scholarly journals Building a Natural Hazard Insurance System (NHIS): The Long-Lasting Italian Case

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 12269
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Gizzi ◽  
Donatella Porrini ◽  
Francesco De Masi
Keyword(s):  
Natural Hazard ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Socioeconomic Impact ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Insurance System ◽  
Mining Technique ◽  
Italian Case ◽  
Critical Scrutiny ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Sustainable Societies

The worrying growth of extreme natural events and their socioeconomic impact over time is increasingly fuelling the debate on how to manage disasters in view of developing resilient and sustainable societies. One possible financial tool may be represented by insurance against natural hazards, such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. From this perspective, the current article considers legislative attempts to build a Natural Hazard Insurance System (NHIS) in Italy. The (never promulgated) bills proposed over a time span of about 30 years were analysed by: (a) A text-mining technique, considering the extraction of relevant data for the research; (b) the careful reading of the texts and their cross-correlated critical analysis. Approximately forty bills have been proposed since the 1980s and they mainly concern the proposal of an NHIS based on a certain degree of compulsoriness (the voluntary system is contemplated only on a subordinate basis). Two possible main hurdles to the promulgation of such laws were inferred: the insurance scheme to be adopted and the issue of illegal buildings. Furthermore, the item of natural hazard risk perception was a factor not adequately considered by the bills. Based on the critical scrutiny of the bills and taking advantage of international experiences, the establishment of a voluntary national scheme managed by a public authority with specific competences on NHIS is proposed.

scholarly journals (P1-86) Socioeconomic Impact of Natural Disasters in China

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s126-s127
Author(s):  
W. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Natural Hazard ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
Socioeconomic Impact ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Chinese Yuan

IntroductionChina is one of the countries most affected by disasters caused by natural hazards. Disasters comprise an important restricting factor for economic and social development.MethodsRetrospective analysis was performed based on the epidemiological data of disasters caused by natural hazards in recent two decades.ResultsThe deadliest disaster that was reviewed was the Sichuan, Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008 with a death toll of 88,928. Floods were the the primary natural hazard resulting in disaster in China. The economic loss caused by natural disasters was huge, the Sichuan earthquake alone resulted in an economic loss of 845.1 billion Chinese Yuan. However, psychosocial factors did not receive attention by Chinese Government and academics.ConclusionsThe characteristics and impact of disasters should be analyzed to scientifically provide useful information for natural disaster mitigation in China.

scholarly journals Hydrological drought index insurance for irrigation districts in Spain

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e0105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Maestro ◽  
Maria Bielza ◽  
Alberto Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Drought Index ◽  
Expert Panel ◽  
Crop Insurance ◽  
Hydrological Drought ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Index Insurance ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Insurance System ◽  
Irrigation Districts ◽  
Hydrological Drought Index

Hydrological droughts are a major risk for irrigated agriculture in many regions of the world. The aim of this article is to propose an insurance tool to help irrigators manage the risk of water scarcity in the framework of the Spanish Crop Insurance System (SCIS). Only the United States Insurance System provides this type of coverage, but has very restrictive conditions. To determine the type of insurance scheme that better fits with the SCIS and to the Spanish irrigated agriculture, an expert panel was held with the participation of all stakeholders involved in crop insurance. Following the expert panel conclusions, an hydrological drought index insurance (HDII) addressed to irrigation districts (ID) is proposed. It would compensate water deficits suffered in the whole ID. We detail the conditions that the ID should fulfill to be eligible for HDII. HDII is applied to the Bardenas Irrigation District V (ID-V) in Spain, and the hedging effectiveness of the instrument is analyzed comparing ID-V’s gross margins with and without the insurance contract. Results suggest that the proposed insurance scheme could provide an effective means of reducing farmers’ vulnerability to water shortages and there is no major impediment for it to be included as a new line in the SCIS. This type of insurance can be generalized to any ID fulfilling the conditions mentioned in this paper.

scholarly journals Zwrot świadczeń nienależnych w prawie ubezpieczeń społecznych — wybrane zagadnienia

2017 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 55-69
Author(s):  
Anna Napiórkowska
Keyword(s):  
Social Insurance ◽  
Recent Change ◽  
Insurance Fund ◽  
Insurance Scheme ◽  
Social Insurance System ◽  
Insurance System ◽  
Social Insurance Fund ◽  
The Social ◽  
Recent Modification ◽  
The Subject

