scholarly journals No clear association emerges between intergenerational relationships and COVID-19 fatality rates from macro-level analyses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Arpino ◽  
Valeria Bordone ◽  
Marta Pasqualini
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Intergenerational Ties ◽  
Robust Evidence

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, originated in Wuhan (China) at the end of 2019, rapidly spread in more than 100 countries. Researchers in different fields have been working on finding explanations for the unequal impact of the virus, and deaths from the associated disease (COVID-19), in different geographical areas. Demographers and other social scientists, have hinted at the importance of demographic factors, such as age structure and intergenerational relationships. The goal of this article is to reflect on the possible link between intergenerational relationships and COVID-19 cases in a critical way. We show that with available aggregate data it is not possible to draw robust evidence to support such a link. In fact, at the country-level higher prevalence of intergenerational co-residence and contacts is broadly positively associated with number of COVID-19 cases (per 100,000 persons), but the opposite is generally true at the sub-national level. While this inconsistent evidence neither demonstrates the existence nor the inexistence of a causal link between intergenerational relationships and the prevalence of COVID-19 cases, we warn against simplistic interpretations of the available data which suffer from many shortcomings. Only retrospective individual level data will provide robust evidence on the role of intergenerational ties. We conclude arguing that intergenerational relationships are not only about physical contacts between family members. From a theoretical point of view, different forms of intergenerational relationships may have causal effects of opposite sign on the diffusion of COVID-19. Policies devoted at fighting the spread of COVID-19 should also take into account that intergenerational ties are a source of instrumental and emotional support, which may favor compliance to the lockdown and “phase-2” restrictions and may buffer their negative consequences on mental health.

scholarly journals No clear association emerges between intergenerational relationships and COVID-19 fatality rates from macro-level analyses

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (32) ◽  
pp. 19116-19121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Arpino ◽  
Valeria Bordone ◽  
Marta Pasqualini
Keyword(s):  
Case Fatality ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Intergenerational Coresidence ◽  
Intergenerational Ties ◽  
Robust Evidence ◽  
Generally True

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 originated in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019 and rapidly spread in more than 100 countries. Researchers in different fields have been working on finding explanations for the unequal impact of the virus and deaths from the associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across geographical areas. Demographers and other social scientists have hinted at the importance of demographic factors, such as age structure and intergenerational relationships. Our aim is to reflect on the possible link between intergenerational relationships and spread and lethality of COVID-19 in a critical way. We show that with available aggregate data it is not possible to draw robust evidence to support these links. In fact, despite a higher prevalence of intergenerational coresidence and contacts that is broadly positively associated with COVID-19 case fatality rates at the country level, the opposite is generally true at the subnational level. While this inconsistent evidence demonstrates neither the existence nor the absence of a causal link between intergenerational relationships and the severity of COVID-19, we warn against simplistic interpretations of the available data, which suffer from many shortcomings. We conclude by arguing that intergenerational relationships are not only about physical contacts between family members. Theoretically, different forms of intergenerational relationships may have causal effects of opposite sign on the diffusion of COVID-19. Policies should also take into account that intergenerational ties are a source of instrumental and emotional support, which may favor compliance to the lockdown and “phase-2” restrictions and may buffer their negative consequences on mental health.

Environmental Behavior in Cross-National Perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Pisano ◽  
Mark Lubell
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Behavior ◽  
National Level ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Education Development ◽  
Proenvironmental Behavior ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Cross National

This article seeks to explain cross-national differences on environmental behavior. After controlling for a series of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, it was predicted that national levels of wealth, postmaterialism, education development, and environmental problems are positively related to environmental behavior. The national-level variance is to a substantial degree explained by individual-level variables, capturing compositional effects. The remaining variance is explained by the contextual-level variables. All of the country-level variables are predictors in the expected direction, with the exception of environmental degradation, which is negatively related to behavior, and education development, which has no impact on private environmental behavior. More importantly, cross-level interactions show that in more developed countries, there are stronger relationships between proecological attitudes and reported proenvironmental behavior. These findings contribute to the growing cross-cultural research on environmental behavior pointing out the necessity of simultaneously assessing the effects of both individual and contextual-level forces affecting behavior across nations.

scholarly journals Individual-Level and Population-Level Lateralization: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Symmetry ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Frasnelli ◽  
Giorgio Vallortigara
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionarily Stable Strategy ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Evolutionarily Stable Strategies ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Social Species ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Evolutionarily Stable

