scholarly journals Modelling the relation between income and commuting distance

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (119) ◽  
pp. 20160306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Carra ◽  
Ismir Mulalic ◽  
Mogens Fosgerau ◽  
Marc Barthelemy

We discuss the distribution of commuting distances and its relation to income. Using data from Denmark, the UK and the USA, we show that the commuting distance is (i) broadly distributed with a slow decaying tail that can be fitted by a power law with exponent γ ≈ 3 and (ii) an average growing slowly as a power law with an exponent less than one that depends on the country considered. The classical theory for job search is based on the idea that workers evaluate the wage of potential jobs as they arrive sequentially through time, and extending this model with space, we obtain predictions that are strongly contradicted by our empirical findings. We propose an alternative model that is based on the idea that workers evaluate potential jobs based on a quality aspect and that workers search for jobs sequentially across space. We also assume that the density of potential jobs depends on the skills of the worker and decreases with the wage. The predicted distribution of commuting distances decays as 1/ r 3 and is independent of the distribution of the quality of jobs. We find our alternative model to be in agreement with our data. This type of approach opens new perspectives for the modelling of mobility.

Textiles ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-503
Author(s):  
Denis Richard Seninde ◽  
Edgar Chambers IV ◽  
Delores H. Chambers ◽  
Edgar Chambers V

Modern textile consumers are increasingly becoming more watchful of the quality of the textiles that they purchase. This has increased the need for textile producers, especially artisan textile makers (e.g., knitters, tailors, dressmakers, seamstresses, and quilters), to improve the quality of their textile products. Information on several analytical tools that are commonly used for assessing the quality of textiles is abundant, but consumer-based tools for evaluating the quality of textiles remain limited. A consumer-based artisan textile-quality scale was developed using data collected from two focus groups (Phase 1) and a consumer quantitative study, n = 196 (Phase 2). Ten scarves and shawls were evaluated in the quantitative study and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the differences between the mean textile ratings for all the statements. Coefficient alpha (final raw alpha = 0.87) was also used to assess if the statements were consistent in the way they measured the quality of the textiles. Pearson correlation tests were used to validate the six-statement quality scale that included statements such as overall attention to detail, the fabric is durable, and stitching is even and consistent. Artisan textile makers in the USA can use this scale to better meet the functional needs of their customers. Additionally, the process that was employed in the development of the six-statement quality scale can be used by researchers in other countries to understand better the key quality characteristics of artisan as well other textile products.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksander Dawidziuk ◽  
Rishikesh Gandhewar ◽  
Kamal Shah ◽  
Kalyan Vemulapalli

Abstract Aims To evaluate the understandability, actionability and quality of perioperative patient information conveyed by YouTube videos covering safety of elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods YouTube search strategy was optimised using a combination of “COVID”, “safety”, and “surgery” terms. Each video was screened by two independent reviewers. The search was conducted on 9 January 2021. The understandability and actionability of videos were evaluated using validated Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). Quality of perioperative patient information was determined with a novel 4-point checklist based on recommendations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The effect of video type on PEMAT and quality scores was assessed with Kruskal-Wallis Test. Scores were correlated with video metrics using Spearman's Rank. Results The primary search revealed 594 videos. After deduplication and exclusions, 108 materials were analysed. Majority of videos (n = 89) originated from the USA, with only 4 produced in the UK. Hospital-produced videos had the highest understandability scores [median (IQR): 83.33% (18.40%)] and patient testimonies the lowest [55.91% (33.24%)] (p=0.002). Hospital materials were also most actionable [2.25 (2.40)], with news reports scoring lowest [0.0 (0.8)] (p=0.049). Social distancing, preoperative COVID-19 testing, and wearing face masks were mentioned in 46, 41, and 48 videos respectively. Only 9 materials recommended self-isolation before surgery. There was no significant correlation between video metrics (e.g., length) and scores. Conclusions Short UK-specific videos should be created to outline accurate patient instructions for elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide reassurance to help reduce the surgical backlog.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 149-170
Author(s):  
Maja Bukovac Puvača ◽  
Loris Bealnić

The paper deals with the issue of using genetic tests for insurance purposes. After introductory remarks, the paper provides an overview of various international and European legal sources both on data protection in general, and on the protection of data from genetic tests. The paper then researches into different solutions proposed by comparative law concerning the use of data from genetic tests for insurance purposes. Some solutions explicitly ban the use of genetic tests for insurance purposes (France, Austria, Portugal, Croatia), while others adopt a more liberal approach, allowing for its use (the USA, the UK, Germany). It is concluded that personal data protection does not exclude the possibility using data from genetic tests for insurance purposes, which proves the need for a common EU approach to the issue.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haider Ilyas ◽  
Ahmed Anwar ◽  
Ussama Yaqub ◽  
Zamil Alzamil ◽  
Deniz Appelbaum

Purpose This paper aims to understand, examine and interpret the main concerns and emotions of the people regarding COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, the USA and India using Data Science measures. Design/methodology/approach This study implements unsupervised and supervised machine learning methods, i.e. topic modeling and sentiment analysis on Twitter data for extracting the topics of discussion and calculating public sentiment. Findings Governments and policymakers remained the focus of public discussion on Twitter during the first three months of the pandemic. Overall, public sentiment toward the pandemic remained neutral except for the USA. Originality/value This paper proposes a Data Science-based approach to better understand the public topics of concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy Millman ◽  
Wang-Chan Wong ◽  
Zhengwei Li ◽  
Harry Matlay

