Average Income Level Research Articles

A Model to Simulate the Convergence Process in the EU and in the Balkans Region Based on Empirical Evidence

In the context of many new challenges for the EU economy, convergence continues to be one of the main goals in the long run. This paper provides empirical evidence in support of a significant trend of convergence for the EU28 countries after 2000. Investigating the drivers of this trend, we concurrently developed an analysis of convergence for each of the three EU conventional groups and we document rather different results, i.e. strong convergence for the group of former eastern communist countries (EU11E), slow convergence in the group of Southern countries (EU6S), and a trend of slow divergence for the group of North-Western countries (EU11NW). Moreover, taking into account the new Western Balkan candidate countries (EU6B, comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia), we analyzed the convergence among these four groups of countries in an extended EU, conventionally denoted as EU34. Our study suggests the existence of complex dynamics that feature the EU34 economic system of heterogeneous economies. When separating the region into two zones based on the average level of income per capita, we notice completely different behaviors: on the left side an accelerated convergence to the average level of the system prevails, while the right side features a general slow divergence interrupted by some periods of convergence; the distribution could be far from a normal distribution for which the behavior is linear; around the average level, the behavior may change dramatically, uncovering an instability sub-zone, with higher stability only far from the average level on the right side.
 Keywords: European Union, Balkans region, Convergence, Divergence, Economic Growth, Behavioural regimes

The impact of childbirth education classes on delivery outcome.

To determine whether participating in childbirth classes is associated with pregnancy outcomes. A retrospective study was conducted to review the medical records of all nulliparous women who participated in childbirth classes during their pregnancy and delivered in the authors' institute, between January 2014 and December 2017 (CB class group). The control group comprised nulliparous women who delivered in the same time period, but who did not participate in any education classes (Not attended CB class group). The controls were matched in a ratio of 1:1 for gestational age at delivery and neonatal birth weight. Overall, 159 patients were included in each group. The class group was characterized with above average income (28 [23.9%] vs 19 [16.7%]; P=0.001) and higher education level (80 [64.0%] vs 60 [45.1%]; P=0.002), higher rate of normal vaginal delivery (128 [80.5%] vs 93 [58.5%]; P<0.001), and lower rate of vacuum extraction (12 [7.5%] vs 36 [22.6%]; P<0.001) compared to the Not attended CB class group. By logistic regression analysis, after controlling for obstetrics and socioeconomic variables, participation in childbirth classes was found to be independently associated with successful normal vaginal delivery (odds ratio 2.90; 95% confidence interval 1.13-7.38; P=0.024). Participation in childbirth classes has a positive impact on pregnancy outcome.

Economic Resources, Mortality and Inequality

Using full-population register data from Denmark, this study shows that estimates of the economic gradient in mortality depends on the specific measure of economic resources used, where we investigate permanent income, annual income or financial and housing wealth. Our favorite measure is what we call ’Permanent income’, that is the average level of income over a long interval. We find that when using annual income or current wealth, the gradient is overestimated, unless one controls for a number of additional variables, such as education, civil status and initial health. In the last part of the paper, we compare the results from Denmark to results from the UK. Although the countries are very different in terms of inequality, the estimates of the gradient we find are very similar, suggesting that differential levels of resources (including information), rather than inequality itself, determine the gradient in survival and mortality.

The relationship of Oxford Houses across heterogeneous house and setting characteristics.

Oxford Houses (OH) are democratically run, self-funded, substance-use recovery homes that operate across the United States and internationally. Previous research shows the OHs are present in diverse neighborhoods. The current study examined the neighborhoods of 42 OHs located in Oregon, Texas, and North Carolina to better quantify and understand house and neighborhood characteristics that are related to relapse rates. Independent variables were participants' length of stay in OH, wages earned from employment, and income/education neighborhood characteristics. Neighborhood characteristics were related to relapse rates, with higher relapse rates occurring in neighborhoods with lower income and education levels. This finding supports the OH organization's premise that while OHs may work across community settings, they perform better in neighborhoods with higher average income and education levels. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Dissecting Inequality-Averse Preferences

