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on Labour Economics |
| By: | Canton, E.J.F.; Verheul, I. (Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), RSM Erasmus University) |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the role of social interactions at the work floor for understanding gender pay differences in the EU. Using data from the Fourth European Working Conditions Survey, we find that sex similarity of subordinate and supervisor decreases the pay disadvantage for women in non-managerial occupations, though working for a female boss is associated with a lower wage than working for a man. This may point at a ‘discrimination-for-pay’ effect. Female workers can avoid part of the discrimination against them by working for a woman and accepting lower pay. And when they face stronger discrimination in the situation of a male supervisor, they are ‘bribed’ by being offered a higher salary. Different results are obtained for managerial workers where sex similarity of worker and superior actually puts women at a further disadvantage. In addition to effects of vertical gender segregation, we examine whether wage formation is influenced by the proportion of women per sector (i.e., horizontal segregation), but find only weak support for the so-called social bias theory. Our main message is that while the traditional human capital model tends to study the wage formation process in isolation, gender pay differentials can also be seen as a social phenomenon, stemming from social interactions in labor markets. |
| Keywords: | gender pay differences;wages;European Union |
| Date: | 2009–07–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:eureri:1765016215&r=lab |
| By: | Livanos, Ilias |
| Abstract: | The high level of graduate unemployment, even though has been acknowledged as one of the most distinctive characteristics of the Greek labour market, has not attracted enough attention in the academic literature. This paper utilizes the recently available micro-data from the Greek Labour Force Survey in order to investigate how the employment situation of young (aged 35 and below) graduates varies according to their field of study. The findings suggest that graduates of disciplines that have high levels of private sector employment, such as Polytechnics and Computer Science, are in general better off in the Greek labour market. On the other hand, graduates of disciplines that are traditionally related to the needs of the public sector, such as Sociology and Humanities face poor employment prospects. The findings of this study highlight the need for drastic reforms of the Higher Education system. |
| Keywords: | graduate unemployment; Greece; higher education; field of study; labour market |
| JEL: | A23 C31 |
| Date: | 2009–07–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16239&r=lab |
| By: | Mark Bils; Yongsung Chang; Sun-Bin Kim |
| Abstract: | We model worker heterogeneity in the rents from being employed in a Diamond-Mortensen-Pissarides model of matching and unemployment. We show that heterogeneity, reflecting differences in match quality and worker assets, reduces the extent of fluctuations in separations and unemployment. We find that the model faces a trade-off--it cannot produce both realistic dispersion in wage growth across workers and realistic cyclical fluctuations in unemployment. |
| JEL: | E2 E32 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:15166&r=lab |
| By: | Raul Ramos (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona); Juan Carlos Duque (Research in Spatial Economics, EAFIT University); Jordi Suriñach (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | The objective of this paper is to analyse the existence or not of a wage curve in Colombia, paying special attention to the differences between formal and informal workers, an issue that has been systematically ignored in the wage curve literature. The obtained results using microdata from the Colombian Continuous Household Survey (CHS) between 2002 and 2006 show the existence of a wage curve with a negative slope for the Colombian economy. Using information on metropolitan areas, the estimates of the elasticity of individual wages to local unemployment rates was -0.07, a value that is very close to those obtained for other countries. However, the disaggregation of statistical information for formal and informal workers has shown significant differences among both groups of workers. In particular, for the less protected groups of the labour market, informal workers (both men and women), a high negatively sloped wage curve was found. This result is consistent with the conclusions from efficiency wage theoretical models and should be taken into account when analysing the functioning of regional labour markets in developing countries. |
| Keywords: | Wage curve, unemployment, formal and informal sectors |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ira:wpaper:200918&r=lab |
