875 resultados para water demand, water demand models, water resources, population projection, climate change, global climate models, water conservation technologies, water price, Italy, Emilia Romagna
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In this paper we present an empirical analysis of the residential demand for electricity using annual aggregate data at the state level for 48 US states from 1995 to 2007. Earlier literature has examined residential energy consumption at the state level using annual or monthly data, focusing on the variation in price elasticities of demand across states or regions, but has failed to recognize or address two major issues. The first is that, when fitting dynamic panel models, the lagged consumption term in the right-hand side of the demand equation is endogenous. This has resulted in potentially inconsistent estimates of the long-run price elasticity of demand. The second is that energy price is likely mismeasured.
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In a Nordic climate, space heating (SH) and domestic hot water (DHW) used in buildings constitute a considerable part of the total energy use in the country. For 2010, energy used for SH and DHW amounted to almost 90 TWh in Sweden which corresponds to 60 % of the energy used in the residential and service sector, or almost 24 % of the total final energy use for the country. Storing heat and cold with the use of thermal energy storage (TES) can be one way of increasing the energy efficiency of a building by opening up possibilities for alternative sources of heat or cold through a reduced mismatch between supply and demand. Thermal energy storage without the use of specific control systems are said to be passive and different applications using passive TES have been shown to increase energy efficiency and/or reduce power peaks of systems supplying the heating and cooling needs of buildings, as well as having an effect on the indoor climate. Results are however not consistent between studies and focus tend to be on the reduction of cooling energy or cooling power peaks. In this paper, passive TES introduced through an increased thermal mass in the building envelope to two single family houses with different insulation standard is investigated with building energy simulations. A Nordic climate is used and the focus of this study is both on the reduction of space heating demand and space heating power, as well as on reduction of excess temperatures in residential single family houses without active cooling systems. Care is taken to keep the building envelope characteristics other than the thermal mass equal for all cases so that any observations made can be derived to the change in thermal mass. Results show that increasing the sensible thermal mass in a single family house can reduce the heating demand only slightly (1-4 %) and reduce excess temperatures (temperatures above 24 degrees C) by up to 20 %. Adding a layer of PCM (phase change materials) to the light building construction can give similar reduction in heating demand and excess temperatures, however the phase change temperature is important for the results.
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The aim of this PhD thesis, developed in the framework of the Italian Agroscenari research project, is to compare current irrigation volumes in two study area in Emilia-Romagna with the likely irrigation under climate change conditions. This comparison was carried out between the reference period 1961-1990, as defined by WMO, and the 2021-2050 period. For this period, multi-model climatic projections on the two study areas were available. So, the climatic projections were analyzed in term of their impact on irrigation demand and adaptation strategies for fruit and horticultural crops in the study area of Faenza, with a detailed analysis for kiwifruit vine, and for horticultural crops in Piacenza plan, focusing on the irrigation water needs of tomato. We produced downscaled climatic projections (based on A1B Ipcc emission scenario) for the two study areas. The climate change impacts for the period 2021-2050 on crop irrigation water needs and other agrometeorological index were assessed by means of the Criteria water balance model, in the two versions available, Criteria BdP (local) and Geo (spatial) with different levels of detail. We found in general for both the areas an irrigation demand increase of about +10% comparing the 2021-2050 period with the reference years 1961-1990, but no substantial differences with more recent years (1991-2008), mainly due to a projected increase in spring precipitation compensating the projected higher summer temperature and evapotranspiration. As a consequence, it is not forecasted a dramatic increase in the irrigation volumes with respect to the current volumes.
