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Analysis of the Algerian novel Fahla (Rabah Sbaa) from a sociolinguistic approach
No full textThis study analyzes the Algerian novel Fahla from a sociolinguistic point of view. The author has taken the initiative to write his novel in Algerian and in Latin characters and Arabic characters for both Arabic and Francophone readers since Algerian remains uncodified to this day. The main objective is to observe the linguistic system of the Algerian language and that of the standard
Arabic one to understand the functioning of the dialect mentioned above and demonstrate the need to study its linguistic typology and the phylogenetic relationships between the two languages. It is essential to investigate the relationship between language use, society, and identity to compare them. The novel is an appropriate example to analyze this three-dimensionality of language as osmosis that reflects the uniqueness of each speaker. A sociolinguistic study is carried out to evaluate the validity of Algerian as an official language. Fragments of texts that reflect these characteristics are considered following a qualitative methodology based on the observation and interpretation of data to demonstrate the use of various literary resources, syntax, structures and phrases of a language which is considered a dialect. The analyzed work reveals the real attitudes of society through the Algerian language for the first time in the literary field. It is a linguistic revolution that accompanies the social revolutions of recent years. The importance of communication in the mother tongue is shown through this work. To further raise awareness in the sociolinguistic community, there must be more encouragement for authors and journalists to write in this language, just as it is used by the media and culture (through means such as the theatre and the cinema) to emphasize the importance of identity values, including verbal and written expression in the mother tongue
Perceptions of social class in Africa. Results from a conjoint experiment
No full textAfrica’s so-called ‘new middle classes’ are receiving increasing attention. So far, much of this debate has been based on ‘objective’ criteria like household income or asset wealth. This article follows an emerging literature that asks Africans directly how they perceive class differences in their societies. In doing so we engage with the inherent multidimensionality of class experiences, which makes it harder for respondents to distinguish their own and others’ class status and to determine which indicators should enter into a socially meaningful conceptualization of class. The article innovates by addressing these challenges with the help of a factorial or ‘conjoint’ experiment. Conjoint experiments are well suited for analyzing complex multidimensional phenomena like class because they allow researchers to distinguish the separate effects of individual treatment components on outcomes such as perceived class status. Using primary survey data from Kenya, we find that the shift to the experimental setting reduces respondents’ problems to distinguish people’s class status, especially at the middle of the socio-economic ladder. The analysis also shows that income can serve as a useful proxy for subjective class. Nonetheless, other non-monetary dimensions like assets, education, or employment type also enter with small but statistically significant effects. Finally, we find that perceptions of ‘middle-classness’ often overlap with relatively severe experiences of economic insecurity. This latter result suggests that Western concepts of economically secure middle classes should not be uncritically applied to a lower-income region like Africa. The results hold across a range of robustness and external validity tests using Kenyan and multi-country Afrobarometer survey data.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) through its Academic Excellence and Societal Challenges initiative [grant numbers CSO2017-87350-P and PID2022-140461NB-I00] and through the European Research Council [grant number 864333]
Natural law philosophy and slavery in Cuba: the captives of schooner Nuestra Señora del Carmen (1795-1803)
No full textData de publicació electrònica: 29-05-2025On 22 June 1795, slavery had already been abolished in France when a French privateer loaded 94 Africans on a Spanish slave ship going to Cuba from Jamaica. A few days later, the privateer captain transferred the 94 Africans to a Spanish captain who sold them as slaves in Trinidad, Cuba. In 1797, the General Captain of Cuba reconsidered the status of these 94 Africans enslaved under his jurisdiction. After consulting the Consejo de Indias in Spain, both the consular and captain general's polemics draw heavily on naturalistic ideas. The philosophy of Natural Law and geopolitical relations in the period explain King Charles IV's decision. In 1800, he upheld the legal emancipation of the 94 Africans from their captivity. Despite his decree, liberating the 94 enslaved in the colony was problematic. María Antonia Mandinga was among the 94 lives trafficked by the French privateer in 1795 and freed by the Spanish king in 1800 but she died enslaved in Cuba. María Antonia's case allows us to examine a lesser-known path to freedom for enslaved men and women in the colonies: the intervention of the Crown and other elite colonial administrators using the philosophy of natural law