| By: | Guido Cazzavillan (Department of Economics, University Of Venice Cà Foscari); Krzysztof Olszewski (Department of Economics, University Of Venice Cà Foscari) |
| Abstract: | In this paper skill-biased technological change is linked with endogenous labor supply which allows for unemployment. This is a novel approach, as the literature on skill-biased technological change considers inelastic labor supply. Elastic labor supply allows us to explain how the observed increasing unemployment of unskilled workers is caused by skill-biased technological change. Our numerical analysis shows that if the skill-biased technological change is not followed by the growth of total factor productivity, then output, physical capital stock and consumption decline. Using empirical data on wages and education, we construct a time series for skill-biased technological change for Poland and the US. The empirical relevance of the model is tested by calibrating it to empirical data for Poland over the period 1996-2006 and US over the period 1992-2008. With only two necessary inputs, share of skilled workers in total population and the technology adopted by firms, this model allows to simulate the future behaviour of the labor market. |
| Keywords: | Skill-biased technological change, Endogenous labor supply, Transition Economies |
| JEL: | O11 O3 O41 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ven:wpaper:2009_12&r=lab |
| By: | Lanfranchi, Joseph; Narcy, Mathieu; Larguem, Makram |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we intend to evaluate the determinants of the decision utility of workers from the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In our setting, decision utility is the weight assigned by workers to the expected benefits from job offers. For that purpose, we use the methodology of conjoint analysis that collects experimental data on workers’ stated preferences towards hypothetical job offers characterized by ten attributes. Intrinsic motivation of nonprofit workers is investigated by specifically analyzing the influence on decision utility of three of these attributes, namely wages, working time and loyalty from the employer. The results show evidence of motivational differences between the two groups. First, nonprofit workers attain their maximum decision utility at a longer working time, showing superior intrinsic motivation for work. Furthermore, they are ready to abandon a higher percentage of their wage in order to work for another extra hour than for-profit workers as long as the working week is inferior to 33 hours. Finally, our findings show that for-profit workers evaluate more highly job offers with labour contract including explicit clause where higher effort is exchanged for employer’s loyalty. In contrast, nonprofit workers do not obtain higher utility from such a deal. We interpret this result as evidence of their intrinsic motivation. As the nature of the implicit goals pursued in the nonprofit sector provides them with high work morale, they do not obtain any gain in utility from an explicit clause of employer’s loyalty. |
| Keywords: | nonprofit workers; intrinsic motivation; conjoint analysis |
| JEL: | J28 L31 C91 |
| Date: | 2009–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16359&r=lab |
| By: | Rémi Bazillier (LEO - Université d'Orléans); Yasser Moullan (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne) |
| Abstract: | We study in this paper the interactions between migration rates and the level of labour standards. We use an augmented version of the Grogger and Hanson (2008) model, adding the level of working conditions into the specification. Our hypothesis is that the differential of working conditions may be a complementary determinant of migration. In a first time, we test the influence of labour standards in countries of origin using a database on emigration rates built by Defoort (2006) for the period 1975-1995. For labour standards, we built an original index with a temporal dimension. We find that labour standards in the source countries does not have a significant impact on the probability of moving abroad. In a second time, we use a bilateral migration database built by Marfouk and Docquier (2004) in order to test the influence of labour standards in destination countries. If labour standards in the source countries do not have a significant impact on migration flows, level of labour conditions in destination countries have multiple effects on bilateral migration flows. Social protection or protection of collective relations have a positive impact on migration, while job and employment protection laws have the opposite effect. We also find that high-skilled workers are much more sensitive to social security benefits while low skilled workers are more attracted by a protective job and employment legislation. |
| Keywords: | Migration, labour standards, brain-drain, labour markets. |
| JEL: | J8 O1 F2 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mse:cesdoc:09048&r=lab |
