Geology and wines of Pachino - Portopalo area : preliminary outlines

This research, still in a developmental phase, analyses geological peculiarities and the relation- ships between them and the vineyards typical to the Pachino-Portopalo area. The actual knowledge does not yet allow the drawing of tourist routes from which a geo-tourist would be able to join together Geosites and Oenosites. This will be one of the main topics of future research, oriented to produce substantial contributions to the sustainable development of this area.peer-reviewe

Impact-Oriented Microfinance Investment Vehicles: A Preliminary Investigation on the Controversial Link between Performance and Stability

Social impact finance can foster economic and financial stability by promoting investments with social goals and non-speculative financial returns. The aim of this paper is to test whether Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIVs) — labeled impact-oriented MIVs — contribute to economic and financial stability via their performance. Specifically, we test MIVs financial performance and risk-adjusted performance, assuming that: (i) financial returns below the market rate of return (MRR) are likely to contribute to economic stability via higher social and financial inclusion rates and via the promotion of microentrepreneurship; (ii) higher adjusted returns, characterized by low volatility, support financial stability. Results show that impact-oriented MIVs perform below the MRR only if we look at financial performance; when risk-adjusted performance is taken into consideration, impact-oriented MIVs outperform the market. We tested our results with a comparative sample of alternative MIVs aiming for social impact, but not labeled as impact-oriented. Results show that impact-oriented MIVs outperform the comparative sample, while their risk-adjusted performance is lower than that of alternative MIVs. The analysis shows that the market offers different investment options to investors, blending different level of financial return, risks and social goals, with different potential impact on economic and financial stability

Do Impact Investments Contribute to Portfolio Performance? A Preliminary Investigation

Social Impact Investments (SII) intentionally aims at generating social impact and financial return. Portfolio diversification is one of the under-investigated areas in SII literature. The aim of this paper is to fill this gap by conducting a preliminary investigation of social impact firms (SIF) contribution to portfolio risk and performance. For the purpose of this paper, we use a sample of SIF members of the London Social Stock Exchange who are publically listed and two contrast samples of traditional firms (non-SIF). To carry out the analysis, we employed methodology based on Markowitz (1952a, 1952b) and Sharpe (1963). The paper may provide useful insights for asset managers and investors involved in portfolio choice evaluation and policy makers interested in fostering development of the social impact market

Business Models for Sustainable Finance: The Case Study of Social Impact Bonds

Business models for sustainability (BMfS) are relevant topics on research agendas, given their orientation toward sustainability issues. However, traditional versions of these models are often ill-equipped at solving complex social problems. Cross-sector partnerships for sustainability (CSPfS) have been recognized as a new paradigm that mitigates the failure of traditional models. Impact investing, and social impact bonds (SIBs) in particular, represent an interesting field of research in innovative business models for sustainable finance, even though the literature does not consider SIBs within this broader field. We propose an exploratory study based on qualitative methods aimed at conceptualizing SIBs within the framework of BMfS and understanding how SIB collaboration varies across social sectors and geographical areas. Our study identifies three different models of SIBs characterized by the different degrees of collaboration between actors: (i) SIB as a fully collaborative partnership; (ii) SIB as a low-collaborative partnership; and (iii) SIB as a partially collaborative partnership. Our findings are useful to policy makers and practitioners involved in the SIB design, suggesting that a fully collaborative SIB model may stand a better chance of achieving the expected social impacts

The Economics of the Audiovisual Industry

Finance and Banking, General Financ

The Economics of the Audiovisual Industry

Finance and Banking, General Financ

Technological Solutions for Electronic Voting and Guarantees of the Integrity of the Electoral Process. A Case Study

This paper attempts to show, on the basis of a specific example, that a balanced simple and transparent design for the process of identification and in-person electronic voting is essential to safeguard the basic rights of voter

Política presupuestaria y crecimiento económico en Navarra, 1890-1970

Editada en la Fundación SEPIEste articulo analiza la influencia de la acción pública regional en el crecimiento y desarrollo económico de Navarra entre finales del siglo XIX y 1970. A través de un sui generis federalismo fiscal, la hacienda navarra suministró bienes preferentes y gastó en infraestructuras por encima del nivel medio español. Estos estímulos y una menor presión fiscal no contribuyeron, sin embargo, a la industrialización regional hasta los años sesenta. El Programa de Promoción Industrial de 1964 favoreció una inversión empresarial que aceleró la transformación de esa economía regional. No obstante, la intervención pública estuvo precedida por las fuerzas del mercado que insertaron a Navarra en uno de los principales ejes de desarrollo económico español de finales de siglo XX.The aim of this article is to analyse the influence that regional public intervention had in the economic growth and development of Navarre between the end of the XIXth century and 1970. By means of a «sui generis» fiscal federalism, Navarre's Treasury's provision of «merit goods» and infrastructure were above the average level of Spain. However, it was not until the 60s that these incentives, and a lower tax pressure, contributed to the industrialisation of the region. The Programme of Industrial Promotion of 1964 favoured business investments, which accelerated the transformation of this regional economy. Nevertheless, public intervention was preceded by the forces of the market, which inserted Navarre among one of the principal axis of the economic development of Spain at the end of the XXth century.Publicad

Breast cancer incidence and mortality in North Sardinia in the period 1992–2010

The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the epidemiological characteristics and trends of breast cancer in Sassari province (Sardinia, Italy) in the period 1992 2010. Data were obtained from the local tumor registry which makes part of a wider registry web, coordinated today by the Italian Association for Tumor Registries. The overall number of breast cancer cases registered was 5,483 (46 males and 5,437 females). The mean age was 64.8 years for males and 60.4 years for females. The standardized incidence rates were 1/100,000 and 106.2/100,000 and the standardized mortality rates 0.3/100,000 and 23.2/100,000 for males and females respectively. An increasing trend in incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer in Sassari province was evidenced in the years under investigation. Relative survival at 5 years from diagnosis was 78.2% (73.1% for males and 78.3% for females