Trends In Ownership Research Articles

“I Know Which Devil I Write for”: Two Types of Autonomy Among Czech Journalists Remaining in and Leaving the Prime Minister's Newspapers

This paper examines two different understandings of professional autonomy among journalists currently and formerly working at Mafra, a Czech media house acquired in 2013 by Andrej Babiš, who in 2017 became the Czech Prime Minister. We build on existing research of local trends in media ownership and journalistic autonomy to ask the following questions: What differentiated the experience of journalists who exited the organization after the ownership change from that of those who stayed put? How did the two groups understand professional journalistic autonomy? Based on the thematic analysis of twenty semistructured interviews with ten journalists who stayed in the media house after Babiš's acquisition and ten journalists who left, we argue that in the journalists’ narratives, the two decisions reflect two different notions of autonomy: autonomy-as-a-practice and autonomy-as-a-value. While our findings add to the scarce empirical research on journalists’ lived experiences of the region's mediascape marked by growing comingling and concentration of political, economic and media power, we also suggest that the autonomy-as-a-practice and journalists’ agency should be further studied as a possible way how to perform and promote journalistic autonomy even in illiberalizing contexts—in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond.

Synergistic Air Pollutants and GHG Reduction Effect of Commercial Vehicle Electrification in Guangdong’s Public Service Sector

This paper aims to analyze the associated environment and climate benefits of electrification by comparing the air pollutant and CO2 emissions from the fuel cycle of battery electric commercial vehicles (BECVs) and internal combustion engine commercial vehicles (ICECVs) through a case study in Guangzhou Province. Five types of vehicles (i.e., electric buses, coaches, light-duty trucks, dump trucks, and waste haulers) used in the public service sector were selected for analysis, taking into account six development scenarios based on the prevalent ownership trends of electric vehicles and the energy system optimization process. The results reveal that an increase in commercial vehicle electrification in the public service sector will cause reductions of 19.3 × 103 tons, 0.5 × 103 tons, 9.5 × 103 tons, and 8.5 × 106 tons for NOx, PM2.5, VOCs, and CO2, respectively, from the base 2030 case (CS_II, the electrification rates of buses, coaches, light-duty trucks, dump trucks, and waste haulers will reach 100%, 26.5%, 15.4%, 24.0%, and 33.1%, and their power needs will be met by 24% coal, 18.4% gas, and 13.2% renewable power), but with a slight increase in SO2 emissions. With the further penetration of BECVs into the market, the emission reduction benefits for NOx, PM2.5, VOCs, and CO2 could be even more remarkable. Moreover, the benefit obtained from the optimization of the share of renewable energy is more noticeable for CO2 reduction than for air pollutant reduction. Prioritizing the electrification of light-duty trucks after completing bus electrification could be a potential solution for achieving ozone pollution control and lowering carbon emissions in Guangdong. In addition, these results can provide scientific support for the formulation or adjustment of advanced pollution mitigation and peaking carbon policies in Guangdong, as well as other regions of China.

What impact do private vehicle restrictions in urban areas have on car ownership? Empirical evidence from the city of Madrid

City characteristics and transport policies influence individuals' decisions to own and use private vehicles, thereby impacting on externalities and quality of life. This research explores to what extent car ownership is influenced by the implementation of transport policies aimed at improving urban sustainability in the city of Madrid. Through the calibration of a Multilevel Ordered Logit Model, household car ownership is explained in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, city built-environment variables, transport network attributes, and policy-related variables. The results indicate that built environment factors play a key role in explaining car ownership trends. Moreover, ceteris paribus policies aimed at deterring private vehicles' use seem to discourage households from purchasing cars.