Urban heat islands and nature-based solutions: insights into health impacts and urban planning determinants
No full textThe current and projected rapid urbanization rates underscore the critical role of cities and the urgent need to prioritize the development of healthy and sustainable urban environments. Rising temperatures, intensified by the urban heat island (UHI) effect, pose a significant health threat, particularly in European cities where they have been linked to a notable rise in mortality. This thesis investigates the health impacts of UHIs and examines the effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in mitigating these effects across European cities. It also explores which urban configurations types are most associated with UHI intensity, CO2 emissions, and health. The findings indicate that UHIs significantly contribute to mortality in European cities, and that increasing the urban tree cover density (TC) can mitigate some of these effects by cooling the urban environment. The evaluation of Barcelona’s “Green Corridors” plan as a case study revealed significant health benefits from increased green exposure, underscoring the multifaceted advantages of NbS and contributing to the debate on optimal heat mitigation strategies. Moreover, this thesis found that while present-compact cities have poorer environmental and health outcomes, they are more efficient in terms of CO2 emissions compared to their greener, less dense counterparts. To counteract these negative impacts, potential strategies include integrating NbS strategically, diversifying local destinations, promoting active transport, and redesigning urban areas to encourage walking and cycling while reducing motorized traffic. These measures should be customized to the specific contexts of each city, with a focus on collaboration among various stakeholders to effectively tackle challenges and promote healthier, more sustainable urban development.Las actuales y proyectadas tasas de urbanización destacan el papel crucial de las ciudades y la urgente necesidad de priorizar el desarrollo de entornos urbanos saludables y sostenibles. El incremento de temperaturas, agravado por el efecto de isla de calor urbano (ICU), es reconocido como una amenaza significativa para la salud, especialmente en ciudades europeas donde se asocia con un aumento significativo en las tasas de mortalidad. Esta tesis tuvo como objetivo investigar los impactos en la salud de las ICUs y evaluar la eficacia de las Soluciones Basadas en la Naturaleza (SbN) para mitigar estos efectos en las ciudades Europeas. También buscó identificar qué tipos de configuraciones urbanas están más asociadas con la intensidad de las ICUs, las emisiones de CO2 y la salud. Los resultados de la investigación indican que las ICUs contribuyen significativamente a la mortalidad en las ciudades Europeas, y que aumentar la cobertura arbórea urbana puede mitigar algunos de estos efectos al enfriar el entorno urbano. La evaluación del plan "Ejes Verdes" de Barcelona, como estudio de caso reveló beneficios significativos para la salud asociados con la exposición a áreas verdes, resaltando los múltiples beneficios de las SbN y contribuyendo al debate sobre las mejores estrategias de mitigación del calor. Además, se observó que las ciudades compactas actuales tienen peores resultados en términos de exposiciones ambientales y salud, aunque tienen un mejor desempeño en emisiones de CO2 en comparación con sus contrapartes más verdes y de menor densidad. Las estrategias potenciales para contrarrestar estos impactos adversos incluyen la integración estratégica de NbS, la diversificación de destinos locales, la promoción del transporte activo y cambios en el diseño urbano para incrcementar áreas peatonales y ciclistas, y otras medidas para reducir el tráfico motorizado. Estas medidas deben adaptarse al contexto específico de cada ciudad, enfatizando la colaboración entre diversos actores para abordar efectivamente los desafíos y fomentar un desarrollo urbano más saludable y sostenible.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin
Grammatical gender agreement in production: the case of heritage Russian
No full textAims and objectives/purpose/research questions: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the knowledge of Russian gender in young heritage speakers through different agreement constructions. Design/methodology/approach:
Participants were 30 Russian-Spanish-Catalan multilinguals from Spain aged 7-11 years, divided into two proficiency groups, and a baseline group of 24 age-matched Russian monolinguals residing in Russia. All participants completed four experiments using an oral elicited production task addressing different linguistic conditions.
