32 research outputs found
Valuing landslide risk reduction programs in the Italian Alps: The effect of visual information on preference stability
No full textWe use discrete choice experiments to investigate the social demand for landslide protection projects. Given the importance of information in public good valuation via surveys, we explore the effect of specific visual information on the stability of preference estimates
Do information and citizens characteristics affect public acceptability of landslide protection measures? A latent class approach
No full textThe Italian Alps are increasingly vulnerable to landslides. Residents and visitors are exposed to serious socio-economic consequences from these natural events. Hence, risk mitigation is a major safety issue for local authorities. Publicly funded adaptation interventions are expensive to implement and cause the need to better understand acceptability of protection measures, and their economic efficiency. We investigate social demand for landslide protection in Boite Valley (North-Eastern Alps) by adopting a choice experiment survey approach. We specifically address the impact of information on preferences by eliciting them before and after providing respondents with visual simulations of possible catastrophic events. Choice data are used to estimate a Latent Class-Random Parameters model. This allows us to identify segments of the population with different preference profiles towards safety measures and their sensitivity to information treatments. Marginal willingness to pay (mWTP) values for protection measures are estimated and mapped to describe the spatial distribution of benefits from risk reduction. Overall, we found mWTP values to vary spatially and to be dependent on information and socio-economic characteristics
Three essays on stated choice experiments for nonmarket valuation of landslide protection
No full textThis thesis consists of three essays that improve the general understanding of the public demand for safety programmes in the context of natural hazards. With the growing importance of this topic around the world, this study provides a practical and methodological contribution to the literature on Environmental Economics and Policy, especially local policy.
In particular, this research examines people’s preferences and their willingness-to-pay for landslide mitigation programmes. The primary aim is to assess how the residents of and visitors to a mountain valley in the Alps value and trade off the multiple attributes of protection programmes for landslide risk reduction by applying Discrete Choice Modelling methodology. To address the current needs of local decision-makers, the investigation of the determinants of preference heterogeneity is the central theme of the research. The study is based on a panel choice dataset created from a Discrete Choice Experiment, based on full ranking, administered in person by the author to 250 respondents in the Boite Valley, Italy.
The first essay examines the stability of preferences, investigating to what extent additional information has an impact on estimated values. Specifically, it studies whether respondents adjust their preferences based on scientific information provided on one specific attribute. A mixed logit model in willingness-to-pay space is implemented to account for preference heterogeneity. The findings suggest that respondents perceive the existing protection measures as insufficient. The provision of information affects only the attribute subject to additional information and the consideration of the current status of protection. Preferences for the other attributes remained stable. Preliminary evidence of spatial heterogeneity is also detected.
The second essay addresses the issue of the stability of parameter estimates obtained through simulation using choice models with latent variables. Specifically, it analyses the stability of the coefficients to the number of simulation draws and the increasing number of latent variables. Three Random Parameter logit models with respectively one, two and three latent variables are fitted with six sets of increased numbers of draws. The landslide risk perceptions of respondents are modelled as latent sources of heterogeneity in the consideration of the riskiest scenario. Overall, the results show very stable estimates for the attributes’ coefficients but not for the latent variables. Thus, increasing the complexity by adding more latent factors into the model implies the necessity of additional draws in the simulation process to ensure empirical identification. The results also show how preferences are strongly related to the underlying perceptions of own mortality risk due to landslides and risk severity.
The third essay explores multiple sources of preference heterogeneity, accounting for its spatial determinants. It emerges that the inclusion of more observables allows for a better segmentation of the policy based on respondents’ and municipalities’ characteristics. The findings show the importance of distinct spatial effects, such as geographical characteristics, spatial error components for road tracts and site-specific choice-sets, with relevant insights into the priority of intervention. In addition, residual unobserved heterogeneity is analysed at a higher hierarchical scale using spatial models at the municipality level.
