Economic and Social Research Institute

About: Economic and Social Research Institute is a nonprofit organization based out in Dublin, Ireland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 425 authors who have published 1530 publications receiving 41567 citations.

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with an increased risk of obesity in early adolescence: a population-based prospective cohort study.

Abstract: Objective To determine whether adverse childhood experiences were associated with weight gain and obesity risk in adolescence. Methods We analyzed data from 6942 adolescents followed between 9 and 13 years of age in the Growing Up in Ireland cohort study. The main exposures were 14 adverse childhood experiences, 4 of which were included in the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study. The primary outcome was incident overweight and obesity at 13 years. Secondary outcomes included prevalent overweight/obesity and weight gain. Results More than 75% of the youth experienced an adverse experience and 17% experienced an ACE-specific experience before 9 years. At 13 years, 48% were female and 31.4% were overweight or obese. After adjusting for confounding, exposure to any adverse experience was associated with prevalent overweight/obesity (aOR: 1.56; 1.19-2.05) and incident overweight/obesity (adjusted IRR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.37-3.39), while exposure to an ACE-specific exposure was associated weight gain (BMI Z score change = 0.202; 95% CI: 0.100-0.303). A significant interaction between income and adverse childhood experiences was observed for both incident overweight/obesity and weight gain (BMI Z change: -0.046; 95% CI: -0.092 to 0.000). Conclusions Adverse childhood experiences and low income interact and independently predict obesity risk in early adolescence.

Internationalisation of Firms and their Innovation and Productivity

Abstract: This paper examines the links between the internationalisation of firms and their innovation and productivity performance using data from Ireland over the period 2004–2008. Our econometric results indicate that, relative to firms that served the domestic market only, firms with international activities were more likely to invest in innovation, they were more likely to be successful in terms of innovation output, and they had a higher labour productivity. In line with the most recent literature on international trade with heterogeneous firms, our empirical evidence shows that, among firms with international activities, labour productivity was higher in foreign affiliates in comparison to domestic exporters.

Geographic clustering of economic activity: The case of prominent western visual artists

Abstract: This article compiles original data relating to artists’ place of birth and work migration patterns using various art history dictionaries. The broad historic pattern, from the 13th to the 20th century, of the birth locations of prominent artists is examined, followed by a detailed study of the work migration patterns of prominent artists in two important situations, namely Renaissance Italy and France in part of the 19th century. The evidence indicates a marked clustering of activity of prominent artists, both arising from birth location and migration patterns. Some possible explanations for the observed patterns are briefly outlined.