| By: | Rémi Bazillier (LEO - Laboratoire d'économie d'Orleans - CNRS : UMR6221 - Université d'Orléans); Yasser Moullan (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - CNRS : UMR8174 - Université Panthéon-Sorbonne - Paris I) |
| Abstract: | We study in this paper the interactions between migration rates and the level of labour standards. We use an augmented version of the Grogger and Hanson (2008) model, adding the level of working conditions into the specification. Our hypothesis is that the differential of working conditions may be a complementary determinant of migration. In a first time, we test the influence of labour standards in countries of origin using a database on emigration rates built by Defoort (2006) for the period 1975-1995. For labour standards, we built an original index with a temporal dimension. We find that labour standards in the source countries does not have a significant impact on the probability of moving abroad. In a second time, we use a bilateral migration database built by Marfouk and Docquier (2004) in order to test the influence of labour standards in destination countries. If labour standards in the source countries do not have a significant impact on migration flows, level of labour conditions in destination countries have multiple effects on bilateral migration flows. Social protection or protection of collective relations have a positive impact on migration, while job and employment protection laws have the opposite effect. We also find that high-skilled workers are much more sensitive to social security benefits while low skilled workers are more attracted by a protective job and employment legislation. |
| Keywords: | Migration, labour standards, brain-drain, labour markets. |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:cesptp:halshs-00404190_v1&r=lab |
| By: | Orsetta Causa; Sophie Dantan; Åsa Johansson |
| Abstract: | This paper breaks new ground by providing comparable estimates of intergenerational wage and education persistence across 14 European OECD countries based on a new micro data from Eurostat. A further novelty is that it examines the potential role of public policies and labour and product market institutions in explaining observed differences in intergenerational wage mobility across countries. The empirical estimates show that intergenerational wage persistence is relatively high in southern European countries, as well as in the United Kingdom. Likewise, intergenerational persistence in education is relatively high both in southern European countries and in Luxembourg and Ireland. By contrast, both persistence in wages and education tends to be lower in Nordic countries. In addition, empirical results show that education is one important driver of intergenerational wage persistence across European countries. There is a positive crosscountry correlation between intergenerational wage mobility and redistributive policies, as well as a positive correlation between wage-setting institutions that compress the wage distribution and mobility.<P>Mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle dans les pays européens de l'OCDE<BR>Cet article comble une faille dans la littérature en présentant de nouvelles mesures harmonisées du degré de mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle de salaire et d’éducation pour 15 pays européens de l’OCDE, grâce à l’utilisation de nouvelles donnes microéconomiques publiées par Eurostat. Il analyse également le rôle des politiques en vigueur sur le marché du travail et sur le marché des produits dans l’explication des différences de mobilité entre pays. Les estimations suggèrent que la persistance intergénérationnelle des salaires est relativement élevée dans les pays du Sud de l’Europe, ainsi qu’au Royaume-Uni. De la même façon, la persistance intergénérationnelle du niveau d’éducation est relativement élevée dans les pays du Sud de l’Europe, ainsi qu’au Luxembourg. En revanche, la persistance intergénérationnelle, aussi bien du niveau de l’éducation que des salaires, est relativement faible dans les pays nordiques. De plus, les résultats empiriques montrent que dans les pays européens de l’OCDE, l’éducation est un vecteur important de la mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle. L’étude suggère qu’il existe une corrélation positive entre la mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle des salaires et la générosité des politiques de redistribution du revenu, résultat qui s’applique également à l’analyse de l’impact des instances de négociation collective qui compressent la grille salariale. |
| Keywords: | education, éducation, public policy, politique publique, intergenerational wage mobility, mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle des salariés, intergenerational education mobility, mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle de l'éducation, household survey data, données sur les ménages |
| JEL: | C20 C21 H23 H31 J60 J62 |
| Date: | 2009–07–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:709-en&r=lab |
| By: | Massimiliano Mazzanti (University of Ferrara); Susanna Mancinelli (University of Ferrara); Giovanni Ponti (University of Ferrara); Nora Piva (University of Ferrara) |
