Is skewed income distribution good for environmental quality? A comparative analysis among selected BRICS countries.

A large number of studies have examined the linkage between income inequality and environmental quality at the individual country levels. This study attempts to examine the linkage between the two factors for the individual BRICS economies from a comparative perspective, which is scarce in the literature. It examines the selected countries (Brazil, India, China and South Africa) by endogenising the patterns of primary energy consumption (coal use and petroleum use), total primary energy consumption, economic growth, and urbanisation as key determining factors in CO2 emission function. The long-run results based on ARDL bounds testing revealed that income inequality leads to increase in CO2 emissions for Brazil, India and China, while the same factor leads to reduction in CO2 emissions for South Africa. However, it observes that while coal use increases CO2 emissions for India, China and South Africa, it has no effect for Brazil. In contrast, the use of petroleum products contributes to CO2 emissions in Brazil, while the use of the same surprisingly results in reduction of carbon emissions in South Africa, India and China. The findings suggest that given the significance of income inequality in environmental pollution, the policy makers in these emerging economies have to take into consideration the role of income inequality, while designing the energy policy to achieve environmental sustainability.

Contaminación del aire de interiores en hogares en situación de pobreza extrema en Colombia / Indoor air pollution in extremely poor Colombian households

Objetivo Caracterizar la exposición a la contaminación del aire interior por uso de combustibles sólidos en hogares en situación de pobreza extrema en Colombia. Métodos A partir de la información gubernamental oficial de hogares en situación de pobreza extrema (encuesta Red Unidos de septiembre 2012, n=1,3 millones de hogares y >5 millones de individuos) se estructuraron dos modelos de regresión logística: (i) Factores asociados al uso de combustibles sólidos para cocinar a nivel hogar, (ii) Asociación entre el uso de combustibles sólidos en el hogar y prevalencia de limitaciones de la salud a nivel individuo. Resultados Un total de 530 mil hogares en situación de pobreza extrema donde habitan 2,1 millones de colombianos, enfrentan el factor de riesgo (uso de combustibles fósiles en el hogar). La presencia del factor de riesgo está asociada a la zona rural (odds ratio-OR=19,4; intervalo de confianza al 95 %-IC95 %: 19,2-19,6), la etnia indígena (OR=2,9; IC95 %:2,9-3,0) y, de manera inversa, a la situación de desplazamiento (OR=0,6;IC95 %:0,6-0,6). La prevalencia de limitación cardiovascular y/o respiratoria, así como de limitación en visión se asociaron con la exposición. Discusión Las iniciativas que busquen mejorar la salud ambiental y calidad de vida de la población rural de mayor vulnerabilidad socio-económica del país cuentan con información de caracterización e impacto para priorizar programas tendientes a disminuir la exposición al uso de combustibles sólidos.

Objective Characterising exposure to indoor air pollution arising from solid-fuel use in extremely poor Colombian households. Methods Data from the September 2012 survey by Red Unidos (literally United Network, the Colombian government's official instrument for identifying extremely poor households: n=1.3 million households and >5 million people) was used for two logistic regression models: factors associated with solid fuel used in cooking within households and an association between exposure to solid fuel use in households and the prevalence of limitations regarding individual health. Results According to the Red Unidos data-based models, 2.1 million people living in 530,000 extremely poor households were exposed to environmental health risk (i.e. household air pollution caused by solid fuel use). Such risk was found to be related to living in rural areas (odds ratio (OR)=19.4 95 % confidence interval (95 %CI): 19.2-19.6 %), having an Indian background (OR=2.9: 2.9-3.0 95 %CI) and, inversely (i.e. when living in towns), internal displacement (OR=0.6: 0.6-0.695 %CI). The prevalence of permanent cardiovascular and respiratory limitations and limited vision were associated with exposure to indoor air pollution arising from solid fuel use. Discussion Initiatives for improving environmental health and the quality of life for extremely poor rural households in Colombia must make full use of the available characterisation data and its impact for prioritising programmes aimed at reducing exposure to solid fuel use.

