scholarly journals Informal risk-sharing between smallholders may be threatened by formal insurance: Lessons from a stylized agent-based model

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248757
Author(s):  
Meike Will ◽  
Jürgen Groeneveld ◽  
Karin Frank ◽  
Birgit Müller

Microinsurance is promoted as a valuable instrument for low-income households to buffer financial losses due to health or climate-related risks. However, apart from direct positive effects, such formal insurance schemes can have unintended side effects when insured households lower their contribution to traditional informal arrangements where risk is shared through private monetary support. Using a stylized agent-based model, we assess impacts of microinsurance on the resilience of those smallholders in a social network who cannot afford this financial instrument. We explicitly include the decision behavior regarding informal transfers. We find that the introduction of formal insurance can have negative side effects even if insured households are willing to contribute to informal risk arrangements. However, when many households are simultaneously affected by a shock, e.g. by droughts or floods, formal insurance is a valuable addition to informal risk-sharing. By explicitly taking into account long-term effects of short-term transfer decisions, our study allows to complement existing empirical research. The model results underline that new insurance programs have to be developed in close alignment with established risk-coping instruments. Only then can they be effective without weakening functioning aspects of informal risk management, which could lead to increased poverty.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1388
Author(s):  
Marta Malesza ◽  
Erich Wittmann

The main aim of this study was to investigate the various factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and actual intake among older Germans aged over 75 years old (n = 1037). We found that the intention to get vaccinated or intake of the COVID-19 vaccine were positively related to the perceptions of becoming infected, perceptions of the severity of the potential long-term effects, the vaccine’s efficacy, and the benefits of vaccination. Meanwhile, the intention to get the vaccine or vaccine intake were decreased by perceptions of the negative side-effects and the general impediments to vaccination.


Impact ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (6) ◽  
pp. 43-45
Author(s):  
Kyoji Okita

Drug addiction is associated with a range of medical and social problems, not least the negative side effects experienced by those who take drugs. The long-term effects are particularly concerning and can be difficult to treat. Changes in the behaviour of long-term drug users can include impulsivity and irrationality, which can negatively impact on society. Dr Kyoji Okita, Integrative Brain Imaging Center (IBIC), National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan, is working to shed light on the neurological biochemistry behind drug addiction, as this aspect is little understood. In his work, he is collaborating with experts and he intends to apply the knowledge he and his collaborators uncover to real-world treatments. A particular focus for Okita is the use of positron emission tomography (PET) to explore the dynamics behind psychological and addiction biology. Currently, he is investigating the potential of a drug called Istradefylline as a treatment for methamphetamine use disorder. The drug is currently used as part of the treatment for Parkinson's disease and Okita wants to decipher if administering Istradefylline to people addicted to methamphetamines can help increase their dopamine sensitivity and, in the process, reduce their reliance on the drug, as well as the psychological side effects. If found to be effective, Istradefylline could form a key part of a treatment programme for addiction.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Malesza ◽  
Erich Wittmann

AbstractThe main aim of this study was to investigate the various factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and actual intake among older Germans aged over 75 years old (N = 1037). We found that the intention to get vaccinated or intake of the COVID-19 vaccine were positively related to the perceptions of becoming infected, perceptions of the severity of the potential long-term effects, the vaccine’s efficacy, and the benefits of vaccination. Meanwhile, the intention to get the vaccine or vaccine intake were decreased by perceptions of the negative side-effects and the general impediments to vaccination.


2021 ◽  
pp. 43-45
Author(s):  
Reena J. Wani ◽  
Sanjay Panchal ◽  
Kinjal Chauhan ◽  
Varun J. Wani ◽  
Priya H. Manihar ◽  
...  

