Santiago Research Articles

Impact of urban facilities spatial inequality on sustainable travel mode.

With the implementation of sustainable development objectives in developing countries, urban planning, land use regulation, and urban mobility policies are expected to help reduce inequalities in access to urban facilities. Urban transport policies are also expected to encourage travel by non-motorised modes and public transport. These are considered to be the sustainable modes of urban transport. In this paper, we investigate how inequality of urban facilities impacts trips made by sustainable modes in the city of Santiago de Chile. We use a Poisson regression model and its geographical extension, the geographically weighted Poisson regression model (GWPR). The results suggest that the inequality of urban facilities impacts trips made by sustainable modes. The variables with the highest relevance are the spatial distribution of mixed land use, the spatial distribution of urban services related to transport infrastructure, primary and secondary education, as well as the spatial distribution of demographic variables related to people's life cycle.

Fruit and vegetables loss and waste in preschools belonging to the National Board of Kindergartens of Chile.

Food waste is a global issue affecting society from environmental, nutritional, and social perspectives. In collaboration with the National Board of Preschools, fruit and vegetable waste generated during the preparation of lunch was quantified in four preschools in the Metropolitan area of Santiago in Chile. This study was conducted in four preschools, two in the Western area of Santiago and two in the Eastern area, of which two hold environmental quality certifications. Over a five-day period, the weight of raw materials and waste from vegetables (peels) and fruit (pomace) were measured. Percentages of vegetable and fruit post-cleaning losses and waste were evaluated. Vegetable loss exceeded 20% in 31% of the preschools, primarily from carrots and potatoes. Fruit losses were higher, with pears accounting for the most significant waste, recorded in 75% of the study centers. No differences in vegetable loss was found between centers, while variations were observed for fruit. Preschools with environmental quality certifications wasted less onions (p = 0.016) but more pears (p = 0.036). There is higher fruit loss than vegetable loss, with onions and tomatoes being the least wasted. Possessing an environmental quality certification does not guarantee a significant reduction in overall losses. Handling and storage conditions may play a key role in minimizing losses. Further studies are needed to provide evidence that can guide improvements in Chile's National Board of Preschools services, aiming for a more sustainable lunch preparation processes.

Assessment of contaminants of emerging concern and antibiotic resistance genes in the Mapocho River (Chile): A comprehensive study on water quality and municipal wastewater impact

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the persistence and elimination of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) in municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWWTPs) and their presence in the Mapocho River within the metropolitan area of Santiago, Chile. The use of advanced analytical techniques, based on liquid chromatography coupled to both low and high-resolution mass spectrometry, allowed a comprehensive overview on the presence of CECs in samples. Additionally, a preliminary assessment of the microbiological aspects aimed to determine the presence of indicator microorganisms of fecal contamination, such as Escherichia coli and total coliforms was conducted. Furthermore, a qualitative assessment of Antibiotic Resistant Genes (ARGs) was performed. No CECs were detected upstream to the MWWTPs. However, the results from various wastewater samples (influent, secondary, and tertiary effluents) revealed significant diversity, with 73 CECs detected alongside prevalent ARGs including sulI, sulfII, qnrB, and blaTEM. The presence of CECs and ARGs downstream of the MWWTP in the Mapocho River was mainly attributed to effluent discharge. On the other hand, typical values for a healthy river and a MWWTP with a final disinfection stage were found in terms of fecal contamination. Consequently, the imperative for developing tertiary or quaternary treatments capable of degrading CECs and ARGs to minimize environmental impact is underscored. These findings hold public health significance, offering insights into potential risks and influencing future legislative measures in Chile.

