Suchergebnisse

This cumulative PhD thesis explores the potential of a more contextual approach for energy policies targeted at private households. The five chapters of the thesis consist of an introduction, which motivates the thesis and gives a brief summary of the chapters with a joint conclusion, three paper-based chapters intended for publication, and a methodological chapter for an extension of the existing sampleSelection package in the statistics programme R. The thesis mainly contributes to the energy policy and economics literature, but it is also relevant to related disciplines, such as other social sciences, engineering, and psychology. Energy savings in private households play an important role in achieving reduction targets for the European Union and its member states, as the residential sector constitutes about 25 percent of total final energy consumption. As only 1 percent is added to the building stock in new housing per year in the EU, the majority of savings must be realized through retrofitting and changes in consumption habits. Evidence from policy programs in the last couple of decades has been mixed and it appears that households are harder to reach than previously thought. This has led to the perception that there is an Energy Efficiency Gap, describing a situation in which households are not aware of the financial savings they could achieve by investing in more energy efficient technologies. However, more recent evidence indicates that the financial potentials at the household level may have been overstated. While there is still no consensus on whether there is an Energy Efficiency Gap, a pragmatic way forward suggests a more contextual approach that pays closer attention to barriers and promoters of energy efficiency in private homes. Against this background, the thesis applies different methodologies to investigate the role of context in energy policies targeted at private households: a meta-analysis drawing on existing evidence in the literature, an ex-post policy analysis based on data from an energy audit programme in Southern Denmark, and a novel experimental economic framework. The first analysis provides indicative evidence that income, age, and education positively influence a household's propensity to invest, while household size has a negative effect. However, these findings are only partly significant due to a limited base of comparable evidence, highlighting a need for compatibility in empirical studies, and more repetition studies. The second analysis shows that changes in certain life situations increase the propensity for households to have an audit and make energy investments; specifically we find that moving and retiring make households more likely to join a free energy audit programme, while getting married and moving correlates with higher investments. This indicates opportunities to develop more efficient policy programmes that depend on a household response, by reaching out to households at a time when they are more likely to be encouraged. The final analysis investigates potential spillover effects induced by behavioural policy interventions, i.e. when an intervention aimed at one behaviour may also affect another behaviour positively or negatively. In an economic experiment we find evidence for a positive spillover induced by a social norms based intervention, but the primary contribution of this part of the thesis is the novel experimental framework developed for the purpose of a systematic analysis of spillovers. Overall, the results of this thesis indicate that a more contextual policy approach holds promise to encourage energy efficiency improvements and savings by incorporating the context in which decisions are made, be it the socio-economic circumstances, changes in life situation, or the decision environment. Although the insights generated by the thesis are also relevant for policy design, its main contributions are to future policy research, as it highlights the need for energy policy research to be put on a more robust and evidence-based foundation, mainly through increased application of experimental methods.

The dissertation is an approach to cover different views on risks and specifically on nuclear risk perception. The dissertation aims to contribute theoretical foundations as well as empirical evidence on the questions of how to perceive and to govern global risks, such as nuclear technology. Technological risks, we face today, can be seen as products of the era of modernity. We created them, seeing them as chance and controllable. Major nuclear accidents repeatedly provide evidence that the assumption of controllability is too strong. A paradigm shift is needed in scientific reasoning. In the beginning of this work an approach is developed to define risks as a semi-normative concept of individual judgement as well as objective foundation. The dissertation emphasizes that individual's risk perception can in its extremes be solely based on feelings, on the one hand, or on pure objective information, on the other. This can create tension in societies if expert's risk evaluation does not match individualistic judgements of risks. As a result, social protests on local level happen, broader civil society movements are formed or new political parties, such as the Green party in Germany are established. On the individual level, empirical studies indicate that risk perception is clustered within societies. Women, for example, systematically evaluate the use of nuclear energy as more dangerous as man. To provide empirical evidence, this work contains three empirical chapter using data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). All three chapters are interested in the question of how dangerous individuals perceive nuclear energy. Furthermore all studies are linked to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in March 2011. The first study examines individual nuclear risk perception in the U.S., Great Britain, France, Germany, and Japan, before the accident. The second study uses data of country samples that contain observations before and after the accident to show how the event has an immediate effect on risk perception in societies. A third chapter using observations after the accident compares nuclear risk perception with individual's environmental concern. The studies show how social factors, such as gender, education, social status or values shape our concerns and our view of nuclear risk. It becomes also clear that a major nuclear accident is affecting more risk averse groups, such as educated men, stronger than already concerned people creating higher levels of risk perception. A main driver of risk perception is a loss of trust in governments and its controlling agencies. The questions that remain are the question of how to govern risks and how to avoid creating risks that are perceived as very dangerous for future generations. Unanswered remains in this dissertation the question of how to design institutions that are able to pass on the knowledge of risks, such as nuclear technology, from one generation to its next generation. In order to avoid the creation of too dangerous risks for future generations, this work is advocating an adaptive and integrative risk-management model opposed to a command-and-control management model to control for social ignorance and to avoid an accumulation of risks. Nuclear technology is an example of how new risks have created new dilemma and questions we face in societies and across countries as well as across generations. Nuclear technology forces humanity also to overcome common levels of ignorance and not knowing, for example by using a different language and worldview, incorporating more information into risk assessments. It also forces all actors to create institutions and citizen's trust into its institutions that are able create control mechanisms to avoid the harm to human beings or a catastrophe, by a series of nuclear accidents or a nuclear war. The sound of risk is teaching us how we need to change. Change is an art.