| Abstract: | The strong adverse selection that immigrants face in hosting labour markets may induce them to adopt some behaviours or signals to modify employers’ beliefs. Relevant mechanisms for reaching this purpose are personal reputation; exploiting ethnic networks deeply-rooted in the hosting country; and high educational levels used as an indirect signal of productivity. On this last point, the immigrant status needs a stronger signal compared to that necessary for a local worker, and this may lead the immigrant to accept job qualifications which are lower than those achievable through the embodied educational level. This could explain the over education problem that characterizes many countries, Italy included. The aim of the paper is to investigate whether the above mentioned mechanisms are adopted by immigrants in Italy, a crucial country for EU immigration flows, and if they are useful in increasing immigrants’ likelihood of employment. The empirical analysis has been conducted using the dataset from a national Labour Force Survey which provides information on 6,860 documented immigrants. We estimate a logit model for immigrants’ likelihood of being employed, focusing on the above mentioned mechanisms: reputation, ethnic networks and educational level. Moreover we concentrate on the interaction effects of the mechanisms and investigate whether one of them wins on the others. Results show that each of the three mechanisms is statistically and economically significant and exerts positive influence: all factors contribute to increasing the immigrant’s probability of being employed. Anyway, a high level of education increases the probability of being employed more than the belonging to ethnic networks deeply-rooted in Italy. The specific embodied capital of workers matter relatively more. This is relevant for labour public policies in this specific realm since the human capital lever is a possible direct target of various public policies and private human capital investments. |
| Keywords: | Educational Qualifications, Migrant Networks, Immigrant Employability, Reputation, Segmented Labour Markets |
| JEL: | D82 J24 I2 F22 |
| Date: | 2009–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fem:femwpa:2009.48&r=lab |
| By: | Cory Koedel (Department of Economics, University of Missouri-Columbia) |
| Abstract: | States differ substantially in the structures of their public four-year university systems. This paper uses micro-level data to evaluate the effects of postsecondary education structure on individuals’ educational and labor-market outcomes. Postsecondary education structure affects whether individuals attend universities at all, whether they attend public or private universities, and whether they attend large or small universities. Individuals who are exposed to more-fractionalized structures are adversely affected in the labor market. In conjunction with evidence that it is more expensive to educate students at smaller universities, this latter result suggests that states with more-fractionalized postsecondary education structures should look to consolidate their resources into fewer, larger universities. |
| Keywords: | postsecondary education structure, higher education structure, small university, large university, postsecondary education costs |
| JEL: | I20 I23 J24 |
| Date: | 2009–07–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:umc:wpaper:0906&r=lab |
| By: | Casper van Ewijk; Michiel van Leuvensteijn |
| Abstract: | Increasing labour market flexibility is at the top of the European agenda. A new and challenging view is a lack of mobility in the labour market may arise from rigidities in the housing market. The research in this book has been inspired by the intriguing hypothesis put forward by Andrew Oswald that homeownership may be a hindrance to the smooth working of the labour markets, as homeowners tend to be less willing to accept jobs outside their own region.<br> This book brings together leading economists from across Europe to analyse the interaction between housing markets and labour markets. In the EU homeownership rates have been on the increase, often as a result of government policies, making the barriers that homeownership creates in terms of labour mobility increasingly important. This book shows on the one hand, at the individual level, that homeownership limits the likelihood of becoming unemployed and increases the probability of finding a job once unemployed. On the other hand, the transaction costs inherent in the housing market and homeownership hamper job-to-job changes and increase unemployment at the country level. This insight provides a clear policy message to European policymakers: reform in the housing market, aimed at lowering transaction costs and providing less generous subsidies for homeowners could be an effective instrument for reducing unemployment and improving labour market flexibility. |
