Point System

Faced with society's increasing expectations, the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy uses environmental management as an increasingly critical criterion in the allocation of farm subsidies, with a shift in focus from production and area-based subsidies to payments for supplying public goods. There is an increasing demand to assess the ecological and environmental performance of farms as public money spent on provision of environmental services requires justifi cation. The objective of this research is to strengthen the basis of the concept of farm-level environmental performance assessment. Firstly we give an overview of indicator-based sustainability assessment tools. Even though there are several diff erent tools developed globally, and the themes and indicators for the assessment of environmental performance are very similar, there are signifi cant diff erences in terms of data survey among them. Secondly we describe the development and fi eld testing of the 'Green-point system' developed in Hungary. This system is able to measure the environmental performance of farms and their value/ capability of providing public goods and sustaining ecosystem services through a framework of farm enterprise calculations and assessments. The Green-point system fi ts well into the stream of yet scarce approaches and eff orts, which in several European countries aim to introduce and strengthen the so-called result-based agri-environmental schemes alongside the currently rather dominant management-based approaches.

Faced with society's increasing expectations, the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy uses environmental management as an increasingly critical criterion in the allocation of farm subsidies, with a shift in focus from production and area-based subsidies to payments for supplying public goods. There is an increasing demand to assess the ecological and environmental performance of farms as public money spent on provision of environmental services requires justifi cation. The objective of this research is to strengthen the basis of the concept of farm-level environmental performance assessment. Firstly we give an overview of indicator-based sustainability assessment tools. Even though there are several diff erent tools developed globally, and the themes and indicators for the assessment of environmental performance are very similar, there are signifi cant diff erences in terms of data survey among them. Secondly we describe the development and fi eld testing of the 'Green-point system' developed in Hungary. This system is able to measure the environmental performance of farms and their value/ capability of providing public goods and sustaining ecosystem services through a framework of farm enterprise calculations and assessments. The Green-point system fi ts well into the stream of yet scarce approaches and eff orts, which in several European countries aim to introduce and strengthen the so-called result-based agri-environmental schemes alongside the currently rather dominant management-based approaches.

The policies determining how the foreign born enter the United States are some of the most complicated, least understood, and most disliked of all federal policies. This paper uses New Immigrant Survey (2003) data to examine how proposed changes to U.S. immigration policy might alter the composition of legal permanent residents (LPRs) admitted. Specifically, we consider the 2007 federal proposal that would have placed greater emphasis on employment and skills by instituting a merit-based point system while eliminating some types of family sponsorship. We also simulate point scores for the 2003 LPR cohort according to the point systems used in Canada and Australia. We find that, despite significant variation in point allocations, the three systems would admit similar numbers and types of immigrants. In the 2007 U.S. proposal, work experience in the United States is extremely important for earning high point scores. Thus, the proposal would place even more stress on temporary visa programs.

The policies determining how the foreign born enter the United States are some of the most complicated, least understood, and most disliked of all federal policies. This paper uses New Immigrant Survey (2003) data to examine how proposed changes to U.S. immigration policy might alter the composition of legal permanent residents (LPRs) admitted. Specifically, we consider the 2007 federal proposal that would have placed greater emphasis on employment and skills by instituting a merit-based point system while eliminating some types of family sponsorship. We also simulate point scores for the 2003 LPR cohort according to the point systems used in Canada and Australia. We find that, despite significant variation in point allocations, the three systems would admit similar numbers and types of immigrants. In the 2007 U.S. proposal, work experience in the United States is extremely important for earning high point scores. Thus, the proposal would place even more stress on temporary visa programs.

We proposed a mathematical model that captures students' academic progress via the GPA evaluation system. Our purpose is to understand the effect of failing a course (carryovers), low grade point and probation on the overall academic progress (CGPA) of students. The model is analyzed for the existence and stability of the student progress free equilibrium (SPFE) state. Stability analysis revealed that the model is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions on the model parameters. A quantitative analysis using numerical experiments with the Maple software was also carried out. From the result of this work, there is a direct relationship between high grade point and high GPA and low grade point and low GPA. Students with high CGPA on a consistent manner tend to graduate in the fourth year while students with low grade and failing courses graduate in the fifth or sixth year. The GPA system goes hand in hand with the semester and course credit system, hence the need for students to understand the functionalities of the impact of the credit system on his overall academic progress.

