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Although traffic police enforcement is widely recognized as a key action in the road safety field, it can be a costly policy to implement. In addition, governments often impose budget constraints that can limit the resources available for activities such as law enforcement and surveillance. To evaluate the impact of human traffic control resources planning on traffic fatalities on Spanish NUTS-3 regions interurban roads, this paper uses an econometric model to investigate the performance of police enforcement intensity by focusing on two crucial traffic law infractions (i.e., speeding and drunk driving). After controlling for a range of economic, demographic, climate, and risk exposure variables, results highlight the relevance of visible, human, and in-person traffic law enforcement through regular vehicle patrols for reducing traffic crashes, with a non-significant effect of automatic enforcement. Our findings have important implications for traffic police resource management regarding the effective maintenance of patrol cars and plans to digitalize and automatize police administrative tasks and procedures.

The changes that have come about at airports in recent decades in the areas of security, deregulation, and technological advances have affected both airport management and the passenger experience at airport facilities. In addition, all around the world, the airport sector has been struck by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 and 2021. Using a broad sample of data taken from Airport Service Quality (ASQ) surveys and robust econometric methodology, specifically, an Ordered Logit model with Principal Component Analysis, this paper seeks to cover the gap in the academic literature regarding the effect of a worldwide pandemic on passenger satisfaction at airports during the 2015–2021 period, while taking into consideration the passenger profile and journey and airport attributes. It takes as its reference a Spanish regional airport, which had been experiencing a strong expansion process prior to the pandemic. With respect to the variables linked to the passenger profile, a dif- ferential behavior is observed in satisfaction depending on nationality, motive for travel, and destination. In addition, the four facility- and airport process-related dimensions are significant, with cleanliness and comfort standing out above all others. These are even more important in a health emergency scenario such as is currently being experienced. Lastly, 2021 is shown to cause a downturn in the positive passenger satisfaction with the airport that had been observed during the first year of the pandemic. Therefore, more long-term management is required alongside the initial rapid and efficient action taken by airports, with up-to-date information for pas- sengers to internalize the inconveniences associated with this long-drawn-out period of uncertainty.

Evaluation is a crucial part of the teaching and learning process in any higher education institution and one that has gone through a deep change. This has been particularly true since the Bologna Declaration (http:// www. ehea. info/ page- ministerial-conference- bologna- 1999, 1999) ushered in the European higher education area, with the subsequent major rise in the employment of continuous assessment methods focused on student participation. This article analyses the impact on academic performance of e-continuous assessment based on e-tests on a virtual platform as a previous step towards the substitution of the traditional evaluation system, based on a final exam, with a continuous evaluation system, prescribed as an alternative preferred by the regulations of multiple Spanish universities. Microeconometric models have been applied to a database of 250 first-year students on the Business Administration and Management course at the University of Seville (Spain). Our findings show that e-tests could prevent the risk of students dropping out and could also provide a credible predictor of students’ academic marks in the theoretical contents of the subject, but not in those of a practical or applied nature. Based on the results of this evaluation, an e-continuous assessment has been developed in the subject, which has become the majority option for students, with 90% participation, while also increasing pass rates. Moreover, the positive effect of a computing environment does not appear to be limited to the classroom, but also extends to students’ home environments. This teaching experience shows that the swift feedback that e-tools provides, especially in especially in environments of large class size such as in the class evaluated, could support instructors’ personal tutoring of students’ progress and promote a greater implementation of e-continuous assessment in Spanish higher education.

Driving offences can cause road accidents with serious outcomes and are a topic where differences in attitudes and behaviour can be found between sexes. While men are more prone to taking risks and, statistically, are involved in a greater number of traffic accidents, even today, sex stereotypes persist with women regarded as worse drivers. To explore the truth behind the myth, this study analyses how the increase in the number of females in the driver census in Spain, could impact the effectiveness of traffic law enforcement in terms of traffic offences recorded by the traffic police (including the main violations such as passive safety feature use, speed limits and drunk driving) while considering a set of control variables related to the quality of infrastructure, legal reforms and other socio-economic attributes. The results point to Spanish women paying closer attention to traffic regulations, behaving more carefully, which should be considered in designing specific preventive policies and road safety awareness strategies.

