Development In Colombia Research Articles

REVISIÓN DOCUMENTAL DE LA ERGONOMÍA EN COLOMBIA 1990-2010

Al día de hoy se desconocen estudios que den cuenta del desarrollo de la ergonomía en Colombia, así como del estado actual de las tendencias y las temáticas más relevantes abordadas en esta área del conocimiento, motivo por el cual no es posible establecer el grado de desarrollo de la disciplina a nivel local. Atendiendo a esta necesidad, el presente artículo muestra los resultados de la revisión documental de la producción investigativa generada en Colombia en el área de ergonomía entre los años de 1990 y 2010. Para efectos de este estudio se identificaron los grupos de investigación colombianos que declaran líneas de trabajo en ergonomía a través de la revisión de la base de datos de COLCIENCIAS. Además, se consultó la producción investigativa local registrada en artículos científicos en las bases de datos: EBSCO, PROQUEST, PUBMED, SCIELO, REDALYC y E-REVISTA. Producto de esta búsqueda se recopilaron 33 artículos producidos en Colombia que abordan temáticas relacionadas con la ergonomía. Los estudios fueron clasificados teniendo en cuenta los tres dominios de especialización propuestos por la International Ergonomics Association (IEA) en el año 2000: Ergonomía Física, Ergonomía Cognitiva y Ergonomía Organizacional. Posteriormente se determinó el tipo de estudio de cada una de las investigaciones analizadas, para lo cual se propusieron dos categorías: investigación básica e investigación aplicada. Como resultado de esta revisión documental se evidencia que la mayoría de los artículos analizados se encuentra clasificada bajo el dominio de especialización de ergonomía física (17 de 33) y que el tipo de estudio más común es la investigación aplicada (22 de 33).

Cláusulas abusivas - Evolución hacia una noción

El régimen de las cláusulas abusivas ha tenido un desarrollo reciente en Colombia, por ello se hace necesario comprender a que se debió el origen de una forma de control específica para este tipo de cláusulas. Sin embargo, un avance sobre el tema resultaría inestable, si no se tiene la claridad necesaria sobre cuáles son los factores que determinan el test de abusividad a que se somete una cláusula contractual a fin de determinar cuándo se está ante una cláusula abusiva.
 Es precisamente la conformación de ese test general de control y la referencia a otro especifico el objeto del presente estudio.

End-User Cost-Benefit Prioritization for Selecting Rainwater Harvesting and Greywater Reuse in Social Housing

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) and greywater reuse (GWR) are increasingly being considered at the building-level to achieve multiple goals. Cost-benefit assessments facilitate decision-making; however, most are focused on large-scale systems with limited information available for households from developing countries. To better understand the prioritization of costs and benefits by potential end-users in this context, this paper presents an assessment of an RWH/GWR system in low income, low consumption households in a social housing development in Colombia. From an initial household consultation, preferences related to the use of RWH/GWR were identified and three alternatives were proposed and designed. In a follow-up consultation, potential end-users were engaged with the cost-benefit of the proposed alternatives. Potential end-users prioritized the selection of the system with potable water savings of 25%, a payback period of 30 years, an internal return rate of 4.7%, and a Benefit/Cost ratio of 1.3. Of the three alternatives, this system had the median payback period, highest investment, and highest maintenance cost, but also the highest volumetric water saving and highest water and sewerage bill savings. In contrast to findings from developed countries, this indicates that minimising the cost may not be the primary decision making criteria in some developing country contexts, where perhaps a greater value is placed on conserving water resources.

CONTRIBUCIÓN AL DESARROLLO DE LA BIOTECNOLOGÍA DESDE LA EDUCACIÓN EN LOS NIVELES DE LA BÁSICA Y MEDIA

The article presents the generalities of Biotechnology (definition, main applications andreaches), difficulties about its deficient development in Colombia. It proposed therealization of pedagogical projects with students enrolled on basic and middleeducation, with the goal to contribute to the solution about Natural Science teachingproblems, and the development of Biotechnology in Colombia. A reflection is madeabout an experience with high school students on the frame of a pedagogical projectthat implied a work dealing contextualization and biotechnological applications.Other elements are presented in general way to contribute to the development inBiotechnology from educational aspects.

Social determination of the health-disease process: a critical look from the epidemiology of the 21st century

The so-called social determination is a key concept for Latin American Social Medicine (LASM). LASM criticizes epidemiology frequently, mainly because of its reductionist vision and its distance from social reality. This paper makes an opposite analysis, in other words, 21st century epidemiology criticizes LASM, using the disciplinary development in Colombia as an example. The history of Colombian epidemiology is reviewed, noting that it has not had sufficient development and that LASM tends to reject quantitative methods based on the epidemiological practices used four decades ago. Additionally, some developments of the quantitative methods used in epidemiology are reviewed, explaining that many of the limitations indicated by LASM have been overcome. In conclusion, LASM uses social determination as part of its leftist political platform; however, current quantitative methods and the 21st century theoretical developments in epidemiology show a pragmatic superiority, useful for solving current public health issues.

