Empiricism in ecological economics: a perspective from complex systems theory

Economies are open complex adaptive systems far from thermodynamic equilibrium, and neo-classical environmental economics seems not to be the best way to describe the behaviour of such systems. Standard econometric analysis (i.e. time series) takes a deterministic and predictive approach, which encourages the search for predictive policy to ‘correct’ environmental problems. Rather, it seems that, because of the characteristics of economic systems, an ex-post analysis is more appropriate, which describes the emergence of such systems’ properties, and which sees policy as a social steering mechanism. With this background, some of the recent empirical work published in the field of ecological economics that follows the approach defended here is presented. Finally, the conclusion is reached that a predictive use of econometrics (i.e. time series analysis) in ecological economics should be limited to cases in which uncertainty decreases, which is not the normal situation when analysing the evolution of economic systems. However, that does not mean we should not use empirical analysis. On the contrary, this is to be encouraged, but from a structural and ex-post point of view.Ecological economics, neo-classical environmental economics, empiricism, predictive analysis, complexity, post-normal science, policy.

Societal Metabolism of Societies: The bifurcation between Spain and Ecuador

This paper presents an application of the Multiple-Scale Integrated Assessment of Societal Metabolism to the recent economic history of Ecuador and Spain. Understanding the relationship between the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the throughput of matter and energy over time in modern societies is crucial for understanding the sustainability predicament as it is linked to economic growth. When considering the dynamics of economic development, Spain was able to take a different path than Ecuador thanks to the different characteristics of its energy budget and other key variables. This and other changes are described using economic and biophysical variables (both extensive and intensive referring to different hierarchical levels). The representation of these parallel changes (on different levels and describable only using different variables) can be kept in coherence by adopting the frame provided by MSIASM.MSIASM, Societal Metabolism, Development, Energy, Ecuador, Spain.

An application of MSIASM to Chinese exosomatic energy metabolism

The methodology of Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal Metabolism (MSIASM) is applied to analyze the Chinese economy. This paper presents four tasks: (i) identifying a set of benchmarks that makes it possible to compare various characteristics of the Chinese economy with those of other country groups and the world (level) average; (ii) explaining the differences over the selected set of benchmarks, by looking at the characteristics of the various sub-sectors of the Chinese economy; (iii) understanding existing trends and future feasible future development paths for China by studying the existence of reciprocal constraints between the whole economy and its sub-sectors; andChina, Energy, Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis, Societal Metabolism,

A FUSE View of the Stellar Winds of Planetary Nebula Central Stars

Since the IUE satellite produced a vast collection of high-resolution UV spectra of central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPNe), there has not been any further systematic study of the stellar winds of these stars. The high spectral resolution, sensitivity and large number of archival observations in the FUSE archive allow the study of the stellar winds of CSPNe in the far UV domain where lines of species spanning a wide excitation range can be observed. We present here a preliminary analysis of the P Cygni profiles of a sample of 60 CSPNe observed by FUSE. P Cygni profiles evidencing fast stellar winds with velocities between 200 and 4,300 km/s have been found in 40 CSPNe. In many cases, this is the first time that fast stellar winds have been reported for these PNe. A detailed study of these far-UV spectra is on-going.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; accepted, to appear in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australi

Different trajectories of exosomatic energy metabolism for Brazil, Chile and Venezuela: using the MSIASM approach

Economic development goes hand in hand with an increase in the consumption of natural resources. Some analysts use material flows to describe such relationship [Eurostat 2001, Weisz et al., 2006], or exergy [Ayres et al., 2003]. Instead this paper will use a characterisation of the exosomatic energy metabolism based on expected benchmark values to describe possible constraints to economic development posed by available human time and energy. The aim of the paper is to identify types of exosomatic energy metabolism of different societies to interpret its consequences for economic development. This is done with the application of the accounting methodology called Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal Metabolism (MSIASM) to the particular case of energy metabolism for the analysis of the economies of Brazil, Chile and Venezuela.Development, Energy, Social Metabolism, MSIASM, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela

Attitude towards gender equality and coeducation among Secondary School teachers: a case study in Madrid, Spain