Although different approaches and methods have been used to measure inequality aversion, there remains no consensus about its drivers at the individual level. We conducted an experiment on a sample of more than 1,576 first-year undergraduate economics and business students in Uruguay to understand why people are inequality averse. We elicited inequality aversion by asking participants to make a sequence of choices between hypothetical societies characterized by varying levels of average income and income inequality. In addition, we use randomized information treatments to prime participants into competing narratives regarding the sources of inequality in society. The main findings are that (1) the prevalence of inequality aversion is high: most participants’ choices revealed inequality-averse preferences; (2) the extent of inequality aversion depends on the individual’s position in the income distribution; (3) individuals are more likely to accept inequality when it comes from effort rather than luck regardless of their income position; (4) the effect of social mobility on inequality aversion is conditional on individual’s income position: preferences for mobility reduces inequality aversion for individuals located at the bottom of the income distribution, where risk aversion cannot play any role.

Logistical and infrastructural components of hospitality industry destinations

The essential structural and functional characteristics of destinations in the hospitality industry have been considered in the article. The current trends in the hospitality destinations and the influential factors determining the need to develop new methods and managerial tools based on systematic approach have been analyzed. The infrastructural and logistical components of tourist destinations are singled out. The attention was focused on the objective need to improve the organizational, functional, informational and managerial aspects of logistics and infrastructure support of the hospitality industry destinations as a basis for its sustainable development and achieving strong competitive market positions. Certain areas for innovative logistic and infrastructural subsystem improvements concerning the hospitality industry destinations in the conditions of current challenges and threats have been described. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the necessity to concentrate efforts on building up national destinations, oriented on Ukrainian consumer as a stable source of income to the local budget rises. Also authors stress the low level of average income of Ukrainians and insufficient customer service as a restraining factor for hospitality industry. The principles of a transparent logistical promotion of goods, services, finances in the field of tourism, hotel and restaurant business by using modern smart technologies have been substantiated. The main emphasis has been placed on the expediency of introducing modern information and communication technologies, logistics and cluster approaches into the hospitality industry destinations.

Income and out-of-pocket health expenditure in living arrangements of families with older adults in Brazil

The main objective of this study was to characterize household sociodemographic and economic patterns of different living arrangements of families with older adults in Brazil and their relationship with income and out-of-pocket health expenditure. Data were extracted from the 2008-2009 Brazilian Household Budget Survey (POF, in Portuguese) database of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Families with older adults represented 28% of all families, being smaller and having higher average income when compared to families without older adults. Older adults were head of the household in 85% of the families, with income based mainly on social protection policies. The families with older adult or couple as head of the household had significantly higher average monthly income. The proportion of out-of-pocket health expenditure per income quintile per capita was higher for families with one older adult or couple as head of the household, when compared to families without older adult as head of the household and even more in families without older adults at all. These findings allow the identification of potential positive impacts on the quality of life of families with older adults in Brazil. The higher household income of families with older adults is a consequence of the expansion of inclusive social protection policies for this population in the 2000s in Brazil, especially for families with lower average income levels, representing 4/5 of this population. The economic and political crisis in the 2010s have probably reduced these families' relative advantage, and this study will compare with results of the next survey.

Региональные различия в субъективном благополучии: компенсирует ли социальная политика эффекты неравенства в России?

Среди целей, стоящих перед социальной политикой, существует одна, в достижении которой особенно заинтересованы социальные государства. Это снижение уровня неравенства, и, следовательно, повышение субъективного благополучия населения. Однако действительно ли успешная социальная политика позволяет компенсировать эффекты неравенства? Этот вопрос давно находится в повестке исследований, но не так много эмпирических работ дают однозначный ответ на него. В данной работе мы проверяем гипотезу, согласно которой в регионах, характеризующихся относительно низкими средними доходами населения и высоким уровнем неравенства, социальная политика посредством перераспределения больших долей региональных бюджетов на здравоохранение, образование и социальные программы снижает негативное влияние неравенства на благополучие. Для проверки гипотезы мы используем два источника эмпирических данных: (1) результаты опроса, проведенного в 34 регионах России, который репрезентирует население этих регионов, (2) объективные показатели, измеряющие объемы используемых инструментов социальной политики в регионах, охваченных опросом. Для оценки возможности региональной социальной политики компенсировать эффекты неравенства мы тестируем байесовские многоуровневые модели с комбинированными информативными и неинформативными априорными вероятностями. Мы приходим к выводу, что увеличение объема используемых инструментов социальной политики в области здравоохранения может компенсировать негативные эффекты воспринимаемого неравенства на субъективное благополучие.&#x0D; Благодарность. Исследование выполнено за счет гранта Российского научного фонда: грант No 18­18­00341 «Ценностная трансформация и субъективное качество жизни: региональная перспектива».

