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INTRODUCTION The aim of this study is to identify profiles of never smokers, ex-smokers, occasional smokers, and daily smokers, through their individual, lifestyle, and health characteristics. This analysis allows provides profiles of individuals with a greater or less propensity to use tobacco, which contributes to the design of effective prevention policies. METHODS Econometric models are used with data from the Spanish National Health Survey. Specifically, a multinomial logit model is estimated to evaluate the probabilities of tobacco use. Additionally, discrete changes, odds ratios, and predicted probabilities for prone individuals, are calculated. RESULTS Differences are found between the profiles of each alternative of tobacco use. The individual attributes with the most striking effect are being aged 26-45 years, which reduces the probability of being a non-smoker by 21 percentage points compared to the younger group, and regular exposure to secondhand smoke, which is 30% more likely to be a regular smoker. The characteristics that define an individual with higher probability of smoking daily are: belonging to a certain region of Spain, male, aged 26-45 years, born in Spain, unemployed, with primary studies, separated, no physical activity, consumes alcohol, and is exposed to smoke regularly, not chronically ill, and have very poor health. CONCLUSIONS Identification of the profiles most likely to choose each of the tobacco consumption alternatives can contribute to the design of more effective prevention strategies. The results confirm that the accumulation of bad habits results in a high risk of smoking. The quantification of the differences in the effects of each trait is an interesting contribution that is useful to orient the policies to specific segments of the population more prone to consume tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In transport economics, modeling modal choice is a fundamental key for policy makers trying to improve the sustainability of transportation systems. However, existing empirical literature has focused on short-distance travel within urban systems. This paper contributes to the limited number of investigations on mode choice in medium- and long-distance travel. The main objective of this research is to study the impacts of socio-demographic and economic variables, land-use features and trip attributes on long-distance travel mode choice. Using data from 2007 Spanish National Mobility Survey we apply a multilevel multinomial logit model that accounts for the potential problem of spatial heterogeneity in order to explain long-distance travel mode choice. This approach permits us to compute how the probability of choosing among private car, bus and train varies depending on the traveler spatial location at regional level. Results indicate that travelers characteristics, trip features, cost of usage of transport modes and geographical variables have significant impacts on long-distance mode choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze household decisions regarding the childcare of young children. We present two specifications. The first one assumes a sequential decision process. Firstly, parents choose between paid or unpaid care and, secondly, those who opt for paid childcare must decide whether to take their children to a nursery or pre-school or employ somebody to care for them. The second specification is a multinomial Logit in which it is assumed that parents choose from three alternatives: unpaid care, paid care by a nanny, and center-based care. We apply our models to a sample of working mothers with children under three. The database used is the 2008-2010 Spanish Survey of Quality of Working Life ( Encuesta de Calidad de Vida en el Trabajo). The results are in line with previous work: Parental education, family composition, income and the characteristics of the mother's job are important factors in determining the type of childcare chosen for under-three-year-olds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the detrimental health effects of tobacco, there has been scant research into determining comprehensive profiles to characterize individuals with a higher risk of smoking. This paper identifies such profiles and probabilistically quantifies the effects of certain traits on the decision to smoke in the Canary Islands. This characterization is approached from a broad and novel point of view for the region studied, given that the analysis not only studies sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and health, but also incorporates mental health. The results show that suffering from some type of psychopathology leads to a higher probability of tobacco consumption. Moreover, just as the promotion of a healthy lifestyle has a direct impact on tobacco consumption, the implementation of public policies that reduce the risks of suffering from a mental illness could also reduce the prevalence of smoking in the region and contribute to the design of more effective prevention strategies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Nieto-González, Rodríguez-Donate and Guirao-Pérez.)

