Abstract:

In light of the current depletion of extractive marine resources and the sustainability issues that have arisen in the aquaculture industry, the small-scale aquaculture sector has emerged as a viable and sustainable alternative for generating income. To integrate the small-scale aquaculture sector into the food value chain, understanding the decision-making process to innovate becomes essential. This paper explores the factors underlying both innovation choices and intensity among small-scale aquaculture producers by utilizing exclusive census data from the small-scale aquaculture sector in Chile. The results indicate that education, secure property rights, internet access, participation in organizations, commercialization methods, government instruments, understanding of credit, and social learning promote innovation decisions. We also find that largest producers innovate in more areas, suggesting a role of size for both technological and non-technological innovations.

Abstract:

This study was focused on the preferences and habits of a non-traditional country for olive oil consumption, the Chilean market; a descriptive approach was used to meet two objectives: i) to determine the frequency of purchase, olive oil consumption habits and preferences of consumers in the Chilean market, and ii) to determine to what extent some socio-demographic variables explain the frequency of purchase of the product. Experimental data were used, which were obtained from a face-to-face survey applied to a representative sample of 300 subjects stratified by sex, age, and residential district in the city of Chillán (Province of Ñuble). Results showed that this product is not fully incorporated in the eating habits of the population because it is used rather sporadically and for some specific preparations. As in other non-traditional markets, this product is associated with people from a medium to high socioeconomic status. It is necessary for companies to conduct consumer education campaigns as well as increased product promotion to boost the consumption of this product.

Keywords: Olive oil,  onsumption, Chile

Abstract:

Absenteism can generate important economic costs. Aim: To analyze the determinants of the time off work for sick leaves granted to workers of a regional health service. Material and Methods: Information about 2033 individuals, working at a health service, that were granted at least one sick leave during 2012, was analyzed. Personal identification was censored. Special emphasis was given to the type of health insurance system of the workers (public or private). Results: Workers ascribed to the Chilean public health insurance system (FONASA) had 11 days more off work than their counterparts ascribed to private health insurance systems. A higher amount of time off work was observed among older subjects and women. Conclusions: Age, gender and the type of health insurance system influence the number of day off work due to sick leaves.

Key words: Health care services; Licensure; Social security; Survival analysis.

Abstract:

Innovations are divided into four types: product, process, marketing and organizational (OECD, 2007). An extensive body of literature on the introduction of technological innovations in Chilean agricultural firms focuses on PP (product and process), but it is very limited with respect to groups of firms and non-technological innovations (MO, marketing and organization). The main objective of this article is to estimate the decision to innovate and the propensity to innovate in non-technological domains in Chilean agricultural firms. A zero-inflated count model is used to estimate, in a combined fashion, both innovation decisions and the propensity to innovate. Two versions of the Encuesta Nacional de Innovación (National Innovation Survey) were merged (2010 and 2012), and 403 agricultural firms were identified. Among the main results, the number of employees and the level of imports are found to positively impact the propensity to innovate in MO. Variables such as cooperation and networking with customers and suppliers are found to help push Chilean agricultural firms into innovative activity.

Abstract: