Consumer Confidence and Yield Spreads in Europe

This paper shows the extraordinary capacity of yield spreads to anticipate consumption growth as proxy by the Economic Sentiment Indicator elaborated by the European Commission in order to predict turning points in business cycles. This new evidence complements the well known results regarding the usefulness of the slope of the term structure of interest rates to predict real economic conditions and, in particular, recessions by using a direct measure of expectations. A linear combination of European yield spreads explains a surprising 93.7% of the variability of the Economic Sentiment Indicator. Yield spreads seem to be a key determinant of consumer confidence in Europe.

Juegos intertextuales en la poesía española actual: algunos ejemplos

[ES]Durante años ha funcionado el concepto de “escritura palimpsestuosa” para referirse a las múltiples formas de recreación que caracterizan la escritura literaria española entre 1975 y 1990, y quien subrayó que muchos de los rasgos constitutivos de ese modelo escritural tenían mucho que ver con el mapa estético e ideológico de la posmodernidad. Siguiendo la lógica formalista que desarrolla Gerard Genette en Palimpsestos, algunos de los estudios contemporáneos sobre intertextualidad se han reducido a la descripción objetiva y externa de los procedimientos de fabricación textual, pero han obviado que el estudio de la influencia poética ha de considerarse en el ámbito más amplio del ciclo vital del poeta como poeta. Sin pretender llevar a cabo un desarrollo completo de tan amplio objetivo, los comentarios que realizaré a continuación pretenden ilustrar una práctica característica de una parte de la poesía española (aunque también de la literatura y del arte en general de esa época) que comienza a desarrollarse en los años de la Transición política y que, en cierto modo, continúa hasta nuestros días. Todo ello se hará a través del comentario, necesariamente breve, desde la perspectiva intertextual de tres poemas bien significativos de esta práctica en la poesía actual: “Amour fou”y “La despedida”, de Luis Alberto de Cuenca, y “MCMLIV”, de Jon Juaristi.

El debate actual sobre la reforma del sistema público de pensiones: comentarios sobre las tesis privatizadoras

En un sistema de reparto las pensiones del periodo se financian con las cotizaciones del mismo período, de tal forma que las pensiones de los cotizantes de hoy se pagarán con las aportaciones de los futuros trabajadores. La transición por lo tanto, supone que quienes hoy estamos cotizando deberíamos seguir cotizando y al mismo tiempo, formar nuestro ahorro para el futuro. Otra posibilidad sería aumentar el déficit público. En definitiva, un coste que alguién debe asumir.

Estrategias de Marketing en la economía actual

Se tratan los elementos a tener en cuenta para tomar una decisión sobre imagen y posicionamiento del producto, es decir, mis opciones estratégicas.

On the Benefits of Including Age-structure in Harvest Control Rules

This paper explores the benefits of including age-structure in the control rule (HCR) when decision makers regard their (age-structured) models as approximations. We find that introducing age structure into the HCR reduces both the volatility of the spawning biomass and the yield. Although at a fairly imprecise level the benefits are lower, there are still major advantages for actual assessment precision of the case study. Moreover, we find that when age-structure is included in the HCR the relative ranking of different policies in terms of variance in biomass and yield does not differ. These results are shown both theoretically and numerically by applying the model to the Southern Hake fishery.

Estudio de la situación actual en las empresas de producción fotovoltaica

[ES]La energía solar fotovoltaica es un sistema de generación eléctrica cada vez más importante entre los países desarrollados. En este contexto, España siempre ha sido una de los países que más ha invertido a lo largo de su historia. En los últimos años, sin embargo, por culpa del déficit tarifario esta situación ha cambiado, implantando medidas para ahorrar costes que a largo plazo deterioran dicho sector. En el trabajo, se presenta un estudio que muestra la actualidad de este tejido empresarial. Para ello, se ha realizado una encuesta a varias empresas, sobre la situación del sector y las perspectivas de crecimiento y desarrollo dentro de ese entorno. Así, se ha concluido con algunas de las consecuencias que pueden suceder debido al cambio de legislación.

