The importance of administrative data in the evaluation of the incidence of social housing allowance programmes

The aim of this work is to assess the rental assistance programme that was implemented by the Catalan regional government in the 2010s using administrative data provided by the Catalonia Housing Agency to analyse whether it achieved its aims to enhance the design of similar programmes. Linear probability models to explain the probability of receiving the grant were estimated and some significant variables were identified: age; rent price; expertise; being a woman; non-EU citizenship and the number of old, young or disabled members. Multiple regressions were estimated in regard to the grant’s rate in relation to the rent price and the effort required to pay relative to income after having received the grant. The results suggest that rental assistance facilitates access to housing to groups that face more difficulties and that the revenue captured by landlords, although statistically significant, is small, since they capture approximately 3% by raising prices. This aid, despite being controlled by different variables, benefits elderly people more than young people, which must be addressed because, theoretically, when access requirements are met, no group should benefit more than others

A Relative Age Effect (RAE) analysis of top European football clubs segmented by ownership models

The aim of this paper is to analyse the Relative Age Effect (RAE) on European elite football teams segmented by type of ownership. The study presents the RAE incidence in the Academy of the UEFA top 10 ranking clubs near the conclusion of the 2020–21 season. The sample (n = 746) comprises players aged 17 to 23 years of age. The frequency of the players’ date of birth adjusting to a Poisson regression was used in order to confirm the presence of RAE. The existence of RAE in the whole sample was verified (p < 0.001). By segmenting the sample, the existence of RAE in the analysed age range between U17–19 and U20–23 (p < 0.001) was confirmed. Whereas listed clubs, clubs owned by private shareholders and clubs owned by members had a very significant RAE incidence (p < 0.001), clubs owned by public organisations did not present RAE. Results suggest that the management of youth academies differs depending on the ownership model

Artificial Neural Network, Quantile and Semi-Log Regression Modelling of Mass Appraisal in Housing

We used a large sample of 188,652 properties, which represented 4.88% of the total housing stock in Catalonia from 1994 to 2013, to make a comparison between different real estate valuation methods based on artificial neural networks (ANNs), quantile regressions (QRs) and semi-log regressions (SLRs). A literature gap in regard to the comparison between ANN and QR modelling of hedonic prices in housing was identified, with this article being the first paper to include this comparison. Therefore, this study aimed to answer (1) whether QR valuation modelling of hedonic prices in the housing market is an alternative to ANNs, (2) whether it is confirmed that ANNs produce better results than SLRs when assessing housing in Catalonia, and (3) which of the three mass appraisal models should be used by Spanish banks to assess real estate. The results suggested that the ANNs and SLRs obtained similar and better performances than the QRs and that the SLRs performed better when the datasets were smaller. Therefore, (1) QRs were not found to be an alternative to ANNs, (2) it could not be confirmed whether ANNs performed better than SLRs when assessing properties in Catalonia and (3) whereas small and medium banks should use SLRs, large banks should use either SLRs or ANNs in real estate mass appraisal

Eficiencia social en las cajas de ahorro españolas transformadas en bancos

The aim of this paper is to analyse the effect of the transformation from savings banks into commercial banks. The Spanish savings banks during the 2012-2014 period have been used as a “quasi-experiment” or as an example for other countries in which there are savings banks nowadays. The aim is to show if there are efficiency differences between banks and former savings banks. Then, at least in the first years after their transformation, savings banks are still achieving very positive results in social activities, and, besides, they are improving their economic results. These findings are useful for both potential transformations of savings banks in other European countries with this type of financial entities, and for future research with Latin America, Asia or Africa financial data.El objetivo de este documento es analizar el efecto de la transformación de cajas de ahorro en bancos comerciales. Las cajas de ahorro españolas durante el periodo de 2012 a 2014 se han utilizado como “cuasiexperimento” o como ejemplo para otros países en los que actualmente existe esta estructura. El objetivo es mostrar si hay diferencias de eficiencia entre los bancos y las antiguas cajas de ahorro. El resultado es que, al menos en los primeros años posteriores a su transformación, las cajas de ahorro siguen obteniendo resultados sociales positivos y, además, están mejorando sus resultados económicos. Estos hallazgos son útiles tanto para posibles transformaciones de cajas de ahorro de otros países europeos en los que existe este tipo de entidades financieras, como para futuras investigaciones con datos financieros en América Latina, Asia o África

How on Earth Did Spanish Banking Sell the Housing Stock?

The accumulation of properties by Spanish banks during the crisis of the first decade of the 21st century has definitely changed the housing market. An optimal house price valuation is useful to determine the bank’s actual financial situation. Furthermore, properties valued according to the market can be sold in a shorter span of time and at a better price. Using a sample of 24,781 properties and a simulation exercise, we aim to identify the decision criteria that Spanish banking used to decide which properties were going to be sold and at what price. The results of the comparison among four methods used to value real estate—artificial neural networks, semi log regressions, a combined model by means of weighted least squares regression, and quantile regressions—and the actual situation suggest that banking aimed to maximize the reversal of impairment losses, although this would mean capital losses, selling less properties, and decreasing their revenues. Therefore, the actual combined result was very detrimental to banking and, consequently, to the Spanish society because of its banking bailout

The intellectual structure of destination image research in tourism (2001-2023): Background, pre-pandemic overview, shifts during COVID-19 and implications for the future