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Data on rainfall, runoff and sediment loss from different land use types have been collected by the Soil Conservation Research Programme in seven small catchments (73-673 hectares) throughout the Ethiopian Highlands since the early 1980s. Monitoring was carried out on a storm-to-storm basis for extended periods of 10-20 years, and the data are analysed here to assess long-term effects of changes. Soil and water conservation technologies were introduced in the early years in the catchments in view of their capacity to reduce runoff and sediment yield. Results indicate that rainfall did not substantially change over the observation periods. Land use changes and land degradation, however, altered runoff, as shown by the data from small test plots (30 m2), which were not altered by conservation measures during the monitoring periods. Sediment delivery from the catchments may have decreased due to soil and water conservation, while runoff rates did not change significantly. Extrapolation of the results in the highlands, however, showed that expansion of cultivated and grazing land induced by population growth may have increased the overall surface runoff. Watershed management in the catchments, finally, had beneficial effects on ecosystem services by reducing soil erosion, restoring soil fertility, enhancing agricultural production, and maintaining overall runoff to the benefit of lowland areas and neighbouring countries.
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Esta investigacin se plantea con la hiptesis radical de cmo habitar el desierto de forma sostenible, desde una actitud pragmtica y experimental basada en el progreso. La justificacin se basa en primer lugar en los 2.000 millones de personas en el mundo que viven en entornos desrticos, el 80% de ellas, en pases en desarrollo, porque el 40% de la superficie terrestre est bajo amenaza de desertificacin afectando al 37% de la poblacin mundial, con 12 millones de hectreas al ao perdidas por esa causa, y por ltimo, porque se considera el desierto como un entorno de gran atractivo y potencial. El contenido de la investigacin se estructura en tres movimientos: posicionamiento, mirada y accin: Desde el posicionamiento se define en primer lugar la sostenibilidad, aportando un nuevo diagrama donde se incorpora el mbito arquitectnico como uno de los pilares principales, y, posteriormente, se establecen los criterios de evaluacin de la sostenibilidad, aportando un sistema de indicadores donde se incorporan parmetros adecuados a las circunstancias del oasis. Del mismo modo, se estudian y analizan metodologas de actuacin y proyectos de desarrollo sostenible existentes que enmarcan el estado del arte, constatando la dificultad de adaptacin de los mismos a las condiciones de los oasis, por lo que se elabora una metodologa propia donde se modifica la dinmica estratgica, de forma que el impulso se plantea desde la accin social, a travs de hiptesis de estrategias basadas en sistemas low-cost, autoconstruidas, asumibles econmicamente y de implantacin factible. El caso de estudio especfico radica en la situacin extrema de las condiciones en el oasis de Mhamid, donde se evidencia un proceso de desintegracin y abandono. Esto es debido a una acumulacin de circunstancias externas e internas, de mltiples factores: naturales y antrpicos que afectan al oasis, llevando al extremo las condiciones climticas y la escasez de recursos, naturales y artificiales. Factores como el cambio climtico, la sequa, los cambios en las polticas del agua, la amenaza de desertificacin, los conflictos sociales, el desequilibrio ecolgico, la escasez econmica, la crisis energtica, la obsolescencia arquitectnica, el patrimonio construido prcticamente destruido, y la malentendida nueva arquitectura. Es importante constatar la escasa documentacin grfica existente sobre la zona de actuacin lo que ha conllevado un amplio trabajo de documentacin, tanto cartogrfica como de observacin directa, aportada a la tesis como investigacin de elaboracin propia. La mirada analtica al caso de estudio permite conocer los recursos disponibles y las potencialidades latentes del oasis de Mhamid, que permitirn actuar para subvertir la dinmica involutiva imperante, de forma que los dibujos iniciales de apropiacin contextual y anlisis crticos derivan en mapas de accin diagramados conformados por un sistema de objetos y la definicin de estrategias transversales, deconstruyendo el pasado y reconstruyendo el futuro, incorporando sistemas alternativos que se definen en 7 lneas estratgicas de accin formuladas desde los 3 mbitos relacionados con el ecosistema: ecolgico, socio- econmico y arquitectnico. As, la tesis defiende la accin arquitectnica como impulsora del desarrollo sostenible, apoyada en 3 elementos: - la creacin de objetos tecnoartesanos, para el aprovechamiento de los recursos energticos - las transformaciones arquitectnicas, para reformular el hbitat desde la eficiencia energtica y el progreso - y el