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Electoral results show that voters do not always punish corrupt politicians at the ballot box and some will vote for corrupt candidates if they are competent. The aim of this paper is to analyse the characteristics that differentiate between citizens who are prepared to support corrupt politicians from voters who are not, based on public opinion data from Costa Rica. The results show that four variables differentiate between the two groups: political knowledge, income, age and gender. Women and citizens with more political knowledge choose dishonest but competent politicians to a lesser extent than men and those with low levels of political knowledge. However, young people and citizens with higher income levels are willing to allow dishonesty to be offset by better competence to a greater extent than adults and those with low income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we develop a case study, focused on Spain and the European Union, on the controversy over the labelling of transgenic foods. This paper fi rstly compares the social discourses that conceive labelling essentially as being a problem or a solution. Secondly, an analysis is provided of the main legislative responses, together with the specifi c issues that remain controversial in this fi eld. Thirdly, the limits of the cognitive defi cit model and the problem of establishing what information is relevant or irrelevant are discussed. The research concludes by showing the presence of the rhetorics of safety and risk, and proposes an outline of social positions around the consumption of transgenic foods, their differential labelling, and the endeavour of science in our societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probit/logit techniques are applied to the data from Barometer No. 2,829 published by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas to examine three problems related with public sector decentralisation. The paper concludes, first, that citizens' perception of efficiency gains from decentralisation have a positive effect on their support for decentralised government. Second, that citizens are more likely to perceive the efficiency gains from decentralisation if they correctly ascribe responsibility for education and health services to regions. And third, that citizens who most accurately identify regional responsibility for the provision of those services tend to be better educated, older, engaged in paid work or public employment, concerned about regional politics and resident in one region with higher initial level of devolved powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an ethnographic interpretation of how in a changing context of family care different Spanish home telecare services provide older people with social links to prevent their isolation, granting them "connected autonomy": the promotion of their autonomy and independent living through connectedness. To do so, services need to craft a network of "contacts". Different versions of the term iguration are employed to describe the practical materializations of the forms of relatedness put in place by such services: what roles become available and explicitly supported; what other igurations of relatedness (e.g., kinship, friendship, neighbourliness) they come across; what happens when these different igurations of relatedness meet. In doing this, our aim is to allow space to relect ethically on the practical relational promises and challenges of these forms of technologized care of older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the outflows of the foreign-born population resident in Spain; specifically, it examines the variations in the probability of emigrating and the intensity of self-selection during the different phases of the economic cycle. In order to do this, survival analysis models were calculated using data from the Spanish Labour Force Survey between 2005 and 2010. The results show, on the one hand, an increase in the probability of emigrating from the start of the recession; and on the other hand, that the probability of emigrating is higher among immigrants with worse employment outcomes and a poorer educational background, as suggested by Neo-classical Economics. However, the effect of unemployment and of the deficit in human capital has been decreasing since 2008. That is, during the recession, negative self-selection is reduced compared to the period of economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the crisis in Spain, the youth face a situation of multi-dimensional disadvantage. In this paper we analyse the perspectives of different stakeholders on this situation, as well as how these perspectives inform the design and implementation of public policies. We carried out a qualitative study with an innovative theoretical approach, the capability approach. We reviewed secondary sources and undertook 21 in-depth interviews with 21 key stakeholders. Evidences show that current policies affecting the youth have a narrow focus on job creation, overlooking the multiple disadvantages that today's young face. This situation is aggravated by the lack of participation in definition and implementation of policies, and by partisan interests and short-term strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an ethnographic interpretation of how in a changing context of family care different Spanish home telecare services provide older people with social links to prevent their isolation, granting them "connected autonomy": the promotion of their autonomy and independent living through connectedness. To do so, services need to craft a network of "contacts". Different versions of the term figuration are employed to describe the practical materializations of the forms of relatedness put in place by such services: what roles become available and explicitly supported; what other figurations of relatedness (e.g., kinship, friendship, neighbourliness) they come across; what happens when these different figurations of relatedness meet. In doing this, our aim is to allow space to reflect ethically on the practical relational promises and challenges of these forms of technologized care of older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the outflows of the foreign-born population resident in Spain; specifically, it examines the variations in the probability of emigrating and the intensity of self-selection during the different phases of the