Aplicaciones de las tecnologías de fabricación aditiva en la industria actual

[ES]En el ámbito industrial actual, la fabricación aditiva supone una alternativa para dar respuesta a las nuevas necesidades del mercado, que no pueden verse resueltas mediante las técnicas de fabricación clásicas. La fabricación aditiva (AM Adittive Manufacturing) representa un cambio en métodos y procesos industriales, permitiendo llevar a cabo piezas antes imposibles de realizar. Tiene sus principales aplicaciones en el sector médico, aeronáutico o el sector de la automoción. Se dan numerosas técnicas clasificadas por diferentes criterios, como el medio a través del cual se aporta la energía. Presenta numerosas ventajas como la complejidad en la geometría de las piezas que se pueden fabricar, a pesar de que aún no está totalmente desarrollada y presenta limitaciones como el coste de material. Todo el diseño parte de las tecnologías CAD/CAM 3D, y se fabrica ya en una amplia variedad de materiales, tanto metálicos como plásticos. Aún bajo poca normativa, se espera que en las próximas décadas esta tecnología desarrolle todo su potencial y sea de uso habitual en los sectores propicios para su explotación.

Evolución y situación actual del comercio internacional de alimentos

Análisis de la evolución del comercio internacional de alimentos y de las implicaciones económicas, sociales y políticas del sistema comercial actual.

LA GESTIÓN DEL CONOCIMIENTO EN LA PYME: ANÁLISIS DELA SITUACIÓN ACTUAL DE LA GESTIÓN DEL CONOCIMIENTO EN LAS PYMES DEL PAÍS VASCO

Actualmente nadie cuestiona que el conocimiento es el principal factor que puede proporcionar una diferenciación competitiva a las empresas. Tratándose de un recurso cuyo potencial es tan importante, está claro que quienes sepan gestionarlo debidamente estarán en una posición de ventaja frente a los que no estén capacitados para ello. El análisis del uso de las prácticas de gestión del conocimiento según el sector de actividad y la capacidad estructural de la pyme dará lugar a una serie de conclusiones que pueden ser clave para que estas organizaciones puedan mejorar. Además, se analizan otras variables clave vinculadas al uso de las prácticas de gestión del conocimiento, como son, la importancia de las razones por las que se hace uso de las prácticas, la importancia de los resultados debido al uso de las mismas, el liderazgo, el presupuesto, las ayudas, las herramientas tecnológicas y las posibles barreras. Este trabajo de investigación se centra en el análisis de la gestión de conocimiento en la pequeña ¿ mediana empresa del país vasco, con el objeto de buscar sus fortalezas y debilidades en su gestión.

Reconciling yield stability with international fisheries agencies precautionary preferences: the role of non constant discount factors in age structured models

International fisheries agencies recommend exploitation paths that satisfy two features. First, for precautionary reasons exploitation paths should avoid high fishing mortality in those fisheries where the biomass is depleted to a degree that jeopardise the stock's capacity to produce the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). Second, for economic and social reasons, captures should be as stable (smooth) as possible over time. In this article we show that a conflict between these two interests may occur when seeking for optimal exploitation paths using age structured bioeconomic approach. Our results show that this conflict be overtaken by using non constant discount factors that value future stocks considering their relative intertemporal scarcity.