impulso de acciones cotidianas, que redefinan las relaciones sociales, creando entornos cooperativos y colaborativos. En el mbito ecolgico se proponen actuaciones anti desertificacin mediante incubadoras de rboles; sistemas alternativos de gestin del agua, como la lluvia slida; estrategias de potenciacin de la produccin agrcola; la construccin de mecanismos de obtencin de energa a partir de residuos, como los paneles solares con botellas PET. En el mbito socioeconmico se plantean nuevas formas de accin social y de reactivacin econmica. Por ltimo, en el mbito urbano-arquitectnico, se incorporan modificaciones morfolgicas a la arquitectura existente y una relectura contempornea de la tierra, como material que permite nuevas geometras, obteniendo arena petrificada por procesos microbiolgicos, y potenciando la tierra como recurso artstico. Esta tesis es un punto de partida, recoge sistemas, estrategias y experiencias, para funcionar como un estmulo o impulso dinamizador del futuro desarrollo sostenible del oasis, abriendo vas de investigacin y experimentacin. ABSTRACT This research puts forth the radical hypothesis of how to inhabit the desert in a sustainable way, using a pragmatic and experimental approach based on progress. The justification for this resides in the fact that there are 2,000 million people in the world living in desert environments, 80% of them in developing countries. Forty percent of the earths surface is under threat of desertification, affecting 37% of the world population and with 12 million hectares being lost each year. And finally, the desert is considered as an attractive environment and therefore, with great potential. The content of the research is structured in three main sections: positioning, observation and action: As a point of departure, sustainability is defined, proposing a new framework where architecture is incorporated as one of the main pillars. Then, the criteria for evaluating sustainability are established. These provide a system of indicators, which incorporate parameters based on the specific circumstances of the oasis. Methodologies and existing sustainable development projects that represent the state-of-the-art are analyzed, discussing the difficulty of adapting them to conditions of oases. A methodology that modifies strategic concepts is developed, whereby the catalyst is social action, and strategies are developed based on low-cost, self-built, and feasible implementation systems. The specific case study lies in the extreme conditions in the oasis of M'hamid, where a process of decay and neglect is evident. This deterioration is due to an accumulation of external and internal circumstances, and of natural and anthropogenic factors that affect the oasis, leading to extreme weather conditions and a shortage of both natural and artificial resources. Factors include; climate change, drought, changes in water policies, the threat of desertification, social conflicts, ecological imbalance, economic shortage, the energy crisis, architectural obsolescence, destruction of built heritage, and misunderstood new architecture. It is important to note the extremely limited graphic information about the area has led me to produce an extensive archive of maps and drawings, many developed by direct observation, that contribute to the research. The case study analysis of the oasis of M'hamid examines the resources available and the latent potential to slow the prevailing trend towards deterioration. The initial drawings of contextual appropriation and critical analysis result in maps and diagrams of action, which are formed by a system of objects and the definition of strategies. These can be thought of as understanding or deconstructing the past to reconstruct the future. Alternative approaches defined in seven strategies for action are based on three fields related to the ecosystem: ecological, socioeconomic and architectural. Thus, the thesis defends architectural action to promote sustainable development, based on three elements: - The creation of "techno-artisans", to make use of energy resources - Architectural changes, to reformulate habitat in terms of energy efficiency and progress - And the promotion of everyday actions, to redefine social relations, creating cooperative and collaborative environments. In the ecological field, I propose anti-desertification actions such as; tree incubators, alternative water management systems(such as solid rain),; strategies to empower the agricultural production, energy from low-cost systems made out from recycled materials(such as solar panels from PET bottles or wind turbine from bicycle wheels). In the socioeconomic sphere, I propose to implement new forms of social action and economic regeneration. Finally, within the urban and architectural field, I propose morphological changes to the existing architecture and a contemporary reinterpretation of the earth as a material that allows new geometries, creating petrified sand by microbiological processes or enhancing nature