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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Vahagn Jerbashian (Universitat de Barcelona); Montserrat Vilalta-Bufi (Universitat de Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | We use data from 14 European countries and provide evidence that the fall in prices of information and communication technologies (ICT) is associated with a significant increase in the share of employees who work from home. Similar results hold within age, gender, and occupation groups. There are notable differences across age groups, however. The effect of the fall in ICT prices on working from home increases with age. A rationale for such a result is that the preference for working from home increases with age. |
| Keywords: | Working from Home, ICT, Age, Gender, Occupations. |
| JEL: | J23 J24 O33 |
| Date: | 2020 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ewp:wpaper:404web&r=all |
| By: | Klein, Gordon |
| Abstract: | I analyze a quasi-natural experiment of fiber broadband rollout in a rural German area. The analysis particularly investigates the impact on real estate values. I find that there are strong and significant effects of fiber broadband deployment. These indicate that there are relevant personal benefits from broadband deployment for customers. Therefore, the findings add to the literature of evaluation of broadband infrastructure investment. |
| Keywords: | Broadband Internet,Real Estate Values,Quasi-natural experiment,Treatment Evaluation |
| Date: | 2020 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:cawmdp:122&r=all |
| By: | Claudio Daminato (CER–ETH – Center of Economic Research at ETH Zurich, Switzerland); Massimo Filippini (CER–ETH – Center of Economic Research at ETH Zurich and Department of Economics, University of Lugano, Switzerland); Fabio Haufler (CER–ETH – Center of Economic Research at ETH Zurich, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the impact of making personalized digital information available through a pension app on contributions to tax-favored retirement accounts. Using Swiss administrative pension fund data, we document limited take-up of fiscal incentives for retirement savings. Exploiting the staggered introduction of the pension app across occupational pension funds, we show that its availability increases individual tax-favored contributions. Men and higher-income earners are more likely to access the digital environment and respond to its introduction. These findings suggest that providing access to a pension app reduces information and transaction costs and facilitates the take-up of financial incentives for retirement saving. |
| Keywords: | Defined contribution plans, Fiscal incentives, Pension app, Savings |
| JEL: | D14 G51 H31 H55 |
| Date: | 2020–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eth:wpswif:20-347&r=all |
| By: | Leonard I. Nakamura |
| Abstract: | Corporate equity market values, profitability, and intangible investment have reached high proportions of income. Are these investments and their outcomes evidence of a well functioning society? We do not see the rapid growth in aggregate measures of output that would justify these investments and rewards. And why did the yield curve invert as the U.S. federal funds rate reached 2? percent in early 2019, if the inflation rate was near 2 percent? We present the broad case that mismeasurement of growth and prices accelerated in the U.S. during the 21st century and may be responsible for the appearance of secular stagnation in the U.S. We argue that it is possible that productivity growth has accelerated and that prices have been deflating during much of the 21st century. The evidence is very incomplete; large uncertainties surround these estimates. Indeed, the main message of this paper is that uncertainty in economic measurement has risen substantially. |
| Keywords: | National Accounts, Internet, Information, Inflation, Welfare, Mismeasurement |
| JEL: | O4 O3 E0 |
| Date: | 2020–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nsr:escoed:escoe-dp-2020-15&r=all |
| By: | Palmer, Lindsay; Pagoto, Sherry L.; Workman, Deja; Lewis, Kathrine A.; Rudin, Lauren R.; De Luna, Nina; Herrera, Valeria; Brown, Nathanial P.; Bibeau, Jessica; Arcangel, Kaylei |
| Abstract: | Undergraduates majoring in STEM at US universities/colleges completed an online survey in July 2020 and answered open-ended questions about their concerns about returning to campus and about learning online from home in Fall 2020. Students’ concerns about returning to campus included student noncompliance with university COVID-19 prevention guidelines, infection risk, poor instructional quality, inadequate university plans for preventing/handling outbreaks, negative impacts on social interactions, and transportation/commuting. Concerns about online learning from home included difficulty focusing on schoolwork, lack of hands-on/experiential learning, negative impacts on social interactions, family/home environment, concerns that online learning wastes time/money, and inadequate technology/Internet access. Universities should address student concerns and provide resources to overcome barriers to effective learning. |
| Date: | 2020–11–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:g3abx&r=all |
| By: | Hossan, Dalowar |
| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the entrepreneurial success of rural women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. Non-probability sampling specifically convenience sampling is used to draw the sample and data is collected using the self-administered survey. Regression analysis and descriptive statistics are used to analyze the data. The study discloses that motivational factors, government policy and financial support have significant influence on the rural women entrepreneurial success in Bangladesh. Due to lack of suitable training and proper development as well as ICT knowledge, the rural women of Bangladesh could not accomplish the achievement. Half of the total populations of Bangladesh are female and most of them live in rural areas. Therefore, the government and the policymakers in Bangladesh should develop the potential of rural women entrepreneurs by providing development facilities, proper training, and ICT knowledge. |
| Date: | 2020–11–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:4ajkf&r=all |
| By: | Angelo Moro (Centre d’Économie et de Sociologie appliquées à l'Agriculture et aux Espaces Ruraux, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement) |
| Abstract: | This technical report presents the results of a qualitative survey conducted in April and May 2020 with 25 workers who worked in the telework regime – either full-time or part-time – during the lock-down period following the epidemic of Covid-19 in Italy. The report analyses the consequences of the transition to telework along three main dimensions: work organisation, job quality and worklife balance. We show how workers telework experience during the lock-down is extremely heterogeneous across the employment structure, depending on a number of factors and variables such as the level of skills, the type of work, the task content, the intensity of ICT use and workers' gender and household composition. |
| Keywords: | Telework, Covid-19, Italy, Work organisation, Job quality, Work-life balance. |
| Date: | 2020–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:laedte:202010&r=all |