Local County Research Articles

Efficiency and Corruption in Local Counties: Evidence from Romania

The current financial crisis and the lack of resources made imperative the analysis of the efficiency for managing public money, both at the central and at the local level. The general objective of the research is constituted by the estimate of the technical efficiency of all counties in Romania, as well as the analysis of its implications in local development. The originality and novelty of the study are supported by the research of a subject that has in the center the efficiency of the public authorities, current research direction for the public sector, in view of achieving a complex study. In order to reach the objective proposed, we will perform calculations on the basis of the Data Envelopment Analysis mathematical model and of the Tobit non-linear econometric model. At the same time, we reach the conclusion that in Romania, as in other states, there is a causality link between the efficiency of the local authorities and the level of corruption.

Analisis PAD dan Dana Perimbangan Terhadap Kinerja Keuangan Pemda Se-Jawa Barat

The research is to find out and analyze the contribution of Original income Equalization Funds against the region and the financial performance of local Government Counties and the city of se-West Java province.
 Hypothesis testing in this study using multiple regression analysis (Multiple Regression) on the grounds that its independent variable more than one. This analysis is used to determine the relationship between financial performance areas with independent variables (the original Revenue Equalization Fund and regional). To know the influence between independent variables with the performance levels of local government then performed testing of hypothesis testing research on the variables with the determination coefficient and t-test.
 Linear regression analysis of the barganda equation KKPD = 1.452 + 0, 561PAD – 0, 171DP + e. Whereas determinasinya coefficients (R2) of 25.3%. based on the research results obtained the conclusion that Equalization Fund of PAD effect partially against the financial performance of local government.

The Border Area Conflict Impact on Government Responsiveness Relating on Public Service

Responsiveness or response are the desire and the will of the bureaucracy in the expectations, desires and aspirations and demands of the community services provided quickly and responsively. The responsiveness of government bureaucracy needs to be done across Government jurisdictions begin from the Central Government to the border region. However, the occurrence of conflict affirmation borders of Magelang regencies and cities affected the responsiveness of regional pemerinrah in the service of public administration services in particular resistance. This research aims to describe and determine the factors affecting the responsiveness of local governments in implementing public service in conflict areas and County boundary affirmation in Magelang city . The methods used in this research is a mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches are converging. Data collection is done by survey, interview and documentation. Qualitative data analysis done through interactive model with the validity methodology of the analysis focuses on the triangulation, with rolling according to needs also use techniques of the other validity. The research's results show that the local government County and Magelang city has not been responsive in public services on the territory of the conflict area limits the visible affirmations of public service obstrction of the administration of land in the region. Yet the responsiveness of the local government in the public service is affected by the problem complexity, Government regulatory authorities and the County and Magelang City, leadership of public officials who are not able to listen to the grievances of the public and the haven't priority of the broader public interest in making the corresponding decisions of public service in the area of the disputed boundary area.

Preparing Your Pediatric Patients and Their Families for the Operating Room: Reducing Fear of the Unknown.

1. Adam C. Adler, MS, MD*,‡ 2. Stephanie Leung, BS, CCLS† 3. Benjamin H. Lee, MD*,‡ 4. Scott R. Dubow, MD§ 1. *Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and 2. †Department of Child Life, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 3. ‡Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 4. §Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA * Abbreviations: BiPAP: : bilevel positive airway pressure CLS: : child life specialist CPAP: : continuous positive airway pressure DEA: : Drug Enforcement Administration IV: : intravenous MRI: : magnetic resonance imaging OSA: : obstructive sleep apnea Clinicians should: identify the resources available to patients and families to allow for a smooth perioperative experience; understand the long-term effects and potential maladaptive changes associated with an anxiety-provoking perioperative period; understand the most common parental and patient concerns and misconceptions regarding surgery; understand the most common and up-to-date perioperative anesthesia practices; understand the indication for referral to the preoperative anesthesia clinic for patient evaluation to avoid unnecessary cancellation. Pediatricians are often tasked with preparing children and their families for the preoperative period and dealing with questions related to postoperative issues and concerns. Instruction based on current practice and new research and techniques may help patients and families cope with the stressors of surgery. Determining which patients may benefit from a medical or child life preoperative visit is of crucial importance. After completing this article, the reader should be able to: 1. Describe common preoperative anesthesia practice. 2. Recognize the role of a child life specialist in preparing children for surgery. 3. Differentiate children who would benefit from a preoperative anesthesia and/or child life evaluation. 4. Instruct patients and families on issues related to the perioperative period. 5. Address a wide array of parental concerns regarding surgery, anesthesia, and postoperative pain management. The period of time surrounding a planned surgical procedure can be tumultuous and anxiety provoking for both pediatric patients and their parents. The “mysterious place” that is the operating room often remains a mystery to many health care providers, including those tasked with caring for patients both before and after a procedure. As the health care provider most familiar to patients and their families, the pediatrician is in a …

