José María Serrano Martínez

Functional and organic eggs as an alternative to conventional production: a conjoint analysis of consumers' preferences.

BACKGROUNDnIn the current context of growing consumer demand for foodstuffs that are healthy and safe and that are obtained in a manner respectful to the welfare of animals, the analysis of consumer preferences towards attributes of this type takes on particular importance. These trends are especially clear in the case of the consumption of eggs because of their strong negative association with cholesterol levels and their extremely intensive systems of production. The introduction of variants that are more in harmony with current consumer demands represents an interesting market alternative.nnnRESULTSnThe present study was aimed at investigating the preferences of Spanish consumers for these alternative types of egg that are entering the market. The survey was conducted with 361 consumers from October 2007 to March 2008. The conjoint analysis allowed us to estimate the relative importance of the main attributes that affect consumer preferences for eggs and to distinguish segments of consumers with similar preference profiles.nnnCONCLUSIONnIt was found that price is the most important attribute determining consumer preferences, followed by the hens feed and their rearing conditions. It was also found that only some groups of consumers are willing to pay the premium necessary for alternative methods of production.

Crecimiento y consolidación de las principales aglomeraciones urbanas españolas

Spain is a very urbanized country, near to 80%. The biggest urban areas (with a population surrounding or with more than half million of inhabitants) they are 17; in them it resides almost half of the whole Spanish population. Its confi guration along the second half of the XX century has continued temporary periods of constant increment, but with varied intensities. During the last years the rhythm of its population’s increase is strong; between 2001 and 2006, 9,30% has grown. These processes of the population’s increase, their causes and consequences are analyzed. Next to that demographic increment it is also studied the deep internal structural changes that are taking place in them. Their territorial distribution constitutes an important network to understand the operation of the Spanish urban system. They are contributed, at the same time, some fi nal considerations about the

Las grandes superficies comerciales en España (hipermercados): estudio de una realidad cambiante

Solo poco mas de veinte anos han transcurrido desde la instalacion del primer hipermercado en Espana a la situacion presente, donde se dispone de una red de mas de 300. Ello ha contribuido a acelerar la profunda transformacion en todo el sector de la distribucion comercial. Aqui se estudian solo los hipermercados de mayor dimension. Se intenta indagar sobre el modelo espacial de difusion seguido; analizando, en consecuencia, la red de centros existente. Tambien se aborda el estudio de las principales cadenas comerciales que predominan en el sector, haciendo especial referencia a sus estrategias espaciales de localizacion.

Estados Unidos de América: un siglo de cambios en la distribución espacial de su población. Datos y consideraciones

Perhaps it is not easy to find another country in the World which has undergone such spatial mobility of population. Its own historic origins might have been the main reason for this peculiar organization and dynamics of territorial evolution. In any case, the process of its huge population redistribution is not complete at the moment. Some reflectins about this process are dealt with in the present article. The main tendencies followed during the last few decades are highlighted, as well as the most noticeable regional changes that have taken place. Besides, together with the analysis of facts, it is an absolute priority to find out the reasons for those changes. May be this allows us to either foresee the future or at least to guess the immediate beaviours.

Bienes de rango elevado en el comercio al por menor; lugares centrales equipados en la región de Murcia.

En el estudio más amplio por nosotros elaborado1, uno de los aspectos que estudiábamos era el comercio en general dentro del equipamiento funcional y terciario de los Lugares Centrales (en adelante L.C.). No es necesario insistir en la gran importancia que posee el comercio dentro del conjunto de los servicios2 : se trata de una realidad tan presente que no merece la pena insistir sobre ello. Las ciudades tradicionalmente han venido desempeñando un papel de centros de mercado, sea como lugares de intercambio3 o ya en la actualidad, dentro de sociedades consumistas, como centros suministradores de bienes al que se desplazan los vecinos de

La industria de refino del petróleo en Cartagena (España), 1950-2015

En este articulo se analiza la evolucion de la produccion de la refineria de petroleo de Cartagena, la primera que se instala en la Espana Peninsular. Inaugurada en 1950, desde entonces ha sido un referente en la produccion nacional de destilados del petroleo. Se detallan las decisiones politicas que llevaron a su implantacion y desarrollo durante decadas. Tambien se analizan las razones y consecuencias de su reciente modernizacion y ampliacion. Se ha realizado una inversion superior a 3.000 millones de euros motivada por: su localizacion estrategica junto a uno de los mejores puertos del Mediterraneo para el trasiego de petroleo y sus derivados; su conexion con la refineria interior de Puertollano a traves de un doble oleoducto; la disponibilidad de abundante suelo para las nuevas instalaciones, proximo y de titularidad propia; y la necesidad de obtener gasoleos y querosenos, productos de los que Espana era deficitaria.

EL MODELO TERRITORIAL DE LA ESPAÑA AUTONÓMICA. RECAPITULACIÓN Y PERSPECTIVAS

The population’s irregular distribution in the Spanish regions continues increasing. The population has continued concentrating on the coastal regions and the Balearic islands and Canarys, besides Madrid, urban region, with a strong dynamism. In front of it the great space interior maintains its low densities. The group of the Spanish economy has grown with force. He has not made it same in all the regions, but rather it has allowed a slight tendency toward the regional convergence, in spite of the strongs regional differences. But, they are still numerous the regions that have a half level of inferior wealth to the average of the European Union. The autonomous decentralization has been quick and deep. It has been reached a situation similar to that of the Federal States. Face to the future a dual dynamics is observed: in front of that centrifugal political ideology, every time the eco

La red de aglomeraciones urbanas en España cuando finaliza el siglo XX

Along the twentieth century the Spanish urban growth has been highly strong, specially during the decades between 1960 and 1981. Rather than a global increase of the population distributed in many urban centres it is a process of accumulation of population concentrated in a few entities standing out in this sense the capitals of province. But, besides the growth of the population of the urban municipilaties, urban agglomeration have been formed around a great part ot them, which have been made into the main centres of the Spanish urban network. It is also analysed the hierarchy of the networtk, its dimension and morphology, as well as its different organisation in every Spanish region. The aim is to explain how from these urban systems the Spanish territory is organised.