Pet ownership trends during lockdown

Companion AnimalVol. 26, No. 5 EditorialPet ownership trends during lockdownElla MackenzieElla MackenzieEditor, Companion Animal & UK Vet EquineSearch for more papers by this authorElla MackenziePublished Online:5 May 2021https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2021.0020AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 May 2021Volume 26Issue 5ISSN (print): 2053-0889ISSN (online): 2053-0897 Metrics History Published online 5 May 2021 Published in print 2 May 2021 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

Market Myopia's Climate Bubble

A growing number of financial institutions, ranging from BlackRock to the Bank of England, have warned that markets may not be accurately incorporating climate change-related risks into asset prices. This Article seeks to explain how this mispricing occurs, drawing from scholarship on corporate governance and the mechanisms of market (in)efficiency. Market actors: (1) Lack the fine-grained asset-level data they need in order to assess risk exposure; (2) Continue to rely on outdated means of assessing risk; (3) Have misaligned incentives resulting in climate-specific agency costs; (4) Have myopic biases exacerbated by climate change misinformation; and (5) Are impeded by captured regulators distorting the market. Further, trends in institutional share ownership reinforce apathy toward assessment of firm-specific fundamentals, especially over long-term horizons. This underpricing of corporate climate risk contributes to the negative effects of climate change itself, as the mispricing of risk in the present leads to a misallocation of investment capital, hindering adaptation and subsidizing future combustion of fossil fuels. These risks could accumulate to the macroeconomic scale, generating a systemic risk to the financial system. While a broad array of government interventions are necessary to mitigate climate-related financial risks, this Article focuses on proposals for corporate governance and securities regulation—and their limits. The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently drafting a rule on mandatory climate risk disclosure. This Article argues that the SEC should seek out climate expertise through interagency collaboration and staff hiring, work with auditors and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and provide guidance on climate risk analytics. This Article argues that climate risk disclosure is necessary, though alone not sufficient, to address the widespread disregard of corporate climate exposure.

Aspects of Formation of Legal Status of Subterranean Depths

The aim of the study is to identify and investigate ownership trends in exploration and use of subterranean depths of Latvia, by examining aspects of legal status of subterranean depths. The following methods were used as part of the study: (1) analytical method used for gaining and analysing the amount of information obtained, as well as for structuring research work; (2) comparative method for analysis and comparison of legal frameworks between European continent countries for the use of subterranean depths in regulatory enactments; (3) empirical method based on facts obtained objectively and systematically through collection of information. The main results of the study include: 1. Today, when society’s demand for energy is growing rapidly to ensure the well-being of society, and technology is evolving more rapidly so that energy resources can be used in an increasingly economic way, it is important to be able to separate the public’s common interest and private interest in energy resources located in the subterranean depths. 2. In the 21st century Latvia, legal framework for the ownership of subterranean depths has not carried out the introduction of a legal framework corresponding to the needs of modern society and technological capabilities to be able to perform systematically both the search and exploration of new mineral resources and other resources of subterranean depths and the establishment of a national strategy for the exploitation of subterranean depths.

Trends in Hearing Aid Use Among Older Adults in the United States, 2011-2018

Hearing loss among older adults is prevalent and associated with dementia and health care utilization. However, cross-sectional data suggest less than 20% of adults with hearing loss use hearing aids. There is a paucity of studies examining trends in hearing aid ownership over time. This study analyzed data from the 2011, 2015, and 2018 cycles of the National Health Aging and Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally-representative longitudinal study of Medicare Beneficiaries. Participants were asked “in the last month, [have you/has [he/she]] use a hearing aid or other hearing device?” (“yes” or “no”). Among a weighted sample of Medicare Beneficiaries 70 years and older (26.47 million in 2011; 29.70 million in 2015; and 33.28 in 2018), the overall proportion who own and use hearing aids rose from 14.96% in 2011 to 16.90% in 2015 to 18.45% in 2018. As age increased so did the proportion of older adults who used hearing aids. A smaller proportion of Black Americans used hearing aids across time and experienced a smaller overall increase in the proportion in hearing aid ownership over the 8-year period compared to White Americans (+0.78% vs. +4.30%). Black women had the lowest rates of hearing aids use across the 8-year period. Notably, older adults at less than 100% of the federal poverty level experienced an overall decrease in proportion of hearing aid ownership and use. This study lays the groundwork to examine the impact of the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 across subpopulations when it takes effect in 2021.