Changing Face of Family Planning Funding in Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Two Urban Counties.

As international development partners reduce funding for family planning (FP) programs, the need to estimate the financial resources devoted to FP is becoming increasingly important both at all levels. This cross-sectional assessment examined the FP financing sources, agents, and expenditures in two counties of Kenya for fiscal years 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 to guide local decision-making on financial allocations. Data were collected through a participatory process. This involved stakeholder interviews, review of financial records and service statistics, and a survey of facilities offering FP services. Financing sources and agents were identified, and source amounts calculated. Types of FP provider organizations and the amounts spent by expenditure categories were identified. Overall, five financing sources and seven agents for FP were identified. Total two-year expenditures were KSh 307.8 M (US$ 3.62 M). The government's share of funding rose from 12% to 21% over the two years (p=0.029). In 2010/2011, the largest expense categories were administration, commodities, and labor; however, spending on commodities increased by 47% (p=0.042). This study provides local managers with FP financing and expenditure information for use in budget allocation decision-making. These analyses can be done routinely and replicated in other local counties or countries in a context of devolution.

Local sales taxes, employment, and tax competition

Most analysis of the economic impacts of sales taxes does not include local taxes, despite the fact that they account for one-fifth of all sales tax collections and vary widely across states. This paper addresses that omission, estimating the effect of sales taxes on employment at state borders using county-level quarterly data and a newly developed data set of local county tax rates. The findings indicate that sales tax increases, relative to cross-border neighbors, lead to losses of employment, as well as payroll and hiring, but these effects are only found in counties with large shares of residents working in another state. The employment effects are also likely to be relatively short-lived, as they occur in the period before tax competition occurs and competitive jurisdictions are able to strategically respond and minimize cross-border tax differentials. Comparing estimates of sales tax effects with and without local county sales taxes show that omitting county taxes does not lead to meaningfully different estimates.

Impact of Colonoscopy Preparation Video on Boston Bowel Preparation Score

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States (US) and the third most common cancer in men and the second most common cancer among women. Early detection of localized adenocarcinoma and adenomatous polyps helps to reduce the mortality related to colon cancer. The CSPY preparation (prep) needs to be optimal. This study's purpose was to determine whether a supplemental educational CSPY video in the viewer's native language would improve bowel preparation, among adult patients at the local county medical facility.Figure: CPRIT colonoscopy preparation video.Figure: Final multivariate analysis results.Methods: Patients who underwent a CSPY were assigned according to whether they watched a supplemental educational video on CSPY bowel preparation in their native language. This video reflects the same information provided in written and verbal form at the time of CSPY scheduling. Bowel prep was rated by the endoscopist using the Boston Bowel Prep Score (BBPS). Participant characteristics and BBPS were collected. Results: There were 186 patients; 91 seen in March 2015 (pre-video) and 95 in March 2016 (postvideo). Mean BBPS was 7.9 and 8.54 for the March 2015 and 2016 group, respectively (P value 0.0039). There was statistical difference between the two groups' racial make-up and BBPS. There was no interaction between gender or race and year effect to account for any difference in that factors' performance. Analyzed data supported a consistent gender effect with females having higher success rates, regardless of video intervention (P value-0.003). After controlling for both gender and race, the year is modestly significant (P value-0.025), with the post-video subjects having higher prep success rates. Conclusion: Only females and Hispanics were found to have a statistically significant relationship as a variable to mean BBPS. There was a strong association with the female gender, when BBPS were viewed dichotomously. Upon multivariate analysis, there was a consistent gender effect with females having higher success rates, regardless of video intervention, and a modest video effect, with the post-video subjects having higher prep success rates. A post-hoc power analysis based on our sample size indicated 76% power to detect differences in BBPS, pre- and post-intervention. Limitations include: 1) no assessment of educational level (Illiteracy rate is 40%), 2) single institution setting, and 3) a short recruiting time frame.