Desde mediados del siglo XX, la seguridad vial ha representado un reto de crucial importancia para la salud pública, con relevantes repercusiones a nivel socioeconómico y fuertes vínculos con el desarrollo tecnológico e industrial de los países alrededor del mundo. Como manifiesta la Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHO, 2021), los accidentes de tráfico causan aproximadamente 1,3 millones de muertes anuales a nivel mundial. En términos de coste económico, la siniestralidad vial puede cuantificarse en una cantidad que oscila entre el 1% y el 3% del Producto Interior Bruto (PIB en adelante) mundial según los análisis consultados (siendo este porcentaje incluso significativamente superior para el caso de economías desarrolladas). En este impacto económico se cuantifican aspectos como gastos por reparación de los vehículos e infraestructuras públicas o las bajas laborales por morbilidad, entre otros (Bastida et al., 2004; Blincoe et al., 2002; WHO, 2015). De cara a abordar la magnitud de este problema, los enfoques y concepciones aplicados a la gestión de la seguridad vial han ido progresando desde principios de la década de los 60 del siglo XX, evolucionando desde la atención centrada en cuestiones técnicas relacionadas con la ingeniería aplicada a vehículos y carreteras, hacia una perspectiva más global, surgida a partir de los 70, y en la que se tienen en cuenta todos los factores que impactan en la seguridad vial de forma integrada (Hakkert y Gitelman, 2014). En este sentido, destaca el trabajo pionero del Dr. William Haddon quien, en 1968, introdujo la matriz conocida con su nombre (Haddon, 1968) siendo desde entonces el paradigma más utilizado en la prevención de la siniestralidad vial, y que se centra en un conjunto de factores o atributos (tanto intrínsecos como extrínsecos) que impactan antes, durante y después de un posible accidente de tráfico. En esta línea, la presente Tesis Doctoral, con la que se concurre a la obtención del título de Doctor en el Program, Since the mid of the 20th Century, road safety has represented a challenge of crucial importance for public health, with relevant repercussions at the socio-economic level and strong links with the technological and industrial development of countries worldwide. As it is stated by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2021), traffic accidents cause approximately 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide. In terms of economic cost, road accidents can be quantified in an amount between 1% and 3% of the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP hereinafter) according to the analysis consulted (this percentage being even significantly higher in the case of economies developed). This economic impact quantifies aspects such as expenses for repairing vehicles and public infrastructure or sick leaves due to morbidity, among others (Bastida et al., 2004; Blincoe et al., 2002; WHO, 2015). In order to address the magnitude of this problem, the approaches and concepts applied to road safety management have progressed since the early 1960s, evolving from an initial attention focused on technical issues, towards a more global perspective, which emerged from the 1970s, and in which all the factors that impact road safety are taken into account in an integrated way (Hakkert and Gitelman, 2014). In this sense, the pioneering work of Dr. William Haddon stands out, who, in 1968, introduced the matrix known by his name (Haddon, 1968), which has been since then the most widely used paradigm in the prevention of road accidents, and which focuses on a set of factors or attributes (both intrinsic and extrinsic) that have an impact before, during and after a potential traffic accident. In this line, the present PhD Dissertation, submitted to obtain the title of Doctor in the ‘Programa de Ciencias Económicas, Empresariales y Sociales’ at ‘Universidad de Sevilla’, aims to contribute to the study of the influence of environmental factors present in the Haddon matrix, analyzing the role of socioeconomic attr

