Spatial Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hungary

This paper examines the spatial dynamics and regional distribution of the novel coronavirus epidemic in Hungary in an effort to obtain a deeper understanding of the connection between space and health. The paper also presents comprehensive epidemiologic data on the spatiotemporal spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the epidemic waves. Following a comparison of the growth rates of infection numbers, the current study explores the geographical dimension of the three pandemic waves. The partial transformation of spatial characteristics during the three epidemic waves is among the most important results found. While geographical hotspots influenced the first wave, newly confirmed coronavirus cases in the second and third waves were due to community-based epidemic spreading. Furthermore, the western-eastern spatial relation and the core-periphery model also affected the regional distribution of new cases and deaths in the initial two waves. However, a new spatial pattern - realised by the northern-southern spatial orientation - appeared during the third wave. The outputs of this paper offer feasible suggestions for evidence-based policymaking in pandemic prevention, mitigation, and preparedness.

Jerusalem in Motion. Images of Jerusalem in the Bible and Beyond

The biblical image of Jerusalem is constructed from a diversity of themes, which capture various dimensions of the holy city. The article presents the most recurrent and signi"cant literary themes used in the Bible for referring to Jerusalem, organized on three levels: the concrete, the humane and the divine. The image of Jerusalem accumulates references to its geographical dimension, as a territorial border and center of the world, to its political and social dimension, as a capital city and military defense, and to its spiritual dimension, as a reference point in the relation between humans and God. These biblical themes stood as reference points in later developments of Jerusalem’s image in the Christian tradition and in European representations of the holy city.

NUEVOS PLANTEAMIENTOS EN LA DOCENCIA UNIVERSITARIA EN TURISMO: PROPUESTA DIDÁCTICA PARA EL ESTUDIO DE LOS RECURSOS TERRITORIALES TURÍSTICOS

Se plantea un proyecto didáctico para la asignatura de Recursos Territoriales Turísticos, considerada como clave en el estudio universitario de la dimensión geográfica del fenómeno turístico. El trabajo toma en consideración la realidad existente a este respecto en el sistema universitario español, caracterizada por una evidente heterogeneidad. Se ofrece una propuesta en pro de la deseable clarificación, a partir de lo cual se detalla el desarrollo conceptual y metodológico de la asignatura, desde una perspectiva eminentemente pragmática y aplicada, en aras de la mejora docente. A didactic plan is proposed for Territorial Tourism Resources, considered as a key subject for the university study of the geographical dimension of tourism. The study takes into account the reality in this regard in the Spanish university system, characterized by an obvious heterogeneity. A proposal for the desirable clarification is offered, from which the conceptual and methodological development of the subject is detailed, from an eminently pragmatic and applied perspective, for the sake of teaching improvement.

What to do when the robots come? Non-formal education in jobs affected by automation

PurposeOngoing automation processes may render a fair share of the existing jobs redundant or change their nature. This begs the question to what extent employees affected invest in training in order to strengthen their labour market position in times of uncertainty. Given the different national labour market regimes and institutions, there may be an important geographical dimension to the opportunities to cope with the challenges set by automation. The purpose of this study is to address both issues.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from the 2016 European labour Force Survey, the authors estimate with logit and multi-level regression analyses how the automation risk of a worker's job is associated with the propensity of following non-formal education/training. The authors allow this relationship to vary across European countries.FindingsThe results show that employees in jobs vulnerable to automation invest relatively little in training. Also, there are significant differences across Europe in both the provision of training in general and the effect of automation on training provision.Originality/valueWhile there is quite a lot of research on the structural labour market effects of automation, relatively little is known about the actions that employees take to deal with the uncertainty they are faced with. This article aims to contribute to our understanding of such mechanisms underlying the structural macro-level labour-market dynamics.

The Geographical Dimension of Structural Change

This chapter explores patterns of structural change from a geographical perspective. It summarizes recent insights on the geography of structural change, and in particular on regional diversification. It shows how local capabilities and institutions impact on structural change, and why the capacity of regions to diversify differs substantially. This chapter describes how concepts like diversification and relatedness have been fruitfully combined in a rapidly expanding literature. Diversification refers to the emergence of new activities, an important feature of structural change. These new activities are often embedded in, or related to, existing activities at the national and regional scale, requiring similar capabilities. But new activities can also be unrelated to existing ones.

Deleuze and Guattary in Bosnia: Geophilosophy and Historical-Geographical Narratives