46-Year-Old Man With Lower Back Pain

46-Year-Old Man With Lower Back Pain

On their last legs

Imagine this: It's early morning, and you're sleeping alone in your bed. Suddenly your ankle vibrates, and a voice blurts out from beneath the sheets: This is the monitoring center. You are not in your inclusion zone. Do you have permission to be outside this area? That's what happened to a man named Jeffrey B. when his GPS-equipped ankle bracelet went berserk. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation had strapped a tracking anklet on Jeffrey for good reason. He had pleaded guilty to 26 counts of peeping into windows and video recording young women while they were undressing. After three years in prison, Jeffrey was released. Local county officials decided, however, that because he had broken a previous five-year probation order, they would attach a second GPS monitor, which they controlled. He then had to live with a tracking device on each ankle. Having two anklets, though inconvenient, ultimately helped Jeffrey. Although the county anklet was squawking about a violation, the state anklet was silent. Suspicious county parole officers had Jeffrey arrested, but given the inconsistency, the district attorney quickly dismissed the charge. The vendor of the county’s equipment admitted later to a system error.

Bilingual education for the Tujia: the case of Tujia minority schools in Xiangxi autonomous prefecture

ABSTRACTA field trip to Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture was conducted in early 2016, to investigate bilingual education for the Tujia in China. Through observation of language classes, along with interviews with local students, parents and bilingual teachers, this paper investigates the current bilingual education situation for the Tujia in three schools. A number of unpublished government documents and historical records from local county archives are also analysed to support the findings. The paper will first outline the historical development of bilingual education for the Tujia in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture. Secondly, it will investigate the textbooks, the medium of instruction and the teaching approach employed in the language classroom. Then it will scrutinise the attitudes of local teachers, students and parents towards bilingual education, to provide a full picture of bilingual education for the Tujia students. This study sheds light on the future of bilingual education development for the Tujia ethnic group, and proposes an analytical model to capture the current situation and indicate the future development of bilingual education from the pedagogical perspective.

A Case of Application of Bedside Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy on Treatment of MODS Caused by Fish Bile Poisoning

One case of 54 years old female patient was admitted to hospital due to vomiting and diarrhea for 3 days and abnormal renal function for 1 day. The patient appeared repeatedly vomiting and watery stools 6 hours after eating 2 grain of raw carp fish bile and gradually appeared oliguresis, whole body skin yellow dye and fever symptoms. The condition of patient had no improvement after visiting the emergency department of local county hospital. She was checked in department of nephropathy in our hospital for further diagnosis and treatment. Because the patient's condition was serious and the function of liver and kidney was damaged, diagnosed as severe multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), she was transferred to ICU rescue to protect the liver, maintain water and electrolyte balance, control blood sugar, improve the circulation and give other drug treatments and actively carry out bedside continuous renal replacement therapy. Then the body temperature and hemogram of the patients became normal, liver and kidney function improved obviously, urinary production became normal, skin yellow dye faded and vital signs became stable. The successful treatment of this patient indicated that bedside continuous renal replacement therapy can not only have a good support for the kidneys but also reduce the waterfall effect of inflammatory of patients with severe MODS, which has great therapeutic effect on the multi organ dysfunction caused by fish bile poisoning.

Protected pasture in Gajna, Croatia – a long battle for recognition of common governance in a place of rich natural and cultural heritage

Since 1989, Gajna has been listed as a protected area under the Croatian Nature Protection Law. It is a grassland protected at a local (county) level and is wholly dependent on the activities and m...