El marco de análisis y desarrollo institucional (IAD), una herramienta de análisis de políticas públicas. Estudio del caso Agro Ingreso Seguro (AIS)

This article analyzes the “Agro Ingreso Seguro” (AIS) case, considering the political changes in the context of its implementation during the years 2007-2009, and its impact upon four characteristics of the rural development in Colombia. Through the use of the conceptual and methodological tools from the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework (IAD), this article aims to locate the set of formal and informal rules of AIS and to reveal the institutional agreements of the program. The foregoing considerations allow us to conclude that the main institutional failures of AIS are given by its design, the agreements reached and the participation of private actors in the policy. Accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen the rural institutions and the formal rules put into action to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public resources.

Is Extraction Bad? Encomienda and Development in Colombia Since 1560

We explore the impact of encomienda, a forced-labor institution imposed by the Spanish throughout Latin America during three centuries, on long-term development outcomes in Colombia. Despite being a classically extractive institution, municipalities that had encomiendas in 1560 have higher development indicators than otherwise-similar, neighboring municipalities without. Encomienda is associated with higher municipal GDP/capita, lower poverty and infant mortality, and higher secondary school enrolments today. Further probing implies a mechanism by which encomenderos founded the local state in the colonial territories they dominated. This stronger local state persisted through Colombia’s war of independence and the chronic instability of the early republic. It mobilized resources and invested in public goods in ways that initially suited encomenderos, but over long periods of time also spurred economic and human development. Our results highlight the benefits of disaggregating “institutions” to analytically discrete components, and of pushing analysis to the subnational level.

Transformation of Colombian small coffee growers and new scenarios for their competitiveness

Coffee has historically contributed to the economic and social development of Colombia; However, in the last decades, this agricultural subsector has faced several challenges, both from the international market, which includes the decline in price levels due to the expansion of supply and internal factors, as the revaluation of the peso, phytosanitary risks, and the reduction of available labour, among others. In this sense, this paper aims to identify the transformations of small Colombian coffee growers and some of the new strategies that can generate greater competitiveness. An inquiry is made about the changes that have occurred in the coffee industry in the last two decades, addressing factors such as technology, government policies, production and digital marketing strategies, to identify the key points in which to work to advance towards their development and well-being. In this regard, it is proposed how fair trade favours the commercial processes of small producers.

Factores asociados al logro académico en regiones desarrolladas y en desarrollo de Colombia: una aproximación a partir de un modelo de combinación de corte transversal

En este trabajo, se analizan los determinantes del rendimiento académico de la educación media, al comparar los resultados en el área de matemáticas de la Prueba Saber 11° de los estudiantes de grado once de las regiones con mayor y menor nivel de desarrollo socioeconómico de Colombia. La metodología utilizada se desarrolló a través de la aplicación de un Modelo de Combinación de Corte Transversal para el periodo de estudio de 2008 a 2013. Los resultados muestran que existen importantes diferencias entre los determinantes del rendimiento académico en regiones con mayor y menor nivel de desarrollo socioeconómico, las características personas de los estudiantes, tales como la edad y la etnia, así como las características de las escuelas tienen mayor impacto sobre los estudiantes de las regiones con menor nivel de desarrollo, mientras que las características familiares y del hogar, tales como educación de los padres, disponer de computador en casa y los ingresos familiares, presentan un mayor impacto sobre el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de regiones con mayor nivel de desarrollo socioeconómico.

Rethinking Law and Development in Colombia: How a Dynamic Approach Could Overcome the Chasm Between Law and Ideas of Economic Development

Abstract The article explores the different ways in which the relationship between law and development has been thought of by policy makers and academics in Colombia. It proposes that there are two prevalent ways of understanding this relationship, either interpreting law as marginal to the economic development endeavor or central to trigger it. Furthermore, it argues that these two prevalent interpretations have underestimated the complex ways in which law functions. In order to illustrate the complexity of the interaction between law and development, the article then presents the different ways in which property is legally defined in the Colombian context. These definitions range from the classical liberal included in the Civil Code to the Social and Ecological function enshrined in the Constitution.