economic cycle. In order to do this, survival analysis models were calculated using data from the Spanish Labour Force Survey between 2005 and 2010. The results show, on the one hand, an increase in the probability of emigrating from the start of the recession; and on the other hand, that the probability of emigrating is higher among immigrants with worse employment outcomes and a poorer educational background, as suggested by Neo-classical Economics. However, the effect of unemployment and of the deficit in human capital has been decreasing since 2008. That is, during the recession, negative self-selection is reduced compared to the period of economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes two possible determinants of disability, birth cohort and socioeconomic status, among Spanish elderly aged 65-89 living independently. We use microdata from the Spanish Health Interview Survey, particularly the self-reported ability to perform daily activities, to construct a continuous measure of disability. Multivariate linear regression models are applied separately for men and women controlling for the following variables: age, birth cohort, educational attainment and self-reported height. Results indicate stability in disability levels across successive generations as well as the existence of a socioeconomic dimension of disability especially among women and within ages 70-79. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spain cohabitation the prevalence of cohabiting couples is no longer marginal. Not only the incidence but also the nature of cohabiting couples is diverse: in Spain cohabitation is considered a temporal alternative that generally ends with the legalization of the union (marriage). The main purpose of this paper is to examine the incidence, duration and development of cohabitation using a life course comparative approach, identifying also the profiles of women who split up against those who decide to marry. Results show the prevalence of the transition from cohabitation to marriage in Spain, establishing this type of union as a prelude and not as a definitive alternative to marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spain cohabitation the prevalence of cohabiting couples is no longer marginal. Not only the incidence but also the nature of cohabiting couples is diverse: in Spain cohabitation is considered a temporal alternative that generally ends with the legalization of the union (marriage). The main purpose of this paper is to examine the incidence, duration and development of cohabitation using a life course comparative approach, identifying also the profiles of women who split up against those who decide to marry. Results show the prevalence of the transition from cohabitation to marriage in Spain, establishing this type of union as a prelude and not as a definitive alternative to marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the main conclusions of a research project on family care provided to elderly and dependent people in Galicia. Galicia has a high aging rate and a significant socio-demographic contrast between rural and urban areas, making it an interesting environment to examine how family care tasks are combined. This study examines the kind of intrafamily negotiations that lead women, usually unmarried daughters (but not other family members) to carry out caregiving work. Furthermore, it presents the type of working conditions related to family care, as well as their impact on the living conditions and health of the caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes two possible determinants of disability, birth cohort and socioeconomic status, among Spanish elderly aged 65-89 living independently. We use microdata from the Spanish Health Interview Survey, particularly the self-reported ability to perform daily activities, to construct a continuous measure of disability. Multivariate linear regression models are applied separately for men and women controlling for the following variables: age, birth cohort, educational attainment and self-reported height. Results indicate stability in disability levels across successive generations as well as the existence of a socioeconomic dimension of disability especially among women and within ages 70-79. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predominant theoretical viewpoint about the problem of income redistribution in capitalist democracies continues to postulate that the pressure towards redistribution is greatest in democracies with more inequality. However, this assumption does not seem to be corroborated empirically; perhaps this is because sometimes inequality only increases between the lower reaches of the distribution of income. In these cases, inequality increases the dispersion of earnings among the stakeholders of redistribution, and this increases their collective action problems. This paper proposes a new theoretical principle for the analysis of the relationship between inequality and redistribution, and develops an indicator consistent to this principle. A preliminary empirical exploration is carried out to illustrate how the proposed indicator is significantly associated with the levels of income redistribution in 19 OECD countries between 1974 and 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predominant theoretical viewpoint about the problem of income redistribution in capitalist democracies continues to postulate that the pressure towards redistribution is greatest in democracies with more inequality. However, this assumption does not seem to be corroborated empirically; perhaps this is because sometimes inequality only increases between the lower reaches of the distribution of income. In these cases, inequality increases the dispersion of earnings among the stakeholders of redistribution, and this increases their collective action problems. This paper proposes a new theoretical principle for the analysis of the relationship between inequality and redistribution, and develops an indicator consistent to this principle. A preliminary empirical exploration is carried out to illustrate how the proposed indicator is significantly associated with the levels of income redistribution in 19 OECD countries between 1974 and 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the main conclusions of a research project on family care provided to elderly and dependent people in Galicia. Galicia has a high aging rate and a significant socio-demographic contrast