as an artistic and energy resource. This thesis is a starting point. It collects systems, strategies and experiences to serve as a stimulus or dynamic momentum for future sustainable development of the oasis, opening new avenues of research and experimentation. RSUM Cette recherche part d'une hypothse radicale : comment habiter le dsert de faon durable, et ce partir d'une approche pragmatique et exprimentale base sur le progrs. Cette hypothse se justifie en raison des 2 milliards de personnes qui dans le monde habitent des environnements dsertiques, 80% d'entre eux dans des pays en voie de dveloppement, mais aussi parce que 40% de la surface de la plante est sous menace de dsertification, un phnomne affectant 37% de la population mondiale et qui cause la perte de 12 millions d'hectares par an; et enfin parce que le dsert est considr comme un environnement trs attrayant et fort dun grand potentiel. Le contenu de la recherche se divise en trois mouvements: le positionnement, le regard et l'action : Du point de vue du positionnement on dfinit tout d'abord la durabilit, prsentant un nouveau schma o le domaine de l'architecture devient un des principaux piliers, et, par la suite, des critres d'valuation de la durabilit sont tablis, en fournissant un systme dindicateurs qui intgre les paramtres appropris aux circonstances de l'oasis. De mme, des mthodologies et des projets de dveloppement durable existants sont tudis et analyss, ce qui encadre l'tat de l'art, remarquant la difficult de les adapter aux conditions des oasis. De cette difficult dcoule l'laboration d'une mthodologie qui modifie la dynamique stratgique, de sorte que l'impulsion provient de l'action sociale, travers des hypothses de stratgie bases sur des systmes low-cost, auto-construits, et de mise en oeuvre conomiquement viable. Le cas d'tude spcifique rside en la situation extrme des conditions de l'oasis de Mhamid, o un processus de dcadence et de ngligence est vident. Cela est d une accumulation de circonstances externes et internes, de multiples facteurs: les facteurs naturels et anthropiques qui affectent l'oasis, menant l'extrme les conditions mtorologiques et la pnurie de ressources, autant naturelles qu'artificielles. Des facteurs tels que le changement climatique, la scheresse, les changements dans les politiques de l'eau, la menace de la dsertification, les conflits sociaux, le dsquilibre cologique, la pnurie conomique, la crise de l'nergie, l'obsolescence architecturale, le patrimoine bti pratiquement dtruit et une mauvais comprhensif de la nouvelle architecture. Il est important de de faire remarquer le peu d'informations graphiques du domaine d'action, ce qui a conduit un vaste travail de documentation, autant cartographique que relative l'observation directe. Cette documentation s'ajoute la thse en tant que recherche propre. Le regard analytique sur le cas d'tude permet de connatre les ressources disponibles et le potentiel latent de l'oasis de Mhamid, qui agiront pour renverser la dynamique d'involution en vigueur. Ainsi, les premiers dessins d'appropriation contextuelle et analyse critique deviennent des cartes d'action schmatises formes par un systme d'objets et la dfinition de stratgies transversales, qui dconstruisent le pass et reconstruisent l'avenir, en incorporant des systmes alternatifs qui se dfinissent sur 7 lignes stratgiques d'action formules partir des 3 domaines en relation avec lcosystme: lcologique, le socio-conomique et l'architectural. Ainsi, la thse dfend l'action architecturale en tant que promotrice du dveloppement durable, et ce bas sur 3 lments: - la cration d'objets "technoartisans" pour l'exploitation des ressources nergtiques - les modifications architecturales, pour reformuler l'habitat du point de vue de l'efficacit nergtique et le progrs - et la promotion des actions quotidiennes, pour redfinir les relations sociales, et la cration d'environnements de coopration et collaboration. Dans le domaine de l'cologie des actions de lutte contre la dsertification sont proposes travers des ppinires d'arbres, des systmes alternatifs de gestion de l'eau comme par exemple la pluie solide, des stratgies de mise en valeur de la production agricole, la construction de mcanismes de production d'nergie partir de rsidus, tels que les panneaux solaires ou les bouteilles en PET. Dans le domaine socio-conomique, l'on propose de nouvelles formes d'action sociale et de reprise conomique. Enfin, dans le domaine de l'urbain et de l'architectural, on incorpore des changements morphologiques l'architecture existante et une relecture contemporaine de la terre, comme matriau qui permet de nouvelles gomtries, en obtenant du sable ptrifi par des procds microbiologiques et en mettant en valeur la terre comme une ressource artistique. Cette thse n'est qu'un point de dpart. Elle recueille des systmes, des stratgies et des expriences pour servir de stimulus ou d'impulsion dynamisatrice du futur dveloppement durable de l'oasis, en ouvrant des voies de recherche et d'exprimentation.