Overall, the empirical results of this thesis provide important policy implications for local decision-makers in charge of public safety, given the relevant information on the distributional effects of protection across different groups of beneficiaries
Pogrzeb Mattea Ricciego SJ (1552–1610) w Historiae Sinarum Imperii Tomasza Szpota Dunina: Kulturowa interakcja
No full textThe article analyzes the circumstances of the funeral of the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who died in Beijing in 1610. The author emphasizes the cultural complexity of this event and explores the broad cultural and religious context of China’s collision with Western civilization. Using historical and cultural analysis methods, mainly based on Historiae Sinarum Imperii by Tomasz Szpot Dunin, the author examines Confucian funeral ceremonies, their social and cultural significance, and their impact on cultural rapprochement between the East and West. The practices are compared with Western traditions, analyzing similarities and differences. Special attention is given to how Christianity and Confucianism contributed to Ricci’s unique funeral ceremony, combining elements of both cultures. The article highlights Ricci’s controversial figure and his significant impact on understanding and acceptance between cultures, with his funeral symbolizing harmony between Eastern and Western traditions, demonstrating how respect for local practices can transform intercultural relations.W artykule analizowane są okoliczności pogrzebu włoskiego jezuity Mattea Ricciego, zmarłego w Pekinie w 1610 r. Autor podkreśla złożoność kulturową tego wydarzenia i opierając się na najnowszych badaniach, eksploruje szeroki kontekst kulturowy oraz religijny zderzenia cywilizacji Chin z Zachodem. Wykorzystując metody analizy historycznej i kulturowej, głównie na podstawie Historiae Sinarum Imperii Tomasza Szpota Dunina, autor bada ceremonie pogrzebowe w tradycji konfucjańskiej, ich znaczenie społeczne i kulturowe, a także wpływ na zbliżenie kulturowe między Wschodem a Zachodem. Porównuje te praktyki z zachodnimi tradycjami, analizując różnice i podobieństwa. Szczególna uwaga poświęcona jest temu, jak chrześcijaństwo i konfucjanizm przyczyniły się do unikalnej formy ceremonii pogrzebowej Ricciego, łączącej elementy obu kultur. Artykuł podkreśla, że kontrowersyjna postać Ricciego miała istotny wpływ na zrozumienie i akceptację między kulturami, a jego pogrzeb stał się symbolem harmonii między tradycjami Wschodu i Zachodu, demonstrując, jak szacunek dla lokalnych praktyk może przekształcić relacje międzykulturowe
Applicazione degli esperimenti di scelta nella valutazione economica delle risorse ambientali: il caso del parco naturale delle Dolomiti D' Ampezzo
No full textGli schianti da neve e da vento nel territorio della comunità montana Comelico e Sappada (BL): gli eventi nell'ultimo decennio (1997-2007)
No full textI danni ai boschi da avversità meteoriche rappresentano un problema di estrema gravità ed attualità per la selvicoltura alpina. Nel presente lavoro si sono analizzati i danni subiti, nell'ultimo decennio, da alcune formazioni forestali del Comelico ad opera del vento
Safeguarding iconic tree species, dependent ecosystems, and regional economies: A New Zealand perspective on controlling Kauri Dieback
No full textIn response to a disease outbreak affecting an iconic ecosystem, restricting recreational access emerges as a crucial strategy to control disease spread, despite significant social and economic impacts. The study examines the economic implications of Kauri Dieback, affecting the emblematic kauri trees located in the Waitākere Ranges Park in New Zealand, on the local, regional, and national economy through impacted recreational services. Using a risk-assessment framework integrating components of a probabilistic Cost-Benefit-Analysis (CBA), we investigate the impact of a Kauri Dieback outbreak on recreation and related spending. We assess costs based on protection management plans and expected benefits by considering the avoided economic losses from a probable park closure. Our research introduces a novel element by calculating the minimum probability of a park closure that would make protection measures cost effective. These probability thresholds can then be compared with the expert-elicited probabilities of a park closure to economically justify protection measures. A sensitivity analysis examines key assumptions, including the consideration of the indirect and induced impacts from a potential outbreak using economic multipliers. Findings show a low threshold probability range (0.2–8.9 %) for cost-effective interventions under different plausible scenarios. The scenario considering a high expenditure per visitor yields the highest net benefit (NZ76 million for a one-year closure) is associated with the lowest counterpart. It underscores the need for strategic investments to protect kauri trees in a complex economic context, providing valuable insights for policymakers and the community
Keeping It Real in the Hills: Representing Appalachia in Americana Music