Introduction. In spite of the education reform and the introduction of mixed schools, there are still obstacles to gender equality in Spain. Sexist attitudes and values continue to influence personal development and career choices, limiting women''s participation in many spheres. The opinions, beliefs, ideas, conceptions, expectations and personal attitude of teaching professionals exert a great influence on the students who perceive them, which calls for up-to-date information on teaching staff’s perceptions towards gender equality and coeducation. Method. In this work, results from a survey distributed to 105 teachers in three Secondary Schools in the Autonomous Community of Madrid are presented. The retrieved data was analyzed by using parametric (ANOVA) and non-parametric (Kruskal-Wallis) tests. Results. Significant differences were found among the respondents in terms of their views on gender equality for the gender and gender*age factors, and for the gender and years of teaching experience factors in the case of their perceptions about coeducation. Discussion and Conclusion. Although the tendency toward a true status of equality was more pronounced in women than in men, an adequate predisposition of the majority of teachers of both sexes towards the achievement of a social equality model based on the promotion of peer roles and coeducational practices was found. Teaching staff appears to be aware of the importance of adopting policies and laws that favor effective and real equality between men and women. © 2021. Universidad de Almería and Ilustre Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Andalucía Oriental (Spain). All Rights Reserved

Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MUSIASEM): An Outline of Rationale and Theory

This paper presents an outline of rationale and theory of the MuSIASEM scheme (Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism). First, three points of the rationale behind our MuSIASEM scheme are discussed: (i) endosomatic and exosomatic metabolism in relation to Georgescu-Roegen’s flow-fund scheme; (2) the bioeconomic analogy of hypercycle and dissipative parts in ecosystems; (3) the dramatic reallocation of human time and land use patterns in various sectors of modern economy. Next, a flow-fund representation of the MUSIASEM scheme on three levels (the whole national level, the paid work sectors level, and the agricultural sector level) is illustrated to look at the structure of the human economy in relation to two primary factors: (i) human time - a fund; and (ii) exosomatic energy - a flow. The three levels representation uses extensive and intensive variables simultaneously. Key conceptual tools of the MuSIASEM scheme - mosaic effects and impredicative loop analysis - are explained using the three level flow-fund representation. Finally, we claim that the MuSIASEM scheme can be seen as a multi-purpose grammar useful to deal with sustainability issues.Energy, Flow-Fund Model, Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis, Mosaic Effects, Impredicative Loop, Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism, Hierarchy, Multi-Purpose

Potential control of forest diseases by solutions of chitosan oligomers, propolis and nanosilver

Producción CientíficaThere is a growing necessity to replace chemical agents with ecofriendly materials, arising from the impact on the environment and/or human health, which calls for the design of new broad-spectrum fungicides. In this work, chitosan oligomers (COs), propolis (Ps) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) mixtures in solution were assessed to control the growth of different phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes in vitro. Binary solutions of COs-Ps and COs-AgNPs evinced the highest antifungal effect against Fusarium circinatum and Diplodia pinea fungi, respectively, with a ca. 80% reduction in their mycelial growth. The COs solution by itself also proved to be greatly effective against Gremmeniella abietina, Cryphonectria parasitica and Heterobasidion annosum fungi, causing a reduction of 78%, 86% and 93% in their growth rate, respectively. Likewise, COs also attained a 100% growth inhibition on the oomycete Phytophthora cambivora. On the other hand, Ps inhibited totally the growth of Phytophthora ×alni and Phytophthora plurivora. The application of AgNPs reduced the mycelial growth of F. circinatum and D. pinea. However, the AgNPs in some binary and ternary mixtures had a counter-productive effect on the anti-fungal/oomycete activity. In spite of the fact that the anti-fungal/oomycete activity of the different treatments showed a dependence on the particular type of microorganism, these solutions based on natural compounds can be deemed as a promising tool for control of tree diseases.European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST Action FP1406 PINESTRENGTH)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad - Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (project AGL2015-69370-R

El progrés econòmic vist amb ulls biofísics

El desenvolupament econòmic està relacionat amb l'evolució dels sistemes humans així com amb la seva interacció amb l'entorn. Per tant, es necessita un enfocament d'anàlisi biofísic, que complementi a l'econòmic, per a entendre millor l'impacte sobre el medi ambient. Aquesta tesi presenta una metodologia per a veure el metabolisme energètic de les societats en el seu procés de desenvolupament.El desarrollo económico está relacionado con la evolución de los sistemas humanos así como con su interacción con el entorno. Por lo tanto, se necesita un enfoque de análisis biofísico, que complemente al económico, para entender mejor el impacto sobre el medio ambiente. Esta tesis presenta una metodología para ver el metabolismo energético de las sociedades en su proceso de desarrollo.Economic development is related to the evolution of human systems as well as to interaction with the environment. Therefore, we need a biophysical analytical approach to complement the economic approach, to better understand its impact on the environment. This thesis presents a methodology to view the energetic metabolism of developing societies

