Self-assessed health as a key determinant of lifestyles: An application to tobacco consumption in Argentina

The relationship between lifestyle choices and health has been widely studied in the epidemiological and economic literature. In the last years, empirical research was directed towards the use of recursive systems with structural equations for a health production function and reduced form equations for lifestyles. As a result, behaviors toward health are taken to be determined by exogenous socio-economic variables. In this article, we show that health is a key determinant of health habits. When people feel well, they adopt less healthy behaviors. We use maximum simulated likelihood for a multivariate 5 equation probit model. In that model, lifestyles (diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking) are a function of exogenous socioeconomic variables and self-reported health. Self-reported health varies with socio-economic characteristics and depends on health indicators that are the consequence of lifestyles undertaken in the past (i.e., overweight, blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol levels). Data is that of adults in Argentina´s 2005 Risk Factors National Survey. We find that health partial effects on lifestyle are much larger having accounted for health endogeneity. Accounting for unobservable variables that jointly determine all lifestyles does not change much the magnitude of our results. Our findings are robust to different specifications.lifestyles, health

A reassessment of Argentina´s GHG proposed target

At the time of Argentina´s greenhouse gases emissions reduction voluntary commitment, most of the articles on intensity targets had not been published. The aim of this paper is to (re)discuss briefly the proposal made by Argentina taking into account that literature. To justify the adopted target form and stringency, we compare fixed and dynamic targets in terms of the likelihood of “hot air”, the relationship between allowed emissions and GDP, the link between abatement and GDP, and outcomes´ dispersion. But, the assumptions implicit in the design of the target may change those properties. We show how the BAU scenario taken as reference and the level of emissions reduction affects targets´ design and characteristics. Finally, considering different emissions projections, we perform a comparison between allowed emissions and projected ones during the first half commitment period (2008-2010), concluding that compliance with the commitment depends on the data source used in the calculations.climate change, intensity targets, uncertainty, Argentina

Template assisted surface micro microstructuring of flowable dental composites and its effect on the microbial adhesion properties

Despite their various advantages, such as good esthetic properties, absence of mercury and adhesive bonding to teeth, modern dental composites still have some drawbacks, e.g., a relatively high rate of secondary caries on teeth filled with composite materials. Recent research suggests that microstructured biomaterials surfaces may reduce microbial adhesion to materials due to unfavorable physical material–microbe interactions. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to test the hypotheses that (i) different surface microstructures can be created on composites by a novel straightforward approach potentially suitable for clinical application and (ii) that these surface structures have a statistically significant effect on microbial adhesion properties.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Environmental news and stock markets performance: Further evidence for Argentina

More and more firms tend nowadays to adopt environment-friendly attitudes. Their motivation originates in local environmental regulations or requirements of foreign markets to which firms export (both induced by consumers and investors' valuation of pro-environment initiatives). There is a well-established literature capturing the impact on stock prices of environmental information releases using the event study methodology. Studies are usually based on information environmental regulation (i.e., the regulator announcement of emissions or compliance status with respect to standards) or on simple media coverage of environmental news. Dasgupta, Laplante and Mamingi (2001) is one of the few references to show that public information on environmental behavior has impact on stock prices in the developing world. It includes Argentina in its analysis together with Chile, Mexico and the Philippines. In this manuscript, we focus specifically on Argentina. We find that positive environmental news have no impact, while negative news do have an effect on average rates of return a few days following its appearance. But, when focusing on different types of positive news, we find that ISO certification has no effect whatsoever, while investment decisions do have some positive significant influence on returns. On the other side, negative news influence on stock returns is particularly significant for events linked to citizen complaints and government rulings (confirming other studies results) and for media coverage of oil company issues. However, we find abnormal returns of a much smaller magnitude than other studies for developing countries. We believe that is readonable because there seem to be no reason why the level of abnormal returns (not its volatility) should be larger for environmental news in developing countries than in developed ones

La política ambiental en América Latina y el Caribe: ¿de qué depende?

