On the Specification of Indirect Utility and Willingness to Pay for Discrete Residential Location Models

In this paper we develop a framework to describe the individual choice of residential location using the microeconomics of discrete choices. The individual is seen as deciding frequency, duration, and location of a set of activities for each potential residential zone, knowing the distribution of goods and activities in space as well as transport costs and travel times. The conditional indirect utility function and its associated willingness to pay function for each zone are obtained, where the roles of accessibility, income, and neighborhood attributes emerge clearly. Zonal utility in discrete location choice models can be specified and interpreted using these functions.     

Ria de Aveiro A: a shipwreck from Portugal dating to the mid-15th century; a preliminary report

The remains of a coasting vessel were found in a lagoon close to the coast. Four radiocarbon determinations provided a date in the mid-15th century and it has been the subject of several seasons of excavation of CNANS. The excavation strategy is described, as are its surviving constructional details which are analysed with reference to early sources for Portuguese naval architecture. This coaster has constructional features found in ocean-going ships of the Iberian-Atlantic tradition. Its cargo of pottery is one of the most extensive and closely dated from the Age of Discovery and includes 18 forms.     

Vote evolution in Spain, 1977–2007: A spatial analysis at the municipal scale

This paper presents a spatial analysis of the results in the general elections of contemporary Spain (1977–2007). By using electoral data at municipal level, we have traced back the evolution of the vote at high spatial resolution, thus providing a more accurate overview of the evolution of modern Spanish politics and offering empirical evidence on the nationalization thesis. We demonstrate that this approach reveals several processes that remain hidden when aggregated data are used, especially the clustering patterns in the smooth transition from dictatorship to full democracy (the so-called Spanish Transition). We found a statistical normalization process of the left/right dynamics with a growing number of balanced municipalities with a similar number of votes for left and right parties. The tendency towards a Gaussian histogram centered on a value of 50% for the left vote is an indication of political normalization after 40 years of dictatorship.     

Poverty Reduction and SAM Multipliers: An Evaluation of Public Policies in a Regional Framework

The objective of this paper is to obtain several poverty reduction effects by using multipliers based on social accounting matrices. Expressions relating them to Foster, Greer and Thorbecke poverty measures were derived, and two simulations were carried out for the Spanish region of Extremadura. In the first, we posited a per capita transfer equivalent to certain social policy instruments already existing in this region. Structural path analysis is also used to determine the paths by which poverty reduction effects are transmitted. In the second, we calculate the minimum government expenditure in transfers needed to reduce the regional poverty indices to the national values. The results confirmed that the main feature of poverty in Extremadura is incidence.     

LITERATURE REVIEWS

Book Review Essay URBAN POLICY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF CITIES: GENTRIFICATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION J. John Palen and Bruce London, eds., Gentrification, displacement and Neighborhood Revitalization Michael H. Schill and Richard P. Nathan, Revitalizing America's Cities Paul E. Peterson, ed., The New Urban Reality Addo, Herb, et al. Development as Social Transformation: Reflections on the Global Problematique Arian, Asher. Politics in Israel: The Second Generation Bean, Philip, John Ferris and David Whynes, (eds.). In Defense of Welfare Bedichek, Wendell M., and Neal Tannahill. Public Policy in Texas Bowman, William, Roger Little and G. Thomas sicilia. The All-Volunteer Force After a Decade: Retrospedt and Prospect Congressional quarterly Editorial Staff, Energy and Environment: Unfinished Business Dahrendorf, Ralf. Law and Order Dillon, K. Burke, et al., and Khan, Mohsin S., et al. Recent Developments in External Debt Restructuring Editors of congressional Quarterly. U.S. Foreign Policy: The Reagan imprint Edwards, George C., 111, Steven A. Shull and Norman C. Thomas, (eds.). The Presidency and Public Policy Making Foell, Earl, and Richard Henneman, (eds.). How Peace Came to the Word Grant, Wyn (ed.). The Political economy of Corporatism Grindle, Merilee S. State and Countryside: Development Policy and Agrarian Politics in Latin America Hardin, Russell, John J. Mearsheimer, Gerald Dworkin and Robert E. Goodin, (eds.). Nuclear Deterrence: ethics and Strategy Hershey, Marjorie Randon. Running for Office: The Political Education of Campaigners Hough, Jerry F. The Struggle for the third World: Soviet Debates and American Options Kamieniecki, sheldon, Robert O'Brien and Michael Clark (eds.). Controversies in environmental Policy Kaufman, Herbert. Time, Chance and Organizations: Natural Selection in a Perilous Environment Kenny, Anthouny. The Logic of Deterrence: A Philosopher Looks at the Arguments For and Against Nuclear Disarmament Lal, Deepak. The Poverty of ‘Development Economics’ Mehran, Hassanali (ed.). External Debt Management Rees, Gareth and John Lambert. Cities in Crisis: The Political Economy of Urban Development in Post-War Britain Ripley, Randal B., and Grace A. Franklin. Policy Implementation and Bureaucracy Savoie, Donald J. Regional Economic Development: Canada's Search for Solutions Sawhill, John C., and Richard Cotton (eds.). Energy Conservation-Successes and Failures Schmandt, Jurgen, and Hilliard Roderick (eds.). Acid Rain and Friendly Neighbors: The Policy Dispute Between Canada and the United States Sundquist, James L. Constitutional Reform and Effective Government Vincent, C. Paul. The Politics of Hunger: The Allied Blockade of Germany 1915-1919 Witt, Elder. A Different Justice: Reagan and the Supreme Court Wright, Kevin. The Great American Crime Myth     

Classical Temples and Industrial Stores: Survey Analysis of Historic Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Precincts to Inform Urban Seismic Risk Mitigation

ABSTRACT

Oamaru, Winton, and Invercargill feature some of New Zealand’s most intact heritage precincts that are confronted by ongoing threats of seismic activity. The 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence and Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission of 2012, identified a nationwide trend through the proportion of deaths that occurred in public places as a result of the prevalent historic unreinforced masonry (URM) building stock. The reported study was undertaken to address urban safety and seismic risk mitigation through the lens of heritage conservation. The range of classically designed public buildings and industrial warehouses in the South Island of New Zealand were often produced by singular architectural practices, using locally sourced materials and construction techniques. It is vital to incorporate an examination of unique architectural qualities within urban seismic risk assessment and mitigation. Historic urban layout, architectural deployment of masonry, and extent of retrofits were recorded through onsite visual surveys via Geographical Information Systems and three-dimensional representation technologies. Extending the scope of information collected for engineering seismic risk assessment by focusing on the historical architectural context informs the selection of future mitigation measures. Oamaru, Winton, and Invercargill present intriguing case studies for multidisciplinary analysis, prior to testing urban-scale survey approaches within comparable historic centers across New Zealand.     

Human occupation in South America by 20,000 BC: the Toca da Tira Peia site,Piauí, Brazil

When and how did the first human beings settle in the American continent? Numerous data, from archaeological researches as well as from palaeogenetics, anthropological and environmental studies, have led to partially contradictory interpretations in recent years, often because of the lack of a reliable chronological framework. The present study contributes to the establishment of such a framework using luminescence techniques to date a Brazilian archaeological site, the Toca da Tira Peia. It constitutes an exemplary case study: all our observations and measurements tend to prove the good integrity of the site and the anthropological nature of the artifacts and we are confident in the accuracy of the luminescence dating results. All these points underline the importance of the Toca da Tira Peia. The results bring new pieces of evidence of a human presence in the north-east of Brazil as early as 20,000 BC. The Toca da Tira Peia thus contributes to the rewriting of the history of the peopling of the American continent.