Advanced Reaction Systems for Hydrogen Production

[EN] This PhD work started in March 2010 with the support of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) under the program named “Formación de Personal Investigador” at the Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department in the Faculty of Engineering of Bilbao. The major part of the Thesis work was carried out in the mentioned department, as a member of the Sustainable Process Engineering (SuPrEn) research group. In addition, this PhD Thesis includes the research work developed during a period of 6 months at the Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH, IMM, in Germany. During the four years of the Thesis, conventional and microreactor systems were tested for several feedstocks renewable and non-renewable, gases and liquids through several reforming processes in order to produce hydrogen. For this purpose, new catalytic formulations which showed high activity, selectivity and stability were design. As a consequence, the PhD work performed allowed the publication of seven scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. This PhD Thesis is divided into the following six chapters described below. The opportunity of this work is established on the basis of the transition period needed for moving from a petroleum based energy system to a renewable based new one. Consequently, the present global energy scenario was detailed in Chapter 1, and the role of hydrogen as a real alternative in the future energy system was justified based on several outlooks. Therefore, renewable and non-renewable hydrogen production routes were presented, explaining the corresponding benefits and drawbacks. Then, the raw materials used in this Thesis work were described and the most important issues regarding the processes and the characteristics of the catalytic formulations were explained. The introduction chapter finishes by introducing the concepts of decentralized production and process intensification with the use of microreactors. In addition, a small description of these innovative reaction systems and the benefits that entailed their use were also mentioned. In Chapter 2 the main objectives of this Thesis work are summarized. The development of advanced reaction systems for hydrogen rich mixtures production is the main objective. In addition, the use and comparison between two different reaction systems, (fixed bed reactor (FBR) and microreactor), the processing of renewable raw materials, the development of new, active, selective and stable catalytic formulations, and the optimization of the operating conditions were also established as additional partial objectives. Methane and natural gas (NG) steam reforming experimental results obtained when operated with microreactor and FBR systems are presented in Chapter 3. For these experiments nickel-based (Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/MgO) and noble metal-based (Pd/Al2O3 and Pt/Al2O3) catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation and their catalytic activity was measured at several temperatures, from 973 to 1073 K, different S/C ratios, from 1.0 to 2.0, and atmospheric pressure. The Weight Hourly Space Velocity (WHSV) was maintained constant in order to compare the catalytic activity in both reaction systems. The results obtained showed a better performance of the catalysts operating in microreactors. The Ni/MgO catalyst reached the highest hydrogen production yield at 1073 K and steam-to-carbon ratio (S/C) of 1.5 under Steam methane Reforming (SMR) conditions. In addition, this catalyst also showed good activity and stability under NG reforming at S/C=1.0 and 2.0. The Ni/Al2O3 catalyst also showed high activity and good stability and it was the catalyst reaching the highest methane conversion (72.9 %) and H2out/CH4in ratio (2.4) under SMR conditions at 1073 K and S/C=1.0. However, this catalyst suffered from deactivation when it was tested under NG reforming conditions. Regarding the activity measurements carried out with the noble metal-based catalysts in the microreactor systems, they suffered a very quick deactivation, probably because of the effects attributed to carbon deposition, which was detected by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). When the FBR was used no catalytic activity was measured with the catalysts under investigation, probably because they were operated at the same WHSV than the microreactors and these WHSVs were too high for FBR system. In Chapter 4 biogas reforming processes were studied. This chapter starts with an introduction explaining the properties of the biogas and the main production routes. Then, the experimental procedure carried out is detailed giving concrete information about the experimental set-up, defining the parameters measured, specifying the characteristics of the reactors used and describing the characterization techniques utilized. Each following section describes the results obtained from activity testing with the different catalysts prepared, which is subsequently summarized: Section 4.3: Biogas reforming processes using γ-Al2O3 based catalysts The activity results obtained by several Ni-based catalysts and a bimetallic Rh-Ni catalyst supported on magnesia or alumina modified with oxides like CeO2 and ZrO2 are presented in this section. In addition, an alumina-based commercial catalyst was tested in order to compare the activity results measured. Four different biogas reforming processes were studied using a FBR: dry reforming (DR), biogas steam reforming (BSR), biogas oxidative reforming (BOR) and tri-reforming (TR). For the BSR process different steam to carbon ratios (S/C) from 1.0 to 3.0, were tested. In the case of BOR process the oxygen-to-methane (O2/CH4) ratio was varied from 0.125 to 0.50. Finally, for TR processes different S/C ratios from 1.0 to 3.0, and O2/CH4 ratios of 0.25 and 0.50 were studied. Then, the catalysts which achieved high activity and stability were impregnated in a microreactor to explore the viability of process intensification. The operation with microreactors was carried out under the best experimental conditions measured in the FBR. In addition, the physicochemical characterization of the fresh and spent catalysts was carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), N2 physisorption, H2 chemisorption, Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR), SEM, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray powder Diffraction (XRD). Operating with the FBR, conversions close to the ones predicted by thermodynamic