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The purpose of this study is to develop econometric models to better understand the economic factors affecting inbound tourist flows from each of six origin countries that contribute to Hong Kongs international tourism demand. To this end, we test alternative cointegration and error correction approaches to examine the economic determinants of tourist flows to Hong Kong, and to produce accurate econometric forecasts of inbound tourism demand. Our empirical findings show that permanent income is the most significant determinant of tourism demand in all models. The variables of own price, weighted substitute prices, trade volume, the share price index (as an indicator of changes in wealth in origin countries), and a dummy variable representing the Beijing incident (1989) are also found to be important determinants for some origin countries. The average long-run income and own price elasticity was measured at 2.66 and 1.02, respectively. It was hypothesised that permanent income is a better explanatory variable of long-haul tourism demand than current income. A novel approach (grid search process) has been used to empirically derive the weights to be attached to the lagged income variable for estimating permanent income. The results indicate that permanent income, estimated with empirically determined relatively small weighting factors, was capable of producing better results than the current income variable in explaining long-haul tourism demand. This finding suggests that the use of current income in previous empirical tourism demand studies may have produced inaccurate results. The share price index, as a measure of wealth, was also found to be significant in two models. Studies of tourism demand rarely include wealth as an explanatory forecasting long-haul tourism demand. However, finding a satisfactory proxy for wealth common to different countries is problematic. This study indicates with the ECM (Error Correction Models) based on the Engle-Granger (1987) approach produce more accurate forecasts than ECM based on Pesaran and Shin (1998) and Johansen (1988, 1991, 1995) approaches for all of the long-haul markets and Japan. Overall, ECM produce better forecasts than the OLS, ARIMA and NAVE models, indicating the superiority of the application of a cointegration approach for tourism demand forecasting. The results show that permanent income is the most important explanatory variable for tourism demand from all countries but there are substantial variations between countries with the long-run elasticity ranging between 1.1 for the U.S. and 5.3 for U.K. Price is the next most important variable with the long-run elasticities ranging between -0.8 for Japan and -1.3 for Germany and short-run elasticities ranging between 0.14 for Germany and -0.7 for Taiwan. The fastest growing market is Mainland China. The findings have implications for policies and strategies on investment, marketing promotion and pricing.