El turismo es un sector económico con un gran peso en la economía mundial, llegando a representar, en 2019, el 10,3% del Producto Interior Bruto (PIB) mundial; unos 330 millones de puestos de trabajo, lo que supone 1 de cada 10 empleos en el mundo; el 6,8% de las exportaciones totales y el 4,3% de las inversiones totales (WTTC, 2020a). Asimismo, ha sido considerado por la literatura académica como motor de crecimiento económico para muchas regiones, fomentando no solo el desarrollo económico, sino también el bienestar y la tolerancia entre la sociedad. En España, en concreto, el sector turístico es de vital importancia por su contribución al Producto Interior Bruto (PIB), al empleo y al equilibrio en la balanza de pagos, entre otras razones. De hecho, todo ello se ha puesto de manifiesto a partir de las consecuencias causadas por la reciente pandemia del COVID-19, que, al limitar la actividad turística incluso hasta niveles cercanos a cero en los meses de confinamiento más estricto, ha azotado con fuerza a la economía española. Al margen de la situación coyuntural provocada por la pandemia, desde hace unos años, la industria turística comenzaba a experimentar un aumento en la competitividad con la aparición de nuevos destinos turísticos, poniendo en peligro la posición dominante de potencia turísticas históricas, entre ellas, España. Frente a ello, se encuentra la constante necesidad de descubrir nuevas estrategias de diferenciación. Una de ellas es la de la certificación de la calidad de los productos; en este caso, del producto/destino turístico, a través de reconocimientos internacionales con una proyección global y de prestigio capaces de respaldar unos ciertos estándares de calidad. Tres de los reconocimientos internacionales más utilizados han sido la Guía Michelin, y en concreto, los restaurantes con Estrellas Michelin, como referentes gastronómicos; los enclaves reconocidos como Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Ed, Tourism is an extremely relevant economic sector in the world economy. In 2019, it accounted for 10.3% of the world's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), about 330 million jobs, i.e., 1 in 10 jobs in the world, 6.8% of total exports, and 4.3% of total investments (WTTC, 2020a). It is also considered to be a driver of economic growth in many regions in the academic literature, as it not only promotes economic development but also well-being and tolerance in society. In Spain, specifically, among other reasons the tourism sector is of vital importance due to its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment, and the balance of payments. All this has been highlighted by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely affected the Spanish economy by limiting tourism activity to near-zero levels for several months. Apart from the situation triggered by the pandemic, in recent years, the tourism industry has begun to experience an increase in competitiveness due to the appearance of new tourist destinations jeopardizing the dominant position of the most important traditional tourist destinations, including Spain. The need to find new differentiation strategies therefore emerges. One of these strategies is the certification of product quality, in this case, of the tourist product/destination, by globally recognized, prestigious international awards that exact certain quality standards. Three of the most sought-after awards are the Michelin Guide, more specifically, restaurants with Michelin Stars as examples of outstanding gastronomy; UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites as places of exceptional historical, cultural, or natural interest, and lastly, Blue Flags as indicators of the sustainability and quality of beaches. In the context of political debate around the effectiveness of these awards, since their conferral—and continued retention— requires strong political and economic efforts, there is a need to analyze, from an econometric point of view

The current paper deals with the debate over centralization versus decentralization in road safety management, andspecifically in traffic law enforcement. We address the case study of Spain, where a single traffic law acquis isenforced by two systems: road policing decentralized for some regions and national road policing for all others. Oureconometricfindings reveal that the Spanish regions with centralized traffic policing present better safetyfigures,which might be useful for reinforcing the coordinated performance of road safety policy in other traditionallydecentralized countries. Furthermore, our evidence indicates that cautious analyses have to be carried out on a case-by-case basis.

No consensus has been reached on the effectiveness of World Heritage Sites (WHSs) in attracting tourism. This paper analyzes the impact of WHSs on tourist demand in Spain at a disaggregated level for all Spanish provinces (NUTS-3 regions), based on original panel data for 50 Spanish provinces for the 2000–2019 period. The results show a positive impact of WHSs on domestic and foreign tourism demand when considering all the provinces together and that the first WHSs (designated in the 1980s) have a greater tourism-enhancing effect (“first generation effect”). However, there are differences between Spanish inland and coastal provinces: only cultural WHSs have an impact on tourism in inland provinces, whereas, in coastal provinces, only natural WHSs have the power of tourism attraction.

Eco-labels such as Blue Flags can be effective for enhancing both sustainability and tourism. Given the ongoing political debate on the effectiveness of Blue Flags for promoting tourism, we analyze the impact of the number of Blue Flag beaches on tourist arrivals (international and domestic, respectively) for Spanish coastal provinces. Panel data techniques are used to evaluate Blue Flags econometrically for the longest and most recent time period in the literature (2000– 2019). Findings suggest that Blue Flags are effective at promoting international tourism but not domestic tourism. Different patterns for international and domestic tourists mean that differentiated policies should be applied.

The number of internationally recognized Michelin-starred restaurants in a place is a new trend used to measure a tourist destination’s culinary standard. The purpose of this study is to close the gap created by the lack of econometric studies on the tourist attraction of Michelin-starred res- taurants, especially in Spain. Panel data methodology is applied to 50 Spanish NUTS-3 regions over a broad time period (2000–2016) to assess the impact of Michelin-starred restaurants on tourism demand from both domestic and foreign tourists. The findings show that restaurant quality is more important than quantity in the gastronomy–tourism relationship and that Michelin-starred res- taurants are a strong attraction for foreign tourists. Some policies are suggested, such as the development of Culinary Schools and marketing campaigns to promote haute cuisine tourism.

