A Multidimensional Poverty Index for Latin America

This paper proposes a new Multidimensional Poverty Index for Latin America (MPI-LA). The index builds upon the rich tradition in poverty measurement in the region in terms of both the Unsatisfied Basic Needs (UBN) approach and the Poverty Line approach and the recent conceptual and methodological developments in the area of multidimensional poverty measurement. The index combines monetary and non-monetary indicators, includes some new indicators not typically used in the region, and updates deprivation cutoffs for certain traditional UBN indicators, aiming to maximize regional comparability within the data constraints. The index is estimated for 17 countries of the region in two points in time – one around 2005 and the other around 2012. Overall, we estimate about 28% of people are multidimensionally poor in 2012 in the region, although with great variability across countries. An encouraging result is that we find statistically significant reductions of poverty in most countries, both in terms of incidence and intensity over the period under analysis. However, important disparities between rural and urban areas remain. Statistical scrutiny of the index suggests that it captures the state of poverty relatively well while maintaining a certain parsimony and being highly robust to changes in weights, indicators, and poverty cutoff

Innovación tecnológica y desigualdad productiva y laboral en las empresas manufactureras argentinas

En este trabajo se examina la relación entre los esfuerzos innovativos de las empresas manufactureras argentinas y el nivel y distribución de la productividad, el salario y las calificaciones laborales, en el marco de la heterogeneidad estructural característica de las economías periféricas. Se encuentran escasos estudios sobre estas relaciones en países en desarrollo a nivel de firmas. Se adopta un enfoque de problemas del desarrollo y una metodología cuantitativa partiendo de una hipótesis preliminar: a mayores esfuerzos innovativos en las empresas, mayor desigualdad productiva y laboral entre ellas, condicionada por la heterogeneidad estructural. Los datos provienen de la Encuesta Nacional de Dinámica de Empleo e Innovación, sobre firmas manufactureras argentinas para el periodo 2010-2012. Los principales hallazgos indican que los inputs de innovación generan impactos significativos en los niveles de productividad, salario y calificaciones, difiriendo en su magnitud entre empresas y sectores industriales en virtud de la heterogeneidad estructural de la industriaThis paper examines the connection between innovative efforts of Argentine manufacturing companies and their level and distribution of productivity, wage and labor skills, within the framework of structural heterogeneity characteristic of peripheral economies. There are only a few studies which addressed these problematic relations in developing countries at a firm level. An approach to the problems of development and quantitative methodology is applied, starting from a preliminary hypothesis: greater innovative efforts in companies, greater productive and labor inequality among them, conditioned by structural heterogeneity. Primary data used in this study come from the National Survey of Employment and Innovation Dynamics, for Argentine manufacturing companies in 2010-2012. The main findings indicate that correlation of innovation and the levels of productivity, wages and labor skills is significant, differing in their magnitude among companies and industrial sectors by virtue of the structural heterogeneity of the Argentine industry.Fil: Gomez, Maria Celeste. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Centro de Investigaciones En Ciencias Economicas | Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Centro de Investigaciones En Ciencias Economicas.; ArgentinaFil: Borrastero, Carina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Centro de Investigaciones En Ciencias Economicas | Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Centro de Investigaciones En Ciencias Economicas.; Argentin

Evaluating lubricant performance to reduce COVID-19 PPE-related skin injury

Background Healthcare workers around the world are experiencing skin injury due to the extended use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. These injuries are the result of high shear stresses acting on the skin, caused by friction with the PPE. This study aims to provide a practical lubricating solution for frontline medical staff working a 4+ hours shift wearing PPE. Methods A literature review into skin friction and skin lubrication was conducted to identify products and substances that can reduce friction. We evaluated the lubricating performance of commercially available products in vivo using a custom-built tribometer. Findings Most lubricants provide a strong initial friction reduction, but only few products provide lubrication that lasts for four hours. The response of skin to friction is a complex interplay between the lubricating properties and durability of the film deposited on the surface and the response of skin to the lubricating substance, which include epidermal absorption, occlusion, and water retention. Interpretation Talcum powder, a petrolatum-lanolin mixture, and a coconut oil-cocoa butter-beeswax mixture showed excellent long-lasting low friction. Moisturising the skin results in excessive friction, and the use of products that are aimed at ‘moisturising without leaving a non-greasy feel’ should be prevented. Most investigated dressings also demonstrate excellent performance