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Ma thse sintresse aux politiques de sant conues pour encourager loffre de services de sant. Laccessibilit aux services de sant est un problme majeur qui mine le systme de sant de la plupart des pays industrialiss. Au Qubec, le temps mdian dattente entre une recommandation du mdecin gnraliste et un rendez-vous avec un mdecin spcialiste tait de 7,3 semaines en 2012, contre 2,9 semaines en 1993, et ceci malgr laugmentation du nombre de mdecins sur cette mme priode. Pour les dcideurs politiques observant laugmentation du temps dattente pour des soins de sant, il est important de comprendre la structure de loffre de travail des mdecins et comment celle-ci affecte loffre des services de sant. Dans ce contexte, je considre deux principales politiques. En premier lieu, jestime comment les mdecins ragissent aux incitatifs montaires et jutilise les paramtres estims pour examiner comment les politiques de compensation peuvent tre utilises pour dterminer loffre de services de sant de court terme. En second lieu, jexamine comment la productivit des mdecins est affecte par leur exprience, travers le mcanisme du "learning-by-doing", et jutilise les paramtres estims pour trouver le nombre de mdecins inexpriments que lon doit recruter pour remplacer un mdecin expriment qui va la retraite afin de garder loffre des services de sant constant. Ma thse dveloppe et applique des mthodes conomique et statistique afin de mesurer la raction des mdecins face aux incitatifs montaires et estimer leur profil de productivit (en mesurant la variation de la productivit des mdecins tout le long de leur carrire) en utilisant la fois des donnes de panel sur les mdecins qubcois, provenant denqutes et de ladministration. Les donnes contiennent des informations sur loffre de travail de chaque mdecin, les diffrents types de services offerts ainsi que leurs prix. Ces donnes couvrent une priode pendant laquelle le gouvernement du Qubec a chang les prix relatifs des services de sant. Jai utilis une approche base sur la modlisation pour dvelopper et estimer un modle structurel doffre de travail en permettant au mdecin dtre multitche. Dans mon modle les mdecins choisissent le nombre dheures travailles ainsi que lallocation de ces heures travers les diffrents services offerts, de plus les prix des services leurs sont imposs par le gouvernement. Le modle gnre une quation de revenu qui dpend des heures travailles et dun indice de prix reprsentant le rendement marginal des heures travailles lorsque celles-ci sont alloues de faon optimale travers les diffrents services. Lindice de prix dpend des prix des services offerts et des paramtres de la technologie de production des services qui dterminent comment les mdecins ragissent aux changements des prix relatifs. Jai appliqu le modle aux donnes de panel sur la rmunration des mdecins au Qubec fusionnes celles sur lutilisation du temps de ces mmes mdecins. Jutilise le modle pour examiner deux dimensions de loffre des services de sant. En premierlieu, janalyse lutilisation des incitatifs montaires pour amener les mdecins modifier leur production des diffrents services. Bien que les tudes antrieures ont souvent cherch comparer le comportement des mdecins travers les diffrents systmes de compensation,il y a relativement peu dinformations sur comment les mdecins ragissent aux changementsdes prix des services de sant. Des dbats actuels dans les milieux de politiques de sant au Canada se sont intresss limportance des effets de revenu dans la dtermination de la rponse des mdecins face laugmentation des prix des services de sant. Mon travail contribue alimenter ce dbat en identifiant et en estimant les effets de substitution et de revenu rsultant des changements des prix relatifs des services de sant. En second lieu, janalyse comment lexprience affecte la productivit des mdecins. Cela a une importante implication sur le recrutement des mdecins afin de satisfaire la demande croissante due une population vieillissante, en particulier lorsque les mdecins les plus expriments (les plus productifs) vont la retraite. Dans le premier essai, jai estim la fonction de revenu conditionnellement aux heures travailles, en utilisant la mthode des variables instrumentales afin de contrler pour une ventuelle endogeneit des heures travailles. Comme instruments jai utilis les variables indicatrices des ges des mdecins, le taux marginal de taxation, le rendement sur le march boursier, le carr et le cube de ce rendement. Je montre que cela donne la borne infrieure de llasticit-prix direct, permettant ainsi de tester si les mdecins ragissent aux incitatifs montaires. Les rsultats montrent que les bornes infrieures des lasticits-prix de loffre de services sont significativement positives, suggrant que les mdecins rpondent aux incitatifs. Un changement des prix relatifs conduit les mdecins allouer plus dheures de travail au service dont le prix a augment. Dans le deuxime essai, jestime le modle en entier, de faon inconditionnelle aux heures travailles, en analysant les variations des heures travailles par les mdecins, le volume des services offerts et le revenu des mdecins. Pour ce faire, jai utilis lestimateur de la mthode des moments simuls. Les rsultats montrent