between rural and urban areas, making it an interesting environment to examine how family care tasks are combined. This study examines the kind of intrafamily negotiations that lead women, usually unmarried daughters (but not other family members) to carry out caregiving work. Furthermore, it presents the type of working conditions related to family care, as well as their impact on the living conditions and health of the caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After merely a brief, comparative reconstruction of the three most general theoretical models underlying contemporary Sociology (atomic, systemic, and fluid) it becomes necessary to review the question about the unity or plurality of Sociology, which is the main objective of this paper. To do so, the basic terms of the question are firstly updated by following the hegemonic trends in current studies of science. Secondly the convergences and divergences among the three models discussed are shown. Following some additional discussion, the conclusion is reached that contemporary Sociology is not unitary, and need not be so. It is plural, but its plurality is limited and articulated by those very models. It may therefore be portrayed as integrated and commensurable, to the extent that a partial and unstable (dis)unity may be said to exist in Sociology, which is not too far off from what happens in the natural sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper updates a line of research on qualitative methodology from recent years, examining certain recent (and nascent) initiatives for the archiving of qualitative sociological research in Spain. The Spanish case is revisited and placed in a European context to focus attention on some of the pioneering archiving practices of different types (according to grade of visibility, institutionalization, etc.) currently being established in Spain. The case of the CIS qualitative studies archive is dealt with in depth; a strategic sample of its archived material serves to analyse the evolution that has taken place in transcription practices on the part of (among others) emblematic researchers. The results are compared to those obtained by other researchers with materials from the British archive, Qualidata. The concepts of quality and the backstage are related to the concept of the qualitative archive in order to lay out the fundamental methodological debate, as well as proposals to promote and improve a process now in progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present a research on intergenerational occupational mobility in Spain. We use the Survey of Living Conditions (INE, 2011) that allows us to obtain occupational information about parents and sons. Traditionally the comparison between occupation origin (parents) and destination (children) has been performed using male population. Then, our question is: How are the results about social mobility in Spain when the female population is included in Origin and Destination? As a result we show that the inclusion of women in models of social mobility change the usual conclusion about the constant fluidity over time. There is greater fluidity, not invariant over time, that reveals the new role that women have been acquiring in our society in recent decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social trust and political trust are, amongst others, key social capital factors. This paper examines the accuracy of their measurement and comparability across different time periods. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) is performed and different levels of measurement invariance (configural, metric and scalar) are tested. Data used are from European Social Survey for the years 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008, in relation to Spanish citizens. Factor means for social and political trust are compared across time in Spain. Political and social trust show stability across time, except in 2004 with a higher level of political trust and 2006 with a higher level of social trust in Spain. Comparison with traditional composite scores shows the inaccuracy of such measurement for data comparison across time. Finally, consequences of using inaccurate measurements, and methodological recommendations concerning model fit structural equation models are delineated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the political responsibilities of women in local governments of 155 town councils across Spain. The main objective is to examine the situation of female politicians within municipal governments, focusing on the division of power roles (vertical segregation) and the different areas of government (horizontal segregation). We suggest that the gender roles/stereotypes approach may explain the situation of women in formal politics and the inequalities that we have found in these local governments. This approach is combined with the power theory. Thus, a key factor in explaining this situation may also be the dominant role of men in traditional power structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the political responsibilities of women in local governments of 155 town councils across Spain. The main objective is to examine the situation of female politicians within municipal governments, focusing on the division of power roles (vertical segregation) and the different areas of government (horizontal segregation). We suggest that the gender roles/stereotypes approach may explain the situation of women in formal politics and the inequalities that we have found in these local governments. This approach is combined with the power theory. Thus, a key factor in explaining this situation may also be the dominant role of men in traditional power structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents research findings that focus on analyzing the conditions that enable and/or complicate the development of the critical intercultural approach in Pre-schools and Primary schools. To this end, three case studies were conducted in schools in the Spanish Autonomous Region of Andalusia. The main data production techniques used were: participatory observation, interviews and documentary analysis. The results are organized around three dimensions of analysis: the concept of inequality and/or diversity as a driving force for change in schools and the opening-up of the school setting as a challenge/ reproduction of cultural homogeneity and hegemony. The findings show how the dynamics and