Trends in Hearing Aid Ownership Among Older Adults in the United States From 2011 to 2018

Trends in Hearing Aid Ownership Among Older Adults in the United States From 2011 to 2018

Powered‐two‐wheelers and smart cities: the case of variable message signs

At present, a number of smart urban mobility solutions exist and furthermore are emerging towards the design of smart cities offering equitable, green and efficient transport. As this concept addresses the needs of all travellers, it is essential to explore the relevance of existing and proposed smart solutions for distinct user categories. Powered-two-wheelers (PTWs) comprise a distinct vehicle category exhibiting specific movement dynamics and characteristics while exhibiting considerable presence in urban areas and increasing ownership trends during the recent years. Thus, PTW needs should be identified and considered in the design of smart cities. This study explores PTW diversion behaviour considering variable message signs (VMS) operation. Relevant data was collected through a stated preference questionnaire survey and diversion propensity was explored through the design of probit models. Survey results indicated that although PTWs believe that VMS fail to address their needs, their attitudes towards them are still positive. Model results exhibited that most of the information elements transmitted via VMS affect PTW diversion behaviour. Other contributory factors, considering PTW diversion included traffic code violation behaviour, rider ‘flexibility’, age, gender etc. Rider sub-populations, considering riding on the pavement or pedestrianised areas and internet use for traffic information, were also explored.

Modern Trends in Ownership and Acquisition of Large-scale Lands in Teshie and Kasoa, Ghana

With the rising urbanisation of some parts of Ghana, the demand for land for various purposes is inevitable. The article assesses current trend of large-scale land acquisition in Teshie and Kasoa. The study used semi-structured interviews to solicit primary data from key informants such as chiefs at Nyanyano-Kasoa and Tsie-We family head at Teshie, land guards, and investors who acquire large scale lands in these areas to identify the trends in such acquisitions between 2014 to 2019.The study uncovered that though there are variations in the nature of land ownership in Teshie and Kasoa, multiple sale of lands, poor land management practices, litigation and land guarding are common practices in both areas. The study found that there is an institutional gap as both the state and traditional institutions have not really done much to deal with the challenges confronting LSLAs in these areas. It is recommended that land owning groups be engaged and educated by the Lands Commission in collaboration with Customary Lands Secretariat on proper ways to manage and sell their lands to avoid multiple sales and the conflicts that it brings. The Ghana police service should crackdown on land guarding which is an illegal activity.
 Keywords: Large-scale, Land Acquisition, Land Ownership, Customary Land Secretariat, Traditional Authorities

Mapping Broadcast Media Outlets and Accredited Journalists in Kenya: Towards Understanding News and Information Inequalities

This article reports on a study that attempted to understand news and information inequalities by mapping the distribution of broadcast media outlets, the spread of accredited journalists, and the presence of established news bureaus in the eight regions in Kenya. Further, the study sought to determine the ownership of the broadcast media in Kenya and the trends in ownership and audience reach within the context of commercial interest and public interest dialectics. The study was anchored on the theory of the political economy of the media which looks at power relations that influence the production, distribution and consumption of resources from a critical tradition. Based on the analysis of documents, audience research data, and literature on media representation and socioeconomic and political development, the study revealed that Nairobi County is the news and information hub. It has the most journalists, radio stations and news bureaus, whereas far-flung counties exist in news and information deserts. Central region residents were found to consume the least percentage of the non-local language radio stations as they prefer local language or vernacular radio stations Western, South Nyanza (Nyamira and Kisii) and North Western regions are unique in that their consumption of radio with a national target audience is fairly high when the Average Daily Radio Reach (ADRR) of the top five radio stations is considered. Ownership of the radio market is in the hands of five media organisations that share 43.70% of the ADRR. The establishment, audience reach and ownership trends of these media organisations coupled with the spread of journalists and news bureaus revealed news and information inequalities. The audience reach by broadcast media outlets, even in areas where vernacular radio stations provide a rich diet of media content, seems to be more interested in ownership for profit maximisation at the expense of public interest.