Multidimensional analysis of environmental health capabilities in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development in Colombia

To approach the multidimensional analysis of functional capacities in environmental health in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, based on the UNDP model of interactions between central problems and functional capabilities. Individual institutional results obtained through surveys and information from secondary sources, CAR (Autonomous Regional Corporations) and environmental authorities on policies, strategies, action plans, regional environmental management plans, regulations, activities, and accountabilities related to environmental health during the period 2012-2015 were used as sources of information. The consolidation of results per corporation about core issues and functional capabilities, in terms of the level of response, shows a significant heterogeneity. Public leadership and social empowerment constitute a virtuous circle that allows strengthening capacities in projects of high social interest. Moreover, other capacities such as achieving commitments and institutional and technical capacities (policy design, implementation, evaluation, etc.) can be strengthened as well. Three alternatives for environmental health capabilities implementation have been proposed.

Achieving sustainable development in rural areas in Colombia: Future scenarios for biodiversity conservation under land use change

Agricultural expansion is a complex land use change phenomenon with deep environmental and socio-economic consequences, especially across tropical countries where most of this expansion is occurring. Here we use scenario and network analysis combined with sustainability assessment to understand the drivers of landscape change and their effects on sustainable development in Colombia’s rural areas, using the Central Magdalena region as a case study, and ultimately informing strategies to reconcile agricultural expansion with biodiversity conservation and rural development. Using this approach we investigated three environmental and agricultural policy scenarios: the Business as Usual scenario, enforcing a stronger regulatory framework, and adopting incentives. Our analysis show that the Business as Usual scenario is not supported by stakeholders and negatively affects most sustainability objectives with the predominant agricultural sectors in the region (cattle ranching and oil palm) not improving social inequality, and threatening biodiversity, natural resources, and food security. Both alternative scenarios improve overall sustainability, including biodiversity. Therefore to reconcile agricultural expansion, biodiversity and sustainable development, it is important to adopt a stronger regulatory and enforcement framework at different administrative levels, as well as incentive schemes focusing on small holders. Our study also shows that history cannot be ignored when thinking about the future and sustainability especially in areas with legacies of strong inequalities caused by armed conflict. Finally, we suggest that combining scenario analysis, network analysis, and sustainability assessment is a useful methodology for studying land use changes holistically, exploring complex systems at different scales, and informing locally-relevant strategies and recommendations, ultimately enabling science to be proactive.

Plan Colombia: illegal drugs, economic development and counterinsurgency – a political economy analysis of Colombia's failed war

This article examines the socioeconomic effects of the illegal drug industry on economic and social development in Colombia. It shows that illegal drugs have fostered violence and have had a negative effect on economic development. This article also shows that the Plan Colombia anti‐drug policy has been an ineffective strategy in terms of decreasing drug production, generating economic development and reducing violence. Since this study includes both a statistical analysis of the effects that violence and illegal drugs have on the economic growth of Colombia, along with an evaluation of the Plan Colombia policy programme, it fills the gap between existing empirical studies of the Colombian illegal drug industry and specific analyses of Plan Colombia.

Behavioral response to temperature change by the freshwater crab Neostrengeria macropa (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) (Brachyura: Pseudothelphusidae) in Colombia

We analyzed experimental behavioral data on temperature preference for the pseudothelphusid crab Neostrengeria macropa (H. Milne Edwards, 1853) in the Sabana de Bogota (Bogota Plain), Colombia to predict its likely behavioral response to temperature shocks and climate change. We used location data and the results of our behavioral assays to determine likely geographic range and how that range may be affected by impending climate change in the next century. We determined the temperature tolerance range of the crab to be between 10.5 and 26°C based on behavioral assays, along with mapping the likely effect of climate change on its biogeographic range using this temperature tolerance and the history of collections to inform a MaxEnt model. We found that N. macropa is not likely to change its geographic range in the next 70 years. It has a relatively wide temperature tolerance range (15.5°C) for a tropical animal, probably due to the wide daily temperature swing present on the Bogota Plain. This work also provides a sense of the tolerance range and probable effect of climate change for more inaccessible pseudothelphusid crab species in Colombia since the country is mountainous and understudied for this group in rural areas. Increased development in Colombia combined with climate change could be devastating to these species.

Tendencias of biotechnology, innovation and development in Colombia

The role of biotechnology in the future of humanity is seen as essential and leading to address those who makes the most important challenges of economies and societies of the world in the coming decades: provision of food, water, energy, health and other resources and services for a growing population. This research article addresses from a critical stance trends in biotechnology in Colombia. It was found that the bet of the Colombian State for innovation, research and biotechnology is not at the forefront of global trends and is subject to a precarious insertion in the world market, leaving outside dimensions cultural, social and environmental. It is concluded that the State must reorient its biotechnological betting toward the construction of a sustainable society environmentally and culturally.