No full textKEEPING IT REAL IN THE HILLS: REPRESENTING APPALACHIA IN AMERICANA was led by leading author, journalist and media personality Craig Havighurst and panelists radio producer Kris Truelsen, artist Kathy Mattea, artist Amythyst Kiah, and music educator Ted Olson. The topic of discussion was the state of old-time and Appalachian folk music and its sounds today, and the making of Kathy Mattea’s album Calling Me Home
Re-emergence of human leishmaniasis in northern Italy, 2004 to 2022: a retrospective analysis
No full textBackground. Human leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease transmitted by sand flies and endemic in the Mediterranean region. In Italy, leishmaniasis is present in the south and the western coastal regions, with an epidemic peak detected in northern Italy in the early 1970s.AimTo examine temporal trends, and demographic, clinical, geographical and environmental features of human leishmaniasis cases recorded by the local health unit (LHU) of Bologna, northern Italy.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, we analysed human leishmaniasis cases recorded from 2004 to 2022 within the Bologna LHU. We also conducted serological investigations for canine leishmaniasis in owned dogs living near the place of infection of human cases. Results. In total, 173 cases of human leishmaniasis were detected, and 154 cases were considered autochthonous. An increase of human cases was observed since 2004, with incidence peaks above 2 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2013, 2018 and 2022; epidemic peaks were preceded by dry summers. Most cases lived in the plain and hilly areas less than 400 m above sea level and many resided in isolated housing, in city outskirts, and/or near uncultivated areas, watercourses and railway sections. The incidence of canine leishmaniasis did not increase in the study period.Conclusion. An epidemic of human leishmaniasis with fluctuating annual numbers of cases, probably related to environmental and climatic factors, was identified in the Bologna LHU. Understanding the risk factors and the environmental characteristics related to places of infection is crucial to evaluate the public health implications of leishmaniasis
Addiction to pornography : analysis of the clinical picture and treatment options
No full textPosljednja dva desetljeća mnogobrojni znanstvenici pišu o fenomenu bihevioralnih ovisnosti,
unutar kojih svrstavamo i ovisnost o pornografiji. Osim zbog razvoja saznanja o bihevioralnim
ovisnostima, tema ovisnosti o pornografiji značajna je i zbog činjenice da socijalno
distanciranje koje je trenutno prisutno u društvu te nagli napredak tehnologije i lakoća pristupa,
povećavaju vjerojatnost razvoja ovog tipa ovisničkog ponašanja. Cilj ovog diplomskog rada
jest, pregledom domaće i strane, stručne i znanstvene literature, sistematizirati informacije i
postojeće znanstvene spoznaje na temu ovisnosti o pornografiji, a u svrhu unaprjeđivanja
socijalnopedagoške znanosti i prakse. U radu se kroz pregled koji započinje definicijom i
terminologijom, preko kliničke slike i instrumenata, prevalencije i načina pristupa
pornografskom sadržaju, korelatima, rizičnim čimbenicima i posljedicama uporabe dolazi do
mehanizma razvoja ovisnosti te tretmanskih i preventivnih mogućnosti djelovanja stručnjaka
kao i zaključka autorice rada. Najbitniji zaključci rada odnose se na to da je ovisnost o
pornografiji, nova, nedovoljno jasno definirana, no sve češća problematika među odraslom i
adolescentskom populacijom. Naglašena je važnost posljedica ponašanja na pojedinca jer
upravo one čine razliku između normalnog i patološkog. Autorica ističe važnost bavljenja ovom
problematikom među stručnjacima pomažućih profesija, najviše u području prevencije razvoja
težih oblika problema.In the last two decades, numerous scientists have been writing about the phenomenon of
behavioral addictions, including addiction to pornography. In addition to the development of
knowledge about behavioral addictions, the topic of pornography addiction is also significant
since the social distancing that is currently present in society and the rapid progress of
technology and ease of access increases the likelihood of developing this type of addictive
behavior. The goal of this thesis is to systematize information and existing scientific knowledge
on the topic of addiction to pornography, to improve social-pedagogical science and practice,
by reviewing domestic and foreign professional and scientific literature. In the paper, through
an overview that begins with definitions and terminology, through the clinical picture and
instruments, prevalence and methods of access to pornographic content, correlates, risk factors
and consequences of use, the mechanism of addiction development and the treatment and
preventive actions of experts, as well as the author's conclusion, are reached. The most
important conclusions of the work refer to the fact that pornography addiction is a new, vaguely
defined, but increasingly common problem among the adult and adolescent population. The
importance of the consequences of behavior on the individual is emphasized, because it is
precisely these that make the difference between normal and pathological. The author points
out the importance of dealing with this issue among experts in the helping professions,
especially in the area of prevention of the development of more severe forms of the problem
