Health-related factors on tobacco consumption in Turkey / Fatores relacionados com a saúde e o consumo de tabaco na Turquia

ABSTRACT: In this study, we analyzed the role of individuals' health-related factors along with socio-demographic and economic characteristics on both the likelihood of tobacco consumption and quantity demanded levels using two competitive econometric methods: double hurdle model versus hyperbolic sine double-hurdle model. Statistical tests confirmed the dependency errors between the prevalence rate of smoking and the consumption level, whilst the inverse-hyperbolic sine double-hurdle model data fits best in describing the normalization of the data and the two data generating processes: the probability and consumption levels of cigarettes. Also, the variance-covariance of the selected model as a function of additional exogenous variables are confirmed, while the error terms between the likelihood to smoke and the consumption levels are positive and statistically significant, indicating that holding control variables fixed, the uncontrolled variables out of the system that increase the prevalence rate of smoking also boost the consumption level, or vice versa. Many individual disease variables are significant in both equations, breaking new grounds in literature for identifying how both the prevalence rate of smoking and amount have shaped.

RESUMO: Neste estudo, analisamos o papel dos fatores relacionados à saúde dos indivíduos, juntamente com as características sócio-demográficas e econômicas, tanto na probabilidade de consumo de tabaco quanto nos níveis de quantidade demandada, usando dois métodos econométricos competitivos: modelo de obstáculo duplo versus modelo de obstáculo duplo seno hiperbólico. Os testes estatísticos confirmaram os erros de dependência entre a taxa de prevalência de tabagismo e o nível de consumo, enquanto o modelo de seno duplo inverso-hiperbólico se ajusta melhor aos dados para descrever a normalização dos dados e os dois processos geradores de dados: os níveis de probabilidade e consumo de cigarros. Também são confirmadas a covariância de variância do modelo selecionado em função de variáveis exógenas adicionais, enquanto os termos de erro entre a probabilidade de fumar e os níveis de consumo são positivos e estatisticamente significativos, indicando que, mantendo variáveis de controle fixas, as variáveis não controladas são do sistema que aumenta a taxa de prevalência do tabagismo e também cresce o nível de consumo, ou vice-versa. Muitas variáveis individuais da doença são encontradas significativamente em ambas as equações, abrindo novos caminhos na literatura para identificar como a taxa de prevalência de tabagismo e a quantidade se moldaram.

Access and Intensity of Mechanization: Empirical Evidence of Rice Farmers in Southern Ghana

ABSTRACT The medium term development plan of Ghana proposed modernization of agriculture to lead the way in transforming the economy. Providing irrigation infrastructure and enhancing farmer access to farm machinery were major interventions proposed. In line with this, the government has been investing in irrigation infrastructure as well as importing farm machinery under various programmes in recent years. This study analyzed access and intensity of mechanization by rice farmers in southern Ghana. The Shai-Osudoku and Ketu North Districts were purposively selected and a total of 360 farmers were randomly sampled from 16 rice growing communities. In general, the results of the descriptive statistics revealed that about 74 % of farmers were still cultivating rice with considerably low level of mechanization. The double hurdle model was employed to estimate the determinants of access to mechanization and the intensity of mechanization. The empirical results of tier one of the double huddle model revealed that size of land, access to credit, availability of farm machinery, expenditure on labour, agrochemical expenditure, the square of age, and gender positively influenced access to mechanization. Seed expenditure, age and district locations negatively influenced access to mechanization. The empirical results of the tier two of the double hurdle model revealed that distance from farm to nearest mechanization centre, rice income, non-farm income and experience were significant variables that positively influenced intensity of mechanization. Land ownership and household size negatively influenced intensity of mechanization. These results have implications for capacity building and government support for rice farmers in southern Ghana.