calculations were obtained by most of the catalysts tested. The Rh-Ni/Ce-Al2O3 catalyst obtained the highest hydrogen production yield in DR. In BSR process, the Ni/Ce-Al2O3 catalyst achieved the best activity results operating at S/C=1.0. In the case of BOR process, the Ni/Ce-Zr-Al2O3 catalyst showed the highest reactants conversion values operating at O2/CH4=0.25. Finally, in the TR process the Rh-Ni/Ce-Al2O3 catalyst obtained the best results operating at S/C=1.0 and O2/CH4=0.25. Therefore, these three catalysts were selected to be coated onto microchannels in order to test its performance under BOR and TR processes conditions. Although the operation using microreactors was carried out under considerably higher WHSV, similar conversions and yields as the ones measured in FBR were measured. Furthermore, attending to other measurements like Turnover Frequency (TOF) and Hydrogen Productivity (PROD), the values calculated for the catalysts tested in microreactors were one order of magnitude higher. Thus, due to the low dispersion degree measured by H2-chemisorption, the Ni/Ce-Al2O3 catalyst reached the highest TOF and PROD values. Section 4.4: Biogas reforming processes using Zeolites L based catalysts In this section three type of L zeolites, with different morphology and size, were synthesized and used as catalyst support. Then, for each type of L zeolite three nickel monometallic and their homologous Rh-Ni bimetallic catalysts were prepared by the wetness impregnation method. These catalysts were tested using the FBR under DR process and different conditions of BSR (S/C ratio of 1.0 and 2.0), BOR (O2/CH4 ratio of 0.25 and 0.50) and TR processes (at S/C=1.0 and O2/CH4=0.25). The characterization of these catalysts was also carried out by using the same techniques mentioned in the previous section. Very high methane and carbon dioxide conversion values were measured for almost all the catalysts under investigation. The experimental results evidenced the better catalytic behavior of the bimetallic catalysts as compared to the monometallic ones. Comparing the catalysts behavior with regards to their morphology, for the BSR process the Disc catalysts were the most active ones at the lowest S/C ratio tested. On the contrary, the Cylindrical (30–60 nm) catalysts were more active under BOR conditions at O2/CH4=0.25 and TR processes. By the contrary, the Cylindrical (1–3 µm) catalysts showed the worst activity results for both processes. Section 4.5: Biogas reforming processes using Na+ and Cs+ doped Zeolites LTL based catalysts A method for the synthesis of Linde Type L (LTL) zeolite under microwave-assisted hydrothermal conditions and its behavior as a support for heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogen production is described in this section. Then, rhodium and nickel-based bimetallic catalysts were prepared in order to be tested by DR process and BOR process at O2/CH4=0.25. Moreover, the characterization of the catalysts under investigation was also carried out. Higher activities were achieved by the catalysts prepared from the non-doped zeolites, Rh-Ni/D and Rh-Ni/N, as compared to the ones supported on Na+ and Cs+ exchanged supports. However, the differences between them were not very significant. In addition, the Na+ and Cs+ incorporation affected mainly to the Disc catalysts. Comparing the results obtained by these catalysts with the ones studied in the section 4.4, in general worst results were achieved under DR conditions and almost the same results when operated under BOR conditions. In Chapter 5 the ethylene glycol (EG) as feed for syngas production by steam reforming (SR) and oxidative steam reforming (OSR) was studied by using microchannel reactors. The product composition was determined at a S/C of 4.0, reaction temperatures between 625°C and 725°C, atmospheric pressure and Volume Hourly Space Velocities (VHSV) between 100 and 300 NL/(gcath). This work was divided in two sections. The first one corresponds to the introduction of the main and most promising EG production routes. Then, the new experimental procedure is detailed and the information about the experimental set-up and the measured parameters is described. The characterization was carried out using the same techniques as for the previous chapter. Then, the next sections correspond to the catalytic activity and catalysts characterization results. Section 5.3: xRh-cm and xRh-np catalysts for ethylene glycol reforming Initially, catalysts with different rhodium loading, from 1.0 to 5.0 wt. %, and supported on α-Al2O3 were prepared by two different preparation methods (conventional impregnation and separate nanoparticle synthesis). Then, the catalysts were compared regarding their measured activity and selectivity, as well as the characterization results obtained before and after the activity tests carried out. The samples prepared by a conventional impregnation method showed generally higher activity compared to catalysts prepared from Rh nanoparticles. By-product formation of species such as acetaldehyde, ethane and ethylene was detected, regardless if oxygen was added to the feed or not. Among the catalysts tested, the 2.5Rh-cm catalyst was considered the best one. Section 5.4: 2.5Rh-cm catalyst support modification with CeO2 and La2O3 In this part of the Chapter 5, the catalyst showing the best performance in the previous section, the 2.5Rh-Al2O3 catalyst, was selected in order to be improved. Therefore, new Rh based catalysts were designed using α-Al2O3 and being modified this support with different contents of CeO2 or La2O3 oxides. All the catalysts containing additives showed complete conversion and selectivities close to the equilibrium in both SR and OSR processes. In addition, for these catalysts the concentrations measured for the C2H4, CH4, CH3CHO and C2H6 by-products were very low. Finally, the 2.5Rh-20Ce catalyst was selected according to its catalytic activity and characterization results in order to run a stability test, which lasted more than 115 hours under stable operation. The last chapter, Chapter 6, summarizes the main conclusions achieved throughout this Thesis work. Although very high reactant conversions and rich hydrogen mixtures were obtained using a fixed bed reaction system, the use of microreactors improves the key issues, heat and mass transfer limitations, through which the reforming reactions are intensified. Therefore, they seem to be a very interesting and promising alternative for process intensification and decentralized production for remote application.

