The paper examines the relationships among the desirability of home-ownership, price risks and the return of housing investment. It argues that price risks may undermine the desirability of ownership. It shows that larger price risks and higher
level of risk aversion decrease the attractiveness of owning a house.
A health risk assessment of ultraviolet radiation in Durban
Health ; KwaZulu-Natal ; Radiation ; Risk ; South Africa
The widely observed depletion of statospheric ozone and the expected increase in surface ultraviolet radiation receipt has raised much concern about consequent health risks, particularly in the form of erythema (sunburn) and non-melanoma skin cancer
. This paper presents the findings of a health risk assessment of surface ultraviolet radiation in Durban. - (AJC)
Drawing on a study of floods in Lully, Geneva, the AA. describe the plural dimensions of flood risk and extend the conventional understanding of risk. They analyse the dynamics of risk beyond the immediate phenomenon, through time and space
Application of health risk assessment models to South African conditions
Atmospheric pollution ; Health ; Model ; Risk ; South Africa
South Africa is characterised by a mix of air pollution problems associated with urban-industrial activities and the domestic use of biofuels, both of which have negative human health risks. Based on empirical data it is shown that it is of critical
importance to have locally derived exposure values rather than default values. This can shift an outcome from one of no risk to one of severe health risk. It is concluded that the United States health risk framework provides a rapid and simple method
of assessing health risk, provided cognisance is taken of certain local input parameters, in particular exposure values. - (AJC)
Socio-geographical systems, institutional mechanisms and risk processes
Institution ; Modelling ; Risk ; Social geography ; System
of socio-geographical systems with different mechanisms relating to social inequalities and territorial differentiations. There are considered conceptualisations of uncertainty and risk in relations to socio-geographical systems. - (EN)
Beyond world risk society? A critique of Ulrich Beck’s world risk society thesis as a framework for understanding risk associated with human activity in outer space
Catastrophe ; Cosmos ; Daily life ; Empowerment ; Risk ; Security ; Space
This paper examines the risks generated by human activity in outer space, exploring the possibility of extending Ulrich Beck’s ‘world risk society’ thesis beyond the globe. Through the case studies looking at (1) the use of nuclear power in space
finishes by arguing that Beck’s understanding of a ‘reinvention of politics’ based on the intrusion of risk into everyday life cannot cope with the kinds of risk discussed in the paper. It concludes that it is only through greater recognition of the depth
of the economic and psychic structures at work that the politics of risk in outer space can be challenged.
Epidemiology and risk of road traffic mortality in South Africa
Epidemiology ; Mortality ; Risk ; Road accident ; Road traffic ; South Africa ; Spatial differentiation
In view of the large and increasing road traffic fatality burden in South Africa, this study describes the risk of fatal road traffic injuries according to population and rural-urban characteristics in the country between 2002 and 2006. There were
substantial variations in risk associated with population, temporal and seasonal characteristics, and measures of rurality. - (AJC)