Reasoning behind choices: rationality and social norms in the housing market behaviour of first-time buyers in the Czech Republic

The main objective of this paper is to draw attention to the influence of social norms on housing market behaviour. The research is based on an in-depth qualitative study of first-time buyers in the Czech Republic. We found systemic deviations from economically rational behaviour (as defined by mainstream housing economic theory) that stem from the influence of a dominant housing social norm about what constitutes the ‘right’ housing tenure. We show how the influence of a social norm constrains financial, pragmatic, utility- or investment-based considerations of Czech home-buyers. Sociology can thus significantly contribute to recent econometric research about sources of housing market instability.     

区域城镇体系规划应避免“就区域论区域”

本文对区域规划、区域城镇体系规划及城市规划的关系进行了论述，并在实例分析的基础上，指出了“就区域论区域”的弊端。     

Thinking about economic growth: cities, networks, creativity and supply chains for ideas

Discussions of economic growth require an examination of the role of cities. It is widely claimed that cities exist because they facilitate economic growth and development. Spatial concentrations reduce transactions costs. There are additional benefits gained as positive spillover effects are realized. The latter is especially important for the exchange of ideas. Creativity comes from new arrangements of thoughts and ideas. The thoughts of others facilitate new combinations of ideas. It is argued here that propitious spatial arrangements make both sets of benefits possible. These arrangements involve choices from a very large combinatorial set. The choice problem is too complex to entrust to models or planning agencies. Rather, flexible land markets are required. This paper is based on the author’s presidential address delivered at the February 2012 meetings of the Western Regional Science Association in Kauai, Hawaii.     

Peninsular Malaysia: Conflict between economic and social goals

This article reports urbanization trends in Peninsular Malaysia and analyses national and strategic plans. The national strategy for urban development is examined, attention being paid to the goal of increasing the economic participation of ethnic Malays (Bumiputras). Regional plans for the Kelang Valley, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban are outlined. The author concludes by pointing out the conflicts inherent in current Malaysian urban policy, particularly between national and federal plans and between policies for economic growth and the desire to increase Bumiputra participation.     

Between economic efficacy and social justice: Exposing the ethico-politics of planning

Contemporary urban policies in various liberal democracies are purposefully crafted to foster both economic efficiency and social justice. For Barel (1989), achieving these directives constitutes a ‘paradox’. Yet, as argued here, this paradox is not new. Rather, it is rooted in liberalism, which, in turn, shapes mainstream planning practices and modes of government. This paper therefore turns to the ‘ethico-politics’ of planning in order to demonstrate how the City of Johannesburg articulates its economic growth and social responsibility policies. It is proposed that unless planners challenge the often unquestioned liberal norms of planning, entrenched norms will continue to obscure alternative possibilities.     

Social capital,social economy and economic resilience of Italian provinces

This paper investigates the relationship between the social capital and economic resilience of Italian provinces during the Great Recession. It focuses on social economy organizations' internal and external relational dimensions to proxy forms of bonding and bridging social capital. Through an econometric analysis, I find that indicators depicting the diffusion of volunteering and cooperative employment are positively related to a measure of resilience, confirming the hypothesis that social capital can shape local reactions to crises. I also find a negative relationship between the local resilience and social cooperatives' density, highlighting how the latter indicator does not seize virtuous forms of social capital.     

Understanding the early stages of the innovation diffusion process: awareness,influence and communication networks

The themes of awareness and influence within the innovation diffusion process are addressed. The innovation diffusion process is typically represented as stages, yet awareness and influence are somewhat under-represented in the literature. Awareness and influence are situated within the contextual setting of individual actors but also within the broader institutional forces. Understanding how actors become aware of an innovation and then how their opinion is influenced is important for creating a more innovation-active UK construction sector. Social network analysis is proposed as one technique for mapping how awareness and influence occur and what they look like as a network. Empirical data are gathered using two modes of enquiry. This is done through a pilot study consisting of chartered professionals and then through a case study organization as it attempted to diffuse an innovation. The analysis demonstrates significant variations across actors’ awareness and influence networks. It is argued that social network analysis can complement other research methods in order to present a richer picture of how actors become aware of innovations and where they draw their influences regarding adopting innovations. In summarizing the findings, a framework for understanding awareness and influence associated with innovation within the UK construction sector is presented. Finally, with the UK construction sector continually being encouraged to be innovative, understanding and managing an actor’s awareness and influence network will be beneficial. The overarching conclusion thus describes the need not only to build research capacity in this area but also to push the boundaries related to the research methods employed.     