Context: Empirical evidence shows that vehicle ownership has increased exponentially in the last fifteen years in the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara, amounting more than two million vehicles. Moreover, a high percentage of these vehicles is very old and lack air-pollution control systems such as catalytic converters. The goal of this paper is to meditate about motorized transport in the second largest city in Mexico.Method: A descriptive analytical method was used to review data and information from governmental and non-governmental sources. Air contaminants are related to car ownership increment, county multi-modal transport distribution, registered vehicles, and the amount of vehicles that have been verified and certified by the government air quality program. From a systems theory point of view, current scenarios are analyzed and inferences are made. As a result, there are balancing and unbalancing forces that affect the homeostasis of this metropolitan area.Results: Air-quality regulations have failed to echo among their citizens that neglect to tune up and verify emissions from their vehicles. Therefore, government officials and the society itself must reconsider their efforts and renew air quality policies based on low emissions, safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation to avoid air quality contingencies. In addition, data clearly suggests that land and urbanistic planning has not followed a systemic approach.Conclusions: Guadalajara metropolitan area clearly shows a lack of a systemic methodology in planning its urbanistic and land development. Hence, a perverse synergy of hostile conditions have emerged within its territory and internal combustion vehicles are the most important destabilizing force in the homeostasis of the city increasing entropy. The presence of this entropy is forcing the inhabitants in Guadalajara to migrate to a multi-modal sustainable transportation system, and start a systematic car substitution program that ensures zero or very low vehicle emissions. ; Contexto: la evidencia empírica demuestra que, en los últimos tres lustros del presente siglo, el parque vehicular se ha incrementado en más de dos millones de unidades en el área metropolitana de Guadalajara. Dentro de este incremento alarmante, muchos de los vehículos no poseen convertidores catalíticos y a pesar de ello circulan cotidianamente por las vías primarias y secundarias de la metrópoli. De ahí el objetivo del presente trabajo consistente en reflexionar sobre la movilidad motorizada que se vive actualmente en la segunda urbe más importante de México.Método: se utiliza un método analítico descriptivo basado en la revisión documental de contenidos temáticos sobre el porcentaje de contaminantes que aporta cada municipio que compone la metrópoli de Guadalajara, con respecto al incremento del parque vehicular, calidad del aire, cantidad de vehículos registrados y cantidad de vehículos verificados. Con base en el enfoque sistémico, se hacen inferencias del escenario actual de la ciudad bajo el argumento de que ésta se encuentra ante la presencia de fuerzas estabilizadoras y desestabilidazoras de su estado homeostático.Resultados: se obtiene que la política gubernamental en materia de reducción de contaminantes ha tenido poco impacto en la concientización de la población.Por lo tanto, resulta necesario realizar un repensamiento de las acciones gubernamentales y ciudadanas para reducir la probabilidad de precontingencias y contingencias ambientales y promover la cultura de la movilidad incluyente, sustentable y segura. Asimismo, los datos sugieren que existe una ausencia sistémica en la planificación de la ciudad y del territorio.Conclusiones: la ausencia sistémica en la planificación de la ciudad y el territorio ha originado condiciones hostiles manifiestas en el espacio físico. En este espacio, los vehículos privados, y en general los medios motorizados, se han convertido en estas fuerzas que alteran la homeostasis de la ciudad provocando entropía, lo que conlleva al uso de medios de transporte sostenibles y a trabajar colectivamente para la sustitución sistemática del automóvil.

Parathormone plays a key role in controlling mineral metabolism. PTH is considered a uremic toxin causing cardiovascular damage and cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. There are two different assays to measure PTH called 2nd generation or intact PTH (iPTH) and 3rd generation or bioPTH (PTHbio). Objective: To evaluate the differences in mortality of dialysis patients between both assays to measure PTH, as well as the possible prognostic role of the PTHbio/iPTH ratio. Methods: 145 haemodialysis patients were included with 2-year monitoring including baseline laboratory test and annually thereafter. Results: 21 patients died in the first year and 28 in the second. No correlation was found between PTH, PTHbio and PTHbio/iPTH ratio with mortality. Both PTH have a perfect correlation between them and correlate similarly with other molecules of the mineral metabolism. The extreme baseline values of PTH are those of higher mortality. In survival by iPTH intervals (according to guidelines and COSMOS study), a J curve is observed. When iPTH increases, the ratio decreases, possibly when increasing fragments no. 1–84. There is no greater prognostic approximation on mortality with PTHbio than PTHi. There was also no difference in mortality when progression ratio PTHbio/PTHi was analysed. Conclusions: We didn't find any advantages to using bioPTH vs. PTHi as a marker of mortality. BioPTH limits of normality must be reevaluated because its relationship with iPTH is not consistent. Not knowing these limits affects its prognostic value ; La paratohormona tiene un papel fundamental en el control del metabolismo mineral. Además es considerada como una toxina urémica al originar dan˜ o cardiovascular e influir en la mortalidad cardiovascular del paciente en diálisis. Existen dos métodos de medición denominados de 2.a generación o PTH intacta (PTHi) y de 3.a generación o bioPTH (PTHbio). Objetivo: Evaluar las diferencias en la mortalidad del paciente en diálisis entre ambas formas de medición de PTH, así como el posible papel pronóstico de su cociente. Métodos: Se incluyeron 145 pacientes en hemodiálisis con un seguimiento de 2 an˜ os con determinación analítica basal y posteriormente de forma anual. Resultados: Veintiún pacientes fallecieron el primer an˜ o y 28 el segundo. No se encontró correlación entre PTHi, PTHbio y cociente PTHbio/PTHi con la mortalidad. Ambas PTH tienen una buena correlación entre ellas y correlacionan de manera similar con otras moléculas del metabolismo mineral. Los valores basales de PTH extremos son los de mayor mortalidad. En la supervivencia por tramos de PTHi (según guías y estudio COSMOS) se observa una curva en J. A mayor aumento de PTHi el cociente desciende, posiblemente al aumentar los fragmentos no 1-84. No existe una mayor aproximación pronóstica sobre mortalidad con PTHbio que con PTHi. No se observan diferencias en el valor predictivo del cociente sobre la mortalidad. Tampoco hubo diferencias en mortalidad cuando se analiza la progresión del cociente PTHbio/PTHi. Conclusiones: No encontramos ventajas en la utilización de PTHbio sobre la PTHi como marcador de mortalidad. Se deben reevaluar los límites de la PTHbio pues su relación con la PTHi no es constante. El no conocer esos límites condiciona su utilidad pronóstica ; Our thanks to Maribel Villarino for the help with the development of the study. L.R.-O. is a Health Professional on Research Training "Rio Hortega r" (CM13/00131), Ministry of Education, Government of Spain. R.V.B. is a professional with postdoctoral contract "Sara Borrell" (CD14/00198) and a project (SAF2014- 60699-JIN) of the Ministry of Economy (MINECO) and FEDER funds. PI14/00386. PI16/01298. FEDER funds ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN/ RD06/0016, RD12/0021