Does air pollution stimulate electric vehicle sales? Empirical evidence from twenty major cities in China

Introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) is regarded as an effective measure to mitigate air pollution. Although intensive efforts have been invested on examining the factors affect the adoption of EVs, the potential impact of air pollution on EV sales is severely underexamined. In this study, we pioneer to examine the relation of air pollution (measured in terms of the concentrations of PM2.5) to the sales of EVs. Our empirical analysis is based on a unique panel data comprises of the monthly sales volumes of EVs and the monthly average PM2.5 concentration levels from 20 major cities in China. The data spans from 1st May 2014 to 30th April 2018. Additionally, we employ the urban population, industrial output and disposable income per capita as controls. The results show that the PM2.5 concentrations are significantly positively correlated to the sales volumes of EVs as well as those of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), while no significant relationship between the PM2.5 concentrations and the hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) sales is observed. The significant and positive effect of the PM2.5 concentrations on the EVs sales persists, in EVs with different brand popularities and in cities of different average income levels. Amongst the selected controls, only disposable income is significantly and positively related to the sales volumes of EVs, while the others only impart insignificant effects on the EV sales. Further, we confirm the robustness of the results by using the different sectors of the panel data. Our findings contribute to the growing body of EV adoption literature, and policy implications are provided.

Determination of mental status of the university students and related risk factors

Abstract University time is one of the most challenging periods of a person’s life. It’s also peak period of many mental illnesses. Mental disorders are the most important cause of disability in people aged 10-24 and contribute to 45% of the disease burden. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of mental illness of university students in the research population and to assess the possible risk factors. This study is a cross-sectional study. 345 students systematically selected by population weighting method were included in the study. Dependent variable of the study is depression, generalized anxiety, bipolar disorder and presence of psychotic symptoms. Mental disorders were evaluated using the CIDI and the DSM-5 Oriented Diagnostic Interview Form. 30.1% of the students had depression, 25.2% had generalized anxiety disorder, 9% had bipolar disorder and 2.9% had psychotic symptoms. The mean age of the participants is 20.4 ± 1.6. According to the binary logistic regression analysis, mother with mental problems, sexual abuse, person with special needs in family, pessimistic personality were found as risk factors for depression. Female gender, stay in a dormitory, poor economic condition of the family, mother with mental problems, alcohol/substance use of parent, pessimistic personality, lack of confidence were risk factors for generalized anxiety disorder. Alcohol use was risk factor for bipolar disorder. Poor academic achievement, having the family excluded by society were risk factors for psychotic symptoms. Average income level was a protective factor for bipolar disorder. Approximately one out of every 3 students use alcohol, and one out of every 20 students found to be at risk by using drugs. The incidence of mental disorders in university students is high. Many factors play a role in the emergence of mental problems. Early recognition of mental disorders, effective control and intervention studies are highly valuable in universities. Key messages The social negative attitude developed against psychiatric diseases and patients has a direct effect on the prevention, early recognition and treatment of mental disorders. University students should be seen as a risky group for substance use, policies should be developed to prevent substance use at universities immediately.

Employment rate and market sector occupation of graduates in translation and interpreting at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

This article presents the results of a market study into graduate employment for graduates in Translation and Interpreting from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain. Based on students who have graduated in the last 10 years, the study analyses the trajectory of their academic studies, employment status and identifies factors which influence having a career related to their university studies as well as income level. The results show that there is a high level of employment among these graduates with an average income level. They also illustrate that many of the subjects participating opted to continue their university studies after their B.A. in Translation and Interpreting. Positive influencing factors on earnings levels are overeducation and having participated in study abroad programmes. The kind of work graduates do is quite diverse and to some degree is closer to transversality common to applied language studies and international relations, than the specifics of translation and interpreting.