• Introduction: Understanding diameter growth of the Mediterranean pine species is fundamental for evaluating and making appropriate strategic decisions in forest management. A matrix diameter growth model for two Mediterranean pine forest ecosystems in Spain has been developed. • Methods: Multinomial logistic (MNL) regression was employed to estimate the transition probabilities of a matrix growth model. The model combines individual tree and stand attributes and explores the effects of independent variables and their relationships with tree size and the probabilities of stand diameter growth. The aim was to predict growth of individual trees by diameter class for a 5-year period. • Results: MNL model results for diameter growth gave better predictions for Maritime pine ( Pinus pinaster Aiton) than for Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.). Stand simulations showed that diameter growth probabilities depended on productivity and stand density. Stand simulations under fixed conditions showed that the probabilities of diameter growth increased as site productivity increased and decreased with increased stand density index. • Conclusions: This study demonstrates the usefulness of matrix growth models as tools to predict growth in Mediterranean pine forests. Stand density and site productivity are key factors in explaining Scots pine and Maritime pine forest growth in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although the appeal of rural houses for tourists lies mainly in the natural surroundings and their intrinsic rural characteristics, there are other factors which are also important such as their size, type of building, quality of equipment, services and activities offered. To evaluate the tourists'' preferences for these potential or effective attributes, a stated preference experiment was conducted in the Northwest area of the Region of Murcia and the data are analysed using discrete choice modelling methodology. Consistent specifications for multinomial logit and mixed logit models that consider variations in tastes within tourists'' preferences are found. The results could be of use to promoters and owners of rural houses when planning marketing and promotional campaigns or when taking effective investment decisions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we examined the determinants of child care choices among families with young children in Spain, by means of a conceptual framework that encompassed need, costs, and availability. Based on data from the Spanish Time Use Survey and Household Budget Survey, our study indicated that, regardless of model specification, the age of the child, the mother’s labor force decisions, and the prices of child care services available were the most important factors that mothers considered when they chose a type of child care. Day care center services substituted for babysitters when the price of babysitters rose; and relative and parent care substituted for day care centers when these services became more expensive. We found no different sensitivity to price changes for working and non-working mothers. From a public policy perspective, child care price subsidies were found to have much stronger effects on child care decisions than child allowances or public provision of school slots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most industrialized countries have seen part-time employment as a percentage of total employment increasing in the last decade. This paper presents the results of a comparative study of part-time employment in Spain and the Netherlands. The project comprises a legal comparative study of the effectiveness of the normative solutions provided by the Dutch and Spanish legal orders regarding the protection of part-time workers and the promotion of part-time employment, with special attention paid to the gender dimension of part-time work in both countries; and an analysis, based on data extracted from the European Community Household Panel (1995–2001), of the determinants of part-time employment in both countries and an examination of the extent to which part-time jobs are used as stepping-stones to full-time positions. We have found significant country differences regarding females’ decisions to take part-time jobs. We also have found that, in general, Dutch females are not less likely than their male counterparts to increase the number of hours they work. However, this applies only to those females who are part of a couple or have children younger than 12 years. In Spain, females are 2.6 times less likely than their male counterparts to switch from a part-time to a full-time job. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Spain as in other European countries, policies on school choice have been implemented in tandem with the channelling of public resources into private education. Given the application of public money to private schooling, the primary objective of this paper is to analyse the extent to which Spanish families enjoy equality in their ability to exercise school choice. To do so, the analysis focuses on the factors that affect school choice in Spain using data from the 2003 and 2006 PISA evaluations. Specifically, the influence of personal, family, geographic, motivational and educational policy factors are all considered in the context of deciding whether to attend a public or private school. The results reveal a broad similarity across the factors driving the selection of private schools which either receive some public funding (known as 'concerted') or independent, showing a greater proportion of families from better socioeconomic, educational and cultural backgrounds in these types of schools. In addition, the geographic distribution of schools has an effect on school selection. Given that concerted schools form part of the public educational offering (because of the state funding they receive), the state has the ability to take a wide range of actions to promote greater equality of choice in the case of public and concerted schools. In this respect, a series of measures are set out regarding student selection, the distribution of information and the geographic distribution of schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Organically produced foods have shown remarkable industry growth. Even with strict adherence to the production practices and increasing availability, the majority of consumers are still not aware of organically produced alternatives. Awareness of organics does not necessarily translate into actual consumption. Achieving awareness and understanding the linkage between awareness and purchasing organics is fundamental to impacting the demand for organically grown products. This study focuses on the responses of Spanish consumers regarding their state of knowledge about organic foods products. Consumer demographic characteristics, knowledge of enriched foods, and price perceptions are shown to impact awareness and consumption. Multinomial logit models are used to predict probabilities of awareness. Then probit models are estimated to link awareness and the actual consumption of organic foods. Factors impacting both awareness and consumption are explored using simulation methods and the coefficients from the logit and probit models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Rural tourism is a very recent but rapidly growing activity in some regions of South-East Spain, an area traditionally associated with seaside tourism. The aim of this paper is to obtain a better understanding of the demand for this kind of tourism through a market segmentation analysis. Five segments of tourists who sought different benefits in their holiday in rural establishments have been identified. Four of these placed importance on nature, environment and peacefulness, although only two were attracted by activities (“outdoor and cultural” for one group and “typical of rural life” for the other). The remaining segment, the smallest, comprised individuals whose only motivation was spending time with friends. A multinomial logit model is employed to profile these segments according to socioeconomic and travel-related features, although any of these characteristics may clearly distinguish the last segment mentioned from the others. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Does having more firms around exporting to a particular destination improve the chances of exporting to that destination (e.g. through information spillovers)? We answer this question implementing a multinomial logit model of whether a firm exports to a particular country. To identify the source of information spillovers, we construct indicators of geographical concentration of exporters selling to a specific destination: within industry, multinationals and across industries. In our application with data for Spanish new small sized firms, only within-industry agglomeration of exporting domestic firms significantly affects the probability of small sized firms exporting to the same destination. The significance of localisation economies is robust to a barrage of controls including destination specific characteristics, gravitational factors (distance and level of development), firm heterogeneity (size) and regional differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]