Die Thermische Nachverbrennung stellt ein Abgasreinigungsverfahren dar, das in vielen Industriebranchen zum Standard gehört. Insbesondere die Regenerative Thermische Oxidation (RTO) ist dabei durch geringe Betriebsmittelkosten gekennzeichnet, da sich einerseits ein autothermer Betrieb schon bei geringen Beladungen an organischen Lösemitteln realisieren lässt und andererseits durch den heißen Bypass Prozesswärme ausgekoppelt werden kann. Untersuchungen und Berechnungen haben gezeigt, dass bei bestimmten verfahrenstechnischen Randbedingungen die Prozesswärmeerzeugung durch eine Heißgasauskopplung effizienter ist als die separate Erzeugung in einem direktbefeuerten Kessel. Diese Erkenntnis lässt Überlegungen lohnenswert erscheinen, verschiedene Verfahrensalternativen zur Integration eines Kreisprozesses mit der Erzeugung elektrischer Energie in den heißen Bypass einer RTO zu diskutieren und hinsichtlich ihrer Effizienz zu bewerten. Der Clausius‐Rankine‐Prozess stellt einen klassischen Dampfkraftprozess dar, bei dem ein System aus Economizer, Verdampfer und Überhitzer in den heißen Bypass integriert werden kann. Der Joule‐Prozess als offener Gasturbinenprozess kann als eine denkbare Alternative verstanden werden. Hier wird die Brennkammer der Gasturbine durch einen Wärmeübertragungsapparat im heißen Bypass ersetzt. Zusammenfassend ergeben sich auf der Basis von Parametervariationen durch Simulationsrechnungen folgende weiterführende Erkenntnisse:  Die erzeugte Menge an elektrischer Energie ist im Dampfkraftprozess erheblich größer als im Gasturbinenprozess. Dafür muss die benötigte Prozesswärme in einem direktbefeuerten Kessel separat bereitgestellt werden. Somit eignet sich diese Verfahrensalternative eher für Produktionen mit einem kleineren bis mittleren Wärmebedarf und hohen spezifischen Kosten für elektrische Energie.  Die Integration einer Gasturbine in den heißen Bypass einer RTO ermöglicht die parallele Erzeugung von elektrischer und thermischer Energie. Hier sind jedoch technische Herausforderungen zur Integration des Wärmeübertragungsapparates zu beachten. Die Betrachtung der einzelnen Szenarien zeigt, dass die organischen Lösemittel einen Wertstoff darstellen, der – sofern es technisch und wirtschaftlich möglich ist – primär zurückgewonnen werden sollte, um im Produktionsprozess erneut eingesetzt zu werden. Durch die Lösemittelrückgewinnung wird der größte Nutzen für die CO2‐Bilanz erzielt. Die Stromerzeugung ist jedoch unter wirtschaftlichen Gesichtspunkten insbesondere dann vorteilhaft, wenn eine große Preisdifferenz zwischen den Bezugspreisen für elektrische Energie und Erdgas gegeben ist. Zugehörige Entwicklungen können sich kurzbis mittelfristig als Folge energiepolitischer Rahmenbedingungen mit Blick auf den Ausbau erneuerbarer Energien ergeben. ; Thermal post‐combustion is an exhaust gas purification process that is standard in many industrial sectors. In particular, the regenerative thermal oxidation (RTO) is characterized by low operating costs because, on the one hand, autothermal operation is possible even at low loads of organic solvents, and process heat can be coupled out on the other hand by the hot bypass. Studies and calculations have shown that, with certain process engineering conditions, the process heat generation by hot gas decoupling is more efficient than the separate production in a direct‐fired boiler. This finding makes it worthwhile to discuss various process alternatives for the integration of a circular process with generation of electrical energy into the hot bypass of an RTO and to evaluate its efficiency. The Clausius‐Rankine process is a classical steam power process consisting of an economizer, an evaporator and a superheater in the hot bypass. The Joule process as an open gas turbine process is a feasible alternative. Here, the combustion chamber of the gas turbine is replaced by a heat exchanger in the hot bypass. In summary, the following findings are obtained on the basis simulation calculations: • The generated amount of electrical energy is considerably greater in the steam power process than in the gas turbine process. For this, the required process heat must be provided separately in a direct‐fired boiler. Thus, this process alternative is more suitable for productions with a smaller to medium heat requirement and high specific costs for electrical energy. • The integration of a gas turbine into the hot bypass of an RTO enables parallel generation of electrical and thermal energy. However, technical challenges for the integration of the heat transfer device have to be considered here. The analysis of the individual scenarios also shows that the organic solvents are a valuable material that, if technically and economically possible, should be primarily recovered in order to be reused in the production process. Solvent recovery means that the greatest benefit to the carbon footprint is achieved. Electricity generation, however, is advantageous from an economic point of view, in particular when a large price difference between the reference rates for electrical energy and natural gas exist. Associated developments can arise in the short to medium term as a result of the energy policy framework conditions with a view to the expansion of renewable energies.

Uno de los colectivos más afectados por la crisis económica, los recortes sociales y la desigualdad creciente en los últimos años ha sido, sin duda, el de los jóvenes, que se enfrentan a un paisaje marcado por un elevado desempleo y una enorme incertidumbre vital. Como grupo vulnerable, es de enorme interés sociológico conocer cómo perciben estos cambios sociales, políticos y económicos y qué papel asignan al Estado del Bienestar en el modelo de austeridad económica vigente en Europa en este momento. Para ello, hemos desarrollado un análisis de carácter cualitativo (análisis sociológico de discursos) a partir de un material empírico obtenido de seis grupos de discusión celebrados a mediados de 2015, que habían sido organizados con el fin de analizar temas relacionados con problemas de los jóvenes españoles en su vida cotidiana. Los grupos se dividieron entre precarios jóvenes y jóvenes adultos con diferentes orígenes sociales, trayectorias personales y educativas y distintas cargas familiares, y se realizaron en la Comunidad de Madrid. El objetivo ha sido el de conocer mejor sus percepciones en relación al presente y sus expectativas sobre sus trayectorias futuras, con referencia a las transformaciones recientes del mercado de trabajo, los consumos públicos y sus perspectivas sociopolíticas del futuro. En este artículo se analizan los principales resultados obtenidos, a la vez que se establece una comparación con los resultados de otra investigación análoga realizada con grupos de jóvenes a mediados de 2011, con el fin de observar las variaciones en las representaciones sociales de los jóvenes a lo largo de este período y su visión del papel de los consumos públicos en el bienestar de la sociedad española. Los datos muestran un consenso llamativo entre los participantes en torno al empeoramiento de las condiciones de vida, el bienestar social y las expectativas de futuro, a la vez que un interés mucho mayor en la política ; Young people in Spain have been one of the groups most affected by the economic crisis, social cuts and growing inequality in recent years. They are facing a scenario marked by high levels of unemployment and a dramatic uncertainty in their life project. Being a vulnerable group, it is of enormous sociological interest to understand not only how they perceive the recent social, political and economic changes in the country, but also to know their views on the welfare state and its role inside the current model of economic austerity that prevails in Europe nowadays. To do so, we have developed a qualitative analysis (sociological discourse analysis) drawing on empirical data obtained from six focus groups held in mid-2015 in the region of Madrid. The groups had been organized in order to discuss different issues related to the lifestyles of young Spaniards, and the participants were grouped according to different social, personal and educational profiles and backgrounds. Our goal was to achieve a better understanding of their perceptions regarding the current socio-political situation, their expectations about their future, while dealing with issues such as the most recent changes in the labour market or public consumption. In this article we present our analysis, while also comparing the results with a similar focus group-based research conducted in mid-2011. Our aim is to identify possible changes in the social representations of young people during this period, highlighting particularly the role public consumption is considered to play in Spanish society. Data shows a striking consensus among participants regarding the worsening of life conditions, social welfare and expectations about the future, while at the same time there is a growing interest in politics