| Keywords: | home ownership; labour market; Europe; housing market; transaction costs; labor mobility; unemployment |
| JEL: | J60 J61 R23 |
| Date: | 2009–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpb:spcial:79&r=lab |
| By: | Choe, Chung (CEPS/INSTEAD) |
| Abstract: | The study compares the labor market experience of men with disabilities before and after the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The handful of studies that have focused on the wage impact of disabilities have either not fully incorporated the probability of employment into the analysis or have not correctly decomposed the wage differences in light of selectivity corrections. After estimating a two-stage model of the probability of employment followed by a wage equation for men with and without disabilities, I use Newman and Oaxaca?s (2004) method to correctly decompose the distributions. In addition, I also perform a similar analysis to explain the differentials in employment rates between the non-disabled and disabled. The analyses are performed for samples before and after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The results from studies of the Survey of Income Program Participation (SIPP) of 1984, 1990, 1996 and 2001 indicate that the employment and wage gaps between the disabled and the non-disabled have risen sharply over time, both before and after the passage of the ADA. Most of the rise prior to the ADA was attributable to arise in differences that cannot be explained with measurable factors. Nearly all of the rise in the gaps in the 1990s, however, is attributable to factors that can be measured. The unexplained differential has held relatively constant during that period. |
| Keywords: | Discrimination; ADA |
| JEL: | I1 J15 J71 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irs:iriswp:2009-07&r=lab |
| By: | Richard Buddin; Gema Zamarro |
| Abstract: | This research examines whether teacher licensure test scores and other teacher qualifications affect middle school student achievement. The results are based on longitudinal student-level data from Los Angeles. The achievement analysis uses a value-added approach that adjusts for both student and teacher fixed effects. The results show little relationship between traditional measures of teacher quality (e.g., experience and education level) and student achievement in reading or math. Similarly, licensure test scores in general aptitude, subject-matter knowledge, and reading pedagogy had no significant effects on student achievement. Teachers with elementary school credentials had slightly better success in the classroom than did teachers with secondary school credentials. |
| Keywords: | teacher quality, teacher licensure, student achievement, middle school, two-level fixed effects, education production function |
| JEL: | J44 J45 H0 H75 I21 |
| Date: | 2009–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ran:wpaper:671&r=lab |
| By: | Martti Randveer; Tairi Rõõm |
| Abstract: | This paper presents new evidence from a unique survey of firm managers on migration patterns in Estonia in 2007. An average emigrant from Estonia was most likely a young person between 15-34 years of age, a blue-collar worker and male. Contrary to evidence from other countries and/or earlier time periods, employees with a low level of education were more likely to emigrate than highly educated workers. We assessed which enterprises were more exposed to the crossborder movement of workers. The vast majority (97%) of emigrants left from private sector enterprises. Most immigrant workers were employed by private sector companies as well. Firms hiring a larger share of low-skilled blue-collar workers were more exposed to the mobility of international labour. The regression results indicated that the tendency to emigrate was the strongest among construction sector employees, whereas immigrant workers were most likely hired by manufacturing companies |
| Keywords: | immigration, emigration, survey |
| JEL: | F22 J61 J62 |
| Date: | 2009–07–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eea:boewps:wp2009-01&r=lab |
| By: | Henriette Engelhardt (Vienna Institute of Demography, Austrian Academy of Sciences.); Alexia Prskawetz (Vienna Institute of Demography, Austrian Academy of Sciences.) |
| Abstract: | Various authors nd that in OECD countries the cross-country correlation between the total fertility rate and the female labour force participation rate turned from a negative value before the 1980s to a positive value thereafter. Based on pooled time series analysis the literature seems to agree that this change is due to unmeasured country and time heterogeneity with respect to female employment. However, the role of female employment for time and country heterogeneity remains unclear. Using data of 22 OECD countries from 1960-2000 we estimate pooled time series models of fertility and female labour force participation by applying random effects and xed effects panel models as well as Prais-Winsten regressions with panel-corrected standard errors and autoregressive errors. Proceeding with Prais-Winsten regressions our empirical ndings reveal substantial differences across countries and time periods in the effects of female employment on fertility. Initial increases in female employment strongly lowers fertility, but continued increases have a progressively less negative effect. The country heterogeneity in the effect of female employment can also be conrmed for different regions as well as for varying welfare and gender regimes. |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:vid:eudgrp:0501&r=lab |