que les lasticits-prix direct de substitution sont leves et significativement positives, reprsentant une tendance des mdecins accroitre le volume du service dont le prix a connu la plus forte augmentation. Les lasticitsprix croises de substitution sont galement leves mais ngatives. Par ailleurs, il existe un effet de revenu associ laugmentation des tarifs. Jai utilis les paramtres estims du modle structurel pour simuler une hausse gnrale de prix des services de 32%. Les rsultats montrent que les mdecins devraient rduire le nombre total dheures travailles (lasticit moyenne de -0,02) ainsi que les heures cliniques travailles (lasticit moyenne de -0.07). Ils devraient aussi rduire le volume de services offerts (lasticit moyenne de -0.05). Troisimement, jai exploit le lien naturel existant entre le revenu dun mdecin pay lacte et sa productivit afin dtablir le profil de productivit des mdecins. Pour ce faire, jai modifi la spcification du modle pour prendre en compte la relation entre la productivit dun mdecin et son exprience. Jestime lquation de revenu en utilisant des donnes de panel asymtrique et en corrigeant le caractre non-alatoire des observations manquantes laide dun modle de slection. Les rsultats suggrent que le profil de productivit est une fonction croissante et concave de lexprience. Par ailleurs, ce profil est robuste lutilisation de lexprience effective (la quantit de service produit) comme variable de contrle et aussi la suppression dhypothse paramtrique. De plus, si lexprience du mdecin augmente dune anne, il augmente la production de services de 1003 dollar CAN. Jai utilis les paramtres estims du modle pour calculer le ratio de remplacement : le nombre de mdecins inexpriments quil faut pour remplacer un mdecin expriment. Ce ratio de remplacement est de 1,2.
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about 82 million immigrants in the OECD area; and worldwide, there are about 191 million immigrants and displaced persons, and some 30-40 million unauthorised immigrants. Also according to recent OECD report, little in-depth research has been carried out to-date to help decision makers in government, business, and society at large, to better understand the complexities and wider consequences of future migration flows. Literatures have also indicated that the lack of a skilled population in muchneeded occupations in countries of destination have contributed to the need to bring in skilled foreign workers. Furthermore, despite current global financial crisis, some areas of occupation are in need of skilled workers such that in a job-scarce environment jobs become fewer and employers are more likely to demand skilled workers from both natives and immigrants. Global competition for labour is expected to intensify, especially for top talent, highly qualified and semi-skilled individuals. This exacerbate the problems faced by current skilled immigrants and skilled refugees, particularly those from non-main English speaking countries who are not employed at optimal skill level in countries of destination. The research study investigates whether skilled immigrants are being effectively utilised in their countries of destination, in the context of employment. In addition to skilled immigrants, data sampling will also include skilled refugees who, although arriving under the humanitarian program, possess formal qualifications from their country of origin. Underlying variables will be explored such as the strength of social capital or interpersonal ties; and human capital in terms of educational attainment and proficiency in the English Language. The aim of the study is to explain the relationship between the variables; and whether the variables influence the employment outcomes. A broad-ranging preliminary literature review has been undertaken to explore the substantial bodies of knowledge on skilled immigrants worldwide, including skilled refugees; and to investigate whether the utilisation issues are universal or specific to a country. In addition, preliminary empirical research and analysis has been undertaken, to set the research focus and to identify the problems beyond literature. Preliminary findings have indicated that immigrants and refugees from non-main English speaking countries are particularly impacted by employment issues regardless of their skills and qualifications acquired in their country of origins; compared with immigrants from main-English speaking countries. Preliminary findings from the literature review also indicate that gaps in knowledge still exist. Although the past two decades have witnessed a virtual explosion of theory and research on international migration, no in-depth research has been located that specifically links immigrants and refugees social and human capitals in terms of employment outcomes. This research study aims to fill these gaps in research; and subsequently contribute to contemporary body of knowledge in literatures on the utilisation of skilled immigrants and skilled refugees, specifically those from non-main English speaking countries. A mixed methods design will be used, which incorporates techniques from both quantitative and qualitative research traditions that will be triangulated at the end of the data collection stage.
