Properties of two U.S. inflation measures (1985-2005)

Analyses are presented of 84 quarterly observations 1/85-4/05 on two U.S. index numbers of nominal prices often employed to measure inflation. Analyses are designed to answer two key questions of interest to macroeconomists. Is inflation stationary (I(0)) or stochastically non-stationary (I(1))? If it is I(1), is it scalar or multivariate? Both measures of inflation are found clearly to be I(1) and, for these measures, inflation is found clearly to be scalar. The paper also illustrates univariate analysis procedures (and report standards) considered to be more effective and convincing than those found in the existing literature on inflation measures

PROPERTIES OF TWO U.S. INFLATION MEASURES (1985-2005)

Analyses are presented of 84 quarterly observations 1/85-4/05 on two U.S. index numbers of nominal prices often employed to measure inflation. Analyses are designed to answer two key questions of interest to macroeconomists. Is inflation stationary (I(0)) or stochastically non-stationary (I(1))? If it is I(1), is it scalar or multivariate? Both measures of inflation are found clearly to be I(1) and, for these measures, inflation is found clearly to be scalar. The paper also illustrates univariate analysis procedures (and report standards) considered to be more effective and convincing than those found in the existing literature on inflation measures.

Application of the travel cost method to estimate the economic value of cultural goods: Blockbuster art exhibitions

In recent years a growing number of studies have started to apply non-market valuation methods to estimate the economic value of cultural goods. The majority of these studies use stated preference techniques, such as the contingent valuation method. This study discusses the application of the travel cost method to estimate the economic value of a specific type of cultural good: special exhibitions. The empirical work focuses on the touring exhibition the ‘Ages of Mankind’, one of the first and most representative examples of a blockbuster art exhibition in Spain. This is the first time, as far as we know, that this method has been applied to a large temporary exhibition and is one of the few applications of this method in the valuation of cultural goods.Blockbuster arts exhibitions, non-market valuation, revealed preferences, travel cost method, cultural economics.

Addressing a forgotten struggle: Victims of enforced disappearance in Africa

Abstract: Enforced disappearance in Africa occurs on a daily basis and no one is immune from becoming a victim. The practice, which commenced during the colonial times, continues today. Governments routinely use enforced disappearance as a tool to oppress the opposition and instill fear among the population in order to retain power. It is also used in the context of migration, as well as in many other contexts and against a variety of victims. As enforced disappearance is a crime committed by State officials with an interest in concealing it, the statistics on its prevalence are limited and do not show the full extent of the crime in Africa. Further, the lack of political will to acknowledge the use of this practice means that many African States lack policies and laws to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of enforced disappearance. In the last two years, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted two resolutions raising awareness of the crime and paving the way for drafting and adopting specific guidelines to address this crime, which would be a first step in setting up a holistic framework to eradicate enforced disappearances on the continent

Análisis estadístico de la litigiosidad experimentada en el Tribunal Económico Administrativo Regional de Cataluña (1990-2000)

En el informe que a continuación se detalla, se da noticia de la conflictividad observada en el TEAR de Cataluña durante la década de los noventa. En él se lleva a cabo un análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo sobre la gestión realizada por el citado centro

Análisis estadístico de la litigiosidad en los Tribunales de Justicia. Jurisdicción contencioso administrativa (período 1990/2000)

El presente trabajo contiene un estudio descriptivo sobre la litigiosidad observada en los Tribunales jurisdiccionales durante la década de los noventa. Su ámbito se circunscribe exclusívamente a la Jurisdicción Contencioso-Administrativa (Sección IV)

Percepción del ciberacoso en la comunidad educativa: comparativa entre el alumnado, los docentes y las familias

