The introduction of mandatory inter-municipal cooperation in small municipalities: preliminary lessons from Italy

PurposeThis article studies effects of mandatory inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) in small Italian municipalities. Data from 280 small Italian municipalities on effects of IMC in terms of higher efficiency, better effectiveness of local public services, and greater institutional legitimacy of the small municipalities participating in IMC have been investigated against four variables: size; geographical area; type of inter-municipal integration and IMC membership (the presence in the IMC of a bigger municipality, the so-called big brother).Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from a mail survey that was sent to a random sample of 1,360 chief financial officers acting in municipalities of under 5,000 inhabitants, stratified by size (0–1,000 and 1,001–5,000) and geographic area (North, Center, and South) criteria. To analyze dependency relationships between the three potential effects of participating in IMC and possible explanatory variables, we used a logistic regression model as the benefits were binarily categorized (presence or absence of benefits).FindingsFindings show that in more than two-thirds of the municipalities participating in IMC there were benefits in terms of costs reduction and better public services, whereas greater institutional legitimacy was detected in about half of the cases. Our statistical analysis with logistic regression highlighted that IMC type is particularly critical for explaining successful IMC. In particular, positive effects of IMC were mainly detected in those small municipalities that promoted a service delivery organization rather than participating in service delivery agreements or opting for mixed arrangements of joint public services delivery.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on small municipalities where studies are usually scant. Our analysis highlighted that the organizational setting is particularly critical for explaining successful IMC

Using Structural Equation and Item Response Models to Assess Relationship between Latent Traits

We deepen the two main approaches to the problem of measurement error in social sciences, the Structural Equation Models (SEM) and the Item Response Theory Models (IRM), comparing two different estimation procedures. The One-step procedure (related to SEM) requires that researcher specifies a complete model of both measurement aspects (single link between the latent variable and its indicators) and structural aspects (links between different latent variables), with the model parameters estimated simultaneously. In the Two-step procedure (related to IRM), we first estimate the measures (one for each construct), then we will assess, through a regression model, the relationships between these measures and the latent variables that they represent. Our aim is to define a Two-step method that, using information obtained in the first step about the measurement error, presents low levels of bias and loss of efficiency, as close as possible to that of One-step method

Estimation Procedures for latent Variable Models with psychological Traits

The starting point for this thesis is a concrete problem: to measure, using statistical models, aspects of subjective perceptions and assessments and to understand their dependencies. The objective is to study the statistical properties of some estimators of the parameters of regression models with variables affected by measurement errors. These models are widely used in surveys based on questionnaires developed to detect subjective assessments and perceptions with Likert-type scales. It is a highly debated topic, as many of the relevant aspects in this field are not directly observable and therefore the variables used to estimate them are affected by measurement errors. The models with measurement errors were very thorough in literature. In this work we will developed two of the most used approaches that the authors have with this topic. Obviously, according to the approach chosen, different models were proposed to estimate the relationships between variables affected by measurement error. After exposing the main features of these models, the thesis focuses on providing an original contribution to comparative analysis of the two presented approaches

Formative and reflective models: state of the art

Although the dispute between formative models and reflective models is not exactly recent, it is still alive in current literature, largely in the context of structural equation model. There are many aspects of SEM that should be considered in deciding the right approach. This work is intended to be a brief presentation of the state of the art for SEM based on covariance matrices. I outline the different positions on five particular issues: causality, selection of observed measures, internal consistency, identifiability and measurement error

Evaluation of human capital in education-based perspective

This paper considers one of the intangible aspect of human capital: the university knowledge accumulation. It is relevant both for academic management and for recruitment world. In the former case it can be an useful guide to identify the characteristics of clever students, while in the latter case it can be applied to worker selection. Because of the velocity of credit acquisition is not sign of cleverness, it becomes important to analyze different aspects of university human capital accumulation. We will investigate it through latent growth modeling on administrative data come from an Italian university

Using Surrogate Models and Variable Importance to better Understand Random Forests Regression Fitting

Interpretability mechanisms helping users in better understanding machine learning models are crucial for Artificial Intelligence acceptance. In this manuscript, our experience in interpretation of random forest regression via surrogate models, i.e. models trying to replicate in an interpretable framework an original fitting difficult to understand, is reported. It is shown how, beyond classical R2 analysis, adequacy of surrogate models can be assessed via variable importance analysis

Utilizzare la Statistica per il Monitoraggio dei grandi eventi sociali a Brescia Smart City

