Kearney Hald (butterfrog96)

6 percent increase in deaths from COVID-19.This study aims to understand the impacts of Pokémon GO, a popular location-based augmented reality (AR) mobile gaming app, on route and mode choices. Pokémon GO leverages AR to introduce virtual objects at fixed and dynamic locations that translate through the app interface to incentives in the real world that potentially influence users' route and mode choices. Its gaming nature and social components can possibly enhance long-term user engagement through applying the characteristics of game elements and providing opportunities for competition, collaboration, companionship, and social reinforcement. An online survey is conducted to collect the self-reported behavior of a group of Pokémon GO users to explore its impacts on the following aspects of travel behavior (1) the frequency of changing the route to interact with virtual objects; (2) the likelihood of carpooling more instead of driving alone for more in-app collaboration; and (3) the likelihood of shifting mode from drive alone to public transit, walking, and cycling if provided with additional incentives. The ordered survey responses including frequency and likelihood are analyzed using random parameters ordered probit models to account for the unobserved heterogeneity across users and identify subpopulations of travelers who are more susceptible to the influence of Pokémon GO. The modeling results identify four types of variables (attitude and perceptions related to Pokémon GO, app engagement, play style, and sociodemographic characteristics) that affect users' travel behavior. The results illustrate that such apps with integrated AR, gamification, and social components can be used by policymakers to influence various aspects of travel behavior. The study findings and insights can provide valuable feedback to system operators for designing such apps to dynamically manage traffic in real-time and promote long-term sustainable mode shifts.In its September 2020 issue, Wirtschaftsdienst published an article entitled "Bremst die Doppik öffentliche Investitionen? Ergebnisse aus drei aktuellen Evaluationsstudien" by Désirée Christofzik, Florian Dorn, Stefanie Gäbler, Christian Raffer and Felix Rösel. Stephan Stüber takes a different view in a reply, and Christofzik et al. explain their point of view in a response.The end of the pandemic requires that SARS-CoV-2 vaccines be used. However, vaccination itself can lead to temporary adverse health effects and/or long-term damage. Vaccination initially represents a private good demanded by an individual cost-benefit calculus; however, it also creates positive externalities and thus too few individual incentives to vaccinate. Getting vaccinated is not a dominant rational strategy, neither in the overall population, nor among the old and the young, nor when the long-term costs of the pandemic are taken into account. It is all the more important to "price in" the long-term consequences of a lasting pandemic.global air transport passenger traffic has been particularly affected by measures to combat COVID-19. Since February 2020, both the number of global passengers and passenger flight kilometers has decreased worldwide - in Western Europe by about 80 % by the end of 2020. These developments have caused financial losses for both airlines and airports worldwide, critically threatening the existence of a large number of these companies. As the industry is of great economic importance, special government support measures could contribute to the economic recovery of the aviation industry. However, not only should certain companies be supported, but the support measures should be linked to defined and transparent criteria.During the Coronavirus pandemic, short-time work and other relief measures have stabilised various industries in Germany, particularly the hospitality sector. Short-time work safeguards not only threatened jobs but also lessens income losses that would occur if jobs were lost. M