We aim to map the intellectual structure of destination image (DI) research and its theoretical development in two longitudinal periods: firstly, from 2001 and before the outbreak of Covid-19 and approval of vaccines (2001–2020); and secondly, during Covid-19 (2021–2023). This is the first article to use co-citation analysis that focuses solely on DI, identifying the main clusters, intellectual turning points, and citation burst papers in this field. Studying bibliometrics pre- and during Covid-19 can help to understand the impact of the pandemic on research output and the shift in research focus. This methodology expands tourism science by recognising the intrinsic nature of DI from an evaluative and relational point of view. Co-citation refers to the cited not the citing papers. The results in the first period show: 1) theoretical background on DI associated with branding from Destination Management Organisations (DMO); 2) the components of DI and their relationship with visitor behaviour; 3) how the Internet and User-Generated Content (UGC) have become the main sources to perceive DI. Whereas, in the second period, two main shifts have been identified: 1) the impact of the pandemic on tourism and perceived travel risk; 2) the emergence of a new approach focusing on the engagement of people with the destination through life experiences. The conclusions could help suppliers, DMOs, and policymakers to understand the components of DI before and during the pandemic, as well as provide valuable insights for the tourism industry to adapt to the new normal

The Intellectual Structure of Esports Research

We aim to map the intellectual structure of eSports research in social Science to understand its evolution and status. This article uses a cocitation analysis focused on eSports scientific literature, which identifies the main clusters, intellectual turning points, and burst papers, showing research priorities, trends, connections and dissemination paths in this research field. This methodology allows us to examine the dominant theories and expands the scientific knowledge of eSports, detecting the main research areas and sources of knowledge. The results show 1) how sportification can be the key to achieving the desired fit between traditional sport and eSports; 2) the existence of eleven different research areas that analyse eSports; and 3) the emerging research topics in this field linked to management, audiences and fan engagement, which are vital issues to be addressed by academia, such as the proposed research agenda outlines

The economic and social value of spa tourism: The case of balneotherapy in Maresme, Spain

The aim of this article is to assess both the economic and social value of balneotherapy and spa tourism, being the first paper in carrying out this analysis. The study has been conducted in Maresme, a region of Catalonia, Spain. On the one hand, an Input-Output (IO) model with a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) has been carried out to assess the economic value. On the other hand, a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) has been used to monetise the social value in this region, taking into account, among other concepts, direct and indirect health profits, given that balneotherapy helps to alleviate various diseases. The results show that whereas the economic multiplier is 1.529 considering the direct and indirect effects and 1.712 taking into account also the induced effects, which are similar to health and medical tourism multipliers, social value generates additional positive value, given that the cost-benefit ratio is 1.858. The theoretical implications of the paper as well as the findings’ implications for policy so as to encourage investments in spa tourism are discussed

Las empresas de inserción en España: ¿una oportunidad perdida?

In the last decade the number of work integration companies and jobs has been grown. After controversia! steps, the State Law 44/2007 about social integration enterprises has been implementad. This paper deals with the analysis that this regulation has had on work integration companies. The results show mainly; that the currently existing model differs from the previous one and this model is away from the approaches of the social economy; the growth of work integration companies is unsustainable in the medium-long term with the consequent possibility of a bubble effect; and the model supported by the Administration is neither unique nor efficient in terms of socio-labor work integration pursued by the model itself, at least theoretically. The main contribution of value to the scientific community is obtaining results from an analysis based on scientific methods giving strength to them. In this study we highlight the doubt on the truth about many topics that are used uncritically from politics and the media in relation to this phenomenon. lt also identifies interesting recommendations for all involved agents to rethink the selected work insertion companies' model. lt aims to con tribute both to the future sustainability of work integration enterprises, and its real integration into the Solidarity Economy.; En la última década el número de empresas de inserción y los puestos de trabajo ofertados han tenido un gran crecimiento. En 2007 se implanta, tras una trayectoria controvertida, la Ley Estatal de Empresas de Inserción 44/2007. Este trabajo aborda el análisis que esta regulación ha tenido sobre las empresas de inserción. Los resultados indican principalmente que el modelo existente en la actualidad difiere del previo además de que se ha alejado de los planteamientos de la Economía Social, que el crecimiento de las empresas de inserción es insostenible a medio-largo plazo con su consiguiente posibilidad de efecto burbuja y que el modelo apoyado por la Administración no es único ni eficiente en términos de inserción socio-laboral perseguido por el propio modelo, al menos teóricamente. La principal aportación de valor a la comunidad científica consiste en la obtención de resultados a partir de un análisis basado en métodos científicos dándole robustez a los mismos. En este estudio se ponen en entredicho muchos tópicos que se utilizan acríticamente desde la política y los medios de comunicación en relación con el fenómeno estudiado. Así mismo, se señalan recomendaciones interesantes para el conjunto de agentes participantes para que sea replanteado el modelo de inserción seleccionado. Se pretende contribuir tanto a la sostenibilidad futura de las Empresas de Inserción, como a su integración real en la Economía Solidaria

Efficiency in Spanish banking: A multistakeholder approach analysis

Searching for greater inter efficiency has been used as a reason tomodify the Spanish banking system since 2009. This paper aimsto contribute to quantify the magnitude of efficiency, but not onlythe economic one, but also social and overall efficiency from 2000to 2011. The case of Spain – compared to other banking systems –provides unique information regarding the stakeholder governancebanking literature because over the last century savings banks havebecome rooted in the Spanish culture. The results – confirmed bya two-stage frontiers analysis, a DEA and a model combined withbootstrapped tests – indicate that Spanish savings banks are notless efficient globally than banks and are more efficient socially.Moreover, our results – with potentially important implications –encourage the participation of stakeholders in banking systems andunderline the importance of attaining long-term efficiency gains tosupport financial stability objectives