Were Spanish migrants attracted by industrial agglomerations?: an analysis for the interwar years in the light of the new economic geography

In this paper we examine whether access to markets had a significant influence onmigration choices of Spanish internal migrants in the inter-war years. We perform astructural contrast of a New Economic Geography model that focus on the forwardlinkage that links workers location choice with the geography of industrial production,one of the centripetal forces that drive agglomeration in the NEG models. The resultshighlight the presence of this forward linkage in the Spanish economy of the inter-warperiod. That is, we prove the existence of a direct relation between workers�� localizationdecisions and the market potential of the host regions. In addition, the direct estimationof the values associated with key parameters in the NEG model allows us to simulatethe migratory flows derived from different scenarios of the relative size of regions andthe distances between them. We show that in Spain the power of attraction of theagglomerations grew as they increased in size, but the high elasticity estimated for themigration costs reduced the intensity of the migratory flows. This could help to explainthe apparently low intensity of internal migrations in Spain until its upsurge during the1920s. This also explains the geography of migrations in Spain during this period,which hardly affected the regions furthest from the large industrial agglomerations (i.e.,regions such as Andalusia, Estremadura and Castile-La Mancha) but had an intenseeffect on the provinces nearest to the principal centres of industrial development.

European integration, FDI and the internal geography of trade : evidence from Western European border regions

In this paper we use a gravity model to study the trade performance of French and Spanishborder regions relatively to non-border regions, over the past two decades. We find that,controlling for their size, proximity and location characteristics, border regions trade onaverage between 62% and 193% more with their neighbouring country than other regions,and twice as much if they are endowed with good cross border transport infrastructures.Despite European integration, however, this trade outperformance has fallen for the mostperipheral regions within the EU. We show that this trend was linked in part to a shift in the propensity of foreign investors to move their affiliates from the regions near their home market to the regions bordering the EU core.

Were Spanish migrants attracted by industrial agglomerations?: an analysis for the interwar years in the light of the new economic geography

In this paper we examine whether access to markets had a significant influence onmigration choices of Spanish internal migrants in the inter-war years. We perform astructural contrast of a New Economic Geography model that focus on the forwardlinkage that links workers location choice with the geography of industrial production,one of the centripetal forces that drive agglomeration in the NEG models. The resultshighlight the presence of this forward linkage in the Spanish economy of the inter-warperiod. That is, we prove the existence of a direct relation between workers�� localizationdecisions and the market potential of the host regions. In addition, the direct estimationof the values associated with key parameters in the NEG model allows us to simulatethe migratory flows derived from different scenarios of the relative size of regions andthe distances between them. We show that in Spain the power of attraction of theagglomerations grew as they increased in size, but the high elasticity estimated for themigration costs reduced the intensity of the migratory flows. This could help to explainthe apparently low intensity of internal migrations in Spain until its upsurge during the1920s. This also explains the geography of migrations in Spain during this period,which hardly affected the regions furthest from the large industrial agglomerations (i.e.,regions such as Andalusia, Estremadura and Castile-La Mancha) but had an intenseeffect on the provinces nearest to the principal centres of industrial development.

Geograf��a del turismo en Espa��a: una aproximaci��n a la distribuci��n espacial de la demanda tur��stica y de la oferta de alojamiento

En este trabajo se analiza la evoluci��n de la distribuci��n geogr��fica del equipamiento turistico espado1 y las caracter��sticas de la corriente de visitantes. En la primera parte, para el estudio de las caracteristicas de la demanda, se ha utilizado la informacion referente al n��mero de visitantes que entran en Espa��a y el n��mero de pernoctaciones por provincias realizadas en 10s establecimientos hoteleros, por clientes extranjeros y espa��oles. Se ha constatado, como resultado de este an��lisis, el fuerte crecimiento de la corriente de visitantes en 10s ��ltimos treinta a��os, el papel que desempenan cinco paises (Francia, Alemania, Reino Unido y Paises Bajos) como zonas de origen de 10s turistas, y la mayor concentraci��n zonal de 10s destinos de 10s turistas extranjeros respecto a 10s turistas espa��oles. En cuanto a la evoluci��n del equipamiento turistico, se ha utilizado la informaci��n referente a la capacidad de 10s hoteles, de 10s campings y de 10s apartamentos y residencias secundarias. El desarrollo del alojamiento turistico se ha caracterizado por su correspondencia temporal con la expansi��n de la demanda. Su crecimiento se ha canalizado, principalmente, hacia el eje mediterr��neo y las provincias insulares, dando lugar a una distribuci��n espacial de la oferta que contrasta con la existente en 1955. Esta fuerte concentraci��n, que empieza a presentar s��ntomas de saturaci��n en las zonas tur��sticas tradicionales, obedece a la I��gica del turismo de masas que demanda, como lugares de destino, zonas litorales y de clima c��lido.