Lateralization, i.e., the different functional roles played by the left and right sides of the brain, is expressed in two main ways: (1) in single individuals, regardless of a common direction (bias) in the population (aka individual-level lateralization); or (2) in single individuals and in the same direction in most of them, so that the population is biased (aka population-level lateralization). Indeed, lateralization often occurs at the population-level, with 60–90% of individuals showing the same direction (right or left) of bias, depending on species and tasks. It is usually maintained that lateralization can increase the brain’s efficiency. However, this may explain individual-level lateralization, but not population-level lateralization, for individual brain efficiency is unrelated to the direction of the asymmetry in other individuals. From a theoretical point of view, a possible explanation for population-level lateralization is that it may reflect an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) that can develop when individually asymmetrical organisms are under specific selective pressures to coordinate their behavior with that of other asymmetrical organisms. This prediction has been sometimes misunderstood as it is equated with the idea that population-level lateralization should only be present in social species. However, population-level asymmetries have been observed in aggressive and mating displays in so-called “solitary” insects, suggesting that engagement in specific inter-individual interactions rather than “sociality” per se may promote population-level lateralization. Here, we clarify that the nature of inter-individuals interaction can generate evolutionarily stable strategies of lateralization at the individual- or population-level, depending on ecological contexts, showing that individual-level and population-level lateralization should be considered as two aspects of the same continuum.

FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF LEGAL REGULATION OF THE FIGHT AGAINST FAKE NEWS

2021 ◽  
pp. 154-164
Author(s):  
Anna S. Zueva ◽  
◽  
Liana A. Makaeva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
National Level ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Significant Information

The article describes the role of the Internet in the modern information society. The negative consequences of the openness of this information and telecommunications network are studied. The paper also substantiates the consequences of the activities of anonymous users who commit offenses. The authors consider the experience of combating fake news in developed countries (Great Britain, Germany, France) and emerging markets (Brazil, Venezuela, Egypt, Qatar, China, Singapore, Turkey). Special attention is paid to such a new phenomenon in the field of spreading false information as "deepfakes". As a result of a comparative legal analysis of regulation in the field of countering the publication of information that does not correspond to reality in online publications, it is concluded that many countries have realized the importance of the threat of spreading fake news. Foreign legislation is formed from the point of view of creating preventive measures in the field of dissemination of unreliable socially significant information. In addition, the authors of the study noted that the adoption of legal measures to combat the spread of fake news at the national level helps to minimize the negative socially significant consequences of the activities of offenders. From this point of view, these actions are absolutely justified and have a positive impact on the regulation of public relations on the Internet.

scholarly journals De Nederlanse casus: Een politiek gevecht om de grondwetsherziening

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Jan Pelle Erasmus
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
National Level ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Political Struggle ◽  
Legal Intervention ◽  
International Context ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Political Impact

The political struggle leading up to the Dutch Constitution of 19831 is an empirical theoretical relevant case.  A particular theoretical point of view (called the theoretical perspective of scientific legal intervention) appears to be important with respect to knowledge about contitution building.  A preponderating identical habitus of constitutional law intervention was characteristic for all political actors involved on the Dutch national level.  In revising the Dutch Constitution of 1983 these actors have been influenced by the international context.  However, 'the' international context does not exist.  Instead there have been four international politically relevant contexts in the case of the Netherlands between 1945 and 1983.  These contexts provoked national political issues and could have a strong political impact.

Power and Pride

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Wimmer
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
National Level ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Power Sharing ◽  
Data Set ◽  
National Pride ◽  
The Past ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Wide Range

Why do some individuals embrace nationalist rhetoric and feel proud of their citizen ship while others do not? This article introduces an exchange-theoretic perspective, according to which national pride depends on access to political power. Seen from this perspective, members of ethnic groups that are not represented in national-level government should be less proud of their nation than those included in the polity. Furthermore, ethnic violence in the past or power-sharing arrangements in the present should reduce trust in the future stability of political representation and thus pride in the nation. From a dynamic point of view, members of ethnic groups whose level of political representation decreased in the past should also see their nation in a less positive light today. To show this, the author uses existing surveys to assemble a new dataset with answers to a similar question about national pride. It covers 123 countries that comprise 92 percent of the world's population. For roughly half of these countries, the ethnic groups listed in the surveys could also be found in another data set that contains information on the political status of these groups. Multilevel ordered logistic regressions at both the country and the group level confirm these hypotheses while taking into account a wide range of individual-level and country-level variables discussed in the existing literature.

scholarly journals Are Older Adults Perceived as A Threat to Society? Exploring Perceived Age-Based Threats in 29 Nations

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. 1256-1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Ayalon
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
World View ◽  
National Level ◽  
Belief System ◽  
European Social Survey ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level

Abstract Objectives The present study adds to the current body of literature by simultaneously examining the public perception of young and old people as posing realistic threats (e.g., to the group’s power, resources, and welfare) and symbolic threats (e.g., to one’s world view, belief system and values). Methods The fourth wave of the European Social Survey was administered to individuals from 29 countries. Analysis is based on 56,170 individuals, who had data on the four relevant indicators. The study relied on a latent profile analysis to develop a typology of perceived realistic and symbolic threats to society by younger and older adults. Results A three-profile solution indicated that the perception of older and younger adults as threats to society often co-occurs. Sociodemographic characteristics at the individual-level and the Gini coefficient (e.g., an inequality indicator) at the country-level had differential associations with the profiles identified. Conclusions The study calls for a more balanced approach which evaluates attitudes toward both younger and older adults as potential sources of threat. Attention should be paid to individual- and national-level characteristics associated with age-based threats (e.g., the perception of a group, defined by its chronological age, as threatening).