RECOVERY OF UNDUE BENEFITS IN THE SOCIAL INSURANCE SCHEME — SELECTED ISSUESThe article refers to the selected issues of the recovery of undue benefits in the social insurance scheme. Initially, the subject matter of the analysis is the recent modification of the art. 84 of the Act of 13 October 1998 on the social insurance system. It is argued in the article that there are not per­suasive arguments why the recent change — introducing the limit for handing down adecision for the Polish Social Insurance Institution art. 84 [7a] of the Act on the social insurance system — does not relate to the contribution payer or the other persons enumerated in the art. 84 6 of the Act on the social insurance system. Furthermore, the paper analyses the notion of the undue benefit in the social insurance scheme and the issues of the instruction. In the article there are emphasized some questions referring to the explanatory proceedings conducted by the Polish Social Insurance Insti­tution ZUS and the issues of the relations between the art. 84 1 and 6 of the Act on the social insurance system. In the conclusion the article analyses the relations between the art. 84 of the Act on the social insurance system and the special regulations, i.e. art. 138 of the Act of 17 December 1998 on pensions from the Social Insurance Fund and art. 66 of the Act of 25 June 1999 on cash social insurance benefits in respect of sickness and maternity.

The effect of lockdown on the outcomes of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1792-1797
Author(s):  
Kuldip Yawale
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
Air Contamination ◽  
Pm10 And Pm2.5 ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Current Article

In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, a cross country lockdown is forced in India at first for three weeks from 24th Walk to fourteenth April 2020 and reached out up to third May 2020. Because of the constrained limitations, contamination level in urban areas the nation over radically hindered just inside a couple of days which polarize conversations with respect to lockdown to be the strong elective measures to be actualized for controlling air contamination. The current article, in the long run, chipped away at this heading to view the air quality situation in the midst of the lockdown time frame logically with uncommon reference to the megacity Delhi. With the guide of air quality information of seven toxin boundaries (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, O3 and NH3) for 34 checking stations spread over the megacity, we have utilized Public Air Quality File (NAQI) to show the spatial example of air quality in pre and during-lockdown stages. The outcomes showed that during lockdown air quality is fundamentally improved. Among the chose toxins, centralizations of PM10 and PM2.5 have seen the greatest decrease (>50%) in contrast with the pre-lockdown stage. In contrast with the most recent year (for example 2019) during the said time span, the decrease of PM10 and PM2.5 is as high as about 60% and 39% separately. Among different toxins, NO2 (−52.68%) and CO (−30.35%) level have likewise decreased during-lockdown stage. About 40% to half improvement in air quality is distinguished soon after four days of starting lockdown. About 54%, 49%, 43%, 37% and 31% decrease in NAQI have been seen in Focal, Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern pieces of the megacity. Generally, the investigation is believed to be a valuable enhancement to the administrative bodies since it indicated the contamination source control could constrict the air quality. Brief such source control in an appropriate time span may recuperate the climate.

Encultured minds, not error reduction minds

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Mirski ◽  
Mark H. Bickhard ◽  
David Eck ◽  
Arkadiusz Gut
Keyword(s):  
Free Energy ◽  
Error Reduction ◽  
Energy Principle ◽  
Free Energy Principle ◽  
Current Article

Abstract There are serious theoretical problems with the free-energy principle model, which are shown in the current article. We discuss the proposed model's inability to account for culturally emergent normativities, and point out the foundational issues that we claim this inability stems from.

Noise-Induced Balance Loss? Rethinking Clinical Implications of Noise Exposure

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 1418-1422
Author(s):  
Bre Myers ◽  
J. Andrew Dundas
Keyword(s):  
Vestibular System ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Scope Of Practice ◽  
Hearing Conservation ◽  
Exposed Population ◽  
Auditory Systems ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Balance Loss ◽  
Cross System

Purpose The primary aim of the current article is to provide a brief review of the literature regarding the effects of noise exposure on the vestibular and balance control systems. Although the deleterious effects of noise on the auditory system are widely known and continue to be an active area of research, much less is known regarding the effects of noise on the peripheral vestibular system. Audiologists with working knowledge of how both systems interact and overlap are better prepared to provide comprehensive care to more patients as assessment of both the auditory and vestibular systems has been in the audiologists' scope of practice since 1992. Method A narrative review summarizes salient findings from the archival literature. Results Temporary and permanent effects on vestibular system function have been documented in multiple studies. Hearing conservation, vestibular impairment, and fall risk reduction may be more intimately related than previously considered. Conclusions A full appreciation of both the vestibular and auditory systems is necessary to address the growing and aging noise-exposed population. More cross-system studies are needed to further define the complex relationship between the auditory and vestibular systems to improve comprehensive patient care.

