Spanish unemployment: normative versus analytical regionalisation procedures

In applied regional analysis, statistical information is usually published at different territorial levels with the aim of providing information of interest for different potential users. When using this information, there are two different choices: first, to use normative regions (towns, provinces, etc.), or, second, to design analytical regions directly related with the analysed phenomena. In this paper, provincial time series of unemployment rates in Spain are used in order to compare the results obtained by applying two analytical regionalisation models (a two stages procedure based on cluster analysis and a procedure based on mathematical programming) with the normative regions available at two different scales: NUTS II and NUTS I. The results have shown that more homogeneous regions were designed when applying both analytical regionalisation tools. Two other obtained interesting results are related with the fact that analytical regions were also more stable along time and with the effects of scale in the regionalisation process. Keywords: Unemployment, normative region, analytical region, regionalisation. JEL Codes: E24, R23, C61.

Design of homogenous territorial units: a methodological proposal

One of the main questions to solve when analysing geographically added information consists of the design of territorial units adjusted to the objectives of the study. In fact, in those cases where territorial information is aggregated, ad-hoc criteria are usually applied as there are not regionalization methods flexible enough. Moreover, and without taking into account the aggregation method applied, there is an implicit risk that is known in the literature as Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) (Openshaw, 1984). This problem is related with the high sensitivity of statistical and econometric results to different aggregations of geographical data, which can negatively affect the robustness of the analysis. In this paper, an optimization model is proposed with the aim of identifying homogenous territorial units related with the analyzed phenomena. This model seeks to reduce some disadvantages found in previous works about automated regionalisation tools. In particular, the model not only considers the characteristics of each element to group but also, the relationships among them, trying to avoid the MAUP. An algoritm, known as RASS (Regionalization Algorithm with Selective Search) it also proposed in order to obtain faster results from the model. The obtained results permit to affirm that the proposed methodology is able to identify a great variety of territorial configurations, taking into account the contiguity constraint among the different elements to be grouped.

Research networks and scientific production in Economics, The recent Spanish Experience.

This paper studies Spanish scientific production in Economics from 1994 to 2004. It focuses on aspects that have received little attention in other bibliometric studies, such as the impact of research and the role of scientific collaborations in the publications produced by Spanish universities. Our results show that national research networks have played a fundamental role in the increase in Spanish scientific production in this discipline.Bibliometric techniques, scientific production in Economics, research networks.

IS THE WAGE CURVE FORMAL OR INFORMAL? EVIDENCE FOR COLOMBIA

The objective of this paper is to analyse the existence or not of a wage curve in Colombia, paying special attention to the differences between formal and informal workers, an issue that has been systematically ignored in the wage curve literature. The obtained results using microdata from the Colombian Continuous Household Survey (CHS) between 2002 and 2006 show the existence of a wage curve with a negative slope for the Colombian economy. Using information on metropolitan areas, the estimates of the elasticity of individual wages to local unemployment rates was -0.07, a value that is very close to those obtained for other countries. However, the disaggregation of statistical information for formal and informal workers has shown significant differences among both groups of workers. In particular, for the less protected groups of the labour market, informal workers (both men and women), a high negatively sloped wage curve was found. This result is consistent with the conclusions from efficiency wage theoretical models and should be taken into account when analysing the functioning of regional labour markets in developing countries.Wage curve, unemployment, formal and informal sectors

Supervised regionalization methods, a survey.

This paper reviews almost four decades of contributions on the subject of supervised regionalization methods. These methods aggregate a set of areas into a predefined number of spatially contiguous regions while optimizing certain aggregation criteria. The authors present a taxonomic scheme that classifies a wide range of regionalization methods into eight groups, based on the strategy applied for satisfying the spatial contiguity constraint. The paper concludes by providing a qualitative comparison of these groups in terms of a set of certain characteristics, and by suggesting future lines of research for extending and improving these methods.regionalization, constrained clustering, analytical regions.

Billiescence: aportes del análisis musical al proceso compositivo

Este artículo presenta el proceso creativo de “Billiescence”, obra para cuatro trompetas y sección rítmica, tomando como punto principal de referencia, elementos musicales extractados del análisis de Bill`s Hit Tune, Comrade Conrad y Turn out the Stars, del compositor Bill Evans, además de otros de sus trabajos -- Los temas discutidos en este trabajo son: Consideraciones sobre el análisis musical, trabajos previos alrededor de Evans, características generales en sus composiciones, la descripción del material pre – compositivo y su organización para el diseño de Billiescence, características generales de la obra y del diseño del arreglo para cuatro trompetas y sección rítmica -- El texto incluye gráficas que sirven como complemento descriptivo y explicativo del proceso de composición y comentarios acerca de las situaciones más importantes desde el análisis musical hasta la concepción de “Billiescence

¿Es la aplicación de las técnicas administrativas, un elemento determinante que garantiza el éxito en los microempresarios de la ciudad de Quito?