Width and serialization of classical planning problems

We introduce a width parameter that bounds the complexity of classical planning problems and domains, along with a simple but effective blind-search procedure that runs in time that is exponential in the problem width. We show that many benchmark domains have a bounded and small width provided thatgoals are restricted to single atoms, and hence that such problems are provably solvable in low polynomial time. We then focus on the practical value of these ideas over the existing benchmarks which feature conjunctive goals. We show that the blind-search procedure can be used for both serializing the goal into subgoals and for solving the resulting problems, resulting in a ���blind��� planner that competes well with a best-first search planner guided by state-of-the-art heuristics. In addition, ideas like helpful actions and landmarks can be integrated as well, producing a planner with state-of-the-art performance.

Planning under partial observability by classical replanning: theory and experiments

Planning with partial observability can be formulated as a non-deterministic search problem in belief space. The problem is harder than classical planning as keeping track of beliefs is harder than keeping track of states, and searching for action policies is harder than searching for action sequences. In this work, we develop a framework for partial observability that avoids these limitations and leads to a planner that scales up to larger problems. For this, the class of problems is restricted to those in which 1) the non-unary clauses representing the uncertainty about the initial situation are nvariant, and 2) variables that are hidden in the initial situation do not appear in the body of conditional effects, which are all assumed to be deterministic. We show that such problems can be translated in linear time into equivalent fully observable non-deterministic planning problems, and that an slight extension of this translation renders the problem solvable by means of classical planners. The whole approach is sound and complete provided that in addition, the state-space is connected. Experiments are also reported.

Immigration and housing: rethinking the role of fiscal policies to manage diversity

We study the two key social issues of immigration and housing in lightof each other and analyse which housing policies work best to distributediversity (racial, economic, cultural) equally across our cities and towns. Inparticular, we compare the impact of direct government expenditure andtax incentives on the housing conditions of immigrants in four Europeancountries: France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. The analysisshows that the different policies which have been adopted in these countrieshave not succeeded in preventing immigrants from being concentratedin certain neighbourhoods. The reason is that housing benefits andtax incentives are normally ���spatially blind���. In our opinion, governmentsshould consider immigration indirectly in their housing policies and, forinstance, distribute social housing more evenly across different areas topromote sustainable levels of diversity.

In what ways a CLIL lesson planning different from an EFL course plan ?

Des del 1995 el Consell Europeu ha promogut l���aprenentatge d���una segona llengua a trav��s d���una altra ��rea en el que coneixem per CLIL (Contingut i Llengua Integrats en l���Aprenentatge) o en altres paraules: ���una activitat en la qual l���aprenentatge d���una llengua estrangera ��s utilitzada com una eina per l���aprenentatge d���una ��rea no lingu��stica en la qual llengua i contingut tenen un mateix paper��� (Marsh, 2002). Tot I aix��, ���ensenyar una ��rea a trav��s d���una llengua estrangera no ��s el mateix que la integraci�� de llengua i contingut���. CLIL comporta altres implicacions metodol��giques pel que fa a la planificaci��, estrat��gies did��ctiques i particularment al rol del docent. De fet, s��n aquests factors els que componen l�����xit o el frac��s en l���implementaci�� de CLIL. i per aquest motiu pretenc analitzar i descriure les difer��ncies entre una sessi�� de CLIL i una de llengua anglesa. Aquesta investigaci�� ��s un estudi de cas que vol oferir una mirada a les difer��ncies entre una unitat de CLIL i una de llengua anglesa portades a terme en un grup de 3r de prim��ria a l���escola de Sant Miquel dels Sants (Vic) pel que fa a la planificaci��, les estrat��gies i actuacions del docent.