Satisfaction among patients attending oncology clinic in a tertiary hospital in South West, Nigeria

Objective: This study determined patients' satisfaction with health care received at the oncology clinic in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, South West of Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among patients attending the oncology clinic in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos. A total of 143 patients were recruited using a systematic random sampling and interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). Test of significance was performed using a 95% confidence interval and the level of significant set at p = 0.05. Results: More than half 123 (86.1%) reported that they got the kind of service they wanted, 125 (87.5%) reported almost all their needs had been met. Majority (92.3%) of the respondents were satisfied with the level of care received while 2.8% were indifferent and 7 (5%) were dissatisfied. The level of satisfaction was statistically significantly associated with age, marital status, level of education and average monthly income (p<0.05). Conclusion: Majority of patients were satisfied with the health care services at the oncology clinic. Regular satisfaction survey is recommended Keywords: Patient satisfaction, oncology, tertiary hospital

Is there regional lock-in of unemployment rates in Australia?

This paper assesses the persistence of unemployment rates across Australian regions to see if there is evidence of sustained disadvantage for some Australian regions. Using Australian labour market data for statistical area level 4 regions over 1999-2018, the paper finds that lagged regional unemployment rates have substantial explanatory power for current regional unemployment rates. This effect lasts at least 19 years, even after controlling for factors such as average income levels and the industry structure of each region. There is strong persistence in the male unemployment rate across regions, a weaker effect for the female unemployment rate, and no observable effect for the youth unemployment rate. Lock-in effects are even stronger for participation rates. The results suggest that there is a potential role for well-designed place-based policies to combat persistent labour market disadvantages in some regions.

Intergenerational Differences in Income and Wealth: Evidence from Britain

AbstractHow do average levels of income and wealth differ in Britain for those born between the 1930s and 1980s? Those in the 1980s cohort are the first post‐war generation not to have higher median incomes in their early 30s than those born a decade earlier, though they have much higher incomes than those born in the 1960s and earlier. Median wealth for those in the 1980s cohort is 20 per cent lower in their early 30s than it was for those born in the 1970s. This is driven by lower property wealth and homeownership: 40 per cent at age 30 for the 1980s cohort, compared with 55 per cent for the 1970s cohort.

Do different sizes of urban population matter differently to CO2 emission in different regions? Evidence from electricity consumption behavior of urban residents in China

Abstract Population size is closely related to anthropogenic CO2 emissions, but whether urban population size at different stages of population urbanization matters differently to CO2 emissions in regions at different development levels has not been paid much attention to. CO2 emissions induced by urban residential electricity consumption (REC) 1 has been a main component of urban indirect CO2 emissions, and it is jointly controlled by the electricity demand resulting from urban population size and the electricity intensity influenced by residents' consumption behavior in different socioeconomic environments. In this paper, through panel threshold regression, by controlling residents' behavior factors, the impact of urban population size on REC at the different stages of population urbanization was investigated in the eastern, central and western regions of mainland China respectively during 2000–2016. Results show that, urban population size always played a dominant role on REC, and there were significant regional heterogeneity and staged heterogeneity simultaneously in such impact. Overall, such impact always decreases first and then increases (U-shaped pattern) no matter as urban population grows or as regional development level increases. According to the different stages of urban population growth and their impacts on REC in each region, there are different reasonable ranges of urban population size for low-carbon development in the three regions respectively. The control variables of residents' electricity consumption behavior only contributed a minor effect on REC. Among them, technological progress and residential density had a minor inhibitory effect on REC, while average income and education level played a negligible promotion role on REC. Accordingly, policy implications for controlling reasonable size of urban population are provided for each region, as well as the measures to improve residents’ electricity-saving behavior from the socioeconomic perspective.

Coupled LMDI and system dynamics model for estimating urban CO2 emission mitigation potential in Shanghai, China

In this study, both the extended logarithmic mean divisia index (LMDI) model and the system dynamics (SD) model were used to explore determinants of CO2 emission change during 1995–2016 and to predict the emission mitigation potential from 2016 to 2030 in Shanghai (China). Some novel factors (e.g., private car ownership, urban travel structure, and income level) were chosen and added to the LMDI model. The combination of the LMDI and SD models might provide a new pathway for policymakers to cope with such sophisticated issues. The results showed that: (1) GDP per capita is the main positive driving force for CO2 emission growth, followed by population, average income level per capita, and car ownership per capita. Energy intensity is the main factor for carbon mitigation, followed by economic structure, residential energy intensity, and emission coefficient. (2) The additive effect of different scenarios is essential for emission control. (3) CO2 emissions and emission per capita would peak by 2025 at the level of 218.20 Mt and 8.83 t per capita, respectively. Tertiary industry and public travel model promotion, power generation structure, and primary energy structure optimization would facilitate emission mitigation in Shanghai, which could also be a reference for other similar mega-cities in developing countries.

