Barriers to innovation and public policy in Catalonia

The present paper analyses the link between firms��� decisions to innovate and the barriers that prevent them from being innovative. The aim is twofold. First, it analyses three groups of barriers to innovation: the cost of innovation projects, lack of knowledge and market conditions. Second, it presents the main steps taken by Catalan Government to promote the creation of new firms and to reduce barriers to innovation. The data set used is based on the 2004 official innovation survey of Catalonia which was taken from the Spanish CIS-4 sample. This sample includes individual information on 2,954 Catalan firms in manufacturing industries and knowledge-intensive services (KIS). The empirical analysis reveals pronounced differences regarding a firm���s propensity to innovate and its perception of barriers. Moreover, the results show that cost and knowledge barriers seem to be the most important and that there are substantial sectoral differences in the way that firms react to barriers. The results of this paper have important implications for the design of future public policy to promote entrepreneurship and innovation together.

Estimaci�� de les emissions de met�� generades per fermentaci�� ent��rica a la ramaderia bovina a Catalunya, com a font de gasos d'efecte hivernacle (GEH)

L���emissi�� de GEH generats per processos relacionats amb l���activitat antropog��nica ha provocat que la temperatura mitjana de la Terra augmenti, originant el que es coneix com escalfament global. Les possibles conseq����ncies negatives per al conjunt de la biosfera han portat a l���adopci�� d���acords internacionals que obliguen als diferents Estats a realitzar Inventaris Nacionals d���Emissions a l���Atmosfera. El CH4, que ��s exhalat o eructat com a resultat del proc��s de fermentaci�� ent��rica dels remugants, genera un impacte que ha de ser quantificat en els diferents inventaris. En aquest projecte s���ha realitzat l���estimaci�� del CH4 generat per la fermentaci�� ent��rica dels bovins a Catalunya. Per aquest objectiu s���han utilitat les equacions explicitades a les directrius del Panel Intergovernamental sobre el Canvi Clim��tic (IPCC), aix�� com l���equaci�� de Cambra, L. et al. (2008) per a la determinaci�� del factor de conversi�� Ym. El resultat final rebaixa les quantitats inventariades tant per l���administraci�� catalana com per l���espanyola.

Applications of the MuSIASEM approach to study changes in the metabolic pattern of Catalonia

This document presents an integrated analysis of the performance of Catalonia based on an analysis of how the energy consumption (measured at the societal level for the Catalan Society) is used within both the productive sectors of the economy and the household, to generate added value, jobs, and to guarantee a given level of material standard of living to the population. The trends found in Catalonia are compared to the trends of other European Countries to contextualize the performance of Catalonia with respect to other societies that have followed different paths of economic development. The first part of the document consists of the Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM) approach that has been used to provide this integrated analysis of Catalan Society across different scales (starting from an analysis of the specific sectors of the Catalan economy as an Autonomous Community and scaling up to an intra-regional (European Union 14) comparison) and across different dimensions of analyses of energy consumption coupled with added value generation. Within the scope of this study, we observe the various trajectories of changes in the metabolic pattern for Catalonia and the EU14 countries in the Paid Work Sectors composed of namely, the Agricultural Sector, the Productive Sector and the Services and Government Sector also in comparison with the changes in the household sector. The flow intensities of the exosomatic energy and the added value generated for each specific sector are defined per hour of human activity, thus characterized as exosomatic energy (MJ/hour) (or Exosomatic Metabolic Rate) and added value (���/hour) (Economic Labour Productivity) across multiple levels. Within the second part of the document, the possible usage of the MuSIASEM approach to land use analyses (using a multi-level matrix of categories of land use) has been conducted.