Credit risk, i.e. the risk of loan default, is a significant risk faced by banks in every country. While banks make loans in order to generate income, by making loans they also face a risk of losing their principal and the interest. As part of their lending business, a small percentage of loan default (non-performing loans) is always expected. However, large volumes of loan defaults can push banks into bankruptcy and can cause financial instability in the banking sector. Therefore, it is important to know the factors affecting the credit risk, i.e. non-performing loans, in the banking sector. Especially in the newly established countries such as Kyrgyzstan, where most of the economic and financial policies are newly introduced and the banking sector is in its infancy, it is vital for the governments to understand the factors that increase the credit risk. This research uses the econometrics analysis to determine the macroeconomic factors that increase the credit risk in the banking sector of Kyrgyzstan. The findings indicate that real GDP growth rate, exchange rate of Som per US Dollar, corruption and the presence of political instability affect the credit risk in Kyrgyzstan. While GDP growth rate is negatively related with the credit risk, the exchange rate, corruption, and political instability are positively related with the same. The findings of this research suggest that in order to reduce the credit risk of banks and promote stability in the banking sector, the policy makers in Kyrgyzstan must promote political stability and economic growth, while the value of the local currency should be stabilized against US dollar. Furthermore the government must take actions to reduce high levels of corruption in the country. Keywords: NPLs, credit risk, banks, corruption, macroeconomy, Kyrgyzstan ; Öz: Kredi riski, yani kredi temerrüdü riski, her ülke bankaların karşılaştığı önemli bir risktir. Bankalar gelir elde etmek için müşterilerine kredi kullandırırken, bu riski göze almak zorundadırlar. Bankalar tarafından verilen kredilerin küçük bir yüzdesinin takipe düşmesi ve geri ödenmemesi normaldir çünkü kredi riski sıfırlanamaz. Bununla birlikte, geri dönmeyen kredilerin toplam kredilere oranı çok yükselirse, bu durum bankaları iflas ettirebilecek hatta finans sektöründe istikararı bozan ciddi bir risk olarak ortaya çıkabilir. Bu nedenle, bankacılık sektöründe, kredi riskini etkileyen faktörleri, diğer bir deyişle, takipteki kredilerin artmasına neden olan faktörleri bilmek önemlidir. Özellikle Kırgızistan gibi yeni kurulan ülkelerde bankacılık sektörünün çok yeni ve başlangıç döneminde olması nedeniyle, hükümetlerin kredi riskini artıran faktörleri anlamaları ve finansal politikalara ona göre yön vermeleri hayati önem taşımaktadır. Bu araştırmanın amacı Kırgızistan'ın bankacılık sektöründe kredi riskini artıran makroekonomik faktörleri belirlemektir. Bu amaçla ekonometrik analiz uygulayarak Kırgızistan'da kredi riskini artıran macroekonomik faktörler araştırılmıştır. Araştırma bulguları reel GSYİH'nın büyüme oranı, ABD Doları/Som döviz kuru, ülkedeki yolsuzluk seviyesi ve siyasi istikrarsızlığın Kırgızistan'daki kredi riskini etkilediğini göstermektedir. Reel GSYİH büyüme oranı kredi riskiyle negatif olarak ilişkiliyken, döviz kuru, yolsuzluk ve siyasi istikrarsızlığın pozitif olarak ilişkili olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu araştırmanın bulguları, bankaların kredi riskini azaltmak ve bankacılık sektöründe istikrar sağlamak için politik istikrarın sağlanması, ekonomik büyümenin teşvik etmesi, ve yerel para birimi Som'un ABD Doları karşısında değer kaybının önlenmesi gerektiğini ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca Kırgızistan'daki yüksek yolsuzluk seviyesinin kredi riskini artıran en önemli faktörlerden biri olduğu ve kredi riskini azaltmak için ülke çapında yolsuzlukla mücadele edilmesi gerektiği de ortaya çıkmıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Batık kredi, kredi riski, banka, yolsuzluk, makroekonomi, Kırgızistan ; Master of Science in Banking and Finance. Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Mediterranean University, Faculty of Business and Economics, Dept. of Banking and Finance, 2017. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hatice Jenkins.