This study aims to find out how the groups that form the education community (students, teachers, families) differ in terms of the various characteristics surrounding the cyberbullying phenomenon. To do this, we conducted research using a selective correlational and cross-sectional design to analyze relationships and differences among variables: defining cyberbullying, typology, involved roles, possible causes and coping strategies in the different groups. The study recruited 116 participants as follows: 51% were year-6 Primary Education students; 29% were students’ family members; 20% were school teachers. We collected data through an ad hoc questionnaire that a group of experts had previously validated. The results of the data analysis showed that significant differences appeared in terms of: how typologies were perceived; the importance of roles; coping strategies for cyberbullying.El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer en qué difieren los distintos grupos que conforman la comunidad educativa (alumnado, profesorado y familias) respecto a diversas características que envuelven al fenómeno ciberacoso. Para ello, se realiza este estudio de diseño selectivo transversal correlacional que pretende analizar las relaciones y diferencias entre las variables: definición de ciberacoso, tipología, roles implicados, posibles causas y estrategias de afrontamiento en los distintos grupos. Se contó con un total de 116 participantes, de los cuales un 51% era alumnado de 6º de primaria, un 29% familiares del alumnado y un 20% docentes de un centro educativo. Los datos fueron recogidos través de un mismo cuestionario ad hoc previamente validado por un conjunto de jueces expertos. Tras el análisis de los datos, los resultados muestran la existencia de diferencias significativas en la manera de percibir las tipologías, la importancia de los roles y las estrategias de afrontamiento del ciberacoso

Population structure and genetic diversity of the threatened pygmy newt Triturus pygmaeus in a network of natural and artificial ponds

Pond physical characteristics (connectivity, hydroperiod) have shown to be highly relevant in explaining species presence, reproductive success, and survival in breeding-pond amphibians. However, few studies have addressed the influence that these factors may have on the genetic variability of pond populations. We examined genetic variation at 11 microsatellite loci in Iberian endemic, the pygmy newt (Triturus pygmaeus), from 58 breeding ponds in the Doñana National Park (Andalusia), including both temporary ponds and artificially deepened ponds that remain wet during the whole year. Temporary ponds are located in the North part of the region where the surrounding habitat-wet meadows-facilitates the connectivity among populations, whereas the deepest ponds (‘zacallones’) are located in the southern edge embedded in a matrix of unsuitable habitat (thickets and dry underbrush). We investigated genetic diversity and structure within and among ponds. Our results show that both regions (Doñana-North and Doñana-South) are well-differentiated and form two main clusters. We found higher genetic diversity within ponds from the North region, which also exhibited a higher degree of genetic admixture in comparison with populations from the southern edge. Although we found an isolation-by-distance pattern within each cluster, it arose due to the effect of a few isolated ponds located on the edge of each zone, suggesting the existence of substantial gene flow between ponds in the core area. According to our findings, landscape’s permeability to movement (pond connectivity) may constitute a more important factor than hydroperiod length in determining the genetic diversity and viability of pygmy newt populations in this area. Although Doñana populations show a good state, more peripheral and isolated populations present a more worrisome condition as a result of fragmentation and thus, require conservation efforts. Our study provides key insights that could help guide management practices of this threatened and poorly-studied salamander

Un enfoque institucional sobre la prosperidad de las naciones. Gobernanza, libertad económica y democracia

En los últimos años el mundo ha registrado el mayor avance de su historia en términos de bienestar y prosperidad. En este proceso, la mejora de la gobernanza económica y el fortalecimiento del marco legal y de los derechos de propiedad, así como la apuesta por mayores cotas de libertad económica, se han revelado como factores determinantes para explicar el favorable desempeño de la economía mundial. Asimismo, el crecimiento económico fraguó en un fortalecimiento de la democracia y del ejercicio de las libertades civiles. La situación actual no debería hacer olvidar este período de éxito económico y social, y menos aún enturbiar el análisis de las razones que llevaron al mundo a alcanzar semejantes cotas de prosperidad. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la importancia que tuvieron las variables institucionales en el logro de este éxito global y proponer líneas de actuación que permitan retomar la senda del crecimiento económico y el desarrollo a largo plazo