[Indoor air pollution in extremely poor Colombian households]. / Contaminación del aire de interiores en hogares en situación de pobreza extrema en Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Characterising exposure to indoor air pollution arising from solid-fuel use in extremely poor Colombian households. METHODS: Data from the September 2012 survey by Red Unidos (literally United Network, the Colombian government's official instrument for identifying extremely poor households: n=1.3 million households and >5 million people) was used for two logistic regression models: factors associated with solid fuel used in cooking within households and an association between exposure to solid fuel use in households and the prevalence of limitations regarding individual health. RESULTS: According to the Red Unidos data-based models, 2.1 million people living in 530,000 extremely poor households were exposed to environmental health risk (i.e. household air pollution caused by solid fuel use). Such risk was found to be related to living in rural areas (odds ratio (OR)=19.4 95 % confidence interval (95 %CI): 19.2-19.6 %), having an Indian background (OR=2.9: 2.9-3.0 95 %CI) and, inversely (i.e. when living in towns), internal displacement (OR=0.6: 0.6-0.695 %CI). The prevalence of permanent cardiovascular and respiratory limitations and limited vision were associated with exposure to indoor air pollution arising from solid fuel use. DISCUSSION: Initiatives for improving environmental health and the quality of life for extremely poor rural households in Colombia must make full use of the available characterisation data and its impact for prioritising programmes aimed at reducing exposure to solid fuel use.

Economic evaluation of a 100% smoke-free law on the hospitality industry in an Argentinean province.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the economic impact of a 100% smoke-free law on bars and restaurants in an Argentinean province. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a time series analysis of restaurant and bar revenues in the province of Santa Fe 31 months before and 29 months after the implementation of the 100% smoke-free environment law. The neighboring province of Entre Rios without smoking restrictions at the time of this study, was used as the control province. RESULTS: Average taxable revenues post-legislation in the province of Santa Fe as a whole and in the two most important cities were higher when compared to the total provincial revenue pre-legislation. No significant differences were observed with the total revenue from the province of Entre Rios. CONCLUSIONS: We found no statistically significant evidence that the 100% smoke-free environment legislation in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, had a negative impact on the revenues of local bars and restaurants.

El negocio del gas natural y los impactos esperados en Bolivia / The business of the natural gas and the expected impact on Bolivia

El presente documento realiza un analisis del negocio del gas natural en Bolivia y de sus posibles impactos en las recaudaciones, exportaciones y el Producto Interno Bruto.(au)

Anuario estadístico de la República Argentina / Statistical yearbook of the República Argentina

El Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INDEC), dependiente de la Secretaría de Programación Económica del Ministerio de Economía y Obras y Servicios Públicos, reinicia con esta obra la publicación del Anuario Estadístico de la República Argentina. De esta manera se da respuesta a la creciente demanda de información actualizada tanto del sector público como del privado. El Anuario consta de un capítulo de información general y geográfica sobre el país y de ocho capítulos que agrupan estadísticas sobre distintos aspectos demográficos, sociales y económicos, incluido las cuentas nacionales, cuyo detalle se encuentra en el índice general. Los cuadros contienen datos anuales para el total del país y, según los temas, también desagregados por provincia. El contenido de este Anuario está asimismo disponible en soporte magnético

Anuario estadístico de la República Argentina / Statistical yearbook of the República Argentina

El Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INDEC), dependiente de la Secretaría de Programación Económica del Ministerio de Economía y Obras y Servicios Públicos, reinicia con esta obra la publicación del Anuario Estadístico de la República Argentina. De esta manera se da respuesta a la creciente demanda de información actualizada tanto del sector público como del privado. El Anuario consta de un capítulo de información general y geográfica sobre el país y de ocho capítulos que agrupan estadísticas sobre distintos aspectos demográficos, sociales y económicos, incluido las cuentas nacionales, cuyo detalle se encuentra en el índice general. Los cuadros contienen datos anuales para el total del país y, según los temas, también desagregados por provincia. El contenido de este Anuario está asimismo disponible en soporte magnético