| By: | Patrick Lünnemann (Banque centrale du Luxembourg; 2, boulevard Royal; L-2983 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.); Ladislav Wintr (Banque centrale du Luxembourg; 2, boulevard Royal; L-2983 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.) |
| Abstract: | This paper assesses the degree of wage flexibility in Luxembourg using an administrative data set on individual base wages covering the entire economy over the period 2001-2006 with monthly frequency. We find that the wage flexibility at the discretion of the firm is rather low once we limit measurement error and remove wage changes due to institutional factors (indexation, changes in statutory minimum wage, age and marital status). The so adjusted frequency of wage change lies between 5% and 7%. On average, wages change less often than consumer prices. Less than one percent of (nominal) wages are cut both from month to month and from year to year. Due to automatic wage indexation, wages appear to be subject to substantial downward real wage rigidity. Finally, wage changes tend to be highly synchronised as they are concentrated around the events of wage indexation and the month of January. JEL Classification: J31. |
| Keywords: | wage flexibility, wage rigidity. |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:200901074&r=lab |
| By: | Margherita Comola; Luiz de Mello |
| Abstract: | The Indonesian labour market is characterised by widespread informality. To some extent, these outcomes can be attributed to a sharp increase in the real value of the minimum wage since 2001, when minimum-wage setting was decentralised to the provincial governments. To test this hypothesis, this paper uses survey data on the labour market (Sakernas), household income and expenditure (Susenas) and the industrial sector (Survei Industri) to construct a district-level dataset spanning the period 1996 to 2004. The effects of changes in the minimum wage on unemployment, formal-sector employment and the incidence of informality in urban areas are estimated separately by fixed effects and jointly by a seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) estimator. Our findings show that an increase in the minimum-to-mean wage ratio is associated with a net increase in employment: a rise in informal-sector employment more than compensates for job losses in the formal sector. This Working Paper relates to the 2008 OECD Economic Assessment of Indonesia (www.oecd.org/eco/surveys/indonesia).<P>Comment la décentralisation de la fixation du salaire minimum affecte le chômage et l’informalité ? L’expérience de l’Indonésie<BR>Le marché du travail indonésien est caractérisé par une importante informalité. Dans une certaine mesure, ces résultats peuvent être attribués à une forte augmentation de la valeur réelle du salaire minimum depuis 2001, quand la fixation du salaire minimum a été décentralisée vers les provinces. Pour tester cette hypothèse, ce document utilise les données des enquêtes sur le marché du travail (Sakernas), sur les revenus et les dépenses des ménages (Susenas) et sur le secteur industriel (Survei Industri) pour construire une base de données au niveau des administrations locales pour la période entre 1996 et 2004. Les effets de l’évolution du salaire minimum sur le chômage, sur l’emploi du secteur formel et sur l’informalité urbaine sont estimés séparément par un modèle à effets fixes et conjointement par SUR. Nos résultats suggèrent qu’une augmentation du ratio salaire minimum/salaire moyen entre 1996 et 2004 est accompagnée d’une nette augmentation de l’emploi : une augmentation de l’emploi du secteur informel a plus que compensé les pertes d’emploi du secteur formel. Ce Document de travail se rapporte à l’Évaluation économique de l’OCDE de l’Indonésie, 2008 (www.oecd.org/eco/etudes/indonesie). |
| Keywords: | unemployment, chômage, employment, emploi, Indonesia, salaire minimum, minimum wage, informality, informalité, Indonésie |
| JEL: | J23 J31 J64 |
| Date: | 2009–07–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:710-en&r=lab |
| By: | B. COCKX; B. VAN DER LINDEN |