Water scarcity, social power and the production of an elite suburb: the political ecology of water in Matadepera, Catalonia

This article investigates the history of land and water transformations in Matadepera, a wealthy suburb of metropolitan Barcelona. Analysis is informed by theories of political ecology and methods of environmental history; although very relevant, these have received relatively little attention within ecological economics. Empirical material includes communications from the City Archives of Matadepera (1919-1979), 17 interviews with locals born between 1913 and 1958, and an exhaustive review of grey historical literature. Existing water histories of Barcelona and its outskirts portray a battle against natural water scarcity, hard won by heroic engineers and politicians acting for the good of the community. Our research in Matadepera tells a very different story. We reveal the production of a highly uneven landscape and waterscape through fierce political and power struggles. The evolution of Matadepera from a small rural village to an elite suburb was anything but spontaneous or peaceful. It was a socio-environmental project well intended by landowning elites and heavily fought by others. The struggle for the control of water went hand in hand with the land and political struggles that culminated ��� and were violently resolved - in the Spanish Civil War. The displacement of the economic and environmental costs of water use from few to many continues to this day and is constitutive of Matadepera���s uneven and unsustainable landscape. By unravelling the relations of power that are inscribed in the urbanization of nature (Swyngedouw, 2004), we question the perceived wisdoms of contemporary water policy debates, particularly the notion of a natural scarcity that merits a technical or economic response. We argue that the water question is fundamentally a political question of environmental justice; it is about negotiating alternative visions of the future and deciding whose visions will be produced.

An��lisi socio-ambiental de les bordes de la Vall d'Estaon (Pallars Sobir��) i de la biodiversitat associada

Aquest projecte ha estat desenvolupat entre l���octubre de 2008 i el juliol de 2009 per un equip d���estudiants de Ci��ncies Ambientals de la Universitat Aut��noma de Barcelona. L���objecte d���estudi principal han estat les bordes, construccions agroramaderes utilitzades tradicionalment per a emmagatzemar l���herba i estabular-hi el bestiar. D���altra banda, pel que fa la biodiversitat, s���ha realitzat un estudi de la vegetaci�� de pedra seca, i una primera aproximaci�� a l���estudi dels rat-penats, esp��cies protegides que utilitzen les bordes com a refugi. L�����mbit d���estudi ha estat la Vall d'Estaon dins el municipi de Vall de Card��s, a la comarca del Pallars Sobir��, Catalunya. Tota la superf��cie d���estudi es troba dins de l�����mbit del Parc Natural de l���Alt Pirineu (PNAP) i, per tant, sota la seva protecci��. Per a la realitzaci�� d���aquest estudi, s���ha utilitzat la metodologia emprada en el projecte del Bosc de Vir��s (Mestres et al.,2007). S���elabora un inventari de bordes i un altre de biodiversitat a partir de les dades recopilades amb la observaci�� al camp i es realitzen entrevistes als gestors de la zona, antics i nous propietaris. En l���an��lisi dels resultats, s���observa que les bordes han perdut la seva funcionalitat tradicional i moltes d���elles s���han abandonat. Aquests fets provoquen la degradaci�� d���aquestes construccions i la conseq��ent p��rdua de patrimoni. D���altra banda la idea de recuperar les activitats tradicionals esdev�� poc realista i es combina amb la impossibilitat d���aplicar nous usos per la protecci�� que exerceix la figura de Parc Natural. Aix�� doncs, les bordes es troben enmig d���una situaci�� est��tica i paradoxal entre la voluntat i desig de conservaci�� i l'imminent i accelerat proc��s d���abandonament i degradaci��.

Balan�� de carb�� atmosf��ric: ra�� entre les emissions de met�� de les vaques i el segrest forestal de CO2

Treball de recerca realitzat per un alumne d'ensenyament secundari i guardonat amb un Premi CIRIT per fomentar l'esperit cient��fic del Jovent l'any 2009. L���objectiu d���aquest treball ��s determinar la capacitat de segrest de CO2 d���un bosc dels Pirineus, per tal de reduir el seu efecte hivernacle, en relaci�� a l���impacte clim��tic que tindrien les emissions de met�� de les vaques. La metodologia s���ha basat en estimar la producci�� de fusta a partir d���inventaris forestals d���un bosc del Pallars Sobir��, i calcular-ne el segrest de CO2. Per altra banda, s���ha estimat bibliogr��ficament les emissions de met�� d���una vaca. A partir de factors de conversi�� s���ha estimat la superf��cie de bosc que compensaria l���efecte hivernacle de les emissions de met�� d���una vaca durant un any. El valor obtingut ��s de 0,727 hect��rees de bosc per vaca i any. Amb aquest valor s���ha estimat la superf��cie de bosc necess��ria per compensar les emissions de met�� de la poblaci�� de vaques de Catalunya. Aquests resultats s��n aproximats, donades les difer��ncies en el creixement dels boscos de Catalunya. Aquest estudi d��na una dada comprensible que posa de manifest el concepte de balan�� de carboni i els diferents elements que el formen.