En la actualidad, la seguridad vial constituye uno de los principales desafíos al que deben enfrentarse las sociedades. El carácter multicausal de la siniestralidad vial se pone de manifiesto en esta Tesis Doctoral, que tiene como eje central el análisis del impacto diferenciado de dos factores que inciden en la misma: el establecimiento de límites de velocidad adecuados y la especialización turística de los países. En primer lugar, en el Capítulo 1, se ha desarrollado un meta-análisis de las consecuencias derivadas de incrementar el límite máximo de velocidad permitida sobre la seguridad vial, tomando Estados Unidos como caso de estudio, dada las importantes reformas legislativas aprobadas en este país desde los años setenta. La aplicación del meta-análisis ha permitido realizar una síntesis cuantitativa de una muestra de estudios obtenida mediante una revisión sistemática de la bibliografía académica. Tras el filtro y la codificación de la muestra, los resultados obtenidos han llevado a concluir que un incremento del límite de velocidad máximo empeora la seguridad vial, tanto en aquellas vías sobre las que se aplica el mismo, como en la red de carreteras en conjunto, aunque en este último caso, en menor medida, lo que podría sugerir la existencia del denominado diversion effect. Para asegurar la robustez de los resultados, el estudio se ha complementado con un análisis de sensibilidad así como un análisis del sesgo de publicación. En segundo lugar, el Capítulo 2 se ha centrado en el impacto de la especialización turística sobre el número de accidentes de tráfico en España. Para ello, se ha construido un panel de datos a nivel de provincias españolas en el periodo 2000-2015 y se han planteado seis modelos alternativos que buscan explicar el número de accidentes, tanto urbanos como interurbanos, en función de variables vinculadas al turismo, diferenciando entre residentes y no residentes. Además, se han incluido variables de control, utilizadas previamente por la li

One of the principal causes of tourist deaths worldwide appears to be road accidents. However, the literature rarely addresses tourist road safety by exploring spatial variations. This paper covers the gap that exists as to how tourism can influence road safety (as a negative externality) and examines the case of Spanish NUTS-3 regions, particularly interesting due to Spain having been the world’s second most-visited country for five consecutive years. Our findings show a higher traffic accident rate for foreign drivers and indicate that tourism traffic safety is a relevant topic that should be incorporated into road safety policy planning.

The recent economic crisis has required the bailout of some European States by the so-called Troika, with capital injections accompanied by financial austerity. This paper analyzes econometrically the impact of this support programme on road safety for an original panel data (1995–2015). The findings also corroborate the Kuznets curve hypothesis for traffic accidents in the long term. Regarding the impact of intervention in the short term, despite reductions in safety policy budgets due to austerity, financial support, and related austerity measures might have led to an improvement in road safety, reducing both the number of accidents and fatalities. Therefore, it seems that our result is more linked to the austerity measures than to the financial support given by the Troika.

University libraries are adapting to the new study, learning, and research needs of the university communities that they serve. In an environment of economic tweaking, a trend toward the performance of investments, the progressive digitization of resources and services, and easy access to information in digital format, universities are compelled to show that they are still cost-efficient for the institutions that they serve; in this case, the University. This paper will use a robust methodology based on multiple indicators and a broad database that takes into consideration other control variables of a socio-demographic, economic, and academic nature to analyze the impact that the library circulation service can have on student academic performance. Our results show that there is a clear positive relationship between the number of library loans that a student takes out and the various academic performance indicators used. Furthermore, the more intense the use that students make of the system, both in terms of time and renewals, the greater the academic success that they attain. Lastly, measures are proposed to exploit this positive synergy and realize university excellence.