| Abstract: | The current unemployment insurance and employment protection legislation were set up in an economic environment in which relationships between workers and firms were typically long-lasting and stable. The increasing globalisation of the economy and the rapid technological and organisational changes require more flexibility of both workers and firms leading to career paths which are much more volatile both within and between firms. Current institutions must be therefore urgently reformed to reconcile this new need of more flexibility with that of security for workers. The call for “flexicurity” is not new, but there is no unanimity on the corresponding institutional model it implies. Rather than proposing a reform on the basis of existing institutions abroad, we propose a reform that is explicitly guided by economic principles. In a nutshell, we propose to transform the bulk of the advance notice payments by a unique lay-off contribution, independently of the type of worker (blue or white-collar) and type of contract (temporary or open-ended). A severance payment, less important than the lay-off contribution, is due to cover the psychic cost related to dismissal. In order to make the employer accountable for the costs he imposes on society, the lay-off contribution should be made proportional to the cumulative past earnings since the moment that the worker was hired in the firm. This contribution would be used not only to finance a supplement to the current unemployment benefits, but also, as to make the worker more accountable, to finance active labour market policies for the unemployed. Aside of this scheme, it makes sense to generalise the current scheme of temporary unemployment benefits for blue-collar workers to white-collar workers, but only to the extent that one introduces experience rating in the funding, so that again the employers are made accountable for the social costs that they induce by these temporary lay-offs. |
| Keywords: | flexicurity, employment protection, unemployment insurance, active labour market policies, optimal design |
| JEL: | H11 H21 H23 J65 J68 |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rug:rugwps:09/584&r=lab |
| By: | Koster Fleur; Grip Andries de; Fouarge Didier (ROA rm) |
| Abstract: | Th is paper focuses on the question whether it is benefi cial for fi rms to invest inthe general skills of their workforce or that these training investments merelyencourage personnel turnover. We examine two contrary theoretical perspectives onhow investments in employee development are related to their turnover behaviour.Estimation results derived from a sample of 2,833 Dutch pharmacy assistants showthat participation in general training does not induce the intention of assistantsto quit, as predicted by human capital theory. We fi nd that a fi rm’s investmentsin general training, signifi cantly contribute to the perceived support in employeedevelopment (PSED) among their workforce. Our results also show that PSED isnegatively related to the intention of employees to quit the fi rm. Th is eff ect is to alarge extent mediated by the job satisfaction of pharmacy assistants. Our fi ndingssupport the importance of social exchange theory in explaining turnover behaviour asa consequence of personnel development practices. It should be noted, however, thatPSED only diminishes the intention to quit for other occupations. |
| Keywords: | education, training and the labour market; |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:umaror:2009011&r=lab |
| By: | Johannes Abeler (University of Bonn); Stefen Altmann (IZA Bonn); Sebastian Kube (Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods); Matthias Wibral (University of Bonn) |
| Abstract: | We study how different payment modes inuence the effectiveness of gift exchange as a contract enforcement device. In particular, we analyze how horizontal fairness concerns affect performance and efficiency in an environment characterized by contractual incompleteness. In our experiment, one principal is matched with two agents. The principal pays equal wages in one treatment and can set individual wages in the other. We find that the use of equal wages elicits substantially lower efforts. This is not caused by monetary incentives per se since under both wage schemes it is profit-maximizing for agents to exert high efforts. The treatment difference instead seems to be driven by the fact that the norm of equity is violated far more frequently in the equal wage treatment. After having suffered from violations of the equity principle, agents withdraw effort. These findings hold even after controlling for the role of intentions, as we show in a third treatment. Our results suggest that adherence to the norm of equity is a necessary prerequisite for successful establishment of gift-exchange relations. |
| Keywords: | wage setting, wage equality, equity, gift exchange, reciprocity, incomplete contracts |
| JEL: | J33 D63 M52 C92 J41 |
| Date: | 2009–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdx:dpaper:2009-11&r=lab |
| By: | Deepti Goel; Kevin Lang |
