Alexandrina Stoyanova

The Causal Relationship between Individual’S Choice Behavior and Self-Reported Satisfaction: The Case of Residential Mobility in the EU

One of the most persistent and lasting debates in economic research refers to whether the answers to subjective questions can be used to explain individuals’ economic behavior. Using panel data for twelve EU countries, in the present study we analyze the causal relationship between self-reported housing satisfaction and residential mobility. Our results indicate that: i) households unsatisfied with their current housing situation are more likely to move; ii) housing satisfaction raises after a move, and; iii) housing satisfaction increases with the transition from being a renter to becoming a homeowner. Some interesting cross-country differences are observed. Our findings provide evidence in favor of use of subjective indicators of satisfaction with certain life domains in the analysis of individuals’ economic conduct.

El impacto diferencial del capital social sobre la salud mental de la población autóctona y los inmigrantes residentes en Cataluña

OBJECTIVES This study attempts to create a bridge between the literature on immigration and on social capital and health. The objectives were two-fold: firstly, to provide new empirical evidence on the association between social capital and health, using data from Catalonia for the first time and, secondly, to explore the possible existence of a differential impact of social capital on health between native-born residents and immigrants. We also distinguished between individual and community-level social capital. METHODS We used the 2006 Catalan Health Survey (ESCA 2006). To assess the relationship between social capital and mental health, we used multilevel models, estimated separately for native-born and immigrant residents. RESULTS The results revealed a positive link between social capital and good mental health in Catalonia. However, this effect was stronger for individual than for community-level social capital. The results did not support the hypothesis of a differential impact between immigrants and native-born Catalans, but did indicate differences with respect to Spaniards born outside Catalonia. Geographic heterogeneity in the effect of individual social capital on mental health in both immigrants and native-born residents was also detected. CONCLUSIONS We believe that enhancing social capital could potentially be an effective policy tool to achieve objectives related to health status improvement.

Mètodes d'aprenentatge actiu en grups grans d'estudiants repetidors

//Abstract INTRODUCTION. Students who are required to repeat a subject at university are often not only low achieving, but also unmotivated and lacking in self-confidence. METHOD. In this study, we evaluate the effect of implementing a combination of three innovative techniques (flipped classroom, team-based learning and frequent testing) in groups of students who are repeating a subject. We assess the impact of the new teaching strategy on the final course grade through econometric analysis. Our sample consists of more than a thousand students who were repeating a subject in the Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration or Economics of the University of Barcelona. RESULTS. We find that students benefit from guided autonomous study, continuous feedback and teamwork. The benefits are reflected primarily in higher final grades and an increase in the number of students who sat the final exam. The results hold up even after controlling for age, gender and average overall grade. DISCUSSION. Although the study was carried out with groups of students who were repeating a subject in economic theory, their success suggests that the new teaching approach could be successfully applied to other subject areas and among groups of students who are taking a subject for the first time.

L'aula invertida i l'aprenentatge en equip: dues metodologies per estimular l'alumnat repetidor

Este articulo propone el uso del aula invertida y el aprendizaje en equipo para mejorar las actitudes de aprendizaje del estudiante en los Grupos de Intensificacion de Estudio (GIE). Los GIE estan disenados para aquel estudiante que repite una asignatura en alguno de los grados impartidos en la Facultad de Economia y Empresa de la Universitat de Barcelona. Hemos implementado ambas metodologias en tres GIE impartidos por la seccion de Teoria Economica del Departamento de Economia de la Universitat de Barcelona. Los resultados obtenidos en los anos academicos 2013-2014 y 2014-15 revelan mejoras significativas en el rendimiento de los estudiantes que siguieron estas metodologias.

Retaking a course in economics: Innovative teaching strategies to improve academic performance in groups of low-performing students

Abstract Students who have to retake courses at university are often not only low achieving, but also unmotivated and lacking in self-confidence. In this study, we present the first report of a teaching strategy based on the implementation of the flipped classroom model, team-based learning, and frequent testing strategies in groups of students retaking a subject. A sample of seven groups of an average of 68 students followed the new teaching approach. The groups are distributed across four subjects and three semesters. By comparing the average performance across groups that apply different teaching strategies – traditional versus innovative – we find a significant increase in the academic performance of the students following the new approach.