Analyzing the Selective Stock Price Index Using Fractionally Integrated and Heteroskedastic Models

Stock market indices are important tools to measure and compare stock market performance. The Selective Stock Price (SSP) index reflects fluctuations in a set value of financial instruments of Santiago de Chile’s stock exchange. Stock indices also reflect volatility linked to high uncertainty or potential investment risk. However, economic shocks are altering volatility. Evidence of long memory in SSP time series also exists, which implies long-term persistence. In this paper, we studied the volatility of SSP time series from January 2010 to September 2023 using fractionally heteroskedastic models. We considered the Autoregressive Fractionally Integrated Moving Average (ARFIMA) process with Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) innovations—the ARFIMA-GARCH model—for SSP log returns, and the fractionally integrated GARCH, or FIGARCH model, was compared with a classical GARCH one. The results show that the ARFIMA-GARCH model performs best in terms of volatility fit and predictive quality. This model allows us to obtain a better understanding of the observed volatility and its behavior, which contributes to more effective investment risk management in the stock market. Moreover, the proposed model detects the influence volatility increments of the SSP index linked to external factors that impact the economic outlook, such as China’s economic slowdown in 2012 and the subprime crisis in 2008.

Mapping Nutritional Inequality: A Primary Socio-Spatial Analysis of Food Deserts in Santiago de Chile

This study investigates the socio-spatial distribution of food deserts in Santiago de Chile, aiming to understand how urban planning and socioeconomic factors influence access to nutritious food. Employing geospatial analysis techniques with data from OpenStreetMap and the 2017 Census, the research identifies areas within Santiago where access to healthy food is limited. The novelty of this study lies in its application of spatial autocorrelation methods, specifically Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), to reveal clusters of nutritional inequality. The findings indicate significant concentrations of food deserts in both lower socioeconomic peripheral areas and, surprisingly, in some high-income central areas. These results suggest that both poverty and urban infrastructure, including car dependency, play critical roles in shaping access to healthy food. By highlighting over two million residents affected by food deserts, the study underscores the urgent need for integrated urban planning and public health strategies. This research contributes to the understanding of urban nutritional inequality and provides a replicable methodological framework for other cities. The implications extend beyond Santiago, offering insights into how urban design can be leveraged to improve public health outcomes through better access to nutritious food.

Understanding the caring professional dispositions of the early childhood education teacher assistants in Chile

Despite their crucial global importance in the daily work within classrooms, teacher assistants are barely addressed in early childhood education (ECE) teaching policy and research. In this context, little is known about features of their role – more commonly studied in the case of lead teachers – such as their professional dispositions. This paper analyses the discourses of a group of Chilean ECE teacher assistants about their dispositions, exploring possible intersections and dissonances of an ethics of care and mainstream technical practice approaches in ECE. Sixteen assistants from two ECE centres located in an urban suburb of Santiago de Chile took part in focus groups and interviews, and their discourses were analysed through a Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Findings show that teacher assistants address their role by producing a discourse informed by an ethics of care, but also drawing marginally on a mainstream technical perspective. The findings may help inform future ECE teaching policy in Chile, embracing new approaches to ECE professionalism that foreground caring practices and acknowledge the diversity of the workforce.

Development of coparenting during the transition to parenthood: Integrating parents' representations with observed interactions.

The transition to parenthood is a significant period of transformation and adjustment for all members of a new family, reshaping relational dynamics that often endure throughout the initial years of a child's life. This qualitative and longitudinal study aimed to explore coparenting representations held by both partners in a parental couple, along with observations of their family interactions, at three distinct points in time, with the aim to better understand the interaction between these representational and behavioral observations. In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 heterosexual, first-time parents in Santiago de Chile, during pregnancy and at two different times during the first year of their child's life. Family interactions were assessed using the Lausanne Trilogue Play task (LTP) on all occasions. Three main coparenting representation categories emerged: traditional, ambiguous, and co-responsible. On observation, approximately half of the couples showed cooperative coparenting interactions, while the other half had conflictual interactions. Couples generally followed stable trajectories over time. Cooperative couples demonstrated co-responsibility and open dialogue, while conflictual couples tended to follow traditional gender roles with tacit communication styles. This study highlights the importance of promoting co-responsibility and dialogue for fostering cooperative relational dynamics during the critical transition to parenthood.

