Chilean Public Policies and their Impact on Biotechnology Small and Medium Enterprises

It is difficult to find cases of technology-based Small and Medium Enterprises in developing countries, however Chile has some within the biotechnology sector. How has this been possible? As a consequence of the different public policies and structural economic conditions that allowed their emergence, especially in the 1990s. This study describes the historical conditions and how they have been able to create a sector within the Chilean economy. From the analysis of secondary data the emergence of this type of company within the country is described. This analysis shows the link between structural conditions and appropriate public policies, meaning that these companies did not emerge by chance. Understanding their development process is crucial to promote the creation of more such technology-based Small and Medium Enterprises, as they have many positive externalities and are more globally competitive.

A Survey of HISs with Information Systems Success Model

Hospital Information System (HIS) is a form of healthcare information system that is globalized and applied in the medical sector. Researchers, doctors, and management are all interested in the rate of success of HISs; therefore it's a continuous study topic. At this research, we created a new tool to assess the success rate of HIS in a medical center based on the perspectives of users. The research was place in Ebnesina and Mashhad, Persia, at the Dr. Hejazi Mental Center and Educational Facility. A self-administered standardized questionnaire based on Information Systems Success Model (ISSM) was used to gather data, and it included seven factors: systems quality, data quality, quality of service, system use, applicability, fulfillment, and positive externalities. An advisory group checked the content's legitimacy. Cronbach alpha was used to test the consistency and stability of dimensions. To examine the importance of relationships between variables, Correlation and regression was determined. On the basis of user feedback, the HIS rate of success has been established. The research included a approximately 125 participants. A content validity index (CVI) of 0.8 and a validity ratio (CVR) of 0.86 were used by an advisory committee to verify the item. The instruments have an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.9. Between the analyzed dimensions, the Pearson’s correlation coefficient revealed substantial positive connections. In the institution under investigation, the HIS rate of success averaged 65 percent. (CI: 64 percent, 67 percent). The greatest success rates were found in the aspects of "effectiveness," "systems quality," and "positive externalities." Future research might employ the tool used in this research to evaluate HIS. In this research, a technique for calculating the HIS rate of success depending on user feedback was established. This strategy enables institutional HIS chances of success to be compared. Our results also highlight the perspectives of HIS clients in a developing economy.

Evaluating citizen-consumers' attitude toward high social content products: the case of social farming

PurposeSocial Farming (SF) is an expression of agricultural diversification and multifunctionality, due to its ability to create positive externalities through the inclusion of vulnerable individuals. For this reason, products derived from SF are characterized by social quality attributes, which, however, are not often recognized by the market. This study aims to investigate the reasons behind the lacked recognition of the value created by SF analyzing the willingness to pay (WTP) for such products and the factors affecting citizen-consumers' purchasing behavior.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through a convenience sample (N = 350) via a web-based structured questionnaire. Psycho-attitudinal scales, previously validated in literature, were adopted to characterize the citizen-consumers interviewed. A logistic regression was run in order to determine those characteristics of respondents affecting their intention to purchase SF products, while an ordered logistic regression was performed to uncover the determinants of consumers' WTP for SF products.FindingsThe results show the relevant role of the level of education, household size and ethical self-identity in affecting the willingness to support SF activities by paying a price premium for its products. Lack of availability and information about SF products are the main factors limiting their purchase.Originality/valueThe study offers interesting results outlining future research fields about market penetration strategies and policy implications.

Drivers and Barriers towards Social Farming: A Systematic Review

Social farming (SF) spread across Europe in recent decades. It represents an expression of agriculture diversification and performs a social function expressed through vulnerable individuals’ social inclusion. As a result, SF is able to generate positive externalities and thus contribute to social wellbeing. Despite benefits, SF faces several issues related to its dissemination. Although in recent years scholars have been approaching this topic, much remains to be researched. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate, through a systematic review, drivers and barriers related to the spread of this phenomenon. Results showed that factors such as the lack of information on SF, farmers’ mental limitations and the lack of economic resources, as well as excessive bureaucratization, could hamper the spread of SF. On the other hand, ethical production, new income sources, sustainable rural development and new employment opportunities can encourage the dissemination of such practices. In order to overcome the barriers and emphasize the drivers pointed out by this study, the role of policymakers is essential, as they should promote information and training activities for farmers and consumers in order to increase awareness of SF social value and encourage a collective approach to SF practices.

Application of a ‘Recycling Exchange’ instrument to compensate waste pickers in Brazil via a first payment for urban environmental services programme

This article presents an approach to compensate waste pickers in the informal sector of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, via a Payment for Urban Environmental Services (PUES) instrument, called ‘Recycling Exchange’. The aim is to evaluate the effects of this instrument on the amount of waste diverted from landfill and reintroduced into the production chain, and to increase recognition of waste pickers’ contributions to the state’s economy. It was found that the ‘Recycling Exchange’ met the fundamental objectives of a PUES: the double social and economic benefits of the social inclusion of waste pickers in the execution of the public policy for solid waste management, and inducing (in the case of glass), ensuring and stabilising (plastic and paper) continuity of the activity of selling recyclables in times of wide price fluctuations for these recyclables. The instrument enhanced the provision of this environmental service and the positive externalities associated with recycling.

Waiting or Acting? The Gender Gap in International Football Success

The conditions under which women's national football teams do better or worse in international tournaments remains an open question. Using data from 116 countries worldwide, we have examined three arguments accounting for the gender gap in international football success, focusing on positive externalities from economic development and women's empowerment, and the active policies promoting women's football. Our findings show that the international performance of women's national football teams compared to men's national football teams increases with women's empowerment and in countries committed to the promotion of women's football, while economic development is not relevant. The general question we address is whether gender gaps disappear because of economic and social development, or if active policies promoting women are required to achieve gender equality.