This study examines the investment in the proposed combined power cycle plant in Egypt. Due to rise in population, Egypt is facing a challenge supply of the electricity to the end users. As a result, the demand of electricity in Egypt is very high and it is potentially attractive to invest in the power sector. In order to meet the growing demand for electricity, the Egyptian government is considering to introduce the various projects, which are efficient in terms of cost, as well as, they have a positive impact on the economy. Out of these projects, from the cost and benefit perspective the El Kureimat Combined Power Cycle Plant is a good choice. Furthermore, the proposed plant technology is an alternative to the existing fuel technology plants which are not so fuel efficient, thus, the cost of generating electricity per unit decreases. The proposed plant is powered by natural gas and uses 6th gas and steam turbines. It has a capacity of 750MW electricity. The Gas turbines generate 500MW and the steam one produces 250MW. Different kinds of analyses such as economic, financial and stakeholder analyses are conducted under this research in order to check the impacts of the proposed plant on the economy. Financially and economically this project is viable but it has some issues regarding the repayment of the loan. There are some factors that impose risks to the financial variability of the project caused by such factors as change in interest rate, electricity tariffs, inflation, the rate of inflation, the degree of subsidization of the natural gas and demand tariff on financial viability that have an adverse impact of the proposed project. Possible measures need to be considered in order to decrease the identified risk exposure, as well as to make this project more attractive in future. Keywords: Investment appraisal, financial analysis, economic analysis, stakeholder analysis, risk analysis, power plant, Egypt ; Bu çalışma, Mısır'da önerilen kombine enerji santrali fabrikasına yapılan yatırımın incelenmesi ile ilgilidir. Nüfusun artması nedeniyle Mısır elektriği son kullanıcılara sunmak için bir sorunla karşıkarşıyadır.Sonuç olarak, Mısır'da elektrik talebi çok yüksek ve bu yüzden elektrik sektörüne yatırım yapma potansiyeli bulunuyor.Artan elektrik talebini karşılamak için Mısır hükümeti,maliyet bakımından verimli olan ve ekonomi üzerinde olumlu bir etkisi olan çeşitli projeleri sunmayı düşünüyor. Bu projelerden,maliyet ve fayda perspektifinden El Kureimat Kombine Çevrim Santrali iyi bir seçimdir.Ayrıca,önerilen tesis teknolojiye mevcut yakıt teknoloji sitesislerinin alternatifi olup yakıt verimliliği düşüktür, çünkü bu etki birim başına elektrik üretme maliyetini düşürür. Birleştirilmiş enerji santrali,ElKureimat enerji santralinin mevcut binalarında kuruldu. Önerilen tesis doğal gaz ile güçlendirilmiş ve 6.gaz ve buhar türbinleri kullanıyor.750MW elektrik kapasitesine sahiptir.Gaz türbinleri 500MW,buhar birimi 250MW üretmektedir. Önerilen tesisin ekonomi üzerindeki etkilerini control etmek için bu araştırma kapsamında ekonomik,finansal ve paydaş analizleri gibi farklı analizler yapılmıştır.Mali ve ekonomik açıdan bu proje uygulanabilir ancak kredinin geri ödemesiyle ilgili bazı konular bulunmaktadır. Önerilen projede faiz oranındaki değişim,elektrik tarifeleri,enflasyon,enflasyon oranı ve doğalgazın sübvanse olma derecesi ve mali canlılık üzerindeki talep tarife gibi faktörlerin neden olduğu projenin finansal değişkenliğine risk getiren bazı faktörler vardır.Belirlenmiş riski azaltmak ve gelecekte projeyi daha çekici kılmak için olası önlemlerin değerlendirilmesi gerekmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler:Yatırım değerlemesi,finansalanaliz, ekonomikanaliz, paydaş analizi, risk analizi, santral, Mısır ve buhar türbinleri ; Master of Science in Banking and Finance. Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Mediterranean University, Faculty of Business and Economics, Dept. of Banking and Finance, 2017. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Glenn Paul Jenkins.

Many Palestinians immigrate for higher education due to the political conflicts faced by the nation. A large number has found Eastern Mediterranean University as a convenient place to pursue their education. As the geographical distance between these students and their families became greater, the easiest and fastest way to communicate became social media as it is today's trends. Thus, Facebook as the most preferred social network is valuable in the world of communication. The method of study will be qualitative. The methodology will be based on focus groups of male Palestinian students. The field study is Eastern Mediterranean University, a state university in North Cyprus with Palestinian as one of the largest foreign population on the campus. The interviews/discussions will be held in 3 different groups of six participants each. Thus, data will be triangulated than similarities discussed in themes. The samples selection is based on the fact according to a survey conducted by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) most of the emigrants were young, single men. It also found more males than females were emigrating for education. The population of the focus group was selected randomly. The research must be conducted with an objective to collect and store sources of data, in a systematic manner using literature review and a thematic analysis. The goal is to analyze family communication and understand the vitality of family relation through the use of social media amongst student living abroad for educational reasons. The results show how the role of Facebook in the life of Palestinian students is complex as it may serve for good or for bad. Results also show that the impact of Facebook on families is not to be ignored, especially among Palestinian students whose main mean of communication with families is social media for the most may lead to questioning the vitality of family relation in their lives. The study highlights the factors that can most likely affect international students due to the use of social media. ; ÖZ: Birçok Filistinliler, ulusun karşı karşıya kaldığı politik çatışmalar nedeniyle yüksek öğrenime göç ediyor. Birçok Filistinli öğrenciler eğitimlerini sürdürmek için Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesini çok uygun bir yer olarak görmektedirler. Bu öğrenciler ve aileleri arasındaki coğrafi mesafe daha da arttıkça, sosyal medya, bugünün eğilimleri olduğu gibi, iletişim kurmanın en kolay ve en hızlı yolu haline olmuştur. Böylece, Facebook en çok tercih edilen sosyal ağ olarak iletişim dünyasında çok önem kazanmıştır. Bu çalışmanın metodu niteliksel olacaktır. Metodoloji, erkek Filistinli öğrencilerin odak gruplarına dayanıyor olacaktır. Alan araştırması olarak Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi, Kuzey Kıbrıs'taki bir devlet üniversitesi olup, kampusunda en büyük yabancı nüfustan biri olan Filistinli öğrenciler sahibtır. Görüşmeler, her biri altı katılımcının bulunduğu 3 farklı grupta gerçekleştirilecektir. Böylece, veriler temalarda tartışılan benzerliklere kıyasla üçgenleştirilecektir. Örneklem seçimi, Filistin Merkez İstatistik Bürosu (PCBS) tarafından yürütülen ve göç edenlerin çoğunun genç, bekar erkekler olduğu bir ankete göre yapılmaktadır. Ayrıca, eğitim için kadınlardan daha fazla erkek göç edilimektedir. Odak grubunun nüfusu rasgele seçilmiştir. Araştırma, literatür taraması ve tematik bir analiz kullanarak veri kaynaklarını sistematik bir şekilde toplamak ve depolamak için bir amaca uygun olarak yürütülmelidir. Amaç, eğitim nedenleriyle yurtdışında yaşayan öğrenciler arasında sosyal medya kullanımı yoluyla aile iletişimini analiz etmek ve aile ilişkisinin canlılığını anlamaktır. Sonuçlar, Filistinli öğrencilerin hayatında Facebook'un rolünün nasıl iyi veya kötü hizmet edebileceği açısından karmaşık olduğunu göstermektedir. Sonuçlar ayrıca Facebook'un aileler üzerindeki etkisinin görmezden gelinmediğini, özellikle ailelerle olan iletişimin en çok olduğu sosyal medyanın hayatlarında aile ilişkisinin canlılığını sorgulamasına neden olan Filistinli öğrenciler arasında görmezden gelinmediğini göstermektedir. Bu çalışma, sosyal medyanın kullanımı nedeniyle uluslararası öğrencileri etkileyebilecek faktörleri vurgulamaktadır. ; Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies. Thesis (M.A.)--Eastern Mediterranean University, Faculty of Communication, Dept. of Communication and Media Studies, 2017. Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahire Efe

