notes on Consumption Theory and Time Use

The aim of this paper is to propose an analytical framework, wherein the individuals' choice problem is addressed in terms of alternative time‐consuming activities rather than in terms of alternative bundles of goods and services. In particular, the paper reverses Becker's (1965) proposal to approach the problem of time allocation by transforming the time spent in consumption into foregone earnings. The result of reversing Becker's approach is a model that represents each activity as a sort of productive process allowing to produce pleasant time by consuming 'direct' unpleasant time and the 'indirect' amount of unpleasant time equivalent to the market goods used up as inputs

The Demand for Cultural Activities: a Time-Use Approach

The aim of this paper is to cast the problem of the alternative between skilled, time-intensive and unskilled activities within an analytical framework wherein the individuals' choice problem is addressed in terms of alternative time-consuming activities rather than alternative bundles of goods and services. In particular, each activity is interpreted as a sort of productive process allowing pleasant time to be produced by consuming 'direct' unpleasant time plus the 'indirect' amount of unpleasant time equivalent to the market goods used up as inputs. The paper suggests that individuals might refrain from engaging in skilled, time-consuming activities because of the attractiveness of a certain, higher present-period rate of return of unskilled activities as opposed to the uncertainty of a possibly higher future-period rate of return obtainable through engagement in (more roundabout) skilled activities

The Demand for Cultural Activities: a Time-Use Approach

The aim of this paper is to cast the problem of the alternative between skilled, time-intensive and unskilled activities within an analytical framework wherein the individuals' choice problem is addressed in terms of alternative time-consuming activities rather than alternative bundles of goods and services. In particular, each activity is interpreted as a sort of productive process allowing pleasant time to be produced by consuming 'direct' unpleasant time plus the 'indirect' amount of unpleasant time equivalent to the market goods used up as inputs. The paper suggests that individuals might refrain from engaging in skilled, time-consuming activities because of the attractiveness of a certain, higher present-period rate of return of unskilled activities as opposed to the uncertainty of a possibly higher future-period rate of return obtainable through engagement in (more roundabout) skilled activities

The Sustainable Rate of Return of Defined-Contribution Pension Schemes

The paper identifies the sustainable rate of return (to be credited on all account balances) for a generic Defined-Contribution pension scheme regardless of its degree of funding

The Sustainable Rate of Return of Defined-Contribution Pension Schemes

The paper identifies the sustainable rate of return (to be credited on all account balances) for a generic Defined-Contribution pension scheme regardless of its degree of funding

Surgical and survival outcomes with perioperative or neoadjuvant immune-checkpoint inhibitors combined with platinum-based chemotherapy in resectable NSCLC: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials

: The use of neoadjuvant or perioperative anti-PD(L)1 was recently tested in multiple clinical trials. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials comparing neoadjuvant or perioperative chemoimmunotherapy to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable NSCLC. Nine reports from 6 studies were included. Receipt of surgery was more frequent in the experimental arm (odds ratio, OR 1.39) as was pCR (OR 7.60). EFS was improved in the experimental arm (hazard ratio, HR 0.55) regardless of stage, histology, PD-L1 expression (PD-L1 negative, HR 0.74) and smoking exposure (never smokers, HR 0.67), as was OS (HR 0.67). Grade > = 3 treatment-related adverse events were more frequent in the experimental arm (OR 1.22). The experimental treatment improved surgical outcomes, pCR rates, EFS and OS in stage II-IIIB, EGFR/ALK negative resectable NSCLC; confirmatory evidence is warranted for stage IIIB tumours and with higher maturity of the OS endpoint

Impact of hormonal treatment duration in combination with radiotherapy for locally advanced prostate cancer: Meta-analysis of randomized trials

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hormone therapy plus radiotherapy significantly decreases recurrences and mortality of patients affected by locally advanced prostate cancer. In order to determine if difference exists according to the hormonal treatment duration, a literature-based meta-analysis was performed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Relative risks (RR) were derived through a random-effect model. Differences in primary (biochemical failure, BF; cancer-specific survival, CSS), and secondary outcomes (overall survival, OS; local or distant recurrence, LR/DM) were explored. Absolute differences (AD) and the number needed to treat (NNT) were calculated. Heterogeneity, a meta-regression for clinic-pathological predictors and a correlation test for surrogates were conducted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Five trials (3,424 patients) were included. Patient population ranged from 267 to 1,521 patients. The longer hormonal treatment significantly improves BF (with significant heterogeneity) with an absolute benefit of 10.1%, and a non significant trend in CSS. With regard to secondary end-points, the longer hormonal treatment significantly decrease both the LR and the DM with an absolute difference of 11.7% and 11.5%. Any significant difference in OS was observed. None of the three identified clinico-pathological predictors (median PSA, range 9.5-20.35, Gleason score 7-10, 27-55% patients/trial, and T3-4, 13-77% patients/trial), did significantly affect outcomes. At the meta-regression analysis a significant correlation between the overall treatment benefit in BF, CSS, OS, LR and DM, and the length of the treatment was found (p≤0.03).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although with significant heterogeneity (reflecting different patient' risk stratifications), a longer hormonal treatment duration significantly decreases biochemical, local and distant recurrences, with a trend for longer cancer specific survival.</p