Place value: place quality and its impact on health,social, economic and environmental outcomes

This paper explores the link between the quality of the built environment and its value, in health, social, economic and environmental terms. This is theorized as ‘place value’ which, alongside ‘place quality’, is conceptualized as existing within a virtuous loop in which quality dictates value and value defines quality. To test this, a systematic review brought together wide-ranging international research evidence. The work confirmed a range of definitive associations between the quality of place and its place derived value. It also makes a clear link back from the evidence on place value to the sorts of qualities that enhance or detract from that value. These, in turn, define the constituent elements of place quality.     

以意写形与文化超越——当代文化建筑的景观化特征

本文以鄯善中亚石材博物馆设计为例,阐述当代文化建筑的景观化特征及表现形式,并指出景观化是当代建筑创作的重要倾向。     

不同剂量地佐辛对全麻甲状腺手术后患者苏醒期与术后早期镇痛效应的影响

目的:观察不同剂量地佐辛对全麻甲状腺手术后患者苏醒期与术后早期镇痛效应的影响。方法:选择择期全麻下行甲状腺切除手术患者120例,按照随机数字表法分为四组,每组30例:D1组静脉予地佐辛0.05 mg/kg,D2组静脉予地佐辛0.1 mg/kg,D3组静脉予地佐辛0.15 mg/kg,C组为对照组静脉予等容积0.9%生理盐水,均于术毕前10 min注药;分别于麻醉前(T0)、术毕前10 min(T1)、予地佐辛后5 min(T2)、10 min(T3)、气管拔出前(T4)、拔管后5 min(T5)、10 min(T6)、20 min(T7)、送出PACU时(T8)记录患者MAP、HR、RR、Sp O2值;观察围拔管期MAP、HR变化及不良反应,评估术后12 h内VAS及SAS评分。结果:四组患者一般情况组间比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);D2、D3组患者T6~T8时与C组比较,MAP、HR显著降低(P<0.05),各时间点Sp O2、RR组间比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);D1组出现呛咳3例(10%),D2组与D3组患者拨管平稳,C组出现呛咳21例(70%)、出现恶心呕吐6例(20%);各组患者与对照组比较,术后12 h内VAS评分显著降低,SAS评分术后4 h内显著降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:全麻甲状腺手术结束前10 min静注予地佐辛0.1~0.15mg/kg有助于术后气管插管平稳拔出,对术后镇静、镇痛效果明显。     

Spatial economic networks with multicriteria producers and consumers: Statics and dynamics

In this paper, we develop a framework for the formulation, analysis, and computation of solutions to spatial network problems in which the firms are multicriteria decision-makers and the consumers are as well. In particular, the firms, which are involved in the production of a homogeneous commodity, are spatially separated and weight the two criteria of profit maximization and total output maximization in distinct fashion. They are faced with the selection of modes/routes (which are modeled in an aggregated manner) to transport the commodity to the demand markets where consumers, consisting of different classes, consider the price charged by the producers and weight the transportation cost and the transportation time of the product on the links in an individual manner. We derive the governing equilibrium conditions and present the variational inequality formulation. We provide qualitative properties of the equilibrium commodity shipment and generalized price pattern and then propose a tatonnement process, which we formulate as a projected dynamical system. We give an algorithm for computational purposes and apply it to several numerical examples for illustration purposes. This paper is the first to integrate multicriteria decision-making on the production side and on the consumption side in a basic network context. Received: February 2001/Accepted: August 2001     

Identifying and evaluating green building attributes by environment,social, and economic pillars of sustainability

ABSTRACT

Green building (GB) rating systems are developed to measure the level of extent or sustainability of buildings. It is very important to focus on the attributes that require more cost and are contributing more to decreasing the negative impact of construction on the environment or nature. This analysis presents an idea-based conceptual model for prioritising the GB attributes by considering the environmental, social, and economic pillars of sustainable construction or monetary mainstays of manageable development. To analyse the environmentally and socially essential attributes, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and an entropy method were used. For the economic analysis, a data envelopment analysis (DEA) was applied. If the decision makers give more importance to the environmental and social pillars of sustainability then they can consider the attributes such as occupants’ health, safety and comfort, climatic conditions, the cost of investment, operation and maintenance cost, and indoor air quality. If the construction stakeholder wishes to achieve more green points with limited funds then the important attributes are: operation and maintenance cost, material recycle, low-impact construction site techniques, locally available materials, and soil pollution. The proposed approach can advance GB construction practices that are not liable to result from conventional practices.