Nuevas t��cnicas de estad��stica espacial para la detecci��n de clusters residenciales de poblaci��n inmigrante

La estad��stica aplicada a la geograf��a ha experimentado un avance espectacular en las ��ltimas dos d��cadas introduci��ndose el espacio como eje fundamental del an��lisis. Este avance se ha visto acompa��ado por un r��pido desarrollo de aplicaciones estad��sticas integradas en los sistemas de informaci��n geogr��fica, constituy��ndose de esta forma en un conjunto de herramientas imprescindibles en la planificaci��n territorial. Por otro lado, en Espa��a, el incremento de poblaci��n inmigrada en un corto intervalo de tiempo ha hecho necesario analizar su distribuci��n espacial en las ��reas urbanas. Los ��ndices de autocorrelaci��n espacial, tanto global como local, y su representaci��n cartogr��fica constituyen una t��cnica adecuada para la detecci��n de clusters y patrones espaciales y abre la posibilidad de plantear diferentes modelos econom��tricos. A partir del caso de la ciudad de Barcelona se aplican las t��cnicas descritas y se observan los diferentes comportamientos seg��n el grupo de poblaci��n estudiado.

L���impacte social dels plans i dels projectes territorials. El cas de Catalunya

L���article analitza l���impacte social dels plans i dels projectes territorials ent��s com la percepci�� que una societat local t�� de les conseq����ncies que comportar�� una intervenci�� determinada sobre el territori. La configuraci�� d���un quart poder territorial format per moviments socials i la crisi del sistema de representaci�� ciutadana han refermat la import��ncia de l���impacte social, el qual t�� una incid��ncia notable en les intervencions que afecten el territori, i aix�� en provoca ben sovint la paralitzaci�� o la modificaci��. Calen mecanismes per incorporar l���impacte social des que es comen��a a plantejar un projecte per evitar situacions d���estancament, per estudiar alternatives m��s ��ptimes i per recon��ixer els valors territorials tal com s��n percebuts per la societat local

The Cerd��Plan for the Extension of Barcelona: A Constructivist Analysis of a Town-planning Controversy

Peer-reviewed

The First World War and Coal Trade Geography in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1890-1930

This paper aims to illustrate the dynamics of coal trade between Latin America and its main trade partners, i.e., the USA, Great Britain, and Germany, before and after the enormous disruption caused by the First World War. The coal trade was used as an indicator of modernization for Latin American countries, given that oil was at that time of secondary importance. Energy imports have determined the possibilities of each Latin American country in its process of development. Here, we address this question and place special emphasis on supply channels, concluding that the trade link with main suppliers was of key significance. Although this was very clear by the end of the period, the process had started well before the First World War, at least for the majority of LA&C countries. These points are developed through a gravity model applied to the bilateral coal trade. The importance of the market supplier share is addressed through cluster methodologies.

Preface: Extreme events induced by weather and climate change: evaluation, forecasting and proactive planning

This special issue of Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (NHESS) contains eight papers presented as oral or poster contributions in the Natural Hazards NH-1.2 session on"Extreme events induced by weather and climate change: evaluation, forecasting and proactive planning", held at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, on 13-18 April 2008. The aim of the session was to provide an international forum for presenting new results and for discussing innovative ideas and concepts on extreme hydro-meteorological events, including: (i) the assessment of the risk posed by the extreme events, (ii) the expected changes in the frequency and intensity of the events driven by a changing climate and by multiple human- induced causes, (iii) new modelling approaches and original forecasting methods to predict extreme events and their consequences, and (iv) strategies for hazard mitigation and risk reduction, and for a improved adaptation to extreme hydro-meteorological events ...

Housing Wealth and Housing Decisions in Old Age: Sale and Reversion

Population ageing brings new challenges to long-term household economic decisions. In the event of old-age dependency, housing assets become a key self-insurance device. However, little empirical evidence has been reported regarding an individual"s expectations of having to use their housing wealth for such a purpose. This paper draws upon two complementary data sources to empirically examine: (1) the influence of housing assets on an individual"s willingness-to-sell (WTS) their dwelling for care purposes, and (2) the willingness to take out a reverse mortgage contract loan in the event of old-age dependency. The paper"s findings suggest that homeowners" WTS in old age is unaffected by their income or housing assets and is, rather, determined by socio-environmental housing characteristics and the individual"s health and personal needs. Conversely, the study finds that the uptake of home reversion loans is largely dependent on income or education, but not on a household"s housing assets.

Servicos bibliotecarios para municipios de la provincia de Barcelona menores de 3.000 habitantes.

Planificaci��n y desarrollo de un estudio sobre los servicios de informaci��n y lectura en municipios de menos de 3.000 habitantes de la provincia de Barcelona. A partir del trabajo de campo sobre necesidades de los usuarios y su situaci��n socioecon��mica y cultural se se��ala la metodolog��a seguida as�� como la respuesta obtenida de los municipios implicados.