Fakultät Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hohpublica.uni-hohenheim.de/handle/123456789/22

Die Fakultät vereint Forschung und moderne Lehre nach internationalen Standards. Das Hohenheimer Modell verzahnt dabei betriebs- und volkswirtschaftliche, sozial- und rechtswissenschaftliche Aspekte.

Homepage: https://wiso.uni-hohenheim.de/

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Creating a shared vision by uniting local stakeholders to tackle plastic bag consumption
(2023) Neef, Nicolas E.; Shihepo, Kapandu; Roos, Claudine; Richter, Isabell
Single-use plastic bags contribute significantly to the plastic pollution in South Africa posing a serious environmental challenge. Hence, there is a need for comprehensive strategies to reduce plastic bag consumption. We report the results of an online workshop aimed to create a positive, shared future vision. The workshop was attended by 12 invited participants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines and utilized a collaborative approach to propose a framework for reducing plastic bag usage during grocery shopping in South Africa. The findings suggest that a combination of economic, structural and behavioral interventions is necessary to promote lasting behavior change, including financial incentives, a broad introduction of more environmentally friendly alternatives, and promoting bag reuse. Additionally, the vision underscored the importance of using social channels such as education and social norms. The invited stakeholders did not endorse conventional approaches such as increasing an already existing levy or implementing a complete ban on plastic bags. They also questioned the introduction of fully recycled plastic bags. Instead, the proposed vision encourages an integrated approach to reducing plastic bag usage involving individual behavior change and community engagement. The development of a creative product such as a video to showcase a future vision offers a powerful tool for communication with further stakeholders and political authorities, to engage with the community and broader population and for inspiring collective action. Overall, the findings have implications for policymakers, business leaders, environmental educators, and individuals committed to reducing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices in South Africa.
The effect of violent conflict on calorie consumption and dietary quality in Iraq
(2024) Parigi, Marta; Parigi, Marta;
By combining 2012 Living Standard Measurement Survey cross-sectional survey responses and georeferenced conflict data, this study quantifies the effect of violent conflict on food security and dietary quality in Iraq. Specifically, it estimates the effect of physical insecurity on different food security dimensions, including caloric consumption and household dietary diversity. Because disrespecting war-related foreign national cemeteries is a war crime that discourages nearby fighting, instrumenting conflict intensity by the exogenous variation in distance between these sites and household place of residence addresses potential sources of bias. The instrumental variable analysis confirms the positive (negative) effect of conflict—deriving from state, non-state and one-sided violence (e.g., attacks by the Islamic State)—on per capita caloric consumption (household dietary diversity), which although counterintuitive is unsurprising given Iraq's relatively high-income levels and changes in dietary pattern. Given that the primary driver of conflict's positive effect on calories is increased consumption of carbohydrates and, to a lesser extent, saturated fat, these results suggest that in countries transitioning to Western-style diets, violent conflict may drive the population toward an unhealthier diet, contributing heavily to a growing national prevalence of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases.
Optimistic narrative future visions: a communication tool for promoting sustainable (plastic) behavior
(2023) Neef, Nicolas E.; Fußwinkel, Selina; Roos, Claudine; Frank, Lilli; Shihepo, Kapandu; Richter, Isabell
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, necessitating a focus on consumer behavior to curb this problem at its source. To effectively promote sustainable practices, communication strategies that employ future visions have gained attention. This study examines the effects of a narrative video intervention depicting an optimistic future vision concerning single-use plastic bag consumption in South Africa, compared to a representation of the prevailing status quo. Using a preregistered within-subject design, we assess the psychological and emotional responses to two scenarios of which one is illustrating adaptive behaviors toward reduced plastic bag usage, and the other showcasing current consumption patterns. Parametric analyses revealed a shift in emotional states, characterized by a greater experience of positive emotions and a reduced experience of negative emotions following the exposure to the optimistic future scenario video, as compared to the status quo video. Moreover, engagement with the optimistic future scenario was associated with higher levels of perceived behavioral control and behavioral intentions. No significant changes were found regarding sense of responsibility. These findings point to the potential of optimistic future visions to influence individuals at psychological and emotional levels. This renders optimistic future vision communication as an effective tool for sustainable behavior change, particularly in relation to the sustainable use of plastic shopping bags.
The COVID-19 pandemic and emergencies in Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery: An analysis of patients presenting to emergency rooms in South-West Germany: A bi-center study
(2024) Wolpert, Stephan; Knoblich, Nora; Holderried, Martin; Becker, Sven; Schade-Mann, Thore; Wolpert, Stephan; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, BW, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (S.W.);; Knoblich, Nora; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, BW, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (S.W.);; Holderried, Martin; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, BW, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (S.W.);; Becker, Sven; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, BW, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (S.W.);; Schade-Mann, Thore; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, BW, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Straße 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (S.W.);; Mitra, Amal K.
This study was designed to examine the changes in emergency room visits in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 11,277 patients who presented to a tertiary care hospital (ER) and an emergency practice (EP) during on-call hours in the first half of 2018, 2019, and 2020. The epidemiologic parameters, diagnoses, and level of urgency were recorded using a four-step scale. A comparison was made between the pre-pandemic years and 2020. The findings revealed a significant decrease in the frequency of ER visits in the second quarter of 2020 compared to 2019 (ER: 30.8%, EP: 37.8%), mainly due to the fact that there were significantly fewer patients, with low levels of urgency. Certain diagnoses, such as epistaxis (−3.0%) and globus sensation (−3.2%), were made at similar frequencies to 2019, while inflammatory diseases like skin infections (−51.2%), tonsillitis (−55.6%), sinusitis (−59%), and otitis media (−70.4%) showed a significant reduction. The study concludes that patients with a low triage level were less likely to visit the ER during the early stages of the pandemic, but some diagnoses were still observed at comparable rates. This suggests a disparity in perception between patients and ER staff regarding urgency. Many of the issues discussed were also emphasized in the 2024 proposal by the German Ministry of Health to reform emergency care in Germany.

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