Jens Fyhn Lykke Sørensen

Rural–Urban Differences in Life Satisfaction: Evidence from the European Union

Sørensen J. F. L. Rural–urban differences in life satisfaction: evidence from the European Union, Regional Studies. This paper uses data from the European Values Study 2008 to investigate rural–urban differences in life satisfaction across the European Union. Rural dwellers were found to have a significantly higher life satisfaction than city dwellers when holding socio-economic factors constant. This is systematically observed across three European Union country clusters defined by their level of affluence (gross domestic product (GDP)). With this background, the latter part of the paper explores the factors behind the higher life satisfaction in rural areas, focusing on differences in levels of insecurity, frames of comparison and levels of social interaction.

The socioeconomic power of social capital: A double test of Putnam's civic society argument

Purpose – According to Putnam, civic engagement fosters a cooperative structure and generalized trust. This leads to accumulation of social capital, in the form of inclusive, cooperative networks that are economically productive. The aim of this paper is to evaluate critically this thesis.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing upon data from rural Denmark, this paper double tests Putnams somewhat simplistic model of social capital leading to higher levels of economic performance.Findings – In test one, which is based on statistical data, it is found that social capital measured as the density of voluntary associations does not in any way influence levels of economic performance. Test two, based on qualitative fieldwork, points at the socioeconomic power of social capital, implying many positive and negative outcomes other than the sheer economic.Research limitations/implications – Data are only from Denmark.Practical implications – This paper reframes the social capital research agenda, displaying to poli...

Self-reported injuries among seafarers Questionnaire validity and results from an international study

International surveys of occupational injuries among seafarers have so far been missing. It was the aim to test the method of self-report of injuries and length of time at risk during the latest duty period and second to study the injury incidence rate among seafarers by use of the method. A pilot study was conducted (n = 1068) in Finland, Denmark, the Philippines, Croatia and Spain using self-completed questionnaires with questions about the person, the ship, the duration of latest duty period and injuries. The duration of the self-reporting duty period was in the Danish part compared with information from the crew register of the Maritime Authority. For seafarers from merchant ships in the Danish sub-study there was acceptable correspondence between the information from the seafarers and the Maritime Authority, but not when referring to ferries and non-specified types of ship. Unadjusted and adjusted injury incidence rates-ratios (IRRs) based on number of injuries per number of work hours were calculated. Adjusted IRRs for ordinary seamen/officers: IRR = 2.43 (95% CI: 1.25-4.72); for age < 35/35+ years: IRR = 1.97 (1.02-3.81); length of tour: 117 days or longer compared with < 117 days: IRR = 0.46 (95% CI: 0.22-0.95); 57-70 working hours per week compared with < 57 h: IRR = 1.26 (0.48-3.29), 71+h compared with < 57 h: IRR = 2.12 (0.84-5.36). Non-significant IRRs >1.00 were found for ships under 10,000 GT compared with larger ships and for own flagged ships compared with ships under flag of convenience. In conclusion, more than 70 h of work per week was related to a higher rate of injuries for seafarers on merchant ships, but the result was not statistically significant. Self-report of the duration of the latest tour of duty is useful for seafarers from merchant ships with short-term employments, but not for ferries and other, non-specified types of ship with other or permanent employment.

Rural–Urban Differences in Bonding and Bridging Social Capital

Sørensen J. F. L. Rural–urban differences in bonding and bridging social capital, Regional Studies. It is a common sentiment that rural areas are richer in social capital than urban areas. This hypothesis is tested here by drawing on data from a Danish survey (2011/2012) and by using the distinction between bonding and bridging social capital. Bonding social capital was found to be significantly higher in rural areas, whereas bridging social capital was found to be marginally higher in urban areas. The evidence thus partly refutes the hypothesis of higher social capital in rural areas. Among other results, the evidence suggests a degree of trade-off between the two forms of social capital.

Attitudes toward Telehealth Use among Rural Residents: A Danish Survey.