Este trabajo intenta evaluar los determinantes que favorecen a que países de la región adopten políticas ambientales activas. Para eso, se toma como referencia dos indicadores de política ambiental internacional: el número de tratados internacionales ratificados referidos al medioambiente, y el cumplimiento con los programas sugeridos por la Agenda 21 para cumplimentar la meta de un desarrollo sostenible. Luego, se comparan dichos indicadores con variables que pueden explicar su performance. Éstas son principalmente de tres tipos: cuestiones socioeconómicas y de calidad de vida como el PBI o el nivel de educación, cuestiones políticas como el respeto de los derechos políticos y civiles de los ciudadanos, y, el status ambiental de los países. Los datos provienen de fuentes internacionales que hacen posible la comparación entre los países latinoamericanos. Las únicas variables que parecen ser importantes para evaluar si los países de la región van a tener políticas más activas a favor de la conservación del medio ambiente, parecen ser el grado de desarrollo humano (que mide el desarrollo en tres dimensiones: educación, esperanza de vida e ingresos) y la presión demográfica. Las libertades políticas y el status ambiental de los países no parecen determinar si éstos se inclinarán hacia políticas ambientales más activas. Los resultados son robustos a distintas especificaciones.

Los determinantes de pasarse de las AFJP al sistema jubilatorio de reparto

Previo a la reciente creación del Sistema Integrado Previsional Argentino (SIPA), la Reforma del Sistema Previsional en 2007 representó el primer cambio significativo desde el año 1994. Por primera vez los trabajadores cuyas contribuciones se dirigían al régimen privado de capitalización, pudieron libremente optar por pasarse al régimen de público de reparto. Este trabajo intenta analizar las características distintivas de aquellos que optaron por cambiarse al régimen estatal a la vez que se busca indagar si la conducta de estos individuos se encuentra en línea con la maximización de ingresos de un “trabajador simulado”. El análisis se completa con la estimación de probabilidades de traspaso de individuos con diferentes características.

Modificación química y estructural de madera mediante tratamiento hidrotérmico alcalino

Se trataron probetas de Pinus ponderosa con agua a 100 ºC y con una solución acuosa de NaOH (tratamiento hidrotérmico alcalino) con el fin de analizar la posible hidrorrepelencia de las mismas, basado fundamentalmente en los efectos que estos produce en la celulosa. Los ensayos de resistencia a la rotura, absorción de agua y análisis estructural permitieron concluir que estos métodos modifican la química y estructura de la madera, otorgando hidrorrepelencia debido a la pérdida estructural de las fibras de la madera, lo cual impide que se produzca el fenómeno de capilaridad, manteniendo su resistencia mecánica y estabilidad dimensional. Por lo tanto, el tratamiento resultó útil para proteger la madera para nuevas construcciones como así también para la consolidación y protección de maderas que componen bienes de importancia patrimonial.Tópico 5: Conservación y restauración de bienes muebles y piezas (documentos de archivos, pinturas, cueros, maderas, textiles, metales, rocas ornamentales, vitrales, etc.)

Estudio del deterioro de bienes patrimoniales: la mesa de giro de locomotoras de la estación Meridiano V de La Plata

El 27 de abril de 1910 se inauguraron los trabajos en la Estación cabecera del Ferrocarril Provincial La Plata al Meridiano V y los primeros 100 km de la vía férrea proyectada. A 200 metros de la estación de pasajeros ubicada en 17 y 71, se halla la mesa de giro de locomotoras cuyas dos pasarelas se construyeron con listones de madera de quebracho colorado de 120 x 14 x 3,5 cm cada uno. Actualmente esta estructura de importancia patrimonial se encuentra en avanzado estado de deterioro ocasionado por factores ambientales y biológicos. Para evaluar la funcionalidad estructural de la pasarela de madera, se extrajeron 4 listones con diferentes tipos de ataque; para diferenciarlos, las maderas se observaron bajo lupa estereoscópica. Posteriormente se efectuaron tomografías axiales computadas para observar la profundidad y expansión del deterioro, realizándose ensayos mecánicos para evaluar el grado de resistencia del material afectado. Las maderas con mayor compromiso mecánico fueron aquellas más afectadas por hongos que causan el tipo de pudrición blanca, estos organismos atacan la lignina que es el componente responsable de la resistencia mecánica de las maderas duras.Tópico 4: Materiales. Evaluación de propiedades, caracterización tecnológica y patologías. Mamposterías (de ladrillos o piedras) y Morteros (materiales cálcicos y cementícios)

Sources of financing social security systems in countries of South America.

One of the objectives of the State is to achieve the highest possible level os society, which is central to ensuring a level of social protection that tends to universality and coverage of socially recognized needs and contingencies such as education, health, security, old age, maternity, disability and unemployment, among others. In this context, social security, defined as the set of institutions aimed at protecting people from the circumstances described above assumes a vital role. This document aims to provide a comparative analysis of various sources of financing social security in South America countries. In particular, it describes the situation in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. There will be description of the subsystems that make up the Social Security and analyze the particular situation of each selected by focusing on financing.seguridad social; financiamiento ; américa del sur