First-Person Experiments in Thinking

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renatus Ziegler ◽  
Ulrich Weger
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Parameters ◽  
The Self ◽  
First Person ◽  
Psychological Phenomena ◽  
Third Person ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Thinking Process ◽  
Mental Contents

Abstract. In psychology, thinking is typically studied in terms of a range of behavioral or physiological parameters, focusing, for instance, on the mental contents or the neuronal correlates of the thinking process proper. In the current article, by contrast, we seek to complement this approach with an exploration into the experiential or inner dimensions of thinking. These are subtle and elusive and hence easily escape a mode of inquiry that focuses on externally measurable outcomes. We illustrate how a sufficiently trained introspective approach can become a radar for facets of thinking that have found hardly any recognition in the literature so far. We consider this an important complement to third-person research because these introspective observations not only allow for new insights into the nature of thinking proper but also cast other psychological phenomena in a new light, for instance, attention and the self. We outline and discuss our findings and also present a roadmap for the reader interested in studying these phenomena in detail.

Cognitive Processing of Film Cuts Among 4- to 8-Year-Old Children

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Munk ◽  
Günter Daniel Rey ◽  
Anna Katharina Diergarten ◽  
Gerhild Nieding ◽  
Wolfgang Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Media Literacy ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Short Film ◽  
Calculation Formula ◽  
Eye Tracker ◽  
Chronological Sequence

An eye tracker experiment investigated 4-, 6-, and 8-year old children’s cognitive processing of film cuts. Nine short film sequences with or without editing errors were presented to 79 children. Eye movements up to 400 ms after the targeted film cuts were measured and analyzed using a new calculation formula based on Manhattan Metrics. No age effects were found for jump cuts (i.e., small movement discontinuities in a film). However, disturbances resulting from reversed-angle shots (i.e., a switch of the left-right position of actors in successive shots) led to increased reaction times between 6- and 8-year old children, whereas children of all age groups had difficulties coping with narrative discontinuity (i.e., the canonical chronological sequence of film actions is disrupted). Furthermore, 4-year old children showed a greater number of overall eye movements than 6- and 8-year old children. This indicates that some viewing skills are developed between 4 and 6 years of age. The results of the study provide evidence of a crucial time span of knowledge acquisition for television-based media literacy between 4 and 8 years.

Confound It!

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 855-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Kulas ◽  
Rachael Klahr ◽  
Lindsey Knights
Keyword(s):  
Social Desirability ◽  
Response Pattern ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Scoring Method ◽  
Method Effect ◽  
Coding Method ◽  
The Social ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Method Factors ◽  
Psychological Inventory

Abstract. Many investigators have noted “reverse-coding” method factors when exploring response pattern structure with psychological inventory data. The current article probes for the existence of a confound in these investigations, whereby an item’s level of saturation with socially desirable content tends to covary with the item’s substantive scale keying. We first investigate its existence, demonstrating that 15 of 16 measures that have been previously implicated as exhibiting a reverse-scoring method effect can also be reasonably characterized as exhibiting a scoring key/social desirability confound. A second set of analyses targets the extent to which the confounding variable may confuse interpretation of factor analytic results and documents strong social desirability associations. The results suggest that assessment developers perhaps consider the social desirability scale value of indicators when constructing scale aggregates (and possibly scales when investigating inter-construct associations). Future investigations would ideally disentangle the confound via experimental manipulation.

Improving Body Satisfaction

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolien Martijn ◽  
Jessica M. Alleva ◽  
Anita Jansen
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Body Dissatisfaction ◽  
Automatic System ◽  
Body Satisfaction ◽  
Western Society ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Women And Girls

Feelings of body dissatisfaction are common in Western society, especially in women and girls. More than innocent discontent, body dissatisfaction can have serious consequences such as depression and eating disorders. The current article discusses the nature of body dissatisfaction, how it develops and how it is currently being treated. We also discuss novel strategies to increase body satisfaction that work on the automatic system (e.g., by retraining attentional and conditioning processes), since recent research suggests that appearance-related information is processed automatically. We suggest that extant methods should be combined with these novel strategies, in order to optimally improve body dissatisfaction and to prevent its detrimental consequences.

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