Pros A point system acts as an effective binding constraint on applicants. Individual applicants are selected according to the objectives set by the country of destination. A point system elicits better quality immigration candidates. The initial phase of the immigration process is streamlined, requiring fewer resources to process valid applications. The assessment process is transparent. ElEVaToR PiTCH Restricting immigration to young and skilled immigrants using a point system, as in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, succeeds in selecting economically desirable immigrants and provides orderly management of population growth. But the point system cannot fix short-term skilled labor shortages in a timely manner nor prevent poor labor market outcomes for immigrants, since domestic employers can undervalue schooling and work experience acquired abroad. Furthermore, the efficacy of a point system can be compromised if unscreened visa categories receive higher priority. aUTHoR's Main MEssaGE A point system using measurable criteria selects economically desirable immigration applicants and results in the orderly management of population growth, which can reassure the native population that immigration is being properly managed. Yet the point system does not avoid the possibility that immigrants will end up in jobs below their level of education, ability and experience, hence contributing less than their true potential to the economic well-being of the host country. Cons Comprehensive and regular data collection is needed for policy evaluation and fine-tuning. Applicants are selected solely from observable characteristics, not from unobservables like innate ability or attitude. Successful applicants may still end up in jobs and at pay levels below their true potential. A point system is unsuitable for providing fast responses to skill shortages in the domestic labor market. The effectiveness of a point system can be compromised if higher priority is given to unscreened classes of applicants. Using a point system for selecting immigrants A point system can select economically desirable immigrants but it cannot prevent poor labor outcomes for immigrants

I was meeting with E about the problems that postgraduate researchers experience when carrying out their research. E was a well-respected and eminent professor from Stellenbosch University. I had known him for about four years. We both had an interest in supervising and supporting postgraduate researchers undertaking masters and doctoral study. 'You've asked a very interesting and,' I added pointedly, 'a very important, question. Like all good questions, it raises a whole raft of other questions and issues.' E nodded thoughtfully. 'And the answer?' he asked. 'Well, the question was about whether or not we can collect qualitative data in an experiment? Of course, as you know, the methodology textbooks will answer that we should collect quantitative data and not qualitative data in an experiment.' 'Yes,' he nodded, 'but I suspect you've got a view about that?' 'Funny you should say that!' I laughed. We had spoken before about supporting postgraduate researchers in South Africa. We were aware, of course, of the academic and policy issues associated with postgraduate programmes of research, especially at doctoral level. For example, South Africa currently aims to increase its PhD numbers from 1,421 in 2010 to 5,000 each year by 2030 and increase the number of academics with PhDs from 34% to 75% (National Planning Commission, 2011). This is, of course, a mammoth task but unlikely to be achieved. More tellingly, there is evidence that private-sector employers in South Africa believed that a PhD did not have much relevance to the world of work (Treptow 2013). This suggests that it may be time to introduce a professional doctorate to sit alongside PhD programmes in South African universities. A professional doctorate would be aimed at evaluating and improving practice in the workplace and be more relevant to the needs of both commercial and not-for-profit organisations in South Africa.

Using a simple game-theoretical model of contests, we compare the effort exerted by rugby teams under three different point systems used in tournaments around the world. The scoring systems under consideration are NB, +4 and 3+. We state models of the games under the three point systems, both static and dynamic. In all those models we find that the 3+ system ranks first, +4 second and N B third. We run empirical analyses using data from matches under the three scoring systems. The results of those statistical analyses confirm our theoretical conclusions.

Faced with society's increasing expectations, the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy uses environmental management as an increasingly critical criterion in the allocation of farm subsidies, with a shift in focus from production and area-based subsidies to payments for supplying public goods. There is an increasing demand to assess the ecological and environmental performance of farms as public money spent on provision of environmental services requires justifi cation. The objective of this research is to strengthen the basis of the concept of farm-level environmental performance assessment. Firstly we give an overview of indicator-based sustainability assessment tools. Even though there are several diff erent tools developed globally, and the themes and indicators for the assessment of environmental performance are very similar, there are signifi cant diff erences in terms of data survey among them. Secondly we describe the development and fi eld testing of the 'Green-point system' developed in Hungary. This system is able to measure the environmental performance of farms and their value/ capability of providing public goods and sustaining ecosystem services through a framework of farm enterprise calculations and assessments. The Green-point system fi ts well into the stream of yet scarce approaches and eff orts, which in several European countries aim to introduce and strengthen the so-called result-based agri-environmental schemes alongside the currently rather dominant management-based approaches.

Old-age pensions in the NDC systems reflect the accumulated lifetime labour income. Interrupted careers and differences in the employment rates, particularly between men and women will have a significant impact on pension incomes in NDC countries. In the paper, we compare the labour market developments in four countries: Germany, Italy, Poland, and Sweden. There are pronounced differences in the labour market participation in the four countries: high levels of employment in Germany and Sweden are in contrast with low levels of employment in Italy and Poland. In the latter two countries, there is also a large gender gap in the labour market participation and employment pathways. Lower employment rates and gender pay gaps, as well as country-specific employment paths are important causes of differences in expected pension levels, but there are also differences due to the design of pension system and demographic developments. Prolonging working lives and reducing gender gaps in employm...

This paper takes a look at certain results of the modelling side of the Hungarian pension reform. Preparations are underway to implement actuarial modelling of pension liabilities for the government. The objective is to understand how the state might face challenges of the present pay-as-you-go pension system. Flat-rate pension, point system and notional defined contribution (NDC) as possible suggestions are reviewed in order to stop increase of public debt in the course of this century. Based on the investigations done in the last two years the sharpest problems for Hungary are the low activity ratios and the short working period.