The social implications of the vital city model: measuring the impact of urban vitality on neighbourhood sustainability

ABSTRACT Previous studies have identified vital urban spaces through the concentration of people, the diversity of land uses and buildings, accessibility, and the existence of a compact urban fabric. However, the relationship between urban vitality and social sustainability has not been studied in these terms. This paper seeks to analyse the social implications of the vital city model for residents in the context of a Latin American city: Santiago de Chile. To do so, we use the JANE index to measure the formal conditions of the built environment for urban vitality, and the Longitudinal Social Study of Chile to measure urban social sustainability. We first use a PCA technique to reveal six core components of urban social sustainability: Sense of belonging, Safety, Sociability, Well-being, Satisfaction with housing, and Conservation of the neighbourhood. We then test the associations between the strength of these six core components and the conditions for urban vitality by means of a multiple linear regression model. Significant associations between urban vitality conditions and urban social sustainability suggest that socially sustainable neighbourhoods are found in sectors with the presence of old buildings, accessibility to public transportation, and far from mega infrastructures.

Extreme heat and health in Gran Santiago: increase in mental health emergencies related to urban heat islands in neighborhoods

Extreme heat and health in Gran Santiago: increase in mental health emergencies related to urban heat islands in neighborhoods

Children and young people’s unaccompanied mobility: the role of the built and social environments in an unequal Latin American Metropolis

ABSTRACT Unaccompanied trips are highly beneficial for children, yet their practice is difficult in unequal Latin American metropoles. This article investigates how the built and social environments influence children and young people’s trips in Santiago de Chile. It does so by reporting the findings of a stated preference questionnaire in which children and young people were invited to choose the preferred environment to walk unaccompanied in between pairs of images illustrating different social and physical attributes. The findings suggest that Santiago’s inequalities are mirrored in the environments through which children and young people prefer to walk unaccompanied. Attributes that enhance the streetscape (e.g., well-kept footpaths, grass), provide recreation and natural surveillance positively affect children’s willingness to make unaccompanied trips in wealthy areas. By contrast, those attributes are less significant for children and young people from other parts of the city, where other features have a greater impact (e.g., strangers drinking alcohol, off-licences, vehicles parked on the footpath). Furthermore, young girls are greatly discouraged from travelling unaccompanied in most circumstances, in both wealthy and not-wealthy areas. Public policies should prioritise non-wealthy neighbourhoods, improve the built environment, and strengthen local communities and local familiarity to create safer spaces that encourage unaccompanied trips.

Use of technology to learn English in Ecuadorian classrooms: a case study in Morona Santiago province

Use of technology to learn English in Ecuadorian classrooms: a case study in Morona Santiago province

Socio-spatial trajectories and health disparities among older adults in Chile

In this study, we examine residential trajectories since birth among older adults in the Santiago Metropolitan Area, Chile, and their association with health outcomes. We linked retrospective residential information for a sample of 802 individuals aged 65–75 in 2019 to context-based information from decennial censuses. Our analysis reveals substantive heterogeneity in individuals' residential trajectories, thus mirroring social and urban changes in Chile's largest city. We found significant associations between residential histories and health outcomes at the time of the interview. Consistent residence in advantaged areas was linked to better health, whereas relocating to the metropolitan area from elsewhere was generally linked to poorer health, except for those moving to emerging middle-class areas. These findings underscore the importance of longitudinal and life course approaches in understanding the complex relationship between place and health.