Analisis Kontribusi Retribusi Pelayanan Parkir di Tepi Jalanan Umum Terhadap Pendapatan Asli Kabupaten Bone

This study discusses the estimation of district parking payments for regional income in Bone Regency in 2012-2016. This research is intended to find out (1) the average level of regional income from allowance funds in Bone District 2012-2016, (2) the marginal level of regional original income from parking fees on the side of the public road Bone District 2012-2016. The results showed that parking fees at the edge of public roads contributed significantly to local revenue only in 2013 because of APAD MPAD, while parking fees at the edge of public roads did not contribute significantly to local revenues in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 due to APAD MPAD.

L'impact distributif de la fiscalité locale sur les ménages en France

[eng] The distributive profile of local taxation on households results from three main determinants: the tax base (the rental value of occupied or owned properties), the schedule (of exemptions and reductions) and the differences between local rates. The overall contribution of local household taxes to the progressivity of compulsory levies in France is measured and bro­ken down into the three determinants based on the Insee survey on income and living conditions (Statistiques sur les ressources et conditions de vie, or SRCV) at household level and compre­hensive databases at the local authority level. The tax base has a regressive effect, partially offset by the schedule. Local taxes and average income increase with the size of inter‑municipalities: territorial heterogeneity is thus characterised by levels of local tax per capita that tend to increase with per capita income. However, this increase is less than proportional to that of income, gen­erating a ratio of local taxes to income that decreases with the level of average income in the inter‑municipal area.

LITERASI KEUANGAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF MAHASISWA: (STUDI KASUS MAHASISWA FEBI IAIN LHOKSEUMAWE)

Every individual wants a happy and prosperous life. To achieve that it takes knowledge of financial literacy in order for someone to avoid financial problems. This study aims to examine how the level of financial literacy students majoring in Islamic economics Faculty of Economics and Business Islam (FEBI) IAIN Lhokseumawe. And whether the level of income affects the management and financial decisions of students of the Department of Sharia Economics FEBI IAIN Lhokseumawe. Respondents studied are students who come from FEBI majoring in Sharia Economics amounted to 100 people. Mean and frequency test were used in this study. The result of the study shows that the average score of financial literacy students of Economics Department of FEBI IAIN Lhokseumawe of 3.27 (65.4%) means that the level of student financial literacy is still far from the optimum or still quite enough, even close to the low category so it should be increased especially related to the knowledge of expenditure, credit, savings and investment. The average student income level lies in the medium/moderate category of 56%. Giving meaning differences in student income levels affect financial management and make the right financial decisions.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ТЕНДЕНЦИЙ УРОВНЯ ДОХОДОВ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ АСТРАХАНСКОГО РЕГИОНА

The article dwells upon the continued decrease of income level of the Russian population as a result of the financial crisis and rising inflation, which is followed by yearly contraction of needs and savings. The analysis of the income structure of the Russian people confirmed the growth of the share of wages while reducing income from the use of property, business income, and social benefits. The tendencies to changing the income level in the different industries and regions of the Russian Federation have been identified. The average income level of the population of the Astrakhan region has been defined, the finance dynamics for the period from 2016 to 2018 has been evaluated. The tendencies to changing individual components of the population income in the Astrakhan region have been investigated: wages, business income, employment of property, social benefits. There has been estimated the average monthly wage in the region (in nominal and real terms) and the rate of its changes over the studied period. The estimation of the size of social payments to the population of the Astrakhan region has been made. The main part in the total volume of social payments to the population comes to pensions (74.8%). The criteria of the subsistence minimum both in the country and in the region have been given. It has been inferred that the living cost in the country is greatly underestimated, actually, in half, compared to the real living cost, which is related to saving the budget. In the Astrakhan region a great proportion of the population has incomes below the minimum subsistence level: 16.0% of the region’s population is below the poverty line. To reduce the level of poverty, to increase incomes of the population and to reduce the share of citizens with incomes below the subsistence minimum there have been proposed a number of that will help to reach a higher standard of living in accordance with the requirements of the social market economy.