Libertad de expresión y ofensa a los sentimientos religiosos en el actual contexto europeo de diversidad cultural

Tras el atentado del 7 de enero de 2015 al semanario francés Charlie-Hebdo por las ofensivas caricaturas sobre Mahoma, se ha reabierto el debate acerca del conflicto entre la libertad de expresióny los sentimientos religiosos. Ante la necesidad de ponderar ambos derechos fundamentales, la finalidad de este trabajo es analizar los sentimientos religiosos como límite de la libertad de expresión, en base a diferentes documentos del Consejo de Europa acerca de esta materia y la jurisprudencia del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos. Finalmente, los elementos analizados darán respuesta al caso concreto de las caricaturas.

Las barreras en el acceso de las mujeres a los puestos de decisión: una revisión de la situación actual y de las principales aportaciones de la literatura

[ES]A pesar de los avances producidos en materia legislativa, la incorporación de las mujeres a los puestos de decisión de las empresas sigue siendo limitada. Son muchas las razones que explican este fenómeno. Entre las causas más citadas por la literatura cabe mencionar: los roles y la distribución irregular de las responsabilidades familiares y sus efectos en el equilibrio entre la vida profesional y familiar, los estereotipos de género y la discriminación, los sistemas de selección y evaluación sesgados, la falta de mentoring o modelos de referencia de mujeres, la exclusión de redes informales de trabajo y la estructura y los procesos organizacionales. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo sintetizar estas causas, así como ofrecer algunas soluciones que las empresas pueden adoptar en sus organizaciones para facilitar el desarrollo profesional de las mujeres.

Colaboración entre fabricante y distribuidor para la reducción del desperdicio alimentario en la cadena de suministro: situación actual y perspectivas

RESUMEN TFG CASTELLANO Este estudio trata de analizar el desperdicio alimentario que se da actualmente en cada una de las fases de la cadena de suministro alimentario. Inicialmente, se exponen los factores y hechos que han influido en los hábitos de consumo así como en la conciencia de los consumidores finales alterando así la producción y distribución de alimentos en general. Más tarde, se analiza la situación actual de los tres sectores sobre los que se lleva a cabo el estudio, que son el sector de la agricultura, concretamente el hortofrutícola, el sector ganadero y el sector pesquero. Posteriormente, se lleva a cabo un análisis para saber exactamente dónde, cómo y cuánta cantidad de alimento se desperdicia en cada uno de estos tres sectores. Por último, se expondrán diferentes conclusiones y propuestas con el fin de poner remedio a los diferentes problemas analizados anteriormente.

La crisis actual: una visión desde la transparencia y las medidas al respecto

[ES]Este trabajo tiene como objetivo fundamental, valorar si podría haber sido distinto el transcurso de la crisis actual de haber existido mayor transparencia. Al mismo tiempo, también se tratan de observar tanto las medidas actuales como futuras tomadas al respecto. Para ello, se plantean una serie de objetivos secundarios con la finalidad de conseguir de esta manera guiar el desarrollo ordenado de los acontecimientos. Uno de estos objetivos es ver cuál ha sido el origen y desarrollo de la crisis. Para ello, se ha planteado el surgimiento de las hipotecas subprime, base de un sistema que empezó a fallar cuando muchas de estas fueron insolventes. Además, la globalización del sistema financiero contribuyó a que el número de afectados por la titulización de estas hipotecas, un procedimiento muy habitual entonces, fuese mayor. De esta manera, la crisis que surgió originariamente en Estados Unidos pasó a afectar prácticamente a todos los demás países. Otros de los objetivos, están centrados alrededor de la falta de transparencia, sus consecuencias y las medidas paliativas tomadas tanto presentes como futuras. Todo esto se ha planteado acerca de varios aspectos, pero quizás los más importante son los que tratan acerca de la transparencia de los procedimientos bancarios, los cuales debido a su opacidad contribuyeron a generar desconfianza en el sistema interbancario, derivando en un colapso del mismo y en crisis de liquidez.