El presente trabajo pretende comprobar la hipótesis: ¿Es la aplicación de las técnicas administrativas, un elemento determinante que garantiza el éxito en los microempresarios de la ciudad de Quito? en este afán, la investigación parte de la recolección de datos obtenidos de fuentes primarias, tanto de encuestas de campo realizadas en el sur de ciudad de Quito y Valle de Los Chillos así como del análisis de base de datos de clientes de crédito de una cooperativa de ahorro y crédito controlada por la Superintendencia de Bancos y Seguros. El estudio se circunscribe a relacionar el nivel de educación de los microempresarios analizados con la generación de óptimos resultados económicos en su gestión. Posteriormente se analizan las principales técnicas de administración aplicadas en la práctica del manejo diario de sus negocios. Finalmente se esgrimen las conclusiones del estudio que revelará importantes aportes a la comprobación de la hipótesis planteada

Factores que influyen en la relación enseñanza – aprendizaje al interior del aula de clase en la IE Maria Dolorosa – Francisco Javier del municipio de Pereira, en el segundo semestre de 2019

El trabajo presenta las dificultades de la educación en el ámbito propio de la relación enseñanza- aprendizaje y las dinámicas que en el marco de esta interacción se presentan, estas dificultades hacen referencia la práctica pedagógica etnocomunitaria en la Institución Educativa María Dolorosa- Francisco Javier, en la jornada escolar nocturna, tal y como lo designa el Ministerio de Educación Nacional. (MEN, 1997). Teniendo como base las posiciones teóricas de Vasco Uribe, para identificar y analizar las dificultades que alberga la educación en Colombia, propias de la enseñanza y el aprendizaje. De igual forma, desde autores como Ader- Egg, Medina, Marvassio, Zuluaga Valencia, Tello Abad, el trabajo entra a reflexionar alrededor dinámicas que intervienen en la presencia de las dificultades en la educación, desde dichos autores, el trabajo permite el acercamiento a categorías como, planeación, la interacción, la concentración y la distracción. Con esta base conceptual, la práctica pedagógica etnocomunitaria tiene como punto de partida responder ¿Cuáles son los factores que influyen en la relación enseñanza – aprendizaje al interior del aula de clase en la IE María Dolorosa-Francisco Javier del municipio de Pereira, en el segundo semestre de 2019?. Para dar respuesta a dicha pregunta el trabajo presenta elementos de orden constitucional y legal que tiene como base hoy, el sistema educativo colombiano y los argumentos que reposan en la carta magna donde se promulga su misionalidad y se dictas las disposiciones y reglamentación en este sentido

Assessment of Manure Treatment Technology Adoption and Feedlot Runoff Monitoring Opportunities

Livestock products contain valuable nutrients that enhance human health, and their production generates positive local and national economic impacts. The livestock sector also deals with large quantities of environmentally important nutrients in manure. The purpose of this thesis is to further the aims of researchers and educators working at the intersection of livestock production and the environment to identify and promote best practices for livestock production and manure management that are economically and environmentally sustainable. The second chapter explored options to evaluate nutrient flows in feedlot runoff at the pen scale. Pen scale monitoring is an important consideration for research into management effects on nutrient flows. Thus, two runoff monitoring systems were designed for the “700 alley” section of the feedlot at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education Center. The first design utilizes an edge-of-field runoff monitoring system that utilizes flumes, automatic sensors, and automatic samplers to monitor runoff flow and composition, with an estimated cost of $13,100 per pen. The second option involves a runoff collection concrete tank with five different tank sizes, with larger tanks being able to hold runoff from a greater share of runoff events. To automate the tank systems, an Arduino-controlled automatic valve connected to an Internet of Things platform via Wi-Fi was designed and a prototype was tested. The estimated cost of the automatic tanks systems is between$2,200 and $3,300, depending on tank size. In the third chapter, surveys and focus groups were conducted to understand manure treatment technology usage and the decision-making process behind the adoption of those technologies among swine and dairy producers in the Midwest. The surveyed dairy and swine producers indicated that they most valued technology with low management and maintenance demand, adaptability to specific farm conditions, and high performance capacity. The primary desired outcomes of treatment systems currently in use on the surveyed farms were compatibility with the preferred land application system, retention of storage or treatment capacity, and attainment of regulatory requirements. For future technology adoption, technologies that allow nutrient exports and reduce workload were favored in addition to the current operational outcomes. Initial cost, operational cost, and return on investment are the main barriers to upgrading the manure management system in swine and dairy farms; and management demand is an important barrier in swine operations. Changes in regulations and fluctuating availability of manure hauling services are the important trends affecting farm manure management. For future extension programming, university lead farmer discussion groups in manure management are recommended as producers value and trust information coming from their peers. Advisor: Amy M. Schmidt and Richard Stowel

Spanish unemployment: Normative versus analytical regionalisation procedures

In applied regional analysis, statistical information is usually published at different territorial levels with the aim of providing information of interest for different potential users. When using this information, there are two different choices: first, to use normative regions (towns, provinces, etc.), or, second, to design analytical regions directly related with the analysed phenomena. In this paper, provincial time series of unemployment rates in Spain are used in order to compare the results obtained by applying two analytical regionalisation models (a two stages procedure based on cluster analysis and a procedure based on mathematical programming) with the normative regions available at two different scales: NUTS II and NUTS I. The results have shown that more homogeneous regions were designed when applying both analytical regionalisation tools. Two other obtained interesting results are related with the fact that analytical regions were also more stable along time and with the effects of scale in the regionalisation process.unemployment, regionalisation, analytical region, normative region