Although the rules have been enforced, children's behaviour in schools often cannot be monitored by parents even when children commit violations. This is because the school has not implemented information system technology for parents to track violations committed by their children in the school. The purpose of this study is to build a violation point information system (ViMoIS) for students so that their recording can be done digitally and can be monitored by parents. The location of study was conducted in one of the High Schools in Gresik. The data collection technique uses the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method. The model used to build this system is waterfall starting with three stages of that is, analysis, design, and testing. The results of the study were in the form of a Web-Based Student Violation Point Monitoring Information System (ViMoIS). Based on the results of black box testing that all components in this system run smoothly (success). The existence of a ViMoIS is expected to modernize the process of recording student budgeting so that old people can monitor their children's behavior in schools.

Using a simple game-theoretical model of contests, we compare the effort exerted by rugby teams under three different point systems used in tournaments around the world. The scoring systems under consideration are NB, +4 and 3+. We state models of the games under the three point systems, both static and dynamic. In all those models we find that the 3+ system ranks first, +4 second and N B third. We run empirical analyses using data from matches under the three scoring systems. The results of those statistical analyses confirm our theoretical conclusions.

We proposed a mathematical model that captures students' academic progress via the GPA evaluation system. Our purpose is to understand the effect of failing a course (carryovers), low grade point and probation on the overall academic progress (CGPA) of students. The model is analyzed for the existence and stability of the student progress free equilibrium (SPFE) state. Stability analysis revealed that the model is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions on the model parameters. A quantitative analysis using numerical experiments with the Maple software was also carried out. From the result of this work, there is a direct relationship between high grade point and high GPA and low grade point and low GPA. Students with high CGPA on a consistent manner tend to graduate in the fourth year while students with low grade and failing courses graduate in the fifth or sixth year. The GPA system goes hand in hand with the semester and course credit system, hence the need for students to understand the functionalities of the impact of the credit system on his overall academic progress.

This study examines the effect of the points system on home advantage in the two top Spanish professional football divisions between the 1980–1981 and 2006–2007 seasons. From 1980–81, teams were awarded 2 points for a win. This was increased to 3 points starting in 1995–1996. Lower home advantage was expected with the 3-point system as a consequence of encouraging more attacking play from away teams. The results of an analysis of 20,992 games showed no significant differences in home advantage values between the First Division (66.3% before and 62.1% after the 3-point system) and the Second Division (65.6% before and 59.5% after). Nevertheless, there was a significant decrease in home advantage in both the First and Second Divisions after the introduction of the 3-point system. The results were compared with two similar studies of professional football in England.

This study examines the effect of the points system on home advantage in the two top Spanish professional football divisions between the 1980–1981 and 2006–2007 seasons. From 1980–81, teams were awarded 2 points for a win. This was increased to 3 points starting in 1995–1996. Lower home advantage was expected with the 3-point system as a consequence of encouraging more attacking play from away teams. The results of an analysis of 20,992 games showed no significant differences in home advantage values between the First Division (66.3% before and 62.1% after the 3-point system) and the Second Division (65.6% before and 59.5% after). Nevertheless, there was a significant decrease in home advantage in both the First and Second Divisions after the introduction of the 3-point system. The results were compared with two similar studies of professional football in England.

The majority of current evaluation methods for assessing pedestrian safety conditions on streets only consider limited facilities that cannot cover all of the safety needs of pedestrians with different ages and abilities. These models are not developed based on sufficient facilities at the micro-level. Several of these studies are limited to evaluating safety at intersections. However, pedestrians also require safety along street segments and in intersections. Accordingly, the objectives of this study are to conceptualize the pedestrian safety index (PSI), which evaluates facilities along the streets for pedestrians. To estimate this PSI, a point system method is proposed that compares existing conditions to a standard. This method can be used to identify existing problems and to propose improvements. In addition, the pedestrian safety enhancements described using this method can enhance the safety of older and disabled pedestrians that suffer the most from a lack of facilities. Although this practical model uses international standards to become universally applicable, one collector street in Singapore is chosen to test the model. Because this study tries to cover various street facilities, the designers can use these results to implement safe routes for pedestrians.

We proposed a mathematical model that captures students’ academic progress via the GPA evaluation system. Our purpose is to understand the effect of failing a course (carryovers), low grade point and probation on the overall academic progress (CGPA) of students. The model is analyzed for the existence and stability of the student progress free equilibrium (SPFE) state. Stability analysis revealed that the model is locally asymptotically stable under certain conditions on the model parameters. A quantitative analysis using numerical experiments with the Maple software was also carried out. From the result of this work, there is a direct relationship between high grade point and high GPA and low grade point and low GPA. Students with high CGPA on a consistent manner tend to graduate in the fourth year while students with low grade and failing courses graduate in the fifth or sixth year. The GPA system goes hand in hand with the semester and course credit system, hence the need for stu...

Using a simple game-theoretical model of contests, we compare the effort exerted by rugby teams under three different point systems used in tournaments around the world. The scoring systems under consideration are NB, +4 and 3+. We state models of the games under the three point systems, both static and dynamic. In all those models we find that the 3+ system ranks first, +4 second and N B third. We run empirical analyses using data from matches under the three scoring systems. The results of those statistical analyses confirm our theoretical conclusions.