The relationship between risk experience and risk response: a study of farmers and climate change

Within the existing literature, the role of experience of risk on attitudinal and behavioural risk response has been relatively neglected. Recent research that draws on the psychological distance of climate change as a concept notes the importance of local, significant experience as a driver for encouraging appropriate response. The experience of flooding was used as the stimulus in this paper, and emphasis placed on whether direct and/or indirect experience of flood risk is associated with different responses to climate change risk. In order to explore the relationship between climate change risk experience and response in the form of on-farm mitigation and adaptation, this paper draws on a case study of farmers in England, many of whom have experienced flooding. Results from a quantitative survey undertaken with 200 farmers in Gloucestershire, England are discussed. Statistical analysis found experience of flooding to be significantly associated with a heightened concern for climate change. Although also finding an association between experience and behavioural response, the sample were most likely to be taking adaptive behaviour as part of normal practice, with factors such as lack of overall concern for climate change risk and absence of information and advice likely to be the main barriers to action. Risk communication needs to further emphasise the connection between climate change and extreme weather events to allow for farmers to perceive climate change as a relevant and locally salient phenomenon, and subsequent tailored information and advice should be offered to clearly illustrate the best means of on-farm response. Where possible, emphasis must be placed on actions that also enable adaptation to other, more immediate risks which farmers in this study more readily exhibited concern for, such as market volatility.     

Financial Insecurity in a World of Plenty

Abstract

The U.S. economy is addicted to the simulative impacts of household borrowing. Household debt has grown dramatically since the 1990s and has served to mitigate the detrimental effects of stagnant household wages. The accumulation of this debt has also had the macroeconomic impact of stimulating the economy, pushing it closer towards full employment. However does full employment stimulated by household indebtedness actually represent economic progress? It is argued that even the poorest citizen in a modern industrialized society is better off than a king of feudal Europe, yet in the United States such material prosperity is often tied to social insecurity thanks to debt. The growth of this debt has been enabled by a financial system that has evolved dramatically over the past forty years. The U.S. financial system’s primary role is no longer to finance investment but is rather a tool that enables a separation of ownership from use. Debt has fueled corporate profits which have enriched the shareholding class while at the same time the system has reduced the financial security of the majority of workers. This article crystalizes these issues by analyzing the differentials in financial circumstances faced by workers and shareholders in several major U.S. firms.     

农民工就业信息服务工具的设计

就业信息服务工具按内容可分为实物工具、政策工具和方法工具。目前公共就业服务机构所提供的农民工就业信息服务在方法、流程和标准上都存在设计缺陷,难以满足农民工日益增长的求职需要。采取整合设计的思路,细化就业信息服务流程、强化就业信息服务评估,完善就业信息服务内容、规范就业信息服务标准,是提升农民工就业服务水平的必由之路。     

农村基本公共服务农户满意度影响因素研究 ——基于Logistic-ISM模型

农村基本公共服务农户满意度对促进农村基本公共服务的可持续健康发展具有重要意义。基于496份调查数据,运用多元有序Logistic模型和ISM模型分析了农村基本公共服务农户满意度的影响因素及各影响因素间的关联关系和层次结构。结果显示,农户满意度受年龄、文化程度、家庭年收入水平、政府投入力度、政府监管力度、政府人员服务态度、农户参与度和对基本公共服务的了解程度等8个因素影响。因此,建立信息披露机制,完善政府投入机制,加强政府监管力度,有助于提升农户对农村基本公共服务的满意度。     

科学技术对农民工市民化的影响因素分析

农民工市民化,是指他们在身份上获得城市居民相同的合法身份和社会权利的过程,最明显的标志是获得所在地的城市户口及相应的社会权利。科技进步促进了农民工市民化的进程,但同时科技进步对农民工市民化也提出了挑战,我们必须加快科技进步,促进农民工向市民的尽快转变,找到我国“三农”问题的突破口。     

我国农业支持与农民收入和消费的再思考——基于整体性的多变量协整系统

把农民收入和消费及财政支农和农村金融置于一个框架下进行了考察。基于1978—2008年数据拟合的多变量协整模型较好地反映了我国农村经济的特点,结果表明,农业财政和金融在长期可显著提高农民收入,金融信贷在短期可有效扩大农民消费,并且农村金融体系较好地保证了内源融资的效率;消费方程反映出我国农民消费具有短视性特点,对同期收入过度敏感。     

代际角度下农民工市民化差异分析与政策诉求的变化——基于襄阳市农民工的调查

通过对襄阳市100位农民工的深度访谈,了解到两代农民工在家庭生活、职业发展、社会融入、心理期待、价值观念等方面还存在着较大代际差异及政策诉求的变化。认为应从户籍制度、职业技能培训、住房制度改革、政治参与等政策调整来应对农民工代际差异所产生的新诉求。     

发展劳务经济 促进农民增收问题研究

河南作为农业第一大省,输出农村富余劳动力以发展劳务经济具有得天独厚的条件。劳务经济对增加农民收入、加快农村小城镇建设、促进城市经济发展、提高农民素质等具有积极作用。文章针对河南省劳务经济发展中存在的六大问题,提出了转变政府职能、改革户籍制度、发展城镇经济、加强农村教育投入、改革土地制度、加大农业资金投入和以品牌战略拓展劳务输出空间的发展对策,促进农民有效增收。     

专业村形成历程及影响因素研究——以豫西南3个专业村为例

专业村发展对于大范围提高农户收入具有重要作用。通过对豫西南3个样本专业村121户专业农户的调查分析,发现专业村是在利用当地资源的基础上,在能人的带动下逐渐发展形成的,其发展历程服从"S"型曲线创新传播规律。其中,资源等地理环境因素起基础作用,初期接受者或能人在发展过程中起核心作用,政府行为可加快其发展过程,农户尤其是家庭中的"顶梁柱"的财商对农户专业项目的发展及其时间早晚具有重要影响,多数农户对专业项目的接受是通过模仿方式实现的。在农区发展中,可将建设专业村作为重要途径。     

农民工的城市归属感与定居决策

本文利用2008年珠三角九城市农民工调查数据,对农民工城市定居决策的影响因素进行了实证分析。结果发现,农民工的城市归属感是其定居决策的关键影响因素。农民工的归属感与工资收入、家庭教育、居住条件等显著正相关,与打工时间、年龄、收入缺口、是否存在劳动者权益侵犯等显著负相关。而农民工是否购买保险、是否加入工会、是否接受职业培训等不会显著影响农民工的城市归属感及定居决策。这说明我国的医疗养老保险制度、工会制度、职业培训政策等并未切实保护农民工的利益,需要进行相应的改革。