What Motivates Citizens to Volunteer in Schools? Determinants in the Local Context

Volunteers play a vital role in helping local schools accomplish their goals and missions. Yet, little is known about the determinants of volunteering in local schools. This study expects that community factors, citizens’ concerns, and personal characteristics are possible determinants of general and school volunteering. Utilizing a 2007 survey from a local county, this study finds that citizens receiving public assistance or having higher satisfaction with their local community are more likely to volunteer in any type of organizations. Moreover, having children under the age of 18, concerns about the availability of affordable child care, and working in the education sector are positively related to school volunteering. Implications for research and practice are addressed.

Assessment of Ecological Assets for Sustainable Regional Development: A Case Study of Deqing County, China

Sustainable development has become a main concern of governments at a variety of levels. Assessing ecological assets, which is significant for the sustainability of human society, plays an important role in measuring the performance of local governments. Using Deqing County in Zhejiang Province as a case study, this paper adapts a county-level indicator assessment of ecological assets and quantifies these indicators using high-resolution data sets. The resulting value of ecological assets in Deqing County accounts for 24.85% of its GDP, which is much higher than other published case studies across China. Through contrasting per capita valuation of ecological assets and per capita enterprise taxation at township level, this paper has classified all townships into four categories, each of which has varied implications for the local development strategy from the perspective of sustainability. This study implies that the integration of the valuation of ecological assets into the measurement of political performance at the lowest township level enables the provision of quantitative evidence to enhance sustainable development at local (county) level.

Improved Survival of Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction 3–6 Hours After Symptom Onset Is Associated with Inter-Hospital Transfer for Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) at a Large Regional ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Program vs. In-Hospital Thrombolysis in a Community Hospital

BackgroundThis study sought to compare the 30-day and 1-year survival of patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), whose symptom onset to in-hospital first medical contact (IHFMC) was 3–6 h, who received either in-hospital thrombolysis (IHT) in the nearest county hospital or direct transfer to a larger hospital in Henan province, China for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).Material/MethodsPatients were allocated into 2 groups: one group received IHT in the local county hospital, whereas the other group were transferred to the PCI centers to receive PPCI. Patient demographic data, baseline characteristics, and time between different stages of patient contact to the initiation of treatment for IHT or PPCI were recorded for analysis.ResultsNo significant difference was identified between the 2 groups with the baseline characteristics and demographic data. The all-cause mortality was not significantly different between the IHT and PPCI group at 30 days (13.0% vs. 9.9%, p=0.386). However, a significant difference in mortality between the IHT and PPCI group was observed at 1 year (23.4% vs. 14.1%, p=0.035). Inter-hospital transfer time for PPCI tended to be the independent predictor for survival (OR: 4.4 CI 95%: 1.9–14.5, p 0.001). Overall, the patients undergoing PPCI in inter-hospital transfer had a higher survival rates for 1 year compared with patients receiving IHT.ConclusionsDespite the delay associated with inter-hospital transfer for PPCI, patients with STEMI 3–6 h after symptom onset have improved survival with PPCI over patients treated locally with IHT.