Trends in Development Private Ownership of land and land Parcels in Uzbekistan Scientific and Theoretical Analysis

the article analyzes the stages of privatization of non-agricultural land and the stages of their development. It also analyzed the theoretical aspects and studied the peculiarities of developed countries Peru, Poland, France and the United States in the area of land privatization. In the article recommendations and conclusions on the development of existing legislation were developed based on foreign and domestic experience in land privatization.

Structure of the sunflower plant breeders’ rights landscape in South Africa

Varietal innovations and protection of plant breeders’ rights (PBRs) contribute to the development of any crop’s ability to produce higher yields relatively consistently. Producing yields under adverse weather conditions and the overall characteristic of drought tolerance, make the sunflower an attractive crop for producers in dryland production regions. The main objective of this study was to give an overview of the structure of the South African sunflower breeding programme, focusing on the construction of PBRs and the leading players in sunflower breeding and seed production in South Africa. We compiled a detailed database of sunflower varietal innovations in South Africa from 1979 to 2019 using various sources such as the South African Grain Laboratory, the Department of Agriculture’s Plant Variety Journals and the Crop Estimation Committee. This data set was then analysed using descriptive statistics and trend analysis to determine the main trends in ownership of PBRs and sunflower varieties. We looked at the inclusion of new sunflower varieties on the national variety list for sunflower varietal improvements in South Africa over this period. A total of 76 PBR sunflower varietal applications were lodged for the period – an average of 1.9 applications per year. The principal applicants for varietal inclusions on the national variety list were Pannar with 102 varieties (23.8%), Pioneer seeds with 51 varieties (11%), Saffola seed with 42 varieties (9.8%) and Agricultural Research Council with 10 varieties (2.3%). In order for breeders to benefit from their investment in research and avoid exploitation of their work, they need to be protected and receive returns on their investments. Innovation can be stimulated by proper collaboration between the private and public sectors, aided by broader variety sector legislation that encourages all players to invest.
 Significance:
 
 The study addresses the absence of empirical proof on the patterns and trends of sunflower varietal improvements in South Africa.
 The study provides evidence on the evolution of varietal rights, the extent of varietal rights granted, and which sunflower varieties were included on the national variety list and the breeders and owners of the varieties.

Forecasting Private Vehicle Ownership and It Effect to Public Transportation Planning in Banda Aceh, Indonesia

This paper analyses trends in private vehicle ownership in developing countries, namely in Indonesia. In the last few years private vehicle ownership has increased very sharply in line with economic growth, rapid urbanization growth, significant population growth and ineffective and efficient transportation system services. In 2011, Indonesia’s population had reached more than 240 million people, more than 17 million private vehicles and more than 11 million drivers. As usual, income has become a major factor influencing private vehicle ownership. However, population growth also affects ownership of the number of private vehicles. Besides other factors such as government policies, vehicle financing, household characteristics and travel behaviour. Therefore this paper tries to analyse the level of income and the level of population growth and also other factors that affect vehicle ownership in Indonesia, especially in the western part of Indonesia, the city of Banda Aceh. The city of Banda Aceh is located in the westernmost region of the archipelago, a city that is growing after the earthquake and Tsunami. Banda Aceh city has population more than 223.446 in 2010 and increase 10 per cent for the last five years. Private vehicle mode ownership is related to negative impact as well as congestions, accidents, unavailability of parking lots, noise, health problem, pollutions and other problem. Seeing the many negative effects of increasing the number of private vehicle ownership so that it becomes an arduous task for policy makers. The results of the study show that there is a strong relationship between income growth and population growth with the level of private vehicle ownership..