This study investigates the relationship between globalization, international country risks, and international tourism development. Different approaches of panel regression were applied to the panel data from a sample including 133 countries to determine if country risks and globalization indicators are linked with international tourism development. The findings present evidence that economic, social, and political globalizations are significant factors for tourism development. Thus, this study proves that economic, social, and political integration of countries are significant driving forces behind their tourism development. The findings also show that real exchange rate, overall population, and gross domestic product do also exert statistically significant effects on tourism development of the selected 133 countries. The results also indicate that country risks factors complied by ICRG are the other important determinants of international tourism development respectively. The country risk dimensions involving economic, political, and financial factors, all have a significant role in describing tourism development. The results reveal that, considering political factors, corruption, investment profile and government stability are the most important determining factors of tourism development. There is a negative association between tourism development and six political risks dimensions including corruption, ethnic tensions, military in politics, religious tension, internal and external conflict. It indicates that higher level of country risk related to these variables is noticeably associated with less tourism development and vice versa. Considering economic risk factors, current account as % of GDP and inflation are the most important defining factors. Considering financial risk factors current account as % of XGS and net international liquidity significantly and positively impacts on all tourism development. Exchange rate stability also positively impacts on tourism development. This study"s outcomes have important implications for policymakers. Policy makers should consider the impacts of different dimensions of globalization and country risks while forecasting and planning strategies to improve tourism industry. Policy-makers should consider the negative effects of risks dimensions on tourism, as it has recently been one of the most vital sectors for development in many countries. Keywords: Globalization indicators, Country risks indicators, Tourism development, Dynamic Panel ; ÖZ: Bu çalışma globalleşme, ülke riskleri ve uluslararası turizm sektörü arasındaki ilişkiyi irdelemektedir. Çalışmada, globalleşmenin ve risk faktörlerinin turizm sektörü üzerindeki etkilerini inceleyebilmek için 133 farklı ülke verilerine panel veri analizi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular, ekonomik, sosyal ve politik globalleşmenin turizm büyümesi için belirleyici faktörler olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Şöyle ki, bu faktörler, turizm sektörü büyümesinin lokomotifi konumundadır. Çalışmanın bulgularına göre ayrıca, reel döviz kurları, ülke nüfusu, ve gayri safi yurtiçi hasıla da seçilmiş olan 133 ülkede turizm üzerinde anlamlı etki yarattığı ortaya çıkmıştır. Bir diğer bulguya göre de, ülke risk faktörlerinin de turizm gelişimi üzerinde anlamlı etki yarattığı yönündedir. Ülke risk faktörleri, ekonomik, siyasi, ve finansal olarak kategorilere ayrılmış olup hepsinin de turizm üzerindeki etkisi anlamlı bulunmuştur. Politik risk faktörleri olarak, yolsuzluk, yatırım iklimi, ve hükümet istikrarı ön plana çıkmıştır. Toplam 6 kategoride incelenen politik risk faktörleri ki bunlar yolsuzluk, etnik eğilimler, ordunun siyasi rolü, dini eğilimler, dış ve iç siyasi çekişmeler şeklinde tanımlanmıştır, turizm büyümesi üzerinde negatif yönde anlamlı etki yaptıkları ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Çalışmada, ekonomik risk faktörleri olarak cari işlemler dengesi ve enflasyon ön plana çıkmıştır. Finansal risk olarak yine cari açık ve uluslararası likidite pozisyonu ön plana çıkmış olup, turizm büyümesi üzerinde anlamlı etki yarattıkları ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonuçları, politika üreticilere önemli mesajlar içermektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Globalleşme Göstergeleri, Ülke Risk Göstergeleri, Turizm Gelişmesi, Dinamik Panel ; Doctor of Philosophy in Tourism Management. Thesis (Ph.D.)--Eastern Mediterranean University, Faculty of Tourism, 2020. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Salih Katırcıoğlu

Following 1945, that is the Second World War, Europe faced a huge demographic increase in the number of births, known as baby-boom. Encouraged by the improvement of the living conditions after the devastating war, the return of the optimism, opening of the employment opportunities and the renewal of the idea about the family, this demographic trend entailed the so-called familism tide. In the mid 1960-ies however, demographic indicators in almost all European countries began to change suddenly. Massive development of contraception, increased birth control and family planning, as well as higher employment of women and their integration in the labour market, took place. As a result of these trends, in the 1970-ties European countries faced a considerable drop in fertility rates. This trend reached its peak during 1970-1980-ties when a dramatic drop in fertility rates took place, known as baby-bust. As a consequence, almost everywhere in Europe, the fertility rate dropped below the level needed for simple population reproduction or below 2.1 children per woman. Several related trends also contributed to the change in the demographic picture of Europe, such as: dropping birthrates, shrinking of the population, delay in births (increase in the age of birth of the first child), increase in the number of one-child families, as well as growth in the number of couples without children (universality of births is no longer present – at least 1 child per family). Similar trends are evidenced in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CIE), with one considerable difference – they took place around a decade later compared to the developed European countries. One common characteristic which shaped the demographic changes in CIE countries was the fact that they occurred simultaneously with the radical changes of the societal system from socialism towards democracy in the 1990-ties. Due to this, demographic changes in CIE countries gain in weight, are furthermore under the influence of the transitional processes and thus differ considerably compared to those in the developed countries. The differences are heavily attributable to two sets of factors: a) different institutional settings, especially in the family policies related to employment of women and child raising; and b) different effects of these family policies upon fertility rates and participation of women in the labour market. Given the above demographic trends, welfare states in Europe, adjust accordingly, predominantly through the policies and measures of family policy as one of the social policy domains. Following a detailed statistical analysis of demographic indicators in Europe, this paper will produce an analysis of the family policy responses to demographic trends based on the Esping-Andersens' classification of welfare states: universal welfare states (Nordic countries); conservative welfare states (Continental European countries); liberal social states (Anglo-Saxon countries) and South-European social states (Mediterranean countries). A specific focus in the paper will be also given to the demographic trends and corresponding family policy developments in the Republic of Macedonia, as a country of South Europe. Cross-cutting issues in the analysis of the family policy models will be: the extent to which family policies are gender-neutral or gender-specific (are they women-friendly and do they promote active fatherhood?), measures for harmonization of work and family life (are women appropriately supported in performing their roles of mothers and active participants in the labour market at the same time) and the scope in which family policy is being designed to serve the purposes of population policy (how the concern and the interest of the state to increase fertility rates shapes family policy?).

