Agosto 2025

How do women and men differ in research collaborations based on authorship positions? The Spanish case

Abstract. This study examines gender disparities in authorship and collaboration within the Spanish scientific workforce, focusing on international and industry co-authored publications. Drawing on a comprehensive dataset of over 165,000 publications and more than 170,000 identified authors affiliated with Spanish institutions, the analysis explores how gender interacts with authorship position,...

Trust and conspiratorial thinking: distinguishing between conspiracy mentality, suspicion and theory beliefs

Abstract. Was the COVID-19 pandemic orchestrated by a secret elite, or does the government simply filter certain truths? While both statements reflect conspiracy thinking, they refer to different rationalities. This study contributes to the debate on the definitions of conspiracy mentality, suspicion and theories by examining their relationships with trust. Analysing a nationally representative...

Regulatory approaches in the face of a pandemic: assessing the role of ideology, context, and rule design in four spanish regions

Abstract. Regulatory instruments to manage the COVID-19 pandemic have been the object of rich scholarly debates, primarily focused on early national responses to the crisis. We investigate variation in sub-national regulatory approaches when a crisis is normalized, its association with competing political ideas about the health-economy trade-off and the coercion-persuasion continuum, and the...

Julio 2025

The emergence of egg intermediaries in the European fertility landscape: the creation of value in reproductive bioeconomies

Abstract. With recent growth in both domestic and global private health care markets and increased medical travel by patients, there has been an increase in the existence of medical mediation services. Whilst there is a developing scholarship that considers the brokerage of this travel, less attention has been paid to other forms of medical facilitation. Taking the example of fertility treatment...

Which are the main determinants of energy poverty? A systematic review of the literature

Abstract. Mitigation of energy poverty (EP) is a relevant policy goal nowadays for governments worldwide. The determinants of household EP should be identified and analysed in order to design targeted policies for specific groups which mitigate EP effectively and efficiently. The aim of this paper is to identify the most relevant determinants of EP as well as research gaps in the academic...

Junio 2025

Less is more? Differences of social impacts on farm workers in short/long agricultural supply chains in Spain

Abstract. Agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations in Europe. Practices such as the use of pesticides, physically demanding tasks, and long working hours are more common than in other sectors. Health risks jeopardise the transition to sustainable agriculture, affecting the well-being of farmers and workers. Although the economic and environmental sustainability of development...

Distributive preferences and effort provision: A two-way link?

Abstract. This paper examines the relationship between effort and distributive preferences in a setting where effort does not affect the total amount available for distribution. While prior research has shown a link from effort to distributive preferences, we provide empirical evidence of the reverse relationship: individuals who make egalitarian choices exert less effort one year later compared...

Merit, competition and gender: scientific promotion in public research organisations

Abstract. Promotion is a key reward in academic science normatively associated with performance. Women are underrepresented in science across most countries, particularly in senior roles. Our study investigates the role of merit and several other factors in the promotion to full professor and senior researcher in public scientific institutes, and whether differences between women and men exist....

Greening plant participation through assemblage thinking

Abstract. The recent emergence of participatory and deliberative processes aimed at addressing the complexity of the ecological crisis has raised the questions of how to include the more-than-human in democracy and how new political relationships with the more-than-human can be established. To contribute to this discussion – focusing specifically on relationships with plants – this text explores...

Mayo 2025

A review of high nature value farming systems in Europe: Biodiversity, ecosystem services, drivers, innovations and future prospects

Abstract. Farming systems of high natural and cultural value represent approximately 30% of farmlands in the European Union and are associated with a high species and habitat diversity and/or the presence of species of European conservation concern. This study aims to synthesize the existing knowledge on the assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services, the social-ecological drivers of...