自然资源型区域经济和福利协调发展的特点探索——中国榆林市与科威特经济、福利发展的比较

本文通过榆林市与科威特经济、福利发展的比较,探讨了自身资源型区域经济和福利协调发展的特点。就榆林市产业发展来看,目前的问题是中央与地方产权平衡与管理问题;中央对地方的环境补偿援助平衡问题;地方可持续发展经济激励问题;地方群众“根”文化教育与崛起问题。     

The future sustainability of water supply in Kuwait

Abstract

The main natural source of water available in Kuwait is the brackish groundwater located in the Kuwait Group and the Dammam aquifers, where the salinity ranges from 4300 to 10200 mg/l and from 2500 to 10000 mg/l, respectively. Limited fresh groundwater resources in Al‐Rawdhatain and Umm Al‐Aish fields, which have a salinity of 359 ‐1737 mg/l, are also available. Most of the groundwater in Kuwait is used for irrigation, domestic purposes, small‐scale industries and for blending with distilled water. Because rainfall is seasonal and less than annual evaporation, the recharge of the groundwater from rainfall is negligible. The objective of this paper is to assess the different water resources in Kuwait in order to make an integrated management plan and to focus on future sustainability. Generally, in the State of Kuwait, there is increasing pressure on the natural water resources because of the exploitation of the aquifers at a rate exceeding that of both the groundwater recharge and population growth (from 1.4 million in 1980 to 2.55 million in 2003). This has lead to the observed decline in groundwater level and to the deterioration of water quality. In the early 1950s, a plan was endorsed in Kuwait to establish seawater desalination plants. By 2005, six desalination plants have been established, with a total capacity of distillation units of 1434.72 ×103 m³/d (315.6 MIGD). However, the gross maximum consumption for the year 2003 reached a value of 1440.17 ×103 m³/d (316.8 MIGD), which is higher than the total capacity of the available distillation units. Given the limitation of conventional water and the shortages of non‐conventional water, along with the increasing population, Kuwait must consider the recycling of wastewater for irrigation, industrial or any other unrestricted non‐potable purpose.     

科威特大学城总承包工程风险控制浅析

分析合同,对项目进行风险识别,制定风险应对措施并进行过程监控,降低风险发生的概率,最大程度地实现工程项目的经济效益。     

The demand for medical care services: evidence from Kuwait based on households’ out-of-pocket expenses

This article used a data set containing information on 1267 households from Kuwait to investigate the determinants of demand for medical care services by examining households’ out-of-pocket expenses. To deal with the problems associated with households’ health expenditure data, a two-part model (TPM) was estimated. Given Kuwait’s demographic composition, the model was estimated for full sample, nationals only and expatriates only. Prior to estimating the model, tests were conducted to select a transformation that reduces problems associated with heteroscedasticity and non-normality of the errors. In addition, tests were performed to determine if differences in the estimated coefficients across population groups were statistically significant.     

科威特Boubyan岛土体工程特性研究

基于科威特Boubyan岛海港项目一期路桥及地基处理工程,对Boubyan岛土体进行了原位测试,并对199个原状土样进行了室内试验,同时,对典型土样进行了淋溶前后的直剪试验。试验分析结果表明：科威特Boubyan岛土体属于粉质黏土,为超氯滨海盐渍土,具有砂土特性,且具有低含水量、低液塑限、低灵敏度、低强度(遇水易失稳崩解)、高压缩性等典型盐渍土的工程特性;自然成因、可溶盐含量和颗粒表面电荷密度是Boubyan岛土体具有低强度、低液塑限等宏观工程特性的主要因素。     

Seat-belt use still low in Kuwait: self-reported driving behaviours among adult drivers

Kuwait mandated seat-belt use by drivers in 1976 and by front seat passengers in 1994. The study objectives were to identify and estimate current factors associated with seat-belt use and levels of potentially unsafe driving behaviours in Kuwait. In 2010, 741 adults were surveyed regarding driving habits and history. Only 41.6% of drivers reported always using a seat belt. Front seat passenger belt use was more common (30.5%) than rear seat belt use (6.5%). Distracted driving behaviours were common, including mobile phone use (‘always’ or ‘almost always’: 51.1%) and texting/SMS (32.4%). Logistic regression indicated that drivers who were young (18–19 years), male, Kuwaiti nationals or non-Kuwaiti Arabs, drove over the speed limit, had traffic violation tickets or >1 car crashes in the last year, were less likely to use seat belts. Targeted initiatives to increase public awareness and to enforce car-safety legislation, including use of seat belts, are necessary to decrease the health burden of car crashes in Kuwait.     

Keeping our children safe in motor vehicles: knowledge,attitudes and practice among parents in Kuwait regarding child car safety

Child safety restraints can reduce risk of death and decrease injury severity from road traffic crashes; however, knowledge about restraints and their use in Kuwait is limited. A cross-sectional, self-administered survey about child car safety was used among a convenience sample of parents of children aged 18 years or younger at five Kuwaiti university campuses. Of 552 respondents, over 44% have seated a child in the front seat and 41.5% have seated a child in their lap while driving. Few parents are aware of and fewer report using the appropriate child restraint; e.g., 36% of parents of infants recognised an infant seat and 26% reported using one. Over 70% reported wearing seat belts either “all of the time” (33%) or “most of the time” (41%). This new information about parents' knowledge and practice regarding child car seat use in Kuwait can inform interventions to prevent child occupant injury and death.     

Ethics and Economics in International Business Education: A Comparison of Kuwaiti and U.S. Students Using an Ultimatum Game Scenario

In the past 20 years a body of research in behavioral and experimental economics has challenged classical economic theory. Yet, this body of research seems relatively unknown in business education. One behavioral test with implications for international business education has been the use of ultimatum games, which has more recently expanded to cross-cultural studies. Yet, virtually no cross-cultural studies have been conducted for subjects in Middle Eastern countries. One of the central findings from ultimatum game research and other variations is that individuals place a high value on fairness in transactions, a fundamentally ethical concept. This article reports a preliminary study of Kuwaiti and U.S. business students. Results are consistent with previous studies, showing Kuwaiti subjects to be in line with subjects from developed economies. Discussion includes the implications for management and business educators.     

Forward rates as predictors of future spot rates in small open economies: The case of Kuwait

The relationship between forward and future spot rates appears to be the same for Kuwait as for larger developed countries. Bid-ask spreads do not appear to affect the relationship. But cointegration, unit root and frequency domain tests suggest that there may be a stronger long-run than short-run relationship.     

科威特大学城总承包工程付款条件及流程

业主支付的工程款是工程承包企业主要的现金来源,是企业得以持续发展的重要资金保障。工程款及时足额回收是资金时间效益的体现,关系到工程项目能否顺利实施。