interactions that exist within these schools provide opportunities but also create limitations when it comes to shaping new intercultural realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before the rural exodus of the 1950s in Italy, a symbolic and reverse exodus took place. The symbolic capital of modern culture penetrated into the farming world. Society has particular mechanisms in place to relieve pressures, thereby also announcing and preparing for social changes. This paper analyses one of these mechanisms, namely family photography between the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Through some singular portraits, we see the 'dispatcher' role that photography played in the interstices of society between psychological, social, and material realities: a junction of emotions, a mediator between the rural and urban worlds, a rite of passage that channels drives, and a yardstick of what society considers to be correct or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes and explains the recent trends in life expectancy at birth in Spain from an interdisciplinary perspective. It is based on two methods: segmented linear regression, and decomposition of life expectancy. The study consists of three sections. First, a description is provided of the demographic factors that explain the increase in the life expectancy at birth of the Spanish population from 1910 to 2009, which is in excess of 40 years. Second, the effect that changes in mortality have had on life expectancy at birth during 1980-2009 is analysed by cause of death of the population aged 65 and above. And third, the social and epidemiological causes underlying that increase are described. It is concluded that the increase of life expectancy at birth in Spain is mainly due to the reduction of mortality at advanced ages and a decrease in cardiovascular mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates public and private (household) spending per student on education in early childhood, primary and secondary education in Spain, in public educational institutions and in publicly-funded private educational institutions. We use 2007 data from the Household Spending on Education Survey and the Statistics on Public Spending on Education. Public expenditure on education per student in publicly-funded private educational institutions was 49.9% that spent on public educational institutions. The cost assumed by families in public institutions was 38.7% that spent on publicly-funded private educational institutions. The total expenditure per student on publicly-funded private educational institutions was 66.9% that spent on public educational institutions. Enrollment in publicly-funded private educational institutions implies a reduction of public expenditure on education and the transfer of part of those educational expenses to families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is proposed as a critical approach to normativism and rational-action based sociological models, starting from the idea that they overrate the capacities of agents to understand and evaluate the mechanisms of social life. In opposition to these theoretical approaches, we suggest that contingency and failure (not taken into account by these approaches) appear as constant realities, inevitable and appropriate for understanding social action. In this journey we rely on Ramos' proposal on the tragic dimension of action, in addition to the reformulation by Arendt of Heidegger's concept of care. Finally, we critique the role assigned to certain experts in the current scenario of economic crisis,from presumption of the ability to predict and correct social paths, pushing for success as a goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spanish religious indicators have experienced one of the most drastic declines in Europe. The low levels of church attendance and religious denomination contributed to reject the perception of religiosity as a relevant explanatory factor of electoral behavior . However, leaders continued introducing debated related to secular education, divorce and abortion not only during the eighties, but also more recently from 2004 to 2011. The facts encourage us to reconsider the strength of the religious vote. Is the political elite able to mobilize religious voting through the inclusion of such issues in the electoral debate? In this paper I demonstrate that religiosity has been and still is a key element to understand Spanish electoral behavior, especially in those elections in which the political elite has focused the debate on issues related to moral issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates public and private (household) spending per student on education in early childhood, primary and secondary education in Spain, in public educational institutions and in publicly-funded private educational institutions. We use 2007 data from the Household Spending on Education Survey and the Statistics on Public Spending on Education. Public expenditure on education per student in publicly-funded private educational institutions was 49.9% that spent on public educational institutions. The cost assumed by families in public institutions was 38.7% that spent on publicly-funded private educational institutions. The total expenditure per student on publicly-funded private educational institutions was 66.9% that spent on public educational institutions. Enrollment in publicly-funded private educational institutions implies a reduction of public expenditure on education and the transfer of part of those educational expenses to families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spanish religious indicators have experienced one of the most drastic declines in Europe. The low levels of church attendance and religious denomination contributed to reject the perception of religiosity as a relevant explanatory factor of electoral behavior. However, leaders continued introducing debated related to secular education, divorce and abortion not only during the eighties, but also more recently from 2004 to 2011. The facts encourage us to reconsider the strength of the religious vote. Is the political elite able to mobilize religious voting through the inclusion of such issues in the electoral debate? In this paper I demonstrate that religiosity has been and still is a key element to understand Spanish electoral behavior, especially in those elections in which the political elite has focused the debate on issues