Data and analysis:
The accuracy scores were compared between the two proficiency groups and between the heritage and monolingual speakers to document any changes as a function of the type of agreement construction, gender value, noun form transparency, and crosslinguistic congruency.
Findings/conclusions:
The results demonstrated a hierarchy of gender values; masculine being the easiest gender value, neuter the most difficult, and feminine in between the two. The crosslinguistic influence was yelled under vulnerable conditions: when (1) the proficiency in heritage language is low, (2) in opaque and (or) incongruent nouns, and (3) in agreement construction which is absent in Spanish and Catalan. The results also suggest that the heritage language from the high-proficiency group can attain monolingual-like gender agreement knowledge.
Originality:
We documented gender agreement production in trilingual speakers, which is an under-explored topic. The study employs a new method of analysing gender in several constructions, including adjectival and verbal agreement at Noun Phrase and sentence levels.
Significance/implications:
The study provides insights into heritage language development during the early years of exposure to the two majority languages. The results may offer a greater understanding of the characteristics of heritage language/L2 development in trilingual children.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The research benefited from support by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Grant FFI2016-75082-P) and the predoctoral grant from the UPF to the first author
The participation of sub-national governments in the Council of the EU: some evidence from Spain
No full textBy 2004 Spanish subnational governments are allowed to participate in some formal meetings of the Council of the European Union as well as in its working groups. For proponents of the multi-level governance approach, a regional presence in the Council provides evidence in support of enhanced subnational participation in EU policy making. For intergovernmentalists, on the contrary, the Spanish case demonstrates that central government still maintains a crucial gatekeeper position since it formally regulates the main aspects of subnational participation. By presenting the results of a case study on the formal participation of the Spanish regions in the Council, the paper agrees that, even in a context of Europeanization, the central state still ultimately retains some veto powers. Nevertheless, the article takes issue with the argument that subnational participation is mainly formal and lacks substantive value. The article provides evidence, on the contrary, that the definition of the joint common position reinforces intrastate relations in EU policy making with a positive net effect for subnational governments
Essays in Macroeconomics
No full textThis dissertation consists of three papers focusing on the effects of firm and worker strategies on economic aggregates. The first chapter estimates the effects of corporate political connections with Congressional committee members on the rise of market power of large firms in the United States. By exploiting the committee exile as a quasiexogenous shock, it shows that on average 10% higher political connections increase 0.58% in markups. The effects can be mostly explained by lower production cost. The second chapter study how search frictions affect job matching quality and spatial sorting. I develop a spatial general equilibrium model with two-sided heterogeneity and frictional labor markets. The model predicts less spatial sorting when search costs fall, but more sorting with skill-biased technical change. I use this framework to quantify the roles of SBTC, search frictions, and amenities in spatial trends. The third chapter examines how the internal organization of firms shapes asymmetric wage risks over the business cycle using matched employer-employee data in Germany. We document that the internal organization of firms introduces a trade-off between wage premiums and wage risks.Aquesta tesi doctoral consta de tres articles que se centren en els efectes de les estratègies de les empreses i els treballadors sobre els agregats econòmics. El primer capítol estima els efectes de les connexions polítiques corporatives amb membres dels comitès del Congrés en l’augment del poder de mercat de les grans empreses als Estats Units. Aprofitant l’exili del comitè com a xoc quasi-exògen, es demostra que, de mitjana, un 10% més de connexions polítiques incrementen un 0.58% els marges. Aquests efectes es poden explicar principalment per costos de producció més baixos. El segon capítol estudia com les friccions en la cerca afecten la qualitat de l’emparellament laboral i la classificació espacial. Desenvolupo un model d’equilibri general espacial amb heterogeneïtat bilateral i mercats laborals amb friccions. El model prediu menys classificació espacial quan cauen els costos de cerca, però més classificació amb un canvi tècnic inclinat cap a habilitats. Utilitzo aquest marc per quantificar els rols del canvi tècnic inclinat cap a habilitats, les friccions en la cerca i els serveis en les tendències espacials. El tercer capítol examina com l’organització interna de les empreses modela els riscos salarials asimètrics al llarg del cicle econòmic utilitzant dades emparellades d’empleador-empleat a Alemanya. Documentem que l’organització interna de les empreses introdueix un trade-off entre primes salarials i riscos salarials.Programa de Doctorat en Economia, Finances i Empres