<p>Geophilosophy is a spatial concept that will be applied as a supplement to the geographical method, in order to better understand the historical-geographical development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter BiH), its political-geographical evolution and the dialectic of regional geographical forms<a>[1]</a>. This was achieved through the application of the postmodernist concept of geophilosophy, which was created by Deleuze and Guattari at the end of their scientific careers<a>[2]</a>. From their philosophical point of view, Tampio (2014), Protevi (2010), Paar (2010) and others wrote about their work. This concept also has its geographical dimension, and significant works have been written about it by Woodward (2017), Bonta (2010), Peet (1998) and others. The purpose of this paper refers to the attempt to simplify the presentation of cyclical historical-geographical processes on the territory of BiH, which can be explained by the correctness of the origin and development of certain geophilosophical processes. Therefore, the organization of this paper is supported by the elaboration of the terms territorialization, deterritorialization and reterritorialization. Finally, the conclusions indicate the coincidence of these geophilosophical processes with the historical-geographical phases in the development of BiH: prehistory = territorialization; ancient period = deterritorialization and medieval period = reterritorialization.</p> <div><br> <hr> <div> <p><a>[1]</a> The historical-geographical framework for this manuscript is ​​the second part of the book: G. Mutabdžija, <i>Regional Geography of Bosnia and Herzegovina</i>, 2016</p> </div> <div> <p><a>[2]</a> Deleuze and Guattari, <i>What is Philosophy?</i>, 1994.</p> </div> </div>

Deleuze and Guattary in Bosnia: Geophilosophy and Historical-Geographical Narratives

<p>Geophilosophy is a spatial concept that will be applied as a supplement to the geographical method, in order to better understand the historical-geographical development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (hereinafter BiH), its political-geographical evolution and the dialectic of regional geographical forms<a>[1]</a>. This was achieved through the application of the postmodernist concept of geophilosophy, which was created by Deleuze and Guattari at the end of their scientific careers<a>[2]</a>. From their philosophical point of view, Tampio (2014), Protevi (2010), Paar (2010) and others wrote about their work. This concept also has its geographical dimension, and significant works have been written about it by Woodward (2017), Bonta (2010), Peet (1998) and others. The purpose of this paper refers to the attempt to simplify the presentation of cyclical historical-geographical processes on the territory of BiH, which can be explained by the correctness of the origin and development of certain geophilosophical processes. Therefore, the organization of this paper is supported by the elaboration of the terms territorialization, deterritorialization and reterritorialization. Finally, the conclusions indicate the coincidence of these geophilosophical processes with the historical-geographical phases in the development of BiH: prehistory = territorialization; ancient period = deterritorialization and medieval period = reterritorialization.</p> <div><br> <hr> <div> <p><a>[1]</a> The historical-geographical framework for this manuscript is ​​the second part of the book: G. Mutabdžija, <i>Regional Geography of Bosnia and Herzegovina</i>, 2016</p> </div> <div> <p><a>[2]</a> Deleuze and Guattari, <i>What is Philosophy?</i>, 1994.</p> </div> </div>

GREATER EURASIA IN THE NEW POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REALITY

The COVID-19 pandemic has subjected international relations to a severe stress test - at the level of both individual states and multilateral associations. Among the obvious challenges are the economic crisis, the crisis of global governance, the growth of protectionist and isolationist sentiments, the growing military confrontation along the US-China axis. The article focuses on two important areas of integration of the Greater Eurasia project - in the field of defense and security and in the economic sphere in the context of the pandemic. The first part of the article examines the challenges associated with the defense and security sector of Greater Eurasia, using the example of military cooperation between China and Russia. It is concluded that by 2016, an «average» level of military interaction had been achieved in Russian-Chinese relations, which opens up opportunities for further integration. However, given that relations between the two great powers are built on the basis of respect for national interests and sovereign equality, further military integration of Russia and China is being questioned. It is noted that in the face of growing contradictions between the PRC and the United States, the pandemic contributed to a more self-confident and assertive behavior of Beijing in the foreign arena. The second part of the article examines the economic and geographical dimension of the integration of Greater Eurasia on the example of relations between the Russian Federation and the PRC in the trade and economic sphere. It is indicated that the absence of an agreement on an additional reduction in oil production between Saudi Arabia, Russia and other OPEC+ countries and the corresponding collapse of oil prices have a significant impact on the development of economic integration in Greater Eurasia. Scenarios for the further economic development of this regional international community after the pandemic are proposed.

Linking Neighbors’ Fertility: Third Births in Norwegian Neighborhoods

Geographical variations in fertility and the diffusion of fertility across space and social networks are central topics in demographic research. Less is known, however, about the role of neighborhoods and neighbors with regard to geographical variations in fertility. This paper investigates spatial variations in family size by analyzing third births in a neighborhood context. Using unique geo-data on neighbors and neighborhoods, this paper introduces a new geographical dimension of fertility variation and contributes to our understanding of geographical variations in fertility. Flexible, ego-centered neighborhoods are constructed using longitudinal geo-data taken from administrative registers (2000-2014). Data on inhabitants’ residential address, their housing, family situation and fixed effects for statistical tracts are used to account for sorting into housing and urban versus rural districts. The analysis shows that the likelihood of two-child couples having another child increases with the share of families in the neighborhood that have three or more children. This relationship remains unchanged, even after controlling for the sociodemographic characteristics of couples, the educational level attained by neighboring women as well as time-constant characteristics of neighborhoods. Results are consistent across various neighborhood definitions ranging from the 12 to the 500 nearest neighbors. However, the association between neighbors’ fertility becomes stronger as the number of neighbors increases, suggesting that selective residential sorting is an important driver. Consequently, this study indicates that transitions to third birth may be linked to social interaction effects among neighbors, in addition to well-known processes of selective residential sorting.