Language change as a scientific construct of a probabilistically organized information system

Glottotheory ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eike U. Decker
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Probability Distribution ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Language Change ◽  
Probability Distributions ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Human Language ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Collective Levels

AbstractThe present paper discusses language change from an information and systems theoretical point of view, taking on a diachronic perspective. It is argued that human language has to be regarded as a probabilistically organized information system in which synchronizations of linguistic systems of individuals create unstable (dynamic, ever-changing) collective levels (“language systems”). Therefore, probabilistic organization of language processing on an individual level leads – via bottom-up structure – to probabilistic organization of language systems as a whole. If we thus regard linguistic objects like e.g. a Saussurean sign as generally unstable and defined by probability distributions even from a synchronic point of view, we must understand language change (diachronic developments) as probabilistic as well. Therefore, language change in its “classical sense” (a change in linguistic objects) has to be reinterpreted as a change in probability distribution. Nevertheless, the term language change and its meaning then still lack exactness regarding some details; so we have to use this term carefully and be aware of its weaknesses. With a close look at language as an information system with both a synchronic as well as a diachronic dimension, we finally have to admit that language change is a scientific construct serving as a – sometimes quite useful – simplification within the linguistic field.

International Organizations and Their Officials: to Tax or not to Tax?

1993 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Muixer
Keyword(s):  
International Organizations ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
National Level ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
International Level ◽  
Host State ◽  
The Status

Taking the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the EC as a focal point, this article looks at the fiscal position of international organizations and their officials vis-à-vis their host state. Firstly, the fiscal privileges are examined from a theoretical point of view, after which a number of cases are analyzed in which international organizations and their host state differed in their views on the application of the aforementioned privileges.From a broader perspective, this study explores the watercourse of standards which have sprung on the international level down to their application in daily life. A particular type of provision -concerning the fiscal immunities of an international organization and its officialscontained in a particular type of multilateral convention, dealing with the status, privileges and immunities of international organizations and their officials, is followed down to its application on the national level.

scholarly journals Prevalence and associated factors of caesarian section in Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis of the 2019 Ethiopia Mini Demographic Health Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Hailegebreal ◽  
Girma Gilano ◽  
Binyam Tariku Seboka ◽  
Mohammedjud Hassen Ahmed ◽  
Atsedu Endale Simegn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Survey ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
National Level ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Caesarian Section ◽  
Modern Contraceptive ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Level Data

Abstract Background Caesarian section is a vital emergency obstetric intervention for saving the lives of mothers and newborns. However, factors which are responsible for caesarian section (CS) were not well established in the country level data. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of caesarian section in Ethiopia. Methods Data from the Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health survey 2019 were used to identify factors associated with the caesarian section in Ethiopia. We applied multi-level logistic regression and a p-value of <0.25 to include variables before modeling and a p-value<0.05 with 95% confidence interval (CI) for final results. Result The prevalence of caesarian section in Ethiopia was 5.44% (95% CI; 0.048-0.06) in2019. Women in age group of 30-39 and 40-49 years had a higher odd of caesarian section (AOR = 2.14, 95%CI = 1.55-2.94) and (AOR = 2, 95%CI = 1.20-3.97) respectively compared to women in age group of 15-29 years. Women with secondary and higher educational level had higher odds of caesarian section (AOR = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.38-3.34) and (AOR = 2.8, 95%CI = 1.73-4.53) compared to those in no education category. Compared to Orthodox, Muslims and Protestant religions had lower odds of caesarian section with AOR of 0.50 (0.34-0.73) and 0.53 (0.34-0.85). Having <2 births was also associated with the low caesarian section 0.61(0.52-1.22). Using modern contraceptive methods, having ANC visits of 1-3, 4th, 5 plus, and urban residence were associated with higher odds of caesarian section as 1.4 (1.05-1.80]), 2.2 (1.51-3.12), 1.7 (1.12-2.46), and 2.4 (1.65-3.44) 1.6(1.04-2.57) respectively. Conclusion Although evidence indicates that the caesarian deliveries increased both in developed and underdeveloped countries, the current magnitude of this service was very low in Ethiopia which might indicate missing opportunities that might costing lives of mothers and newborns. Women’s age, religion, educational status, parity, contraceptive method, and ANC visit were individual level factors influenced caesarian section. whereas, region and place of residence were community level factors affected caesarian section in the country. Depending on these factors, the country needs policy decisions for further national level interventions.

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