Democracy, Delegation, and the New Frontier of Central Banking
No full textIndependent central banks are major centres of unelected power in contemporary capitalist societies. While critics allege that they are incompatible with democratic values, defenders argue that delegating monetary policy to an independent central bank is an important policy tool elected institutions may use to lower inflation. This thesis defends a moderate view that neither requires dismantling central bank independence nor turns a blind eye to its risks for the proper functioning of a democratic regime: it proposes rules for monetary policy delegation that limit central bank power while allowing it to serve its core function, and applies them to the European Central Bank (ECB). It also argues that, despite objections alleging that doing so would be undemocratic and/or illegal, central banks may permissibly use their current powers to speed up the decarbonisation of the economy. That is: they may permissibly engage in ‘green’ central banking.Los bancos centrales independientes son importantes centros de poder no electo. Mientras que sus detractores alegan que son incompatibles con los valores democráticos, sus defensores sostienen que delegar la política monetaria en un banco central independiente es una importante herramienta política que las instituciones elegidas pueden utilizar para reducir la inflación. Esta tesis defiende una visión moderada que ni exige desmantelar la independencia del banco central ni hace la vista gorda ante sus riesgos para el buen funcionamiento de un régimen democrático: propone reglas para la delegación de la política monetaria que limitan el poder del banco central al tiempo que le permiten cumplir su función principal, y las aplica al Banco Central Europeo (BCE). También argumenta que, a pesar de las objeciones que alegan que hacerlo sería antidemocrático y/o ilegal, los bancos centrales pueden utilizar de forma permisible sus poderes actuales para acelerar la descarbonización de la economía.Programa de Doctorat en Dre
The Effectiveness of Informal International Law in Southeast Asia: Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Enforcement of the 2002 ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
No full textThis study addresses the persistent challenges posed by transboundary haze pollution in ASEAN countries, examining the inadequacies of the 2002 ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (ASEAN Haze Agreement). Despite being in force since November 2003, the Agreement lacks compulsory enforceable provisions, contributing to recurring annual transboundary pollution incidents with significant health, transportation, and environmental consequences. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, the research investigates case studies to reveal how ASEAN countries have opted for 'non-adversarial' methods to amicably settle disputes related to haze pollution. Emphasizing the cultural preference for consensual conflict resolution over confrontation, the study aims to identify and address weaknesses hindering the Agreement's enforcement. The proposed solution involves establishing a rules-based dispute settlement protocol within ASEAN, offering a peaceful resolution for disputes, particularly those concerning transboundary haze pollution. The research integrates a doctrinal approach, examining legal documents and case law, with empirical methods such as focus group discussions and interviews. By interpreting collected data, the study seeks to propose effective enforcement strategies and dispute resolution mechanisms, considering ASEAN's cultural values. This research is imperative to enhance collaboration among ASEAN countries and mitigate the persistent transboundary haze pollution issue.Este estudio aborda los desafíos persistentes planteados por la contaminación transfronteriza causada por la neblina en los países de la ASEAN, examinando las deficiencias del Acuerdo de la ASEAN de 2002 sobre Contaminación por Neblina Transfronteriza (Acuerdo de Neblina de la ASEAN). A pesar de estar en vigor desde noviembre de 2003, el acuerdo carece de disposiciones x obligatorias y ejecutables, lo que contribuye año tras año a incidentes recurrentes de contaminación transfronteriza con consecuencias significativas para la salud, el transporte y el medio ambiente. Utilizando un enfoque de método mixto, la investigación analiza estudios de caso para revelar cómo los países de la ASEAN han optado por métodos 'no confrontacionales' para resolver de forma amistosa disputas