CONTEXT Rural communities tend to be underserved by medical services. Low access to medical services affects quality of life and may also affect settlement decisions. The use of telehealth has often been mentioned as an alternative way to provide health care services in remote, underserved areas. One prerequisite for successful delivery of health care by means of telehealth is the existence of positive attitudes toward telehealth solutions among the potential end beneficiaries. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes toward telehealth use among residents in a Danish rural area. METHOD A representative sample from the island of AErø (n = 1,000) was selected and attitudes toward 2 telehealth applications were examined by structured telephone interviews regarding: (1) video consultation between patient and specialist, and (2) transfer of work tasks from local hospital to a hospital outside Denmark. FINDINGS As many as 58% did not like the idea of having a consultation with a specialist carried out by video consultation, whereas 26% did not like the idea of having their X-rays assessed by a hospital outside Denmark. The reluctance regarding both telehealth solutions was higher among older people and people with no education beyond primary school. CONCLUSIONS As the rural population in Denmark, as well as in other countries, tends to be older and less educated than the national average, the introduction of telehealth services faces special challenges in rural areas.

Intravascular stenting in microvascular anastomoses.

BACKGROUND The effect of intravascular stenting (IVaS) on microvascular anastomoses has given adverse results. For experienced microsurgeons the benefit of IVaS is doubtful. We have investigated the potential benefit of the IVaS technique for two groups of inexperienced microsurgeons with different surgical levels of experience (medical students and young residents). Experienced microsurgeons acted as a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS In an experimental crossover study, 139 microsurgical anastomoses were performed on the femoral artery in 70 rats by 10 surgeons. On one side of the rat, the IVaS technique was used. A small piece of 5-0 nylon monofilament was placed in the vessel lumen, acting as a temporary stent during microvascular anastomosis. A conventional technique without the stent was performed on the other side. Patency rates of the vessels in each group were compared as well as the time spent on the anastomosis. RESULTS No significant difference in patency rates was seen between the stenting and conventional technique in all three groups. The experienced microsurgeons had 100% patency rate with both techniques. The medical students had 20/28 in the IVaS and 19/28 conventional group and the patency rates for the residents were 23/27 using IVaS and 23/28 using the conventional technique. The residents were faster using the IVaS whereas the students and experienced microsurgeons were faster without the stent. CONCLUSION The IVaS technique did not seem to benefit either the inexperienced or experienced microsurgeons regardless of their clinical experience. The study also shows that some surgical experience seems to be an advantage in performing microsurgery.

The importance of destination attractiveness and entrepreneurial orientation in explaining firm performance in the Sardinian accommodation sector

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of successful business performance among accommodation firms by focusing on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and destination attractiveness. Design/methodology/approach A web-based e-mail survey was undertaken in the Sardinian accommodation sector in 2012. The sample included 224 accommodation firms and analyses were performed using ordered logit regressions. Findings The results suggest no differential impact of EO on sales and profit depending on the attractiveness of the location in which the accommodation firm operates. Both EO and destination attractiveness were found to exert independent positive effects on firm performance. Furthermore, EO was found to have a larger effect on firm performance than destination attractiveness. Research limitations/implications The study mainly considered hotels and camping accommodations in Sardinia. Additional investigations across accommodation types and geographic contexts are needed. Practical implications The findings suggest that accommodation firms should focus on implementing entrepreneurial activities and not only, as frequently happens, concentrate on selecting attractive destinations in which to conduct their business. Moreover, the findings also suggest that accommodation firms that are located in less attractive areas may produce good performance if they are managed with an EO. Finally, training programs should be developed to improve the entrepreneurial abilities of accommodation managers. Originality/value The specific topics of this paper have been understudied. The findings hold practical implications for entrepreneurs and managers who are involved in the accommodation sector.

Predicting the gross domestic product (GDP) of 289 NUTS regions in Europe with subjective indicators for human and social capital

Most of the aggregate-level analyses of the relationship between objective and subjective measures for well-being have limited themselves to the measures of national gross domestic product (GDP) and mean life satisfaction. We develop this line of research by embedding the analysis into the context of 289 NUTS (Nomenclature des Unités Territoriales Statistiques) regions in Europe and replacing the simple life satisfaction measure with measures of active human functioning. We suggest that the measures of personal and social well-being, as they are operationalized in the 6th Round of the European Social Survey (ESS) questionnaire, can be treated as subjective indicators for social and human capital and, thereby, can be associated with the regional level GDP in cross-sectional analysis. The empirical analysis shows that the indicator for ‘social trust’ appears to have a positive and significant correlation with regional GDP. The analysis also distinguishes another form of social capital; ‘social contact and support’, reflecting the relative frequency and quantity of social support, which also shows a positive relationship with regional GDP. Concerning subjective human capital, the strongest predictor for regional GDP appears to be the aggregated sense of ‘competence and meaning’ in the regions. These effects proved robust after including the objective control variables (population density, intramural research and development (R&D) expenditure, share of tertiary-educated population and employment).