related to moral issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper analyses and revises the latest Democracy Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit in the United Kingdom. We analyze the changes produced in the index from 2006 to 2011, as well as in the five basic factors that constitute the index: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. The analysis of these factors --measured by sixty variables-- has made it possible to develop a new index, based on the data from 167 countries, and calculate a revised ranking. Countries have been classified into four types: democracies, flawed democracies, mixed systems, and authoritarian/totalitarian regimes. The new index permits a better understanding of the impact of the crisis through variables such as economic growth, human development, quality of life, corruption, and violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper analyses and revises the latest Democracy Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit in the United Kingdom. We analyze the changes produced in the index from 2006 to 2011, as well as in the five basic factors that constitute the index: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. The analysis of these factors --measured by sixty variables-- has made it possible to develop a new index, based on the data from 167 countries, and calculate a revised ranking. Countries have been classified into four types: democracies, flawed democracies, mixed systems, and authoritarian/totalitarian regimes. The new index permits a better understanding of the impact of the crisis through variables such as economic growth, human development, quality of life, corruption, and violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for measuring the commitment of Spanish universities to the employability of their graduates by looking at four different dimensions of the term: basic, business protocol, matching and feedback. These dimensions have been measured against initiatives that are run beyond the scope of official academic training. Based on this scale and applying the analysis of several clusters, we identify three profiles for university centers according to their commitment to the employability of their graduates. We gave a questionnaire to 230 higher education institutions in Spain. The results demonstrated that Spanish universities have a long way to go to reach sufficient commitment in the four areas proposed. Only one third of the centers analyzed met the criteria. Last, we propose some potential measures for improvement such as requiring a minimum level of a foreign language in order to complete a degree, the use of interactive learning methodologies and collaboration with employers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to develop a scale for measuring the commitment of Spanish universities to the employability of their graduates by looking at four different dimensions of the term: basic, business protocol, matching and feedback. These dimensions have been measured against initiatives that are run beyond the scope of official academic training. Based on this scale and applying the analysis of several clusters, we identify three profiles for university centers according to their commitment to the employability of their graduates. We gave a questionnaire to 230 higher education institutions in Spain. The results demonstrated that Spanish universities have a long way to go to reach sufficient commitment in the four areas proposed. Only one third of the centers analyzed met the criteria. Last, we propose some potential measures for improvement such as requiring a minimum level of a foreign language in order to complete a degree, the use of interactive learning methodologies and collaboration with employers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of school performance (primary effects) and the structure of costs and benefits that individuals of different social class face (secondary effects) on the transition from compulsory to non-compulsory education in Spain. We find that both predictors of educational paths seem to operate through an interactive effect, which contributes to reproducing educational inequalities. This interaction suggests that school performance is not interpreted in the same way by individuals from different social classes. In concrete, the resources and social capital of upper class families provide compensation effects leading to a greater probability of students from upper classes with poor grades reaching post-compulsory secondary education and higher education in comparison to lower class students with the equivalent grades. Therefore, inequality by social class of origin is greatest among students with the lowest grades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of school performance (primary effects) and the structure of costs and benefits that individuals of different social class face (secondary effects) on the transition from compulsory to non-compulsory education in Spain. We find that both predictors of educational paths seem to operate through an interactive effect, which contributes to reproducing educational inequalities. This interaction suggests that school performance is not interpreted in the same way by individuals from different social classes. In concrete, the resources and social capital of upper class families provide compensation effects leading to a greater probability of students from upper classes with poor grades reaching post-compulsory secondary education and higher education in comparison to lower class students with the equivalent grades. Therefore, inequality by social class of origin is greatest among students with the lowest grades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to identify the situations preceding the incorrect selection of survey respondents in Spain and their consequences, focusing on research in which survey respondents were selected through random routes and quotas. The use of the first six Barometer Surveys by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) in 2011 reveals a steady increase in the number of incidents. However, these do not involve any major differences with respect to the population as a whole in terms of gender, age, educational level and occupational status. The paper shows that cooperation patterns differ depending on the time of day and the day of the week when field work is performed. It also reveals that the level of accessibility varies