Relationship between technological progress, capital elasticity and emissions of industrial pollutants for the production sectors in Catalonia

As is known, the Kyoto Protocol proposes to reinforce national policies for emission reduction and, furthermore, to cooperate with other contracting parties. In this context, it would be necessary to assess these emissions, both in general and specifically, by pollutants and/or among productive sectors. The object of this paper is precisely to estimate the polluting emissions of industrial origin in Catalonia in the year 2001, in a multivariate context which explicitly allows a distinction to be made between the polluter and/or the productive sector causing this emission. Six pollutants considered, four directly related to greenhouse effect. A multi-level model, with two levels, pollutants and productive sectors, was specified. Both technological progress and elasticity of capital were introduced as random effects. Hence, it has been permitted that these coefficients vary according to one or other level. The most important finding in this paper is that elasticity of capital has been estimated as very non-elastic, with a range which varies between 0.162 (the paper industry) and 0.556 (commerce). In fact, and generally speaking, the greater capital the sector has, the less elasticity of capital has been estimated. Key words: Kyoto protocol, multilevel model, technological progress

The Analysis of Accounting Multipliers: The NAMEA Approach in the Case of Catalonia

The aim of this paper is the analysis of the Catalan economy (2001) with the use of a National Accounting Matrix with environmental accounts (NAMEA) for the Catalan economy with 2001 data. We will focus on the analysis of the emission multipliers and we will also analyse the impact of a 10% reduction in greenhouse emissions on emission multipliers. This emission-reduction percentage would bring the Catalan economy into compliance with the maximum emissions level allowed by the Kyoto Protocol. We consider three possible scenarios that would allow this goal to be met. First, we will simulate a 10% reduction in regional emissions and a 5% drop in the endogenous income of the multipliers' model (production, factorial and private income). Second, we will simulate a 10% reduction in emissions and a 10% increase in endogenous income. Finally, we will simulate a 10% reduction in emissions and a 5% increase in endogenous income. Additionally, we will analyse the decomposition of the emission multipliers into own effects, open effects and circular effects to capture the different channels of the emission generation process. Keywords: NAMEA, emission multipliers, Kyoto Protocol.

Language knowledge and earnings in Catalonia

In this paper we are aimed to investigate the relationship between Catalan knowledge and individual earnings in Catalonia. Using data from 2006, we find a positive earning return to Catalan proficiency; however, when accounting for self-selection into Catalan knowledge, we find a higher language return (20% of extra earnings), suggesting that individuals who are more prone to know Catalan are also less remunerated than others (negative selection effect). Moreover, we also find important complementarities between language knowledge and completed education, which means that only more educated individuals benefit from Catalan knowledge.

Language knowledge and earnings in Catalonia

This paper investigates the economic value of Catalan knowledge for national and foreign first- and second-generation immigrants in Catalonia. Specifically, drawing on data from the ���Survey on Living Conditions and Habits of the Catalan Population (2006)���, we want to quantify the expected earnings differential between individuals who are proficient in Catalan and those who are not, taking into account the potential endogeneity between knowledge of Catalan and earnings. The results indicate the existence of a positive return to knowledge of Catalan, with a 7.5% increase in earnings estimated by OLS; however, when we account for the presence of endogeneity, monthly earnings are around 18% higher for individuals who are able to speak and write Catalan. However, we also find that language and education are complementary inputs for generating earnings in Catalonia, given that knowledge of Catalan increases monthly earnings only for more educated individuals.