Evolución del número de suicidios en España respecto a variables macroeconómicas

La mortalidad por suicidio constituye un problema de salud pública en ciertos países. En España, numerosos estudios han analizado si el número de suicidios se ha visto alterado con ocasión de la crisis económica como consecuencia del desempleo, los escasos ingresos, la pobreza, la desigualdad, los recortes en servicios sociales, salud o educación, concluyendo que en España los intentos de suicidio no han aumentado desde antes de la crisis económica, no apreciándose efectos inmediatos para la salud y no pudiendo probar que exista una conexión causal entre crisis financiera y suicidio. Otros autores sin embargo, observan una relación importante entre suicidios y una edad más joven así como ancianos, mal estado de salud y depresión, pudiendo ésta verse incrementada por la crisis económica. En contraposición, fuera de España, un estudio concluye que existe una relación entre los casos recientes de suicidio en las regiones inglesas con mayores tasas de desempleo consecuencia de la crisis económica. A colación del estudio británico y dado que los autores españoles prioritariamente se han centrado en determinar la influencia de la crisis económica sobre los suicidios, se pretende analizar con una mayor amplitud la posible existencia de una relación causal entre los principales indicadores macroeconómicos y el índice de suicidios en España. Para ello, la metodología empleada ha consistido en la extracción de datos relativos a demografía, causa de la muerte (suicidio y lesiones auto infligidas), PIB, IPC y desempleo en series históricas completas suficientemente representativas para considerarlas como muestreo, comprendidas entre 1980 y 2012, analizando tanto la evolución de estas variables como la distribución estadística y su posible correlación. Se realiza además una distribución por sexos con objeto de determinar la existencia de comportamientos diferenciados. Tras el análisis efectuado, en concordancia con los autores consultados, el número de suicidios parece ser independiente del crecimiento de la tasa de desempleo o en todo caso, parece que el incremento de ésta está inversamente relacionado con el número de suicidios. No obstante, la variable macroeconómica consultada que presenta un mayor coeficiente de correlación respecto de la tasa de suicidio es el PIB, con índices que muestran que la evolución del número de suicidios de varones está altamente relacionada con la evolución del PIB y por el contrario, el número de suicidios de mujeres presenta una evolución constante e incluso ligeramente lineal independientemente de las variables macroeconómicas consultadas. A efectos de realizar un pronóstico sobre el número de suicidios totales se propone determinar, por una parte, el número de suicidios de varones en función de las previsiones de evolución del PIB y por otra, el número de suicidios de mujeres en progresión lineal geométrica con los coeficientes obtenidos.In certain countries, the suicide mortality supposes a problem of public health. In Spain, serveral studies have analyzed if the number of suicides has been modified due to the economic crisis, as a consequence of unemployment, low incomes, poverty, social inequality, cuts in social services, health or education, concluding that in Spain the suicide attemps have not increased since the years before the economic crisis, not being able to appreciate inmediate effects for the health and not being able to prove a causal connection between financial crisis and suicide. Nevertheless, other authors point out that there is an important relation between suicides and young age aswell as elders, a poor health and depression, that can be increased due to the economic crisis. In opposite, out of Spain, a study concludes that there exists a relation beween the recent suicide cases in the English regions with higher unemployment rates as a consequence of the economic crisis. Relating the british study and due to the fact that the spanish authors has mostly concentrate their efforts on determining the economic crisis influence on suicides, we try to analize, from a broader point of view, the possible existence of a casual relation between the main macroeconomic indicators and the suicide rates in Spain. For this purpose, the methodology used has been to extract data relating demography, causes of death (suicide and self-inflicted injury), GDP, CPI and unemployment in complete historical series sufficiently representative so as to be considered as sampling, between 1980 and 2012, analyzing the evolution of the mentioned variables as well as the statistical distribution and their possible correlation. Furthermore, we develope a gender distribution for the purpose of the determination whether differentiated behaviours exists. Following the analysis, in conformity with the consulted authors, the number of suicides seems to be independent of unemployment rate increase or, in any case, seems that this increase is inversely related to the number of suicides. Nevertheless, the studied macroeconomic variable that shows a higher correlation coefficient with regard to the suicide rate is GDP, with indeces that show that the evolution of the male suicide rate is highly related with GDP evolution and, on the contrary, the number of women's suicides represents a continued evolution and even slightly linear independently of the macroeconomic variables consulted. In terms of carrying out a prognosis about the total number of suicides, it is proposed to establish on the one hand, the male number of suicides according to the forecast for the development of the GDP and, on the other, the women number of suicides in linear geometric progression with the coefficients obtained