Browsing by Subject "Life cycle"

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How important is precautionary labor supply?
(2016) Schmitz, Sebastian; Rostam-Afschar, Davud; Jessen, Robin
We quantify the importance of precautionary labor supply using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) for 2001-2012. We estimate dynamic labor supply equations augmented with a measure of wage risk. Our results show that married men choose about 2.5% of their hours of work or one week per year on average to shield against unpredictable wage shocks. This implies that about 26% of precautionary savings are due to precautionary labor supply. If self-employed faced the same wage risk as the median civil servant, their hours of work would reduce by 4%.
Managementauswirkungen auf Reproduktion und Abundanz von Orthopteren in Streuobstwiesen
(2000) Schwabe, Christiane; Böcker, Reinhard
The management of orchards is changing from farmers cutting the grass for their cattle to more timesaving ways of using the grass up to doing nothing at all. The traditional management form as well as alternatives were examined by means of animal ecology in regard to their impact on grasshoppers (Saltatoria, Acrididae). In the years 1994 - 1997 abundance and reproduction of the three species Chorthippus parallelus, Chorthippus dorsatus and Gomphocerus rufus were examined comparing to the management of grass patches. Investigation site was the Limburg (48°36´N / 9°38´E) north of the Swabian Alb (Germany). The management of the patches varied from meadows (two cuts), meadows cut two to four times with grass remaining on the ground, sheep pastures and fallow land. The usable vegetation structures for the three species were investigated in detail. The returning of the grasshoppers on a pasture after intensive sheep grazing was observed. These investigations explain species-dependent habitat preferences. Based on the population data a model was developed to describe the egg density in the soil from given samples of the population density. A method was developed, to determine the management-depending egg mortality. By caging female grasshoppers the number of eggs on defined areas in the soil is increased to simplify finding enough eggs in spring. From the management-depending density of eggs, the rate of fertile eggs in spring and the population densities of the following year a rate of larvae mortality can be calculated, which tells if the population is stable, is a source, or is a sink.
Understanding and addressing food loss and waste : a multidimensional analysis of wheat loss and bread waste in Iran
(2023) Ghaziani, Shahin; Reiner, Doluschitz
Food loss and waste (FLW) is a global issue with significant environmental and economic consequences, threatening food security. Reports show that 14% of global food production is lost in production and supply chains, while 17% is wasted at the consumption stage. Despite this, theres a lack of knowledge, especially in developing countries like Iran, facing challenges due to sanctions, environmental issues, and water scarcity. This doctoral study focuses on FLW in Iran, adopting a lifecycle approach, with wheat and wheat bread in Fars province as the main focus. The research aims to quantify and analyze food waste, identify hotspots, enhance quantification methods, and explore causes and solutions. The study includes mapping the wheat lifecycle, analyzing loss and waste factors, and proposing interventions. Data collection involves surveys and a laboratory experiment. The first survey in October 2018 used value stream mapping to overview the wheat and bread lifecycle. It identified farms, foodservice establishments, and households as major hotspots, revealing data gaps. The second survey, from December 2018 to August 2019, focused on household bread waste (HBW) in Shiraz. The survey involved 419 households and included a self-assessment questionnaire, a food frequency questionnaire for dietary data collection, and a socioeconomic status section. Findings led to three articles. The third article addressed underestimation in self-assessment methods using a lab experiment, improving accuracy. A lab experiment simulated common consumption recipes and measured resulting waste. Comparing the lab results with HBW estimates from the questionnaire survey, the article presents underestimation ratios ranging from 1.24 to 1.80. The fourth article reveals HBW in Shiraz at 1.80%, with traditional bread waste at 1.70% and non-traditional bread waste at 2.50%. However, these percentages do not consider the underestimation inherent in the self-assessment method. Adjusting for underestimation within this study population, traditional bread waste increases to 3.06%, and non-traditional bread waste rises to 3.58%. Outdated data from previous Iranian reports was highlighted. The final article uses multiple regression modeling to predict HBW based on household dietary patterns and socioeconomic scores. It emphasizes the need for consumer-focused interventions to address household food waste effectively, such as developing FLW reduction policies targeting specific consumers grouped based on waste-related characteristics. In conclusion, the dissertation provides a comprehensive analysis of wheat loss and bread waste in Iran, offering insights into environmental, economic, and food security implications. It guides improvements in agricultural productivity, farmer cooperation, and consumer-focused strategies for sustainable consumption. The research contributes methodological advancements and informs decision-making for reducing wheat loss and bread waste, fostering responsible production and consumption.