significantly depending on the different traits of the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an approach to the aesthetic canon of Spanish pop-rock, which is understood as being the musicians, bands and works which have had the most influence on this musical genre in Spain. Using Bourdieu's sociology of art and its application to popular music studies, surveys have been analysed that were carried out by both Spanish music critics and musicians. The hypothesis posed is whether an autochthonous aesthetic canon exists, and whether this is determined by an Anglo-American influence. From lists or rankings published whether in books or in general or specialist magazines, these data were combined to obtain a meta-ranking, which was tested by using certain statistical tests. From this, some characteristics particular to the Spanish aesthetic canon have been obtained, as well as some which are shared with the English-speaking canon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an approach to the aesthetic canon of Spanish pop-rock, which is understood as being the musicians, bands and works which have had the most influence on this musical genre in Spain. Using Bourdieu's sociology of art and its application to popular music studies, surveys have been analysed that were carried out by both Spanish music critics and musicians. The hypothesis posed is whether an autochthonous aesthetic canon exists, and whether this is determined by an Anglo-American influence. From lists or rankings published whether in books or in general or specialist magazines, these data were combined to obtain a meta-ranking, which was tested by using certain statistical tests. From this, some characteristics particular to the Spanish aesthetic canon have been obtained, as well as some which are shared with the English-speaking canon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to understand how the concept of 'career' can be applied to a specific chronic disease such as multiple sclerosis. This research is focused on 'careers' as the term is used in Symbolic Interactionism in Sociology. The qualitative research is based on thirty semi-directed interviews, four group interviews with people suffering from multiple sclerosis in French hospitals and associations, and twenty-three observations made over a one-year period. Three stages in the 'careers' of the subjects showed the onset of the disease: the start of the symptoms, the announcement of the diagnosis, which confirms the entry into the disease (and defined life before and after the disease), and the preparation of the 'biographical work'. Depending on how one lives and enters into the 'careers' of the disease, such 'careers' will be more or less complex and different, as will also be the forms of biographical paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological perspectives applied to the study of socioeconomic inequalities in health are characterized by a one-dimensional approach to social differences, as income, occupation, and education are used as interchangeable variables to capture social inequalities. This paper calls into question this assumption by exploring the impact of parent's education and occupation on their newborns' health status, using the low birth weight indicator. We show that occupation and education, although related, should not be used as interchangeable. This study also challenges the traditional perspective in epidemiology of studying perinatal outcomes focusing exclusively on mother's information, as it shows that, despite the slightly higher influence of the mother's socioeconomic information, both parents have a key role on their newborn's birthweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the 2000, 2008 and 2011 Spanish elections, this paper provides three contributions to the literature on electoral competition from a Downsian perspective. Firstly, an answer is offered to the three paradoxes that arise when applying the basic proximity vote model to electoral competition in Spain. Secondly, a more solid theoretical and empirical grounding is provided for the existing proposals to integrate non-positional issues into the Downsian model. Finally, a type of logistic regression is employed which is more appropriate for understanding the behaviour of the median voter, whose role is crucial in Spanish election results. Our fi ndings have important implications in understanding the workings of one of the most commonly used models in political science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper pretends to demonstrate the complementary relations between three relatively recent sociological theories, each one of which explains a different aspect of the same social object: the origin, diffusion and change of social and cultural values, aiming at demonstrating that there is not such a thing as a sociological theory that explains all, but rather diverse theories that offer partial explanations of social reality. To that effect, and on the basis of the necessary relationship between theory and research, three different theories are evaluated separately: Hawley's and Duncan's theory of the social ecosystem, Galtung's centre-periphery theory, and Inglehart's theory of values' change in modern-industrial societies, offering theoretical and empirical evidence of their complementary relations, based on Spanish and international data. Social ecosystem and centre-periphery theories show a high level of generalization (through space and time) and a high level of abstraction, though both can easily operationalize their main concepts through valid and reliable indicators. The theory of values' change, however, though showing a high level of generalization, is limited in time to the historical period after World War II, and also shows a high level of abstraction. Centre-periphery theory and values' change theory use individual and collective units of analysis, but social ecosystem theory only uses collective units, by definition. The three theories lead to the conclusion that 'security' values will gain a growing importance in present societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking as an empirical basis some of the data from a questionnaire applied to a sample of approximately eight hundred parents from three public secondary schools, this paper discusses how various categories of parents organise «hierarchies of excellence» through the «arguments for choice» that they prioritise when choosing