The forms of neighborhood cohesion: From social contact to symbolic belonging in neoliberal Santiago de Chile

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to study the neighborhood social cohesion of the inhabitants of the Metropolitan Area of Santiago, Chile (MAS), considering its recent urban transformations driven by neoliberal urban policies. Using multilevel logistic regressions based on a survey of 401 inhabitants, we identify a symbolic cohesion among residents with higher incomes, which combines a high sense of belonging with low neighborhood sociability, and a relational cohesion among the vulnerable population, based on a stronger neighborhood sociability and a low sense of belonging. These results show an influence of the geographical divide between high and low income inhabitants, accentuated by the socio-spatial segregation of the metropolis in the past decades, in addition to identifying a certain relationship between neighborhood cohesion and two of its major neoliberal trends of urban growth: the densification of its center and the development of peripheral social housing. We argue that a deeper understanding of the distinction between relational and symbolic forms of neighborhood social cohesion is relevant because, as well as allowing us to analyze the MAS case by addressing its current complexity, it provides an opportunity to discuss the way in which the concept is defined and conceived in recent literature.

Implementation of IFRS 15 in companies listed on the Colombian and Santiago de Chile Stock Exchanges

El objetivo de esta investigación es identificar los efectos patrimoniales asociados a la implementación de NIIF 15 y las variaciones producidas en los indicadores de rendimiento de compañías listadas en la Bolsa de valores de Colombia y Santiago de Chile. La metodología empleada es el índice de conservadurismo de Gray, el cual se aplica a las variaciones presenta - das en los estados financieros de las entidades adoptantes. Los resultados evidencian un contraste de efectos patrimoniales, puesto que las compañías colombianas presentaron impactos positivos en su patrimonio en un 70 %, mientras que tan solo un 21 % de compañías chilenas mostró variación positiva. De igual forma, del total de entidades analizadas, se evidencio que el 9 % de entidades colombianas y el 4 % de las entidades chilenas, no incluyeron ninguna información asociada a la aplicación de NIIF 15.

The toponymic battle: Renaming streets in Santiago de Chile 50 years after the military coup

ABSTRACT In July and August of 2023, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the military coup in Chile (September 11, 1973), the Santiago City Council chose to honor the civil-military dictatorship victims by renaming 12 streets in the district. Unexpectedly, the Namur neighborhood, which had a one-block street set to be renamed “Ida Amelia Vera Almarza”—a dictatorship victim—mobilized and vehemently protested the decision. Utilizing a critical approach based on grounded theory and thematic analysis—in which the analysis arises “bottom-up” from an inductive triangulation of various sources—this article examines the reasons for opposing this renaming. The results reveal two primary reasons for opposition: the community’s need to preserve their historical identity embodied in the street’s name (Namur) and their feeling of exclusion and mistreatment. Contrary to some perceptions, this opposition was not driven by denialist or far-right ideologies. Thus, this article offers a novel viewpoint that extends beyond the traditional scholarly understanding of memory politics and suggests that memory battles are not solely about clashes between those for and against victim memorialization. Hence, it urges scholars and practitioners to delve deeper into the motivations behind the opposition to memory and human rights policies.

Green Hydrogen from Hydroelectric Energy: Assessing the Potential at the Abanico Power Plant in Morona Santiago Province

A key strategy for optimizing the utilization of clean energy sources involves integrating energy vectors to effectively manage surplus power generated from renewable sources. This study specifically delves into the assessment of a hydrogen (H₂) generation project utilizing energy generated by the Hidroabanico power plant. Over a span of 13 years, the average monthly energy production was meticulously scrutinized, with a determination that 20% of this energy would be allocated for H₂ production. The operational framework of the prototype plant, which relies on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser technology, is comprehensively elucidated. This system boasts an annual energy capacity capable of reaching 62,439 MWh (20% of total production), culminating in the production of 1,123 Tn of H₂. However, it is noteworthy that this quantity remains relatively limited compared to analyses conducted utilizing alternative technologies.