Imagine a future where dynamically, from year to year, we can track the progression of alien species (AS), identify emerging problem species, assess their current and future risk and timely inform policy in a seamless data-driven workflow. One that is built on open science and open data infrastructures. By using international biodiversity standards and facilities, we would ensure interoperability, repeatability and sustainability. This would make the process adaptable to future requirements in an evolving AS policy landscape both locally and internationally. In recent years, Belgium has developed decision support tools to inform invasive alien species (IAS) policy, including information systems, early warning initiatives and risk assessment protocols. However, the current workflows from biodiversity observations to IAS science and policy are slow, not easily repeatable, and their scope is often taxonomically, spatially and temporally limited. This is mainly caused by the diversity of actors involved and the closed, fragmented nature of the sources of these biodiversity data, which leads to considerable knowledge gaps for IAS research and policy. We will leverage expertise and knowledge from nine former and current BELSPO projects and initiatives: Alien Alert, Invaxen, Diars, INPLANBEL, Alien Impact, Ensis, CORDEX.be, Speedy and the Belgian Biodiversity Platform. The project will be built on two components: 1) The establishment of a data mobilization framework for AS data from diverse data sources and 2) the development of data-driven procedures for risk evaluation based on risk modelling, risk mapping and risk assessment. We will use facilities from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), standards from the Biodiversity Information Standards organization (TDWG) and expertise from Lifewatch to create and facilitate a systematic workflow. Alien species data will be gathered from a large set of regional, national and international initiatives, including citizen science with a wide taxonomic scope from marine, terrestrial and freshwater environments. Observation data will be funnelled in repeatable ways to GBIF. In parallel, a Belgian checklist of AS will be established, benefiting from various taxonomic and project-based checklists foreseen for GBIF publication. The combination of the observation data and the checklist will feed indicators for the identification of emerging species; their level of invasion in Belgium; changes in their invasion status and the identification of areas and species of concern that could be impacted upon by bioinvasions. Data-driven risk evaluation of identified emerging species will be supported by niche and climate modelling and consequent risk mapping using critical climatic variables for the current and projected future climate periods at high resolution. The resulting risk maps will complement risk assessments performed with the recently developed Harmonia+ protocol to assess risks posed by emergent species to biodiversity and human, plant, and animal health. The use of open data will ensure that interested stakeholders in Belgium and abroad can make use of the information we generate. The open science ensures everyone is free to adopt and adapt the workflow for different scenarios and regions. The checklist will be used at national level, but will also serve as the Belgian reference for international databases (IUCN - GRIIS, EASIN) and impact assessments (IPBES, SEBI). The workflow will be showcased through GEO BON, the Invasivesnet network and the COST Actions Alien Challenge and ParrotNet. The observations and outcomes of risk evaluations will be used to provide science-based 2 Vanderhoeven S et al support for the implementation of IAS policies at the regional, federal and EU levels. The publication of Belgian data and checklists on IAS is particularly timely in light of the currently ongoing EU IAS Regulation and its implementation in Belgium. By proving that automated workflows can provide rapid and repeatable production of information, we will open up this technology for other conservation assessments.

The paper tries to identify the impact of fiscal system on national security. The author evaluates the acting Strategy of National Security of Russia, analyses national fiscal policies, and contrasts different points of view on national fiscal security. The paper also contains a new definition of fiscal security as the capacity of national economy to generate tax revenues sufficient to cover the expenditures related to national security. To assess the role of taxes in national security a correlation study of tax revenues and individual types of budgetary expenditures in 2005-2015 was conducted. It was found that most strategic priorities of state funding correlate with tax revenues. However expenditures on national economy and environmental protection correlate with tax revenues to the lesser extent. Tax revenue elasticity of budgetary expenditures was calculated as well. The results showed a strong dependence of crime level on tax revenues of the state budget. The research period witnessed a growth in budgetary expenditures on law enforcement accompanied by a decline in crime level, and vice versa a cut in funding resulted in higher crime level. National defense is less dependent on tax revenues. Regardless of annual growth in military funding armed forces showed a decline in quantitative indicators.HighlightsMost strategic directions of Russian budget expenses have close correlation with the amount of tax revenuesThe level of law enforcement and public safety in Russia directly depends on the amount of tax revenues to the budgetRussia's defense capacity depends on the state tax income insignificantly because the dynamics of budget tax revenues does not influence the changes of Russia's defense capacity indicators substantiallyFor citationFedotov D. Yu. The Role of Taxes in Russian National Security. Journal of Tax Reform, 2017, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 6–17. DOI : 10.15826/jtr.2017.3.1.027Article infoReceived February 15, 2017; accepted March 20, 2017 ; В статье исследуется влияние налоговой системы государства на обеспечение национальной безопасности страны: дается оценка действующей Стратегии национальной безопасности Российской Федерации, рассматриваются аспекты налоговой политики государства, влияющие на обеспечение национальной безопасности, анализируются мнения некоторых исследователей, касающиеся содержания налоговой безопасности страны. Сформулировано авторское понятие налоговой безопасности как способности национальной экономики генерировать налоговые поступления в объеме, достаточном для финансирования государственных расходов, обеспечивающих национальную безопасность страны. Для оценки роли налогов в обеспечении национальной безопасности России проводился корреляционный анализ взаимосвязи динамики налоговых доходов и отдельных видов государственных расходов за 2005-2015 гг. Выявлено, что большинство стратегических направлений государственных расходов имеют тесную корреляционную зависимость от величины налоговых поступлений. Наименьший уровень корреляционной зависимости имеют расходы на национальную экономику и охрану окружающей среды. В работе также проанализирована эластичность отдельных видов расходов консолидированного бюджета России по налоговым доходам. Для этой цели производился расчет коэффициентов эластичности указанных бюджетных расходов по налоговым доходам. В результате исследования выявлено, что уровень правопорядка и общественной безопасности в стране напрямую зависит от величины налоговых поступлений в бюджет. Наблюдаемый в анализируемом периоде рост бюджетных расходов на правоохранительную деятельность сопровождался снижением уровня преступности в стране, а снижение бюджетных расходов приводило к росту преступности. Обороноспособность страны в меньшей степени зависит от налоговых поступлений. Однако, несмотря на ежегодное увеличение бюджетных расходов на национальную оборону, количественные показатели, характеризующие состояние вооруженных сил страны, обычно снижались.Основные положенияБольшинство стратегических направлений расходов государственного бюджета России имеют тесную корреляционную зависимость от величины налоговых доходовУровень правопорядка и общественной безопасности в России напрямую зависит от величины налоговых поступлений в бюджетОбороноспособность России в незначительной степени зависит от налоговых доходов государства, так как динамика налоговых поступлений в бюджет не оказывает существенного влияния на изменение показателей обороноспособности страныДля цитированияФедотов Д. Ю. Роль налогов в обеспечении национальной безопасности России / Д. Ю. Федотов // Journal of Tax Reform. — 2017. — Т. 3, № 1. — С. 6–17. — DOI:10.15826/jtr.2017.3.1.027Информация о статьеДата поступления 15 февраля 2017 г.; дата принятия к печати 20 марта 2017 г.

