Exploring the utilisation of stand up paddle boarding in Australia

Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) has grown exponentially in the last few years with unprecedented participation rates globally. Despite some scientific research on physiological and performance variables, minimal information exists regarding participation and utilisation. The purpose of this study was to discover more about how and where people participate in the relatively new sport of SUP. An open-source online survey application was administered internationally to active SUP participants to capture information relevant to both demographics and participation. Of a total of 240 responses, 154 (64.2%) were Australian. The average SUP rider was 42.9 ± 11.7 years, mass 80.4 ± 18.7 kg, 1.75 ± 0.10 m tall with a BMI of 26.1 ± 4.9. More males (69.5%) participate in SUP than females with the majority of participants from the eastern seaboard of Australia. Participants most commonly used SUP for fun and fitness, for around 3 h per week, predominantly at the beach with friends, with around half of the respondents reporting a competitive involvement. This is the first study to date to quantify participation of SUP within Australia. Results revealed SUP is a global activity with a high representation within Australia. Key findings from this study reveal the geographical and demographic distribution of SUP use. Consequently, these findings may inform the industry about its target audience. Additionally, information regarding the ‘typical’ SUP rider may serve to further promote and grow the sport

The physiological, musculoskeletal and psychological effects of stand up paddle boarding

Background: Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is a rapidly growing sport and recreational activity where anecdotal evidence exists for its proposed health, fitness and injury rehabilitation benefits. While limited scientific evidence exists to substantiate these claims, our current research has shown that a high level of fitness, strength and balance exists amongst participants of this activity. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a training intervention on a group of previously untrained individuals to ascertain the physiological, musculoskeletal and psychological training effects of SUP. Methods: Participants acted as their own controls with a 6 week control period between first measurements and follow up measurements prior to the training intervention. A total of 13 SUP participants completed the training study (9 males, 4 females) which was comprised of 3 one hour sessions per week for 6 weeks. Results: Significant improvements (p \u3c 0.05) were made in aerobic (+23.57%) and anaerobic fitness (+41.98%), multidirectional core strength tests (prone bridge +19.78%, right side bridge +26.19%, left side bridge +28.31%, Biering Sorensen +21.33%) and self-rated satisfaction with participants own health (+28.05%), domains of physical health (+18.99%) and psychological heath (17.49%). No significant differences were found in blood profiling, body composition or static and dynamic balance over the duration of the 6 weeks. Conclusion(s): These results demonstrate the benefits of participation in SUP for the sedentary individual over a 6 week period. The results also provide evidence to substantiate the claims of health benefits and utilisation of SUP as a potential training and rehabilitation tool. Implications: Stand up paddle boarding is a fun, low impact easy to learn and accessible activity/sport that offers clear health benefits

Public Opinion Polls, Voter Turnout, and Welfare: An Experimental Study

We experimentally study the impact of public opinion poll releases on voter turnout and welfare in a participation game. We find higher turnout rates when polls inform the electorate about the levels of support for various candidates than when polls are prohibited. Distinguishing between allied and floating voters, our data show that this increase in turnout is entirely due to floating voters. Very high turnout is observed when polls indicate equal support levels for the candidates. This has negative consequences for welfare. Though in aggregate social welfare is hardly affected, majorities benefit more often from polls than minorities. Finally, our comparative static results are better predicted by quantal response (logit) equilibrium than by Bayesian Nash equilibrium.laboratory experiments.

Albanian Political-Economics: Albanian Political-Economics: Consequences of a Clan Culture

We study the politico-economic interaction in a country in transition from a communist regime to a democratic, free market system, to wit, Albania. It is argued that the politico-economic system there is characterized by the existence of clans. Both the communists and the first democratically chosen government applied policies that favored specific clans. Moreover, a popularity function estimation shows that voters related to different clans react in a distinct way to party policies.Clans, Albania, popularity functions, government policies

WP 11 - Tax evasion and the source of income: An experimental study in Albania and the Netherlands

A series of experiments among different social groups in both Albania and the Netherlands give the opportunity to compare behavioral patterns related to tax evasion. Aside from the decision whether or not to evade taxes, subjects have to choose a source of income, where one type enables subsequent tax evasion. The results allow us to conclude that subjects take the possibility of evasion into account when deciding on the source of income. In addition, we argue that the distinct levels of tax evasion outside of the laboratory in the two countries are not attributable to different tax attitudes or cultures, but to different tax institutions and the way individuals have learned to deal with them. We attribute tax evasion in Albania to inadequate tax collecting institutions, while the audit probability plays an important role in the Netherlands. JEL codes: C91, H26, O17, O57 Key words: Tax evasion, Cross-country studies, Experiments