Pobreza y costo relativo de la vivienda en Santiago (Chile): una perspectiva histórica (1966-202)

This article aims to analyze the relative cost of housing in Chile between 1966 and 2022. Specialized literature in this field focuses on four main themes: the impact of the neoliberal model on housing policies, the issue of property and renting, the maintenance of shantytowns, and issues of space and architecture. While there is consensus on the positive impact of social policies on access to housing for low-income families, debates persist regarding poverty and marginality. The research employs the Occupational and Unemployment Survey of Gran Santiago conducted by the Microdata Center of the University of Chile, administered quarterly since 1957 in all districts of Gran Santiago, with an annual survived population of around 10 000 individuals and 2 000 to 3 000 family groups. The findings reveal that: 1) the reduction in the relative cost of housing is more significant in non-poor households than in poor households; 2) in comparison to the international average, there is a decrease in the relative cost from 2000 to 2010, followed by an increase between 2011 and 2017; 3) the relative cost rises in impoverished sectors, particularly in the bottom 10% of income earners; 4) the reduction in relative cost is more pronounced in rented homes than in owned ones. Keywords: Chile; housing; relative poverty; income.

Identification of the High Rent District of Santiago de Chile through spatial autocorrelation of prices

En esta investigación se analiza la autocorrelación espacial del precio del suelo en Santiago de Chile para comprobar la existencia de un distrito de alta renta, propio de los modelos de ciudades latinoamericanas. Para ello se aplica el Índice de Moran a un conjunto de 206 zonas de mercado dispuestas en una serie de 131 trimestres entre 1983-2016. Los resultados revelan una alta y estable autocorrelación espacial del precio del suelo, lo que confirma un distrito de alta renta, identificado como Cono de Alta Renta (CAR), localizado en las comunas de mayor ingreso de Santiago.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Urban Forest Diversity and Structure in Green Areas of Santiago de Chile.

Urban trees enhance biodiversity, provide ecosystem services, and improve quality of life in cities. Despite their benefits, trees are not distributed equitably, and many cities exhibit a "luxury effect". Given the importance of public green space for providing access to urban tree benefits, we investigated the relationship between socioeconomic level and tree diversity and structure in 60 green areas in Santiago de Chile. Species richness and total tree abundance did not significantly vary among socioeconomic levels; however, a differential effect was found according to species origin. Introduced tree species exhibited similar abundance and species richness across socioeconomic levels, but native tree species were more abundant and richer in higher socioeconomic level areas compared to lower ones. Tree cover was higher in the high and medium socioeconomic level areas than in the low socioeconomic level area. A higher average DBH was found in the medium socioeconomic level area, which may be explained by older neighborhoods and a legacy of the luxury effect. Our findings reveal that socioeconomic groups are associated with differences in tree cover, width, and the number of native species in public green areas. Consequently, urban residents have different provisions of ecosystem services and opportunities to interact with natural heritage. Increasing the amount of tree cover and native species available to vulnerable groups will reduce disparities.

Neck Circumference Cut-Off Points for Identifying Adiposity: Association with Chronic Metabolic Diseases in Older People.

The leading cause of death in older people is cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have found that neck circumference (NC) is a simple anthropometric marker associated with adiposity. The aim of this study is to estimate and validate NC cut-off points as adiposity markers and analyze their association with cardiovascular and chronic metabolic diseases in older people. A cross-sectional study in 358 non-disabled, community-dwelling older people (71.7 ± 3.9 years) living in Santiago de Chile and participating in the HTSMayor study was conducted. Measurements of body composition and cardiovascular risks were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of NC with cardiovascular and chronic metabolic diseases. NC cut-off points were obtained to predict obesity, abdominal obesity, and adiposity. The best performance values of neck circumference relative to obesity and adiposity were obtained with respect to abdominal obesity (40.6 cm in men and 34.2 cm in women). Higher NC values were associated with a higher area under the curve (AUC) for men and women (men: AUC = 0.84; women: AUC = 0.86). NC was significantly associated with a higher risk for diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.95), hypertension (OR = 2.42), acute myocardial infarction (OR = 4.36), and comorbidities (OR = 2.01), and a lower risk for sarcopenia (OR = 0.35). This study shows that NC is a useful tool for detecting abdominal obesity, obesity, and adiposity in older people and that a higher NC increases the risk of chronic diseases.