Factor decomposition of spatial disparities: The case of the European regions

This note examines the evolution and origin of regional disparities in per capita GDP in the European Union. To this end, we propose a new methodology that allows us to analze the role played in explaining the variability of per capita GDP across the European regions by spatial differences in labour productivity, employment rate and the ratio of active to total population.

Spatial inequality in the European Union: does regional efficiency matter?

This paper examines the sources of spatial disparities in output per capita across the European regions over the period 1986-2004. To this end, a decomposition of the Theil´s second measure of inequality is used. The analysis carried out shows the important role played by labour productivity in determining the degree of dispersion in output per capita within the European Union. In turn, our results reveal the relative importance of regional differences in the levels of technical efficiency when it comes to explaining spatial disparities in labour productivity.Inequality, decomposition, regions, European Union.

Cities, regions and population decline

The chapter will examine some of the key demographic trends across OECD cities and regions and will discuss some of the most important challenges facing different types of places. In particular, the links between ageing and population decline will be discussed in the context of local labour markets and shifts in long-run public policy needs. Insights from Japan and European countries regarding urban policies will be examined and the key challenges associated with fostering long run regional resilience in the face of adverse demographics will be discussed. The impacts of these discussions on changes in public policy perceptions will also be discussed and suggestions for new research agendas in urban economics will also be put forward

Spatial disparities in productivity and industry mix: The case of the European regions

This paper applies nonparametric techniques in order to examine the evolution of the entire distribution of regional productivity in the European Union between 1977 and 1999. Likewise, we study the strength of the respective roles played by regional and sectoral factors in the convergence in productivity observed in the European context. To achieve this aim, we consider a new methodology involving a modification of conventional shift-share analysis and various results reported in the literature on personal income distribution. Our results suggest that regional inequality in productivity in the European Union is closely linked to intrinsic differences between regions. Likewise, the analyses performed reveal the major role played by the national component and the spatial dimension in the explanation of regional disparities in the product per worker in the European Union. In addition, our findings support the relevance of one-sector growth models for analysing regional disparities in per capita income.

Mobility as movement: A measuring proposal based on transition matrices

In this note we introduce a family of functions that various theoretical results have revealed as useful mobility measures. These functions have enabled us to circumvent an impossibility result obtained by Shorrocks (1978), by adapting one of his axioms to the context of mobility as movement. A particular case belonging to this family is the Bartholomew index, which is widely used in the empirical literature.

Taxonomic study of the genus Dyschoriste (Acanthaceae) in Argentina

Dyschoriste is a genus of worldwide distribution in warm regions, with two important diversity centers in America, one in southern North America and the other in subtropical South America. This work aims to analyze the taxonomy of the six species of Dyschoriste present in Argentina. The species are delimited, their nomenclature and synonymies are resolved based on the study of type material, they are described and illustrated, and a key to differentiate them is presented. The work includes observations on morphology, nomenclature, typification, distribution, phenology and habitat of the species, and references to representative specimens. A lectotype is designated for Dyschoriste humilis and a neotype for D. niederleinii.Dyschoriste is a genus of worldwide distribution in warm regions, with two important diversity centers in América, one in southern North America and the other in subtropical South America. This work aims to analyze the taxonomy of the six species of Dyschoriste present in Argentina. The species are delimited, their nomenclature and synonymies are resolved based on the study of type material, they are described and illustrated, and a key to differentiate them is presented. The work includes observations on morphology, nomenclature, typification, distribution, phenology and habitat of the species, and references to representative specimens. A lectotype is designated for Dyschoriste humilis and a neotype for D. niederleinii.Fil: Ezcurra, Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; Argentin

The Early Evolution of Rhynchosaurs

The rhynchosaurian archosauromorphs are an important and diverse group of fossil tetrapods that first appeared during the Early Triassic and probably became extinct during the early Late Triassic (early Norian). Here, the early evolution of rhynchosaurs during the Early and early Middle Triassic (Induan-Anisian: 252.2-242 Mya) is reviewed based on new anatomical observations and their implications for the taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and macroevolutionary history of the group. A quantitative phylogenetic analysis recovered a paraphyletic genus Rhynchosaurus, with “Rhynchosaurus” brodiei more closely related to hyperodapedontines than to Rhynchosaurus articeps. Therefore, a new genus is erected, resulting in the new combination Langeronyx brodiei. A body size analysis found two independent increases in size in the evolutionary history of rhynchosaurs, one among stenaulorhynchines and the other in the hyperodapedontine lineage. Maximum likelihood fitting of phenotypic evolution models to body size data found ambiguous results, with body size evolution potentially interpreted as fitting either a non-directional Brownian motion model or a stasis model. A Dispersal-ExtinctionCladogenesis analysis reconstructed the areas that are now South Africa and Europe as the ancestral areas of Rhynchosauria and Rhynchosauridae, respectively. The reconstruction of dispersal events between geographic areas that are broadly separated paleolatitudinally implies that barriers to the dispersal of rhynchosaurs from either side of the paleo-Equator during the Middle Triassic were either absent or permeable.Fil: Ezcurra, Martin Daniel. University of Birmingham; Reino Unido. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Montefeltro, Felipe C.. University of Birmingham; Reino Unido. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Butler, Richard J.. University of Birmingham; Reino Unid

Mobility and regional inequality in the European Union: Implications for economic policy

The aim of this paper is to analyse the mobility of per capita income distribution in the European regions during the period 1977-1996. In doing so we will attempt highlight some aspects of the nature of interregional inequality. We also hope to draw inferences that might be applied by European regional policy makers. If, for example, there proves to be very little mobility, this might mean that the regional positions are consolidated. If this were the case, a belligerent regional policy could be introduced in order to reduce regional disparities. If, on the other hand, our results suggest that income variability accounts for most of the disparities, regional policy could be focused on the negative effects of economic cycles. In this case, a regional convergence policy might be made to take second place. Our methodological approach involves calculating indices commonly used in the dynamic income distribution literature, such as those of Theil, Atkinson and Shorrocks. These indices are calculated at different levels, both temporal and geographical, in order to discover different regional behaviour patterns throughout the study period.

How to apply positive psychology at the workplace

Treball Final de Grau en Administració d'Empreses. Codi: AE1049. Curs acadèmic 2015-201

Decentralization and regional economic disparities

This paper analyses the impact of both fiscal and political decentralisation on regional productivity inequalities. The study of the influence of decentralisation on economic growth has received some attention in recent years, but very few studies deal with its impact on regional inequalities, both theoretically and empirically. In this paper, we analyse the relationship between different measures of regional inequalities in productivity, and several measures of political and fiscal decentralisation for a sample of 15 OECD countries. In order to control for other possible influences, we have also include in the analysis measures of public sector size and the type of party government. The results suggest a strong negative correlation between decentralisation, mainly fiscal decentralisation, and regional inequalities. Of course, much more analysis must be done before we can demonstrate such relationship. We hope that this paper will stimulate further research.