An appraisal of the CORINE land cover database in airport catchment area analysis using a GIS approach

This paper presents a free available dataset, the CORINE land cover that helps dealing with the biases caused by pre-defined and heterogeneous census district boundaries in airport catchment area analysis in Europe. Using this dataset and a conventional GIS software it is possible to measure the size of the population within catchment areas at the same spatial level for all EU airports, allowing for consistent comparisons among airports. To illustrate the potential of the CORINE/GIS approach, the size of the population in the catchment areas of all European airports was determined. The empirical exercise has an aggregate perspective, but this database presents many other possibilities of analysis to perform in a case-by-case basis.     

World Heritage Listing and the Evolving Issues Related to Tourism and Heritage: Cases from Australia and New Zealand

The relationship between heritage and tourism at Word Heritage Sites is thought to be particularly problematic. Yet, each year more heritage sites gain this status. This paper explores the issues that emerge between tourism and heritage at two heritage sites, one with World Heritage listing and the other embarking on the application process. Interview data were collected in relation to the Royal Exhibition Buildings and Carlton Gardens (REB), Australia and Oamaru's Historic Precinct, New Zealand; secondary data were used to contextualise the findings. The findings of the two case studies indicate that the process, and outcomes, of World Heritage (WH) status influence the nature of the relationship between heritage and tourism. The findings of this case study analysis indicated that prospect of WH listing seems to be a catalyst for decision-making and developing networks between the various stakeholders of heritage and tourism, but heritage stakeholders seem to be grappling for power at this time. Once the listing process is successful, heritage then seems to gain the balance of power, and tourism seems to be less successful in controlling the situation. Further research is warranted on this topic to explore whether the findings from two sites can be generalised to other heritage sites.     

Recreation and Tourism in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Key Influences on the Policymaking Process

This paper reports on a study completed in 2000 into the policymaking process for recreation and tourism in AONBs across England and Wales, with particular focus on the key influencing role of communication within this process. A number of practical measures, which might aid AONB communication and collaboration for policy development and implementation in the future, are derived from the research. In addition, the findings of the study lend weight to calls (current at the time of the research) for enhanced powers and funding for AONBs, particularly in respect of recreation and tourism provision.     

An alternative approach to community-based ecotourism: a bottom-up locally initiated non-monetised project in Papua New Guinea

Community-based ecotourism (CBET) is presented as a tool for conservation and sustainable development by conservation practitioners and development agencies, but is reported to have achieved little. Several scholars argue that many problems stem from inadequate power relationships between external actors and local communities, leading to low community participation. This study opens a debate on governance and social enterprise in CBET by examining a bottom-up approach to community-based ecotourism based on a small-scale CBET initiative in an amenity-poor remote indigenous community in Papua New Guinea. This initiative is unique in the following aspects: it was initiated by a community member; external assistance was advisory only; no external financial assistance was given; and it has taken place in a non-monetised economy. Participant observation and in-depth interviews with local key informants were used to identify community-defined positive/negative impacts and community participation processes. Overall, there was substantial support for the project; it contributed to community welfare, generated economic benefit, had positive conservation outcomes and from the viewpoint of the community had no adverse cultural impacts. One of the keys for success was the development of a strong community agency that led to high community participation and individual rather than the community ownership.     

Performance information use by politicians and public managers for internal control and external accountability purposes

Governance structures have changed fundamentally since the beginning of New Public Management inspired reforms. Particularly local public service delivery nowadays can be characterized as diversified and fragmented, leading to internal management and external accountability challenges for politicians as well as public managers. In this context the use of performance information is seen as a crucial element for effectively dealing with both issues. Nevertheless, empirical research considering different actors and contexts within one study is rare. The present paper fills this gap by applying a multi-theoretical perspective and testing hypotheses on the antecedents of performance information use by politicians and public managers for internal management as well as external accountability purposes in small- and medium sized local governments in Austria. The study results show that both groups use performance information to a greater extent within external accountability relationships than for internal management purposes. Results further illustrate that driving factors show similarities for both groups with reference to the latter mentioned purpose, while a more diverse picture is shown regarding factors impacting their use behavior toward citizens and supervisory authorities.     

新媒体视域下的辅导员就业服务能力探析

高校毕业生就业形势出现的新变化、毕业生就业形式的多样化以及新媒体的出现对辅导员就业服务能力提出了新要求。因此,辅导员必须紧跟时代步伐,积极培育社会主义核心价值观,以人为本,创新就业服务方式方法,加强就业心理辅导,完善就业服务方式,加大个性化指导力度,提高就业服务能力,进而实现毕业生高质量的就业。     

新疆吐鲁番地区农村国债发行情况调查分析

多年来，国债一直是城镇居民投资的热点，农村居民购买国债难的问题日趋突出。一方面，城市内的银行机构承担着国债承购包销任务却完不成承销计划；而另一方面却是农村居民想买而买不到国债。本文对这一问题的深层次原因及农村居民购买国债的可能性进行了分析，在此基础上，提出了拓宽农村居民购买国债渠道的几点建议。     

Economic evaluation of inhalers used in the treatment of asthma

Summary

Asthma is an important disease for New Zealand in terms of prevalence and costs, both direct and indirect. The objective of this study was to determine if there were any differences in primary care medical costs between treatment of asthma with four corticosteroid inhaler drug delivery systems (Autohaler? [AUTO], Diskhaler? [DISK], metered dose inhaler [MDI] and Turbuhaler? [TURB]) in a general practice setting.

The retrospective observational data-based research completed for this study involved a large population and recorded actual general practitioner prescribing practice. The perspective taken was that of the funder of health care. Data were obtained from the computerised clinical records of 28 New Zealand general practices. Cost data were on a per year per patient basis.

The largest single cost item identified in this study was that of corticosteroid inhalers which ranged from 41% of total primary care cost for MDI to 52% for the TURB group. Total drug acquisition cost (inclusive of dispensing costs and wholesale and retail markups) was highest for TURB at $490 and lowest for MDI at $265, a difference of 85%. There was less variation in general practitioner consultations for asthma with total costs ranging from $104 for AUTO to $127 for DISK. Total primary care costs were lowest for MDI at $392 per annum and highest for TURB at $608, a difference of 55%. If the MDI total primary care costs are used as the base for an index (MDI total primary care costs set at 100) then AUTO becomes 116, DISK 134 and TURB 155.

The model was robust with respect to conclusions relating to cost differences between the treatment groups. In all but one instance TURB remains the highest cost group.     

民间音乐在新农村思想文化建设中的作用及发展途径

民间音乐是民族民间文化的组成部分,凝聚着中华传统文化的精华.应正确认识民间音乐的价值和作用,充分挖掘蕴藏在农村传统民间文化的精髓,激发农村文化活力,使其更好的服务于新农村建设.     

THE DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF ALTERNATIVE ASSUMPTIONS ON PRICE ADJUSTMENT IN NEW KEYNESIAN MODELS

This paper presents a classification of the different new Phillips curves existing in the literature as a set of choices based on three assumptions: the choice of the structure of price adjustments (Calvo or Taylor), the presence of backward indexation and the type of price contracts (fixed prices or predetermined prices). The paper suggests study of the dynamic properties of each specification, following different monetary shocks on the growth rate of the money stock. We develop the analytical form of the price dynamics, and we display graphics for the responses of prices, output and inflation. We show that the choice made for each of the three assumptions has a strong influence on the dynamic properties. Notably, the choice of the price structure, while often considered as unimportant, is indeed the most influential choice concerning the dynamic responses of output and inflation.