Recerca versus doc��ncia en una experi��ncia d'internalitzaci�� dels estudis de Geografia a la Universitat de Girona: The faces of landscape, Catalonia and North Karelia = Research versus teaching in one experience of internationalization of the Geography degree studies in the University of Girona: The faces of landscape, Catalonia and North Karelia

Un dels reptes cabdals de la Universitat ��s enlla��ar l���experi��ncia de recerca amb la doc��ncia, aix�� com promoure la internacionalitzaci�� dels estudis, especialment a escala europea, tenint present que ambdues poden actuar com a catalitzadores de la millora de la qualitat docent. Una de les f��rmules d���internacionalitzaci�� ��s la realitzaci�� d���assignatures compartides entre universitats de diferents pa��sos, fet que suposa l���oportunitat d���implementar noves metodologies docents. En aquesta comunicaci�� es presenta una experi��ncia en aquesta l��nia desenvolupada entre la Universitat de Girona i la Universitat de Joensuu (Finl��ndia) en el marc dels estudis de Geografia amb la realitzaci�� de l���assignatura 'The faces of landscape: Catalonia and North Karelia'. Aquesta es desenvolupa al llarg de dues setmanes intensives, una en cadascuna de les Universitats. L���objectiu ��s presentar i analitzar diferents significats del concepte paisatge aportant tamb�� metodologies d���estudi tant dels aspectes f��sics i ecol��gics com culturals que s���hi poden vincular i que s��n les que empren els grups de recerca dels professors responsables de l���assignatura. Aquesta part te��rica es completa amb una presentaci�� de les caracter��stiques i din��miques pr��pies dels paisatges finlandesos i catalans i una sortida de camp. Per a la part pr��ctica es constitueixen grups d���estudi multinacionals que treballen a escala local algun dels aspectes en els dos pa��sos, es comparen i es realitza una presentaci�� i defensa davant del conjunt d���estudiants i professorat. La llengua vehicular de l���assignatura ��s l���angl��s.

Do Legal Immigrants and Natives Compete in the Labour Market? Evidence from Catalonia

The precondition for labour-market competition between immigrants and natives is that both are willing to accept jobs that do not differ in quality. To test this hypothesis, in this paper we compare the working conditions between immigrants and natives in Catalonia. Comparing immigrants��� working conditions in relation to their native counterparts is not only a useful analysis for studying the extent to which immigrants and low-skilled native workers are direct competitors in the labour market, but also allows us to contribute to the literature on this issue by moving away from the conventional approach used in previous studies. Our results indicate that: i) natives and immigrants display a different taste for job (dis)amenities; ii) Catalan-born workers might be in direct competition with EU15 immigrants, while non-Catalan Spanish workers might be competing with Latin American immigrants, and; iii) African-born immigrants are the group in the Catalan workforce that by far face the worst working conditions.

A never-ending debate: Demand versus supply water policies. A CGE analysis for Catalonia

Water scarcity is a long-standing problem in Catalonia, as there are significant differences in the spatial and temporal distribution of water through the territory. There has consequently been a debate for many years about whether the solution to water scarcity must be considered in terms of efficiency or equity, the role that the public sector must play and the role that market-based instruments should play in water management. The aim of this paper is to use a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to analyze the advantages and disadvantages associated with different policy instruments, from both a supply and a demand viewpoint, which can be applied to water management in Catalonia. We also introduce an ecological sector in our CGE model, allowing us to analyze the environmental impact of the alternative policies simulated. The calibration of the exogenous variables of the CGE model is performed by using a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for the Catalan economy with 2001 data. The results suggest that taking into account the principle of sustainability of the resource, the policy debate between supply and demand in water policies is obsolete, and a new combination of policies is required to respect the different values associated with water. Keywords: Water Policies; Computable General Equilibrium Model; Economic Effects; Environmental Effects.

Power laws and scaling of rain events and dry spells in the Catalonia region

We analyze the statistics of rain-event sizes, rain-event durations, and dry-spell durations in a network of 20 rain gauges scattered in an area situated close to the NW Mediterranean coast. Power-law distributions emerge clearly for the dryspell durations, with an exponent around 1.50 �� 0.05, although for event sizes and durations the power-law ranges are rather limited, in some cases. Deviations from power-law behavior are attributed to finite-size effects. A scaling analysis helps to elucidate the situation, providing support for the existence of scale invariance in these distributions. It is remarkable that rain data of not very high resolution yield findings in agreement with self-organized critical phenomena.