Evaluating the role of energy efficiency labels in the prices of household appliances: the case of refrigerators

4 p.

The use of “Bonus-Malus” schemes for promoting energy-efficient household appliances: a case study for Spain

32 p.

La elección de la marca del distribuidor en productos duraderos: factores de influencia

[ES] La apuesta de la distribución por la extensión de su marca a las categorías de productos duraderos, como electrodomésticos y productos electrónicos para el hogar, ha demostrado ser acertada, a pesar de las críticas en contra de esta estrategia. Posiblemente, la mayor familiaridad del consumidor con las marcas del distribuidor, el cambio de actitud favorable hacia éstas, la disponibilidad de la tecnología, y por qué no, la crisis económica internacional que afecta a las economías domésticas, pueden ser factores explicativos de este éxito.

Evaluating the role of energy efficiency labels: the case of Dish Washers

4 p.

Evaluating the Role of Energy Efficiency Labels: the Case of Dish Washers

27 p.

Which policy option can be more cost-effective in promoting the use of energy efficient appliances in Europe? A comparison of energy taxes, subsidies, tax credits and bans.

4 p.

Economic Evaluation of Energy Efficiency Labelling in Domestic Appliances: the Spanish Market

30 p.

Education and the dynamics of family decisions

This paper investigates the extent to which a biased transmission of educational endowments affects fertility. To this end, we devise a version of Becker’s family decision model that takes preference change into account. Specifically, we model education as an instrument that increases the autonomy (to prefer), and autonomy as an instrument of preference-change for household-structures. The empirical validity of the proposed model is examined for the European setting using the European Community Household Panel. In the context of the model, empirical findings imply the following. On the one hand, both preference for quantity and preference for bequest for each offspring (quality) increases with education, while preference for current consumption decreases. On the other hand, education is found to be negatively correlated with fertility, at a decreasing rate. Therefore, the paper provides a useful additional toolkit for public policy evaluation. It explains how public policies oriented toward the guarantee of personal freedoms, such as the expansion of education and autonomy, are likely to guarantee the same freedoms for subsequent generations.

Career Planning in Spain: Do temporary contracts delay marriage and motherhood?

The aim of this paper is to find an empirical connection between the impressive increase in the use of temporary contracts in Spain and the observed increase in age at marriage and maternity. Using a pool of the six available waves of individual information from the European Household Panel for Spain, we find that holding temporary contracts rather than permanent ones delays marriage for males, but not for females. Concerning maternity, the labor market situation of both members of the household affects entry into motherhood. In particular, if woman has a temporary contract rather than a permanent one, motherhoods is delayed independently of the husband's contract. As expected, postponement of maternity is not found for non-working women. These results give strong support to the career planning, motive to delay maternity in Spain, given that an unstable labor market situation of female workers is found to be the main deterrent to entry into motherhood.

The effect of flexibility in working hours on fertility: A comparative analysis of selected european countries

The main aim of this paper is to measure the extent to which part-time work enhances fertility for married or cohabiting women of fertile age. The study covers eleven European countries. The data used are a pool sample of five waves of the European Community Household Panel. Given that we believe that the decisions concerning fertility and labor market status are taken jointly, we carry out a simultaneous estimation approach. Results suggest that policy makers wishing to implement adequate part-time schedules so as to enhance fertility should look at the part-time schedules available in Belgium, Ireland and The Netherlands, which enhance fertility for women who take advantage of this flexibility measure so as to reconcile family and work.

Efecto de la formación en el trabajo sobre la movilidad laboral

[ES] En este trabajo se analiza empíricamente la relación existente entre la formación dada por la empresa a sus trabajadores y la posterior salida de la empresa de dichos trabajadores. La principal aportación a la literatura existente en este campo se encuentra en la metodología empírica que se utiliza. En concreto, se propone un modelo de estimación que específicamente tiene en cuenta la posible endogeneidad existente entre la variable de formación y la de movilidad laboral.

Consumer Expertise or Credit Risk? An empirical analysis of mortgage pricing

Loan mortgage interest rates are usually the result of a bank-customer negotiation process. Credit risk, consumer cross-buying potential, bundling, financial market competition and other features affecting the bargaining power of the parties could affect price. We argue that, since mortgage loan is a complex product, consumer expertise could be a relevant factor for mortgage pricing. Using data on mortgage loan prices for a sample of 1055 households for the year 2005 (Bank of Spain Survey of Household Finances, EFF-2005), and including credit risk, costs, potential capacity of the consumer to generate future business and bank competition variables, the regression results indicate that consumer expertise-related metrics are highly significant as predictors of mortgage loan prices. Other factors such as credit risk and consumer cross-buying potential do not have such a significant impact on mortgage prices. Our empirical results are affected by the credit conditions prior to the financial crisis and could shed some light on this issue.

Basoa Euskal Herriko historian zehar

[EUS]Antzinako errejimenean basoa bizitzaren bizigunea zen.Garai honetan jarduera gehienak basoaren inguruan kokatzen ziren: gizakumeen elikadura, abereen janaria, ehiza,etxeko sua, ikatzaren industria,eraikinak, nekazaritza, etxeko eta teknika tresnak, ontzigintza, e.a. Horregati, basoak izan zuen bilakaera jarduera hauekin oso lotuta zegoen. Gipuzkoa eta Bizkaia jarduera hauen arteko eta basoaren inguruko aurkakotasuna bortitza baino bortitzagoa izan zuen. Egun, gauzak aldatu dira, basoak ez du ekonomiarekiko hainbeste garrantzirik. Momentu honetan basoarekiko interesa izadiaren kontserbatzioan eta suntsiketan datza

The Health Impacts of Climate Change: A Study of Cholera in Tanzania

27 p.

Households WTP for the Reliability of Gas Supply

26 p.