relacionadas con la contaminación por neblina. Al enfatizar la preferencia cultural por la resolución consensuada de conflictos en lugar de la confrontación, el estudio busca identificar y abordar las debilidades que obstaculizan la aplicación del acuerdo. La solución propuesta implica establecer un protocolo de resolución de disputas basado en reglas dentro de la ASEAN, ofreciendo una solución pacífica para disputas, especialmente aquellas relacionadas con la contaminación transfronteriza por neblina. La investigación integra un enfoque doctrinal, examinando documentos legales y jurisprudencia, con métodos más empíricos como discusiones en grupos y entrevistas. Al interpretar los datos recopilados, el estudio busca proponer estrategias efectivas de aplicación y mecanismos de resolución de disputas, teniendo en cuenta los valores culturales de la ASEAN. Esta investigación es necesaria para mejorar la colaboración entre los países de la ASEAN y mitigar el persistente problema de la contaminación transfronteriza por neblina.Programa de Doctorat en Dre
Inhaled treatment and patient-reported outcomes in asthma
No full textThe general aim of this doctoral thesis was to examine the impact on persons with persistent asthma of inhaled treatment use and sociodemographic factors, in terms of patient-reported outcomes. To achieve this, a new patient-reported tool for inhalation technique assessment was developed and validated across all ages, the Inhaler Technique Questionnaire (InTeQ); and we evaluated in pediatric population the longitudinal relationships that inhalation technique and treatment adherence present with symptom control, exacerbations, and health-related quality of life. The data used to perform this thesis came from two projects. The first one, “Assessment of the Safety of LABAs in Asthma in Routine Care by Combining Health-Care Databases and Direct Patient Follow-Up” (ASTRO-LAB), is a longitudinal asthma cohort study conducted in France and the United Kingdom in children and adults. The second project, “Asthma Research in Children and Adolescents” (ARCA), is a longitudinal, prospective, multicenter, observational study in Spain, directly derived from ASTRO-LAB to provide further evidence in children and adolescents. Our findings showed that the InTeQ is a feasible, valid, and reliable instrument for self-reporting inhalation technique in any type of device in adults and pediatric populations. Also, we confirmed longitudinal associations at within-person level of the two indicators of quality use of inhalers: for adherence to the inhaled maintenance treatment with symptom control and health-related quality of life, and for inhalation technique with health-related quality of life. It is remarkable how, although treatment adherence showed to be excellent, a third part of participants reported a suboptimal inhalation technique, supporting the need of actions for improvement in the asthma management of pediatric population.El objetivo general de esta tesis doctoral fue examinar el impacto en las personas con asma persistente del uso del tratamiento inhalado y los factores sociodemográficos, en términos de resultados reportados por los pacientes. Para lograr esto, se desarrolló y validó una nueva herramienta reportada por el paciente para la evaluación de la técnica de inhalación en todas las edades, el Inhaler Technique Questionnaire (InTeQ); y se evaluó en población pediátrica la relación longitudinal que la técnica de inhalación y la adherencia al tratamiento de mantenimiento presenta con el control de síntomas, las exacerbaciones y la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Los datos utilizados para realizar esta tesis provienen de dos proyectos. El primero, “Assessment of the Safety of LABAs in Asthma in Routine Care by Combining Health-Care Databases and Direct Patient Follow-Up” (ASTRO-LAB), es un estudio longitudinal de una cohorte de niños y adultos con asma realizado en Francia y el Reino Unido. Y el segundo proyecto, “Asthma Research in Children and Adolescents” (ARCA), es un estudio observacional, prospectivo, longitudinal, multicéntrico, en España, directamente derivado de ASTRO-LAB para proveer más evidencia en niños y adolescentes. Nuestros hallazgos demostraron que el InTeQ es un instrumento factible, válido y fiable para autoinformar la técnica de inhalación en cualquier tipo de dispositivo en poblaciones adultas y pediátricas. Además, confirmamos asociaciones longitudinales a nivel intrapersonal de los dos indicadores de uso de calidad de los inhaladores: para la adherencia al tratamiento de mantenimiento con control de síntomas y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, y para la técnica de inhalación con calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Es notable cómo, aunque la adherencia al tratamiento resultó ser excelente, una tercera parte de los participantes reportó una técnica de inhalación subóptima, apoyando la necesidad de acciones para la mejora en el manejo del asma en la población pediátrica.Programa de Doctorat en Biomedicin