Da un anno Comune e Università di Brescia collaborano alla sperimentazione delle possibilità offerte dai dati di telefonia mobile per ottenere indicazioni utili a migliorare la qualità dei grandi eventi sociali che si svolgono in città. Le manifestazioni del 2013 individuate per avviare tale attività sono molto conosciute al grande pubblico: la gara automobilistica storica Mille Miglia e la competizione ciclistica Giro d’Italia, che per la prima volta si concludeva a Brescia. Ma la sperimentazione continua anche nel 2014, con il monitoraggio della manifestazione cittadina chiamata Notte Bianca. Dopo aver superato alcuni problemi tecnici legati al trattamento e alla sintesi dei dati ottenuti nelle tre occasioni, l’analisi statistica ha permesso di valutare le grandi potenzialità di questa fonte informativa, a supporto della programmazione di tali eventi e più in generale del marketing territoriale

Assessing the risk of establishment and transient populations of Spodoptera frugiperda in Europe

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is an invasive pest threatening crop production and food security worldwide. High concerns are linked to the potential establishment of the species in Europe. The high migratory capacity of S. frugiperda causes concerns about the potential impacts of transient populations invading new areas from suitable hotspots. In the present work, we developed and used a physiologically-based demographic model to quantitatively assess the risks of S. frugiperda in Europe. The risks were assessed considering a best-, a median-, and a worst-case scenario. The Mediterranean coastal areas of Southern Europe resulted particularly suitable for the establishment of the species, with suitable areas reaching even higher latitudes, in the worst-case scenario. In Europe, up to four generations per year were predicted. The predicted yearly average number of moths per trap per week (± standard deviation) was 5 (± 4), 17 (± 5), and 139 (± 22) in the best, median-, and worst-case assessment scenarios, respectively. Model results showed that Southern and Central Europe up to the 48th parallel north might be exposed to the risk of transient populations. Depending on the latitude and on the period of arrival of the propagule, 1–2 transient generations per year might be expected. The model can be used to define strategies for reducing the risks of establishment of the pest at the country level. Predictions on the dynamics and phenology of the pest can also be used to support its management at the local level

Mapping diffusion of Environmental Product Declarations released by European program operators

In order to facilitate the adoption of green requirements in public procurement, European Commission has developed the Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria for various typologies of products and services. Almost all GPP criteria require environmental labels as means of proof that the goods or supplies correspond to the required environmental characteristics. Among the labels required, there are type III labels, based on a life cycle assessment study. The aim of this study is to (i) investigate to what extent a specific type III label, called Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), is spread in Europe and (ii) explore whether there is a correspondence between institutional initiatives towards GPP and the market. This study explored the valid EPDs presented on the websites of the European program operators between September and December 2016. The identified EPDs were quantified and classified according to the programme operator, title of the reference Product Category Rule (PCR), country, language and the product based on a classification system developed by the United Nations. In total, 4,888 EPDs were collected mainly released by the Institut Baum und Umwelt e.V. (IBU) and PEP ecopassport (PEP). The obtained results showed that countries with the greater number of EPDs are France and Germany and that construction products are the types of products labelled most. The analysis of the languages used in the EPDs showed that 45% of the identified EPDs are written in local languages. The obtained results have been cross-referenced with the national situations in terms of presence of National Action Plans (NAPs) and mandatory rules regarding GPP. Our analysis revealed that there is correspondence between the presence of a NAP with principles towards GPP and the spread in the market of environmental labelling and that the product sectors covered by EPDs correspond to the sectors covered by GPP criteria

Local Perceptions of Water-Energy-Food Security: Livelihood Consequences of Dam Construction in Ethiopia

The concept of the water-energy-food (W-E-F) nexus has quickly ascended to become a global framing for resource management policies. Critical studies, however, are questioning its value for assessing the sustainability of local livelihoods. These critiques flow in part from the perception that the majority of influential nexus analyses begin from a large-scale, implicitly top-down perspective on resource dynamics. This can lead to eciency narratives that reinforce existing power dynamics without adequate consideration of local priorities. Here, we present a community-scale perspective on large W-E-F oriented infrastructure. In doing so, we link the current debate on the nexus with alternative approaches to embrace questions of water distribution, political scales, and resource management. The data for this paper come from a survey of 549 households conducted around two large-scale irrigation and hydropower dams in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia. The data analysis involved descriptive statistics, logistic analysis, and multinomial logistic analysis. The two case studies presented show that the impact of dams and the perception thereof is socially diverse. Hydropower dams and irrigation schemes tend to enhance social dierences and may therefore lead to social transformation and disintegration. This becomes critical when it leads to higher vulnerability of some groups. To take these social factors/conditions into consideration, one needs to acknowledge the science-policy interface and make the nexus approach more political. The paper concludes that if the nexus approach is to live up to its promise of addressing sustainable development goals by protecting the livelihoods of vulnerable populations, it has to be applied in a manner that addresses the underlying causes that produce winners and losers in large-scale water infrastructure developments