EL DERECHO A LA ALIMENTACIÓN DESDE LA CONTRATACIÓN PÚBLICA DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES DE SUMINISTRO

The General Regulations regarding Public Administration Procurement (Law 80/1993) act as the guidelines for standardising contracting in Colombia and form the starting point for public institutions' purchasing goods and services. They also represent one of the most important legal tools for updating public management. They were designed to ensure efficient management of public resources, ethical standards for management and cost-cutting concerning government contracting, based on their guiding principle of acting in good faith. Regarding public contracting for supplying food, the state's goals, through its assistance programmes and projects, is to enable national policy regarding food and nutrition security (seeing food as a right), mitigate hunger and improve nutritional conditions and the collective health of populations which are vulnerable and/or excluded by poverty. This should theoretically provide social and economic guarantees for Colombia's development.

Editorial. El futuro de las revistas de ciencias económicas en Colombia

On the 27th of January 2015, the National Bibliographical Index (IBN Publinex) divulged the list of indexed journals in the first update of 2014. This included 542 scientific publications edited by different institutions, mainly, of higher education, research and development in Colombia. We found 28 journals in categories A1, 138 in A2, 131 in B, and 245 in C (Colciencias, 2015). This is proof of a significant advance in terms of such publications compared to the 515 indexed journals in 2013 or the 91, in 2002, when there was only one journal in category A1, 9 journals in category A2, 7 in category B and 74 in category C (Rodriguez, Naranjo and Gonzalez, 2015).

Discourse in Música Latinoamericana Cultural Projects from Nueva Canción to Colombian Canción Social

In this article, I follow the discourses elaborated around música latinoamericana (“Latin American music”), a broad musical category encompassing a wide range of Latin American—but especially Andean—folk genres within successive, interrelated “cultural projects.” I examine the extra-musical meanings attributed to this stylistic mode in the nueva canción (new song) movements of protest music in the Southern Cone, the transnational nueva canción latinoamericana network to which they gave rise, and ultimately focus on música latinoamericana’s development in Colombia. During the mid-1970s, the initial Colombian practitioners of música latinoamericana adopted several facets of the discourse pertaining to this music—along with the musical models themselves—from nueva canción latinoamericana. However, they later refined claims about the style’s significance, its distinctiveness from other musical genres, and its political symbolism to fit changing cultural contexts in the cities of the Colombian interior. I argue that the discursive “work” undertaken in these cultural projects has ensured that música latinoamericana continues to be equated with anti-establishment politics in Colombia, and hence that it remains closely tied to canción social (social song), the present-day category for socially conscious music.

Cuantificación de existencias de compuestos bifenilos policlorados (PCB) en Colombia

Los compuestos bifenilos policlorados, más conocidos como PCB, son sustancias de alta toxicidad tanto para el ser humano como para los ecosistemas. El Convenio de Estocolmo sobre Contaminantes Orgánicos Persistentes (COP), entre los que se encuentran los PCB, establece la necesidad de que los países tomen medidas para reducir o eliminar el uso de equipos eléctricos que aún funcionen con PCB. Por esta razón, el Ministerio de Ambiente de la República de Colombia (MINAMBIENTE) desarrolló un inventario sobre las existencias globales de PCB en uso. En este artículo se presentan la metodología seguida y los resultados consolidados de dicho inventario. El informe indica que las existencias estimadas de PCB en Colombia están entre 9.771 y 12.803 toneladas.

Identificación de variables que afectarían la valoración de productos de las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas dedicadas al desarrollo de software por encargo en Colombia

El presente trabajo se realizó con el fin de identificar las variables (necesidades y factores) que podrían afectar la valoración de productos de las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas (Mipymes) dedicadas al desarrollo de software por encargo en Colombia para los años 2014-2018. Dicha identificación se realizó de manera colectiva mediante un proceso de reflexión, concertación y aplicación de herramientas prospectivas. Se analizó el comportamiento de la industria de software en el país, que es relativamente reciente. El Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones actualmente impulsa nuevas estrategias para su fortalecimiento. Para desarrollar este trabajo se utilizaron herramientas metodológicas prospectivas, a fin de hacer un diagnóstico de la situación, identificar los actores implicados y revisar las tendencias pertinentes. Como herramientas se seleccionaron el taller de prospectiva estratégica y el método Delphi. Con base en los resultados obtenidos, se recomienda generar estrategias dentro de las Mipymes desarrolladoras de software por encargo que permita a dichas empresas: (1) aprovechar mejor el apoyo ofrecido por el gobierno por medio de las leyes de emprendimiento y algunos beneficios tributarios; (2) generar innovación que les permita volverse competitivas; (3) gestionar el conocimiento de tal forma que éste quede documentado y no se cometan los mismos errores del pasado;(4) revisar los modelos económicos actuales ya que estos son poco eficientes, lo que lleva a que muchas de estas empresas se vuelvan inviables financieramente; y (5) realizar adaptaciones tecnológicas acompañadas de transferencia tecnológica y capacitación del recurso humano, de tal forma que se permita una evolución en el tiempo de las compañías y del capital humano.