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on March 2020 till date, measures like hand hygiene, social distancing and testing have worked only partially to contain the cases and deaths. Cooper and Nair Hospitals were amongst the nodal centres identied in January 2021 to launch the Nationwide Vaccination drive in Mumbai. Aim: To highlight the pattern of vaccination roll-out, procedures in various phases and discuss concerns, challenges and effect on our workforce and workplan. Methodology: We reviewed the patterns, uptake of vaccine, procedures and problems faced by our vaccination centres from January 15 till April 30 (4 months). We also looked into adverse events following immunization (AEFI) reported. th th Results: Over 68,000 vaccine doses have been administrated in Cooper alone by April end, and issues were analysed in detail with special reference to logistics & challenges. AEFI were very few. We found that initially anxiety about side effects, concerns about choice of vaccine and long-term effects were the major impediments to vaccination. Later on, the demand exceeded the supply. Conclusion: Although vaccination is not the nal answer, it is an important tool to improve our response to the pandemic. Reviewing, restructuring available resources is essential in pandemic situations. Proper planning, counselling and choice in the way forward in this crisis.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4500 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
DOUGLAS ZEPPELINI ◽  
RONIERE A. BRITO ◽  
ESTEVAM C. A. LIMA

Three new species of Collembola are described from small shallow caves in Southeastern Brazil: Arrhopalites glabrofasciatus sp. nov., Pseudosinella ambigua sp. nov. and Pseudosinella guanhaensis sp. nov. The species were found in surveys performed as part of the process to accomplish the permits for high impact enterprising. The change in the legislation is discussed and a suggestion is made to improve the process. The long term effects of the law resulted in the discovery of many new species and genera, most of them being (or to be) described. 


Author(s):  
Jasmina Cilerdzic ◽  
Mirjana Stajic ◽  
Jelena Vukojevic

Even though numerous lichen species possess significant medical potentials they are still unexplored, and particularly species and strains originating from Serbia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative and antimicrobial potential of ethanol extracts of Parmelia saxatilis and Pseudoevernia furfuracea collected in Serbia. The tested extracts were good scavengers of DPPH radicals, with capacities ranging from 14.76% to 79.76% in P. saxatilis and from 21.39% to 90.04% in P. furfuracea. In P. saxatilis level of DPPH? neutralisation was highly correlated with phenol content (r2 = 0.9981) and in P. furfuracea with amount of total flavonoides (r2 = 0.9641). The extract of P. furfuracea inhibited the growth of all tested microorganisms with exception of Aspergillus flavus, while P. saxatilis extract affected only growth of bacterial species. Among tested microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most sensitive, while Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as micromycetes were the least sensitive to tested extracts. Because of these potentials and the fact that their long term usage does not have any negative side effects on organism and development of microbial resistance, the extracts could be included in conventional therapy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 205 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Penttilä ◽  
Erika Jääskeläinen ◽  
Noora Hirvonen ◽  
Matti Isohanni ◽  
Jouko Miettunen

BackgroundDuration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is one of the few potentially modifiable predictors of outcomes of schizophrenia. Long DUP as a predictor of poor short-term outcome has been addressed in previous meta-analyses, but the long-term effects of DUP remain unclear.AimsTo analyse the associations between DUP and long-term outcomes of schizophrenia.MethodA systematic literature search was performed using seven electronic databases and manual searches. Random effects weighted meta-analysis with correlation coefficients was used to pool the results.ResultsWe identified 3493 unique publications, from which 33 samples met our predefined selection criteria. Long DUP correlated statistically significantly with poor general symptomatic outcome, more severe positive and negative symptoms, lesser likelihood of remission and poor social functioning and global outcome (correlations 0.13–0.18). Long DUP was not associated with employment, quality of life or hospital treatment.ConclusionsThe small but mostly consistent correlation between long DUP and poor outcome indicates that early intervention in psychosis may have at least subtle positive effects on the long-term course of illness.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Harting

Do fiscal stabilization policies affect the long-term growth of the economy? If so, are the long-term effects growth enhancing or growth reducing? When addressing these questions from a theoretical perspective, the literature has typically emphasized the importance of structural aspects such as the modeling approach of endogenous technological change while paying less attention to an elaborate design of the considered fiscal stabilization policies. This paper uses an agent-based macroeconomic model that generates endogenous business cycles to emphasize the role of the policy design for long-term growth effects of stabilization policies. By comparing a demand-oriented consumption policy and two different investment subsidizing policies, it can be shown that these policies are successful in smoothing the business cycle but differ in terms of their effects on economic long-term growth. This highlights the importance of policy design for the analysis of long-term effects of stabilization policies.


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