A growing body of research evaluates various aspects of entrepreneurship education (such as curriculum, delivery and assessment) and links it to outcomes in terms of both the number and quality of entrepreneurs entering an economy. There is, however, a marked paucity of empirically rigorous research appraising the impact of entrepreneurship education on graduates' intentions and perceived ability to set up Internet-based e-enterprises that can operate across temporal and geographical boundaries. This paper provides a comparative overview of entrepreneurship education in the UK, the USA and China with a focus on IT and non-IT students' e-entrepreneurship intentions, perceptions and outcomes. The research on which the paper is based was carried out in two distinct phases: first, focus groups were used to design, pilot and develop a comprehensive research questionnaire for use in a wider, multi-country survey; second, questionnaires were then distributed to students in IT and non-IT related disciplines in the UK, the USA and China. The preliminary results show that most respondents were slow to conceptualize and contextualize e-entrepreneurship in the prevailing socio-economic and political conditions of their countries of origin. There were no significant differences between students of IT and non-IT disciplines in their perceptions of the viability and practicality of engaging in e-entrepreneurship. Generic support initiatives appear to neglect the vast portfolio of skills needs for graduates engaging in Internet trading. The authors recommend that entrepreneurship education providers should engage with emergent models of e-entrepreneurship and that policy makers should provide innovative initiatives to cater for the specific needs of e-entrepreneurs.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Gil-Alana ◽  
Cecilia Font ◽  
Águeda Gil-López

PurposeUsing data from 1820 onwards in a group of seven countries, namely, Australia, Chile, Denmark, France, the UK, Italy and the USA, the authors investigate if there is a long-run equilibrium relationship between the two variables (GDP and population).Design/methodology/approachUsing fractional integration and cointegration methods, this paper deals with the analysis of the relationship between GDP and population using historical data.FindingsThe authors’ results show first that the two series are highly persistent, presenting orders of integration close to or above 1 in practically all cases. Testing cointegration between the two variables, the results are quite variable depending on the methodology and the bandwidth numbers used, but if cointegration takes places, it only occurs in the cases of France, Italy and the UK.Research limitations/implicationsThe fact that the orders of integration of all series is close to 1 indicate high levels of persistence with shocks having permanent effects and requiring strong measures to recover the original trends.Practical implicationsAny shock affecting the series will have a permanent nature, persisting forever.Originality/valueUpdated time series techniques based on concepts such as fractional integration and cointegration are used.


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 2263-2269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Hobin ◽  
Christine White ◽  
Ye Li ◽  
Maria Chiu ◽  
Mary Fodor O'Brien ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo compare energy (calories), total and saturated fats, and Na levels for ‘kids’ menu’ food items offered by four leading multinational fast-food chains across five countries.DesignA content analysis was used to create a profile of the nutritional content of food items on kids’ menus available for lunch and dinner in four leading fast-food chains in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA.SettingFood items from kids’ menus were included from four fast-food companies: Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), McDonald's and Subway. These fast-food chains were selected because they are among the top ten largest multinational fast-food chains for sales in 2010, operate in high-income English-speaking countries, and have a specific section of their restaurant menus labelled ‘kids’ menus’.ResultsThe results by country indicate that kids’ menu foods contain less energy (fewer calories) in restaurants in the USA and lower Na in restaurants in the UK. The results across companies suggest that kids’ menu foods offered at Subway restaurants are lower in total fat than food items offered at Burger King and KFC, and food items offered at KFC are lower in saturated fat than items offered at Burger King.ConclusionsAlthough the reasons for the variation in the nutritional quality of foods on kids’ menus are not clear, it is likely that fast-food companies could substantially improve the nutritional quality of their kids’ menu food products, translating to large gains for population health.


1997 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Keith Bottomley ◽  
Adrian L James

Following the opening of the first privately managed prison in the UK, Wolds Remand Prison, the authors were commissioned to conduct a comparative evaluation. Studies in the USA and Australia suggest that, compared with similar prisons in the public sector, privately managed prisons appear to operate at lower cost, without any significant reduction in the quality of provision. However, regimes of equal quality are to be found in the public sector, showing that privately managed prisons have no monopoly on innovation or good practice. Reviewing the argument of Harding (1997) that privatization is intended to have a ‘cross fertilization’ effect on the whole prison system, it is difficult to disentangle the effects of other changes on prison conditions and regime delivery. It seems more likely that it is the new competitive ethos and the introduction of managerialist techniques that have impelled prison managers to economise, innovate and often match the achievements of the private sector.


2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANN MORISSENS ◽  
DIANE SAINSBURY

Comparative welfare state research has devoted little attention to the social rights of migrants or the ethnic/racial dimension, even though societies are becoming more ethnically diverse through international migration. Using data from the Luxembourg Income Study for the UK, the USA, Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden, this article represents an initial attempt to compare the social rights of migrants and citizens across welfare regimes. We examine the substantive social rights of migrants and ethnic minorities by focusing on their participation in social transfer programmes, and the impact of transfers on their ability to maintain a socially acceptable standard of living compared with the rest of the population. The analysis shows that there are major disparities between how migrant and citizen households fare in welfare states, and that the discrepancies widen for migrants of colour. When the analysis is confined to citizen households, the results largely correspond to the expected performance of welfare regimes. However, when migrants are incorporated into the analysis, intra-regime variations stand out in the case of the liberal and social democratic countries.


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