地方农田生态系统价值动态评价——以2008~2014年河南省安阳市为例

目前农田生态系统价值评价较多关注大尺度空间区域，地方上的动态评价很少，县市等地方政府制定农业资源管理等政策时缺少数据支撑。本文使用文献调查法获得河南省安阳市2008~2014有关数据，基于农田生态系统正负效应评价法核算了安阳市这七年农田生态系统提供的正效应和负效应价值，分析了动态变化，其中正效应包括农产品生产、社会保障、土壤保持、土壤固碳、光合作用释氧、净化大气以及维持营养物质循环，负效应包括地下水资源消耗、温室气体排放、地膜污染、农药损失和化肥流失。结果显示，安阳市农田生态系统正效应价值以约10 × 108元/年的速度增长，2014年接近760 × 108元，其中农产品生产的价值最大，约占33%，而土壤固碳等非生产性价值是主体，占总价值近67%；负效应价值基本趋势也是逐年增长，2014年约为83×108元，负效应以地下水消耗为主，占72%以上，其次是温室气体排放，约占13%。正负效应之差呈增大趋势，2014年为676 × 108元。论文为安阳市相关农业政策的制定提供了重要的数据和信息基础，为我国其他地方农田生态系统价值评价提供了参考范例。 The research on agro-ecosystem evaluation so far has largely been focusing on large-scale areas such as north China or even the whole China territory; little attention has been paid to local city or county levels, less to dynamic changes of agro-ecosystem values over time. This has become an inconvenience when it comes to make a policy about agro-ecosystem due to the lack of relevant data or information. In this paper, we evaluated the positive and negative effects of the agro-eco- system on a local city level, using Anyang city of Henan province as an example, and we did a dynamic analysis on the changes of agro-ecosystem value for the years of 2008-2014. We carried out the evaluations of positive and negative effects by using modified methods used in other studies, based on data collected from official Henan Yearbooks of these years. The positive effects include agricultural production, social security, soil conservation, soil carbon fixation, photosynthesis oxygen release, air cleaning, and nutrients cycling, and the negative effects include underground water consumption, greenhouse gas emission, mulching film pollution, pesticide pollution, and fertilizer loss. Results showed that the positive effects value of Anyang agro-ecosystem increased about 1 billion yuan per year, reaching 76 billion yuan in 2014. Agricultural production value is the biggest part, about 33 percent of the total positive value, while the nonproduction values, including soil carbon fixation, nutrients cycling and photosynthesis oxygen release, were the major value component, about 67% of the total positive value. Negative value showed a similar trend of increase, reaching 8.3 billion yuan in the year of 2014. The major component of negative values was underground water consumption, which was more than 72% of total negative effect value, followed by greenhouse gas emission which is about 13%. The gap between positive and negative values, namely the net value of agro-ecosystem, increased over these years, reaching about 67.6 billion in 2014. These findings provided important base data and information to decision-makings related to agricultural ecosystem management in Anyang city; it also offers a methodological framework for agro-ecosystem evaluation in other local areas in China.

Unemployment and Worker Participation in the Gig Economy: Evidence from an Online Labor Platform

The gig economy has low barriers to entry, enabling flexible work arrangements and allowing workers to engage in contingent employment, whenever, and in some cases, such as online labor markets, wherever workers desire. The growth of the gig economy has been partly attributed to technological advancements that enable flexible work environments. In this study, we consider the role of an alternative driver, economic downturns, and associated financial stressors in the offline economy—e.g., unemployment. As the exact nature of the relationship between online labor supply and offline unemployment is not immediately clear, in this work, we seek to quantify the relationship, exploring heterogeneity across a variety of county-specific characteristics. We study these relationships in the context of a leading online labor market, combining data on the participation of workers residing in counties across the United States with county-level data on unemployment from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our results demonstrate a positive and significant association between local (county) unemployment in the traditional offline labor market and the supply of online workers residing in the same county, as well as significantly larger volumes of online project bidding activity from workers in the same county. Specifically, we estimate that a 1% increase in county unemployment is associated with a 21.8% increase in the volume of county residents actively working online at the platform. Further, our results suggest significant heterogeneity in the relationship, such that a significantly larger supply of online labor manifests when unemployment occurs in counties characterized by better Internet access, younger and more educated populations, and populations whose social ties are dispersed over a wider geographic area. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications for workers, online labor markets, and policy makers.

Relations entre gouvernance et gouvernement local et le rôle de l’État : le cas du programme LEADER en Irlande

Central states allocated responsibility for local development actions to a range of private, community and voluntary organisations in many European countries, over the past three decades. This phenomenon has been viewed as undermining the roles and influence of local government. In rural areas, the principle of subsidiarity in the LEADER programme was influential in such delegation of responsibilities. This paper has the objective of analysing the changing relationships between local government and local governance associated with LEADER, using Ireland as an example. Ireland assumes particular interest because new governance structures were accompanied in many cases by new territorial areas which did not coincide with the local government county units and LEADER was truly innovative. The method consists of a critical analysis of government policy documents, evaluations of the LEADER programme in Ireland and experience of researching a number of the governance partnerships. The results illustrate the modalities through which local government may gain influence over local governance structures and extend its remits with the support of central government.