Trends in Aboriginal water ownership in New South Wales, Australia: The continuities between colonial and neoliberal forms of dispossession

There is significant interest in global trends in Indigenous land titling but relatively less attention given to Indigenous water tenure despite significant reform of water governance regimes in many regions of the world. This paper considers the intertwined and complex history of Aboriginal land and water tenure in the Australian State of New South Wales, within the Murray-Darling Basin. Its temporal scope encompasses the initial dispossession effected by colonization and settler water development; the re-appropriation of land and water under social justice restoration schemes from the 1970s; and the past decade in which the small water holdings in the possession of some Aboriginal organizations have significantly diminished. The paper shows that proprietary rights to land and water acquired through the colonial period strongly conditioned rights of access to water during subsequent eras, particularly when Australian governments separated land and water titles and capped water use to create the world’s biggest water market. Using empirical water entitlement data, we profile the composition, spatial distribution and value of Aboriginal water holdings in the NSW portion of the Murray-Darling Basin. We show that while Aboriginal people in this area constitute nearly 10 % of the total population, their organizations hold only 0.2 % of the available surface water. We identify changes in Aboriginal water holdings between 2009 and 2018 that are indicative of a new wave of dispossession. Almost one fifth of Aboriginal water holdings by volume were lost over 2009−18 (at least 17.2 % in standardized terms). We discuss the factors that render Aboriginal water-holders vulnerable to the loss of valuable water rights and those factors that constrain the ability of all Aboriginal people to fully enjoy the benefits of water access, including water market participation. Additionally, we identify critical omissions in Australian water rights reform and offer recommendations for redress that are of wider international relevance.

At a crossroads: consequential trends in recognition of community-based forest tenure from 2002-2017

ABSTRACT Insecure, contested, and unjust forest tenure arrangements undermine forest investment and protection, fuel conflict, and jeopardize Indigenous Peoples’, local communities’, and indigenous and community women’s rights, livelihoods, and development prospects. While legally recognized community forests tend to have lower rates of deforestation, store more carbon and benefit more people than forests managed by either public or private entities, evidence shows over two-thirds of forests remain controlled by governments – a significant portion of which is contested by indigenous and local communities who traditionally own, manage, and depend on these forests. It is therefore all the more critical that governments support and advance communities’ forest tenure rights. Using longitudinal tenure data and analysis of global forest ownership trends developed by the Rights and Resources Initiative, this article details the distribution of statutory forest rights across 58 countries covering nearly 92% of global forests over the fifteen-year period from 2002–2017.

Türkiye'de Rijit ve Esnek Üstyapı Kaplamalarının Yaşam Döngüsü Maliyetlerinin Karşılaştırmalı Bir Değerlendirmesi

Choosing pavement type is a challenging and much-debated issue among public authorities. It includes engineering factors such as materials, labor, and long-term performance within the scope of the initial (construction) and life-cycle costs. In recent years, given the significant public expenditure on road construction and rehabilitation processes, the trends in vehicle ownership caused by an increasing need to travel, and the decrease in local resources, concerns have been raised about the efficiency of pavement coating types. To ensure that taxpayers understand the full value of road expenditure, it is important to identify a coating type selection process that seeks to include the most appropriate construction, maintenance, and repair strategies possible. In this study, an LCCA was performed for a 2.2 km–long Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) test track constructed in Kocaeli city. If asphalt is chosen instead of RCC as the coating preference, the economic factors that may arise at a national scale (in this case, Turkey) are discussed. During the 20-year service period, maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation planning were carried out on the basis of a 30-year analysis period. In terms of initial construction costs, an RCC road is 39.4% more economical than an asphalt road and provides maintenance and repair economies of 62% during the service period. In terms of life-cycle costs, an RCC road is a 46% more economical paving alternative than an asphalt road. Although the first serious maintenance activity was carried out in the 10th and 20th years of the asphalt road, it was significant that it only took place during the 20th year for the RCC road, and the asphalt maintenance material was more expensive than that for the RCC road.

Trends in Contracting and Common Ownership Between Hospice Agencies and Nursing Homes.

