From the circular economy to the sustainable development goals in the European Union: an empirical comparison.

The European Union (EU) is trying to accelerate the transition from the current linear economy to a circular economy (CE). In fact, the CE is considered a tool to attain sustainable development goals (SDGs). In this sense, this paper aims at analysing the interaction between the CE and SDGs in the context of the new 2030 Agenda and the European CE strategy; thus contributing to the scarce empirical literature that links the potential of the European CE strategy to the achievement of the SDGs set by the 2030 Agenda. Three specific research questions have been formulated. First, could the objectives defined in the 2030 Agenda be considered homogeneous, and could they uniquely measure the concept of sustainability? Second, are there significant correlations between the implementation of a CE in the EU and the SDGs? Finally, is the behaviour of the 28 countries that make up the EU homogeneous in terms of the results of the initiatives aimed at the implementation of a CE? From these questions, nine hypotheses are put forward concerning the possible relationships between a CE implementation and the fulfilment of SDGs in the EU. Using a correlation analysis, an exploratory factor analysis, and a cluster analysis, it has been demonstrated that (a) SDGs do not univocally measure the concept of sustainability; (b) there are significant relationships between CE and SDGs in the EU; (c) the behaviour of these European countries is not homogeneous.

The Role of Institutional Engagement at the Macro Level in Pushing the Circular Economy in Spain and Its Regions.

Currently, the European Union is promoting the circular economy, a change that involves moving the foundations of actual economies toward the most sustainable production and consumption periods, in which the reuse of resources predominates, mainly through recycling, reuse, and reduction, among other strategies. This study, through the application of institutional theory, analyzes the role that institutional pressure has in the diffusion and adoption of the circular economy from the state to the regions inside through coercive, normative, and mimetic pressures. A matrix of institutional positioning was developed that analyzes the number and diversity of circular economy initiatives. The results show that coercive pressure followed by mimetic pressure are the most relevant in explaining the development of the circular economy in Spain in relation to the closest other European countries in Southern Europe, while there is low normative pressure. The results obtained provide relevant information on how to accelerate the development of the circular economy throughout the European Union through the adequate exercise of different types of institutional pressure.

Clusters de casos de suicidio espacio-temporal en la comunidad de Antequera (España) / Space-time suicide clustering in the community of Antequera (Spain)

Introducción. En España, cada año consuman suicidio alrededor de 3.500 personas. El principal objetivo del presente estudio fue examinar si eran evidentes agrupaciones (clusters) espacio-temporales de suicidio en la región de Antequera (Málaga, España). Métodos. Muestra y procedimiento. Entre el 1 de enero de 2004 y el 31 de diciembre de 2008, se identificaron todos los casos de suicidio consumado (fuente: Servicio de Patología Forense del Instituto de Medicina Legal, Málaga, España). Geolocalización. Usamos Google Earth para calcular las coordenadas del domicilio de todos los casos de suicidio. Análisis estadístico. Usamos el programa SaTScan® espacio-temporal y la función K de Ripley para examinar la presencia de agrupaciones (clusters) espacio-temporales de los casos de suicidio. Acto seguido, utilizamos la prueba de la X2 de Pearson para determinar la presencia de diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los casos de suicidio identificados dentro y fuera de las agrupaciones de suicidio. Resultados. En los análisis del presente estudio efectuado en el municipio de Antequera, de un total de 120 individuos que cometieron suicidio se incluyeron 96 (80%). Se identificaron pruebas estadísticamente significativas para 7 agrupaciones espacio-temporales de suicidio dentro de los límites críticos de 0-2,5 km de distancia y durante la primera y segunda semana después del caso de suicidio (p < 0,05 en ambos casos). Entre los casos de suicidio dentro de agrupaciones (n = 17), no hubo ningún individuo en el que se hubiera establecido un diagnóstico de trastorno psicótico actual, mientras que, entre los casos de suicidio fuera de las agrupaciones espacio-temporales, en el 20%, se había establecido dicho diagnóstico (X2 = 4,13; gl = 1; p < 0,05). Conclusiones. En la región circundante de Antequera están presentes agrupaciones (clusters) espacio-temporales de los casos de suicidio. Entre pacientes con un diagnóstico de trastorno psicótico actual hubo menos probabilidades de una influencia por los factores que determinan las agrupaciones espacio-temporales de los casos de suicidio consumado (AU)

Introduction. Approximately 3,500 people commit suicide every year in Spain. The main aim of this study is to explore if a spatial and temporal clustering of suicide exists in the region of Antequera (Málaga, España). Methods. Sample and procedure: All suicides from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008 were identified using data from the Forensic Pathology Department of the Institute of Legal Medicine, Málaga (España). Geolocalisation. Google Earth was used to calculate the coordinates for each suicide decedent's address. Statistical analysis. A spatiotemporal permutation scan statistic and the Ripley's K function were used to explore spatiotemporal clustering. Pearson's chi-squared was used to determine whether there were differences between suicides inside and outside the spatiotemporal clusters. Results. A total of 120 individuals committed suicide within the region of Antequera, of which 96 (80%) were included in our analyses. Statistically significant evidence for 7 spatiotemporal suicide clusters emerged within critical limits for the 0-2.5 km distance and for the first and second semanas (P < .05 in both cases) after suicide. There was not a single subject diagnosed with a current psychotic disorder, among suicides within clusters, whereas outside clusters, 20% had this diagnosis (X2 = 4.13; df = 1; P < .05). Conclusions. There are spatiotemporal suicide clusters in the area surrounding Antequera. Patients diagnosed with current psychotic disorder are less likely to be influenced by the factors explaining suicide clustering (AU)

[Space-time suicide clustering in the community of Antequera (Spain)]. / Clusters de casos de suicidio espacio-temporal en la comunidad de Antequera (España).

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 3,500 people commit suicide every year in Spain. The main aim of this study is to explore if a spatial and temporal clustering of suicide exists in the region of Antequera (Málaga, España). METHODS: Sample and procedure: All suicides from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008 were identified using data from the Forensic Pathology Department of the Institute of Legal Medicine, Málaga (España). Geolocalisation. Google Earth was used to calculate the coordinates for each suicide decedent's address. Statistical analysis. A spatiotemporal permutation scan statistic and the Ripley's K function were used to explore spatiotemporal clustering. Pearson's chi-squared was used to determine whether there were differences between suicides inside and outside the spatiotemporal clusters. RESULTS: A total of 120 individuals committed suicide within the region of Antequera, of which 96 (80%) were included in our analyses. Statistically significant evidence for 7 spatiotemporal suicide clusters emerged within critical limits for the 0-2.5 km distance and for the first and second semanas (P<.05 in both cases) after suicide. There was not a single subject diagnosed with a current psychotic disorder, among suicides within clusters, whereas outside clusters, 20% had this diagnosis (X2=4.13; df=1; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: There are spatiotemporal suicide clusters in the area surrounding Antequera. Patients diagnosed with current psychotic disorder are less likely to be influenced by the factors explaining suicide clustering.