their children's school for entrance into secondary education (year 10 of schooling, equivalent to the year 4 of compulsory secondary education in Spain - ESO). The analysis of the data highlights that, in all segments of parents, a group can be found that attaches great importance to academic indicators; in addition, an unequal concentration of these groups was verified in the three establishments studied, which reflects a predominance of different types of public in each school. Thus, even though the importance attributed to the «arguments for choice» varies according to the educational level of the parents, in the cases studied the «hierarchies of excellence» are distinguished, above all, by the school variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the predictions of the election results for the Spanish Parliament published in the main Spanish newspapers. To gauge their degree of accuracy, the distance between the predictions and the actual results was defined and later assessed by comparing it with that of the so-called 'perfect poll'. This 'perfect poll' was generated by a simulation using the proportions of votes actually obtained by each party. Other issues related to the published polls are also analysed, such as the relationship between sample size and estimation quality, and between the error made (by excess or defect) for a party and the ideological affinity between that party and the newspaper publishing the survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper pretends to demonstrate the complementary relations between three relatively recent sociological theories, each one of which explains a different aspect of the same social object: the origin, diffusion and change of social and cultural values, aiming at demonstrating that there is not such a thing as a sociological theory that explains all, but rather diverse theories that offer partial explanations of social reality. To that effect, and on the basis of the necessary relationship between theory and research, three different theories are evaluated separately: Hawley's and Duncan's theory of the social ecosystem, Galtung's centre-periphery theory, and Inglehart's theory of values' change in modern-industrial societies, offering theoretical and empirical evidence of their complementary relations, based on Spanish and international data. Social ecosystem and centre-periphery theories show a high level of generalization (through space and time) and a high level of abstraction, though both can easily operationalize their main concepts through valid and reliable indicators. The theory of values' change, however, though showing a high level of generalization, is limited in time to the historical period after World War II, and also shows a high level of abstraction. Centre-periphery theory and values' change theory use individual and collective units of analysis, but social ecosystem theory only uses collective units, by definition. The three theories lead to the conclusion that 'security' values will gain a growing importance in present societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the system of actors involved in the development of residential tourism on the north east coast of Brazil. The study observes the socio-political effects of the 2001-2008 real estate boom, focused on the promotion of second homes in closed residential areas. Stakeholder Analysis (SA) is used to identify the various actors' roles and positions within a particular social space in a tourist setting which is exposed to transnational and real estate interests. The method reveals an unequal and conflict-ridden social reality. The results show that residential tourism shapes the local socio-political confi guration, strengthening some actors (urban developers, real estate companies) whilst positioning others in a situation of dependence (local communities, cities). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between gender and retirement in Spain is paradoxical. The female employment rate between the ages of 55 and 64 is slightly more than half that of the male rate, whilst the average retirement age amongst women is much higher. Using event-history analysis techniques, this paper analyses whether this puzzling gender difference is due to compositional or selection effects. Data comes from a special retirement module within the 2006 Spanish Labour Force Survey (Encuesta de Población Activa, EPA). It applies a novel methodological framework, contrasting the results from a naïve survival analysis with those from a duration-selection model. The results suggest that women retire later than men above all because, from a financial point of view, they cannot afford to retire any earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, the link between migration and development has been identified as a major topic of political and scientific debate. As a sign of a renewed interest in the issue, in 2009 the United Nations Development Programme published its Human Development Report (HDR) with the title «Overcoming Barriers: mobility and human development». Some of the data in the HDR are reviewed in this paper in order to question certain clichés regarding the relationships between international migration flows and development processes. Our main conclusion is that the link between the two is not one-directional, nor does it follow generalisable patterns beyond the confirmation that the countries with medium human development are the most affected by migration, but also benefit the most from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the employment transitions of unemployed individuals who have worked before. To do so, a longitudinal data set from the Spanish Labour Force Survey (Encuesta de Población Activa, EPA) was used. The analyses were conducted for two different economic periods: expansive (2005-2007) and recessive (2008-2010). The results indicate that Latin Americans and Eastern Europeans had a higher probability of obtaining employment in Spain during the period of economic growth. This was the case after controlling for sociodemographic variables, as well as factors related to the characteristics of the last job before becoming unemployed. This advantage, however, disappears during the recession period. Moreover, the effect of some factors that influence the likelihood of being employed again, such as human capital, change depending on the phase of the economic cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]