El comercio marítimo cada vez adquiere más importancia en la economía mundial ya que contribuye a entablar las relaciones entre los distintos países, además de contribuir a la globalización mundial. La creciente demanda auspiciada por las mejoras continuas en el transporte marítimo ha hecho que sea necesario adoptar nuevas medidas que abastezcan a esta demanda. La aparición del contenedor, dada su clara rentabilidad, dio lugar al aprovechamiento de las economías de escala fruto de la eficiencia que le precede. Como consecuencia de su aparición, se tiende a la acumulación de tráficos en determinadas zonas del mundo y, por ende, los puertos se han visto envueltos en una ola de especialización sin precedentes. Por ello, el presente Trabajo de Fin de Grado, se centra en una de las zonas más influyentes de todo el mundo, el Mediterráneo, caracterizada por el auge que conlleva y la versatilidad de sus puertos que, además, han sufrido modificaciones para adaptarse al entorno en los que se ven envueltos. En este estudio se analizan los cinco puertos más importantes del Mediterráneo según el tonelaje y TEUs que acarrean. Se plantea una visión geográfica, estructural y técnica de los diferentes puertos además del estudio de sus tráficos portuarios en la última década (2007-2017), evidenciando las diferencias existentes, entre los distintos entes portuarios, antes y después de la crisis económica. Posteriormente, se procederá al análisis económico y portuario mediante el uso de ratios e índice de especialización (índice Bird). Finalmente, el estudio concluye con la elaboración de la matriz DAFO que resalta las debilidades, fortalezas, amenazas, limitaciones y oportunidades que poseen cada uno de los puertos en cuestión. Para concluir, se plantean todas las conclusiones fruto de la síntesis de los diferentes análisis desarrollados, mostrando la potencialidad de los distintos puertos, así como los retos a los que se enfrentan en el futuro., Maritime trade is becoming increasingly important in the global economy as it contributes to establishing relations between different countries, in addition to contributing to global globalization. The growing demand supported by continuous improvements in maritime transport has made it necessary to adopt new measures to supply this demand. The appearance of the container, given its clear profitability, led to the use of economies of scale resulting from the efficiency that precedes it. As a consequence of its appearance, there is a trend towards the accumulation of traffic in certain areas of the world and, consequently, ports have been involved in an unprecedented wave of specialization. Therefore, this Final Degree Project focuses on one of the most influential areas in the world: the Mediterranean, characterized by the boom that it entails and the versatility of its ports, which have also undergone modifications to adapt to the environment in which they are involved. This study analyzes the five most important ports in the Mediterranean according to the tonnage and TEUs they carry. A geographical, structural and technical vision of the different ports is proposed in addition to the study of their port traffics in the last decade (2007-2017), evidencing the existing differences between the different port entities, before and after the economic crisis. Subsequently, economic and port analysis will be carried out through the use of ratios and specialization index (Bird index). Finally, the study concludes with the development of the SWOT matrix that highlights the weaknesses, strengths, threats, limitations and opportunities that each of the ports in question possess. To conclude, all the conclusions result from the synthesis of the different analyzes developed, showing the potential of the different ports as well as the challenges, they face in the future.

Using a dynamic transfer function model-based methodology, this study analyzes the joint influence of legislation changes, enforcement and compliance with driving regulations in terms of road fatalities in Spain during the 2005–2015 time period. Three robust econometric models demonstrate that two of the road safety law reforms recently implemented in Spain, the points-based driver's license and the toughening of the Penal Code, have had positive impacts, albeit with varying durations. Their impacts are also seen to have been reinforced by the application of a range of monitoring instruments to track compliance. The most effective of these include radar speed measuring devices, the mere presence of which has the desired deterrent effect irrespective of the positive proof that they might detect. However, lack of compliance with maximum alcohol limits seems to increase road fatalities, which suggests that a more complex preventive strategy needs to be developed through a combination of programmed actions. Lastly, the irreplaceable deterrence role of traffic police who enforce compliance with driving laws stands out, with the number of officers deployed being decisive.

Speed plays an important role in road safety as it affects accident risk and severity. Among safety policies implemented to control driving speed, speed limits are the most highly developed. Since the 1970′s, numerous studies have focused on the effectiveness of speed limits, but even today there is still no clear consensus as to the impact that raising the speed limit has on traffic fatalities. With the aim of consolidating knowledge on this topic, a meta-analysis has been carried out of a set of econometric studies assessing the effects on traffic fatalities of increasing speed limits in the US. Two sub-samples were obtained, taken from the traffic fatality measures considered by studies (fatality count and fatality rate normalized per vehicle miles traveled), and two approaches were analyzed: rural interstates (where speed limits were increased in 1987 and 1995), and a statewide approach (all roads network). Our findings show that by count traffic fatalities went up on both rural interstates and statewide level, although the effect was higher on rural interstates. In other respects, statewide fatality rates could be improved in relative terms by raising legal speed limits, although the effect would be weak.