In recent years, policymakers have paid particular attention to the emergence of a robust for-profit hospice sector and increased hospice use by nursing home residents. Previous research has explored financial incentives for nursing home-hospice use, but there has been limited research on nursing home-hospice partnerships and none on the extent of nursing home-hospice common ownership. To describe trends in nursing home-hospice contracting and common ownership and to identify potential tradeoffs in care provided by nursing homes and hospice agencies that share common ownership. Retrospective cohort study of nursing home-hospice patients between 2005 and 2015. Between 2005 and 2015, the number of hospice agencies and nursing homes with common ownership grew substantially, now representing almost 1-in-5 providers in each sector. Relative to individuals using hospice in nursing homes without common ownership, adjusted analyses found that individuals receiving hospice from a commonly owned agency had a greater likelihood of having stays of 90 days or more [odds ratio (OR)=1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.10], having a stay resulting in a live discharge (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11), and having at least 1 registered nurse/licensed practical nurse visit during the last 3 days of life (OR=1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.29); these individuals also had a lower mean visit hours per day (-0.07; P=0.003). Common ownership between hospice agencies and nursing homes is an emerging trend that reflects a broader push toward consolidation in the health care sector. Our analyses highlight potential concerns relevant to Medicare payment policy and are a first step toward improving our understanding of these trends and their implications.

Study on Critical Performance Factors Affecting Kochi Metro Rail Project

We are living in a fast-developing society. Every day new technology and development in our locality. The communication system and transportation mechanism connect people around the world so easily with utility of less time, cost and comfort. This kind of development also increases the standard of living of people. Rapid urbanization and intense commercial developments in the recent past have resulted in steep rise in travel demand, putting Kochi’s transport infrastructure to stress. Experience has shown that, in cities like Kochi where roads do not have adequate width and which cater to mixed traffic conditions comprising slow- and fast-moving vehicles, road transport can optimally carry 8,000 persons per hour per direction (phpdt). There is an urgent need to introduce a light Metro system in the city to provide fast, safe, economic, and environment-friendly mode for mass movement of passengers. With growing population and mega development plans coming up for this port city, the travel demand is expected to grow steeply. With inadequate public transport services, passengers will shift to private modes, which is already evident from the high ownership trends in the region. This will not only aggravate the congestion on the city roads but will also increase the pollution level. Here is the study focusing on the factors affecting the performance of the Kochi Metro Construction Project.

Understanding household vehicle ownership in Singapore through a comparison of econometric and machine learning models

Rising vehicle ownership trends have led to significant increases in negative externalities associated with transportation such as pollution and congestion. While empirical studies have typically used only econometric frameworks, we must ask the question: Can machine learning models outperform traditional econometric approaches? Using a socio-demographic dataset from Singapore, 22 feature vectors were constructed using appropriate transformations and imputing missing data to predict a 6-class categorical ordinal variable. In our comparison of six different supervised learning algorithms with the multinomial logit (MNL) model, we found that the neural network (NN) model was the most robust and performed the best while generalizing to the test dataset with a predictive accuracy score almost 10% better than the MNL. Consequently, we used an ordinal logit classification approach with neural network binary classifiers (OLC_NN) to address the imbalanced classification problem. This model was seen to perform the best in terms of all performance metrics, even in comparison with the ordinal logit (OL) model.We also used the econometric models to obtain insights into the household vehicle ownership decision-making process. Singapore’s public transport system and strict regulatory practices influenced not owning any vehicle to be the most preferred alternative. A gender effect was also revealed, along with a strong indirect income effect through housing type and job sector. Additionally, the direct income effect was statistically significant and strongly positive in magnitude. An attitudinal aspect was noticed in households with young professionals, wherein they are strongly disinclined to own a car. Proximity to transit stations and taxi ownership were also found to be significant factors in influencing vehicle ownership negatively. This research paves the way for an integrated framework that incorporates both the econometric and supervised learning approaches to better predict the influence of disruptive changes.