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Price based technique is one way to handle increase in peak demand and deal with voltage violations in residential distribution systems. This paper proposes an improved real time pricing scheme for residential customers with demand response option. Smart meters and in-home display units are used to broadcast the price and appropriate load adjustment signals. Customers are given an opportunity to respond to the signals and adjust the loads. This scheme helps distribution companies to deal with overloading problems and voltage issues in a more efficient way. Also, variations in wholesale electricity prices are passed on to electricity customers to take collective measure to reduce network peak demand. It is ensured that both customers and utility are benefitted by this scheme.
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Statistical analyses of health program participation seek to address a number of objectives compatible with the evaluation of demand for current resources. In this spirit, a spatial hierarchical model is developed for disentangling patterns in participation at the small area level, as a function of population-based demand and additional variation. For the former, a constrained gravity model is proposed to quantify factors associated with spatial choice and account for competition effects, for programs delivered by multiple clinics. The implications of gravity model misspecification within a mixed effects framework are also explored. The proposed model is applied to participation data from a no-fee mammography program in Brisbane, Australia. Attention is paid to the interpretation of various model outputs and their relevance for public health policy.
Resumo:
The paper discusses the relevant theoretical considerations and specifies a model in an attempt to quantify those variables, the changes of which affect the internal demand for fish in Nigeria. Regression analyses carried out show that a generally rising trend in per capita income will increase the demand for fish, other things being equal. It is further revealed that even as the price of fish goes on increasing, consumers' demand for fish also tend to rise. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for a fish consumption survey in the country's fish demand
Resumo:
The paper discusses the relevant theoretical considerations and specifies a model in an attempt to quantify those variables, the changes of which affect the internal demand for fish in Nigeria. Regression analyses carried out show that a generally rising trend in per capita income will increase the demand for fish, other things being equal. It is further revealed that even as the price of fish goes on increasing, consumers' demand for fish also tend to rise. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for a fish consumption survey in the country's fish demand
Resumo:
This is the first Annual report of the Cumberland River Authority on information of its activities and responsibilities on river management in its area between the beginning of April 1965, to the end of March 1966. The report contains 5 main sections on water resources, land drainage, fisheries, pollution, and finally the expenditure and income for the 12 month period. The first area that the report deals with is water resources, which includes periodical surveys, hydrometric schemes, acceptable flows, conservation works and a review of rainfall and river flow. The section on land drainage looks at work on improvement schemes, floods, charges and information on maintenance work carried out on rivers including Wampool, Waver, Marron, Irt, Esk, Eden, Caldew, Petteril, Eamont and Annas. The fisheries section covers 5 districts of the River Eden, Esk, Ellen, Derwent, and South West Cumberland. It includes angling information and a general report for salmon and sea trout, brown trout and freshwater fish. It also looks at fish hatchery, fisheries protection and byelaws including licence numbers issued for the different districts. The fourth section on pollution deals with water quality of the rivers and their tributaries from the same 5 areas mentioned above. It also covers information on sewage and trade effluents. The River Authorities preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.
Resumo:
This is the second Annual report of the Cumberland River Authority on information of its activities and responsibilities on river management in its area between the beginning of April 1966, to the end of March 1967. The report contains 5 main sections on water resources, land drainage, fisheries, pollution, and finally the expenditure and income for the 12 month period. The first area that the report deals with is water resources, which includes periodical surveys, hydrometric schemes, acceptable flows, conservation works and a review of rainfall and river flow. The section on land drainage looks at work on improvement schemes, floods, charges and information on maintenance work carried out on rivers including Wampool, Waver, Marron, Ellen, Derwent, Esk, Eden, Caldew, Petteril, Eamont, Gelt and Annas. The fisheries section covers 5 districts of the River Eden, Esk, Ellen, Derwent and South West Cumberland. It includes angling information and a general report for salmon and sea trout, Brown trout and freshwater fish. Fish disease and fish hatchery are also included as well as fisheries protection and byelaws. The fourth section on pollution deals with water quality and the results of samples taken from rivers Eden, Eamont, Caldew, Calder, Derwent, Ehen, Ellen, Wampool and Waver are also given. It also covers information on sewage and trade effluents. The River Authorities preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.