Research into Monitoring Index System Establishment and Classified Development Modes for Local Counties to Build a Moderately Well-off Society in an All-around Way—A Case Study of Sichuan Province

Building a moderately well-off society in an all-around way is a magnificent target put forward at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and a staged historic mission to realize the China Dream of great renewal of Chinese nation. Also, the objective of striving to build a moderately well-off society in an all-around way in Sichuan Province to be in line with other parts of China was proposed at the 3rd Plenary Session of the 10th CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, explicitly defining the leaping-forward development from being generally well-off to moderately well-off in an all-around way on a county basis. Building a moderately well-off society in an all-around way in counties is fundamental to realizing that across Sichuan Province. Monitoring of that at the county level will provide information support for accelerating that building process across the whole province. With comprehensive monitoring of this process in counties, we are able to monitor the process of building a well-off society in all main functional areas, five economic areas and ethnic minority areas, as well as monitor this process, by classification, in different types of areas in Sichuan Province, like multiple points, multiple poles, four city clusters, plains, hilly areas, mountainous areas and the Sichuan section of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Area. Moderately well-off societies in counties will support that at the city/prefecture level, which, in turn, will ensure the whole Sichuan Province to do this in line with that in other parts of China.

Perceived benefits of working in a collaborative model of social and health care in Catalonia: what do professionals involved experience?

Background: In 2013 several regional pioneer projects were set up in Catalonia aiming to improve continuity and integration of care in people with health and social needs, to promote a patient-centred model of care and to forge stronger bonds between stakeholders involved. Within these collaborative models the principal connection was made between basic social services (depending on local town and/or county councils) and primary health services (depending on the Catalan Institute of Health or other providers). The Agency of Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS for Catalan acronym, a public governmental institution) was commissioned to carry out an external assessment of 9 collaborative models of social and health care. In this paper we are presenting the results of this project and discussion of the challenge in measuring the benefits and outcomes perceived by professionals involved in these initiatives.Methods: A qualitative case study was carried out in the first semester of 2014. Information was collected through semi-structured questionnaires sent to the leaders of the models and discussion groups with their professionals (2 groups in each model; with participants from the fields of management and health and social care). Additional material of each experience such as their functional plans, circuits and internal presentations was collected. All discussion groups were audio-taped and qualitative analysis was carried out implying a content and discourse analysis. Several steps were followed to assure the quality and validity of qualitative case reports and global results (definition of a research protocol, triangulation of information and analysts, and validation of results with all participants). Each model included multidisciplinary teams mainly from the fields of social work, social education, primary care medicine, nursing, internal medicine and psychiatric medicine among other, including management and care profiles.Results: The 9 assessed collaborative models of social and health care differed in terms of the service providers involved, target population, phases of evolvement of the models and professional profiles. Nevertheless, we found similar believes and experiences of the professionals involved in terms of what a “collaborative model” of social and healthcare model was. They considered it went beyond coordinated care (considered a more informal way for professionals to work together) and integrated care (involved sharing common goals and an overall view of users). The collaborative model, as a concept, involved not only teamwork, coordination and integrated care but also transforming informal processes and organization of social and health care, into more formal structures and functioning (preparing a functional plan, defining common aims and agreements between institutions and providers). Participants described perceived benefits of working in a collaborative model for different stakeholders such as for health and social care professionals, for managers and decision makers, for users and caregivers and for the system globally. Some of these perceived benefits were: an increase in sense of facilitating decision-making for professionals when identifying users’ needs and defining the most adequate care; an increased process agility and efficiency; or promoting the user’s sense of comfort along their process of care (“users are not so muddled and annoyed as us much”). A set of quantitative outcome indicators was proposed taking into account the qualitative perceived benefits expressed by professionals and also indicators used in the scorecards of these models.Discussion and conclusions: The results of this project have allowed documenting and deepening in what a collaborative model of social and health care imply for multidisciplinary teams of professionals. A step forward has been made to transform perceived benefits and outcomes in a proposal of a common set of quantitative indicators for future comparative studies. As in other countries, there is still a challenge in measuring the outcomes and benefits in terms of how effective and efficient these kinds of experiences are at short, medium and long term. In this paper we will be comparing the results obtained in Catalonia with the evidence from similar published studies.