On Exponential Growth and Half-Lives: A Comment on Bermingham

A recent paper (hereafter referred to as the Paper), Bermingham (2003), presented what appeared to be an analytical review of current situation of declining population growth rates in many parts of the world. The Paper suggested that the increasing growth rates before about 1970 constituted exponential growth, but that the currently declining growth rates were not exponential growth. Hence, the paper asserted that we should not use the terms exponential growth and doubling times in describing the current situation. Many of the suggestions in the paper are contrary to established mathematics. These suggestions are examined here in some detail.     

The Development of A County Level Index Of Well-Being

In an effort to assess the level of community need and inform responsive resource allocation, Larimer County, Colorado developed a county-level index of well-being. This paper describes the development of that index including the selection of indicators and the methodology for scoring and presenting those indicators. We also present how the local community used the information and describe problems we found while aggregating indicators. Next, we show the results of evaluating our index using Hagerty et al.’s (2001, Social Indicators Research 55, pp. 1–96) 14 criteria for determining validity and usefulness of quality of life indices. The Larimer County index performed above both the “satisfactory” rating and the mean of the 22 indices evaluated using Hagerty et al.’s. We conclude that the Larimer County index is based on a solid approach that will be helpful to local policy makers.     

Gendering Indicators of Health and Well-being: Is Quality of Life Gender Neutral?

The addition of social indicators and quality of life measures to the raft of traditional health indicators used to assess health and well-being has certainly provided a much-needed contextual understanding of health outcomes. However, most quality of life measures remain undifferentiated by gender. Outcomes can be disaggregated along age, class, ethnic, racial and gender dimensions but few quality of life measures (or social indicators for that matter) are sensitive to the subtle effects of gender socialization on health and well-being. Both social epidemiology and quality of life measures need to be gendered and differentiated to fully capture the diversity of womens and mens health experiences.     

The social condition of the New Zealand people: a pre-election review of social indicator information

ABSTRACT

Many social commentators have considered that alongside the fiscal transparency enjoined by contemporary New Zealand governments, there should be a complementary social responsibility reporting. This task is usually assigned to social indicator frameworks. However, at present (as the 2017 election looms) there is a faltering in the provision of social indicators which have been in place in New Zealand for almost two decades, with the exception of the recent 2016 survey data from Statistics New Zealand and Ministry of Social Development that were made available within a month of writing this article. Having commented on the current status of the New Zealand social indicator system, we present data from the General Social Survey and the Quality of Life survey to at least convey recent trends in subjective social well-being and reported behaviours and experiences. References are also made to the accumulating literature on social well-being in New Zealand, followed by suggestions for more systematic indicator development and underpinning research.     

循环经济效率运行的实证分析和实施框架——辽宁省循环经济发展的案例剖析

20世纪末以来,循环经济在我国得到蓬勃发展。辽宁省作为国家最早进行循环经济试点的省份,经过短短几年的实践,取得了阶段性成果,也存在一些亟待解决的问题。因此,需要认真总结这几年循环经济试点中的经验教训。这样做不仅对于今后辽宁省循环经济发展有十分重要的意义,对全国其他地区循环经济发展也具有参考价值。为此,本文对辽宁省工业领域循环经济效率进行了实证分析,在此基础上,提出推动循环经济深入发展,进一步提高运行效率的实施框架。     

可持续灾害运作管理的概念与绩效测量指标研究

为了挽救生命,缓解幸存者痛苦和促进发展,全面理解可持续灾害运作管理的内涵并建立相应的绩效测量指标已成为当前亟待解决的重要问题。在梳理灾害运作管理与可持续发展定义的基础上,界定可持续灾害运作管理的概念与内涵。从社会、环境和经济三个方面,提出了可持续灾害运作管理绩效测量的潜在指标。研究表明：提出的可持续灾害运作管理的定义及其绩效测量指标有助于加强可持续发展理论与灾害运作管理决策之间的联系;为建立面向可持续发展的决策模型提供科学依据,从而改善救援效果,满足救援过程的可持续要求。     

Framing socioecological complexity: The long-term evolution of multiple dimensions of desertification risk in Italy

Desertification risk depends on the interplay of biophysical and socioeconomic drivers, among which climate change, soil depletion, landscape modifications, and biodiversity decline are key factors of change in Southern Europe. The present study introduces a diachronic analysis of desertification risk in Italy adopting a multidimensional approach based on four dimensions (ecological, economic, demographic, and administrative) assessed at three dates (1961, 1991, and 2011). These risk components were evaluated separately in Southern Italy, a formerly affected region (sensu United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), and Northern/Central Italy, a nonaffected region in the country. All risk measures document how the divide between affected and nonaffected regions in Italy has gradually reduced. Because of local warming and rising human pressure, Northern Italy has recently displayed a level of desertification risk close to those observed in Southern Italy over the last 30 years. These results suggest a thorough revision of the national classification of risky areas, that may inform more specific mitigation and adaptation policies responding effectively to recent socioenvironmental trends and local (economic) dynamics. The intrinsic system's evolution observed at both regional and national level in Italy may be generalized to a broader European context. Our work finally documents the appropriateness of a multidimensional definition of desertification risk grounded on the joint analysis of ecological, demographic, economic, and administrative indicators. A comprehensive knowledge of socioeconomic patterns and processes of change contributes to more precise scenario modeling and design of integrated strategies mitigating desertification risk.     

合同能源管理项目关键成功因素研究进展

目前对合同能源管理项目关键成功因素的研究主要集中于关键绩效指标与关键成功因素、关键成功因素的识别与分类、关键成功因素的分析方法以及数据收集方法4个方面,并取得了一定的研究成果。但在关键成功因素的选择、关键成功因素的变化规律、关键成功因素的分析方法等方面存在不同程度缺陷,影响了研究结果的实用性。后续研究可以从面向过程的视角,选择结构方程模型、数据包络分析等方法研究合同能管理项目不同阶段的关键成功因素变化规律及其相互关系。     

医院岗位绩效考核平衡计分卡指标的设计

公立医院的社会公益性质要求医院建立一套既突出岗位价值与贡献和工作效率，又避免以追求创收为目的、经济指标为主的岗位薪酬考核体系。综合运用现代人力资源理论和管理科学理论、结合我国公立医院薪酬体系的现状，设计一套系统、科学有效的按岗取酬、按服务质量和工作效率取酬的岗位考核平衡计分卡指标。运用双层规划法将业务部门的指标考核联系到职能部门，应用层次分析法辅助确认指标权重。