The article examines the problem of Laffer curve visualization. The purpose of the article is to propose a visual representation of the curve that takes into account the effects of capital outflow. The following research methods were used in the course of the research: historical method, comparative and critical analysis, graphical method. The author analyzes existing methods of the graphical representation of the curve drawin upon the interpretation of the original theoretical assumptions used for building a coordinate plane and taking into account additional factors (inflation, underground economy etc.). The author defines conditions for capital outflow and, as a result, for tax migration. The author proposes her own interpretation of the term "tax migration", listing the key reasons for its occurrence. A variant of Laffer curve visualization in different coordinate planes has been developed, factoring in tax migration. The obtained results made it possible to establish a range of permissible changes to tax rates within which government tax revenue increases. The time frame in which tax revenue grows is different, depending on the dynamics of the tax rates.HighlightsWhen carrying out tax reforms in a country, governments must start by empirically calculating a range of recommended changes to the tax burden, in this case tax policy might result in higher tax revenuesIt is not expedient to reduce the tax burden unless there is a goal to encourage production rather than to earn more revenue for the treasury because in the future the concessions will by no means result in a matching increase in tax revenueIn order to use the Laffer curve as a tool of analysis it is necessary to specify the conditions for its application and its graphical representation in each caseFor citationKakaulina M. O. Visual Representation of Laffer Curve Factoring in Implications of Capital Outflow. Journal of Tax Reform, 2017, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 103–114. DOI:10.15826/jtr.2017.3.2.034Article infoReceived May 28, 2017; accepted July 4, 2017 ; Статья посвящена проблеме визуализации кривой Лаффера. Еe целью является предложение варианта визуализации кривой с учетом последствий оттока капитала за рубеж. В ходе исследования были применены такие методы научного познания как исторический метод, сравнительный и критический анализ, графический метод. Проведен анализ существующих способов графического изображения кривой в зависимости от трактовки различных исходных теоретических допущений, используемой для построения координатной плоскости, учета в ходе анализа дополнительных факторов (инфляции, теневой экономики и др.). Были определены условия возникновения оттока капитала за рубеж и, как следствие, процесса налоговой «эмиграции». Предложена авторская трактовка понятия «налоговая «эмиграция», содержащая основные причины ее возникновения. Разработан вариант визуализации кривой Лаффера в различных координатных плоскостях с учетом фактора налоговой «эмиграции». Полученные результаты позволили установить интервал допустимых изменений уровня налоговой нагрузки, в пределах которого налоговые поступления в бюджет возрастают. Временной период роста налоговых доходов различается в зависимости от направления изменения налоговых ставок.Основные положенияПри осуществлении налоговых преобразований в стране органам государственной власти необходимо предварительно определять интервал рекомендуемых значений изменения уровня налоговой нагрузки на основе эмпирических расчетов, в этом случае можно ожидать увеличения налоговых поступлений в бюджетСнижать уровень налоговой нагрузки имеет смысл только в целях стимулирования производственной активности хозяйствующих субъектов, а не в целях пополнения бюджета страны, поскольку в будущем эти послабления ни при каких условиях не приведут к равноценному росту налоговых доходовПри применении в качестве инструмента анализа кривой Лаффера в каждом конкретном случае требуется уточнение условий ее использования и внешнего обликаДля цитированияКакаулина М. О. Визуализация кривой Лаффера с учетом последствий оттока капитала за рубеж / М. О. Какаулина // Journal of Tax Reform. — 2017. — Т. 3, № 2. — С. 103–114. — DOI:10.15826/jtr.2017.3.2.034Информация о статьеДата поступления 28 мая 2017 г.; дата принятия к печати 4 июля 2017 г.

Understanding patterns of habitat selection across a species' geographic distribution can be critical for adequately managing populations and planning for habitat loss and related threats. However, studies of habitat selection can be time consuming and expensive over broad spatial scales, and a lack of standardized monitoring targets or methods can impede the generalization of site-based studies. Our objective was to collaborate with natural resource managers to define available nesting habitat for piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) throughout their U.S. Atlantic coast distribution from Maine to North Carolina, with a goal of providing science that could inform habitat management in response to sea-level rise. We characterized a data collection and analysis approach as being effective if it provided low-cost collection of standardized habitat-selection data across the species' breeding range within 1-2 nesting seasons and accurate nesting location predictions. In the method developed, >30 managers and conservation practitioners from government agencies and private organizations used a smartphone application, iPlover, to collect data on landcover characteristics at piping plover nest locations and random points on 83 beaches and barrier islands in 2014 and 2015. We analyzed these data with a Bayesian network that predicted the probability a specific combination of landcover variables would be associated with a nesting site. Although we focused on a shorebird, our approach can be modified for other taxa. Results showed that the Bayesian network performed well in predicting habitat availability and confirmed predicted habitat preferences across the Atlantic coast breeding range of the piping plover. We used the Bayesian network to map areas with a high probability of containing nesting habitat on the Rockaway Peninsula in New York, USA, as an example application. Our approach facilitated the collation of evidence-based information on habitat selection from many locations and sources, which can be used in management and decision-making applications. (c) 2017 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society. ; North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Department of the Interior Hurricane Sandy recovery program under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act; U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program ; We thank our federal and private collaborators who supervised, participated in, and coordinated field-testing and data collection (listed in Table S1), particularly H. Abouelezz and T. Pearl for providing spatial data for the Breezy Point Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area. A. Milliken and A. Hecht of the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, respectively, provided funding and motivation for this research. S. Haefner of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provided code snippets that were used in an alpha version of the iPhone application. We thank N. Booth, M. Schneider, and M. Wernimont of the USGS Office of Water Information and T. Kern and H. Schweizer of the USGS Fort Collins Science Center for their support throughout the development of iPlover. K. Weber of the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center provided analyses of dune characteristics for the Rockaway Peninsula used in our Geographic Information System analyses. Finally, we appreciate comments on earlier versions of this manuscript made by A. Hecht, N. Ganju, the editorial staff at the Wildlife Society Bulletin, Associate Editor Donahgy Cannon, and 4 anonymous reviewers. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of the Interior Hurricane Sandy recovery program under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.