| Abstract: | We show that increasing the probability of obtaining a job offer through a network should raise the observed wages of workers in jobs found through formal channels relative to those in jobs found through the network. This prediction holds at all percentiles except the highest and lowest. The largest changes are likely to occur below the median of the offer distribution. We test and confirm these implications using a survey of recent immigrants into Canada. We develop a simple structural model consistent with the theoretical model and show that it can replicate the broad patterns in the data. Our results are consistent with the primary effect of network strength being to increase the arrival rate of offers rather than to alter the distribution from which offers are drawn at least among recent immigrants. |
| JEL: | J31 J61 J64 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:15186&r=lab |
| By: | Van Opstal, Wim; Deraedt, Eva; Gijselinckx, Caroline |
| Abstract: | The sector of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) has grown considerably all across Europe during the last few decades. While WISEs focusing at sheltered employment for people with disabilities exist for a long time already, many governments embraced WISEs as an active labour market policy tool to address an expanding scope of disadvantaged workers. Measurement of the effectiveness of these policies remains scarce, however. Even worse, many governments do not even have a clear sight on the profile of WISEs they are supporting. In this paper, we utilize data from a newly designed monitoring instrument to capture the profile of WISEs in Flanders (Belgium). We discuss some methodological issues in using administrative data to monitor this sector, and present a profile at the enterprise level and at the worker level. More specifically, we analyse both profile differences between and profile shifts within WISE work forms that have been defined by the government. This allows us to compare the profile of early stage WISEs with that of their mature counterparts. Moreover, it invites us to evaluate whether these profile shifts and differences are in accordance with policy choices made. |
| Keywords: | Work Integration Social Enterprises; Active Labour Market Policy; Monitoring; Early Stage Enterprises; Worker profile |
| JEL: | L25 L3 J68 M13 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16398&r=lab |
| By: | Matilde Bombardini (University of British Columbia, CIFAR, NBER and RCEA); Giovanni Gallipoli (University of British Columbia and RCEA); Germán Pupato (University of British Columbia) |
| Abstract: | Is skill dispersion a source of comparative advantage? While it is established that a country's aggregate endowment of human capital is an important determinant of comparative advantage, this paper investigates whether the distribution of skills in the labor force can play a role in the determination of trade flows. We develop a multi-country, multi-sector model of trade in which comparative advantage derives from (i) differences across sectors in the complementarity of workers' skills, (ii) the dispersion of skills in the working population. First, we show how higher dispersion in human capital can trigger specialization in sectors characterized by higher substitutability among workers' skills. We then use industry-level bilateral trade data to show that human capital dispersion, as measured by a standard international metric, has a signi cant effect on trade flows. We nd that the effect is of a magnitude comparable to that of aggregate endowments. The result is robust to the introduction of several controls for other proximate causes of comparative advantage |
| JEL: | F12 F16 J82 |
| Date: | 2009–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rim:rimwps:wp20_09&r=lab |
| By: | Orsetta Causa; Catherine Chapuis |
| Abstract: | This paper focuses on inequalities in learning opportunities for individuals coming from different socioeconomic backgrounds as a measure of (in) equality of opportunity in OECD countries and looks at the role played by policies and institutions in shaping countries’ relative positions. Based on harmonised 15- year old students’ achievement data collected at the individual level, the empirical analysis shows that while Nordic European countries exhibit relatively low levels of inequality, continental Europe is characterised by high levels of inequality - in particular of schooling segregation along socio-economic lines - while Anglo-Saxon countries occupy a somewhat intermediate position. Policies allowing increasing social mix are found to reduce school socio-economic segregation without affecting overall performance. Countries that emphasise childcare and pre-school institutions exhibit lower levels of inequality of opportunity, suggesting the effectiveness of early intervention policies in reducing persistence of education outcomes across generations. There is also a positive association between inequality of opportunities and income inequality. As a consequence, cross-country regressions suggest that redistributive policies can help to reduce inequalities of educational opportunities associated with socioeconomic background and, hence, persistence of education outcomes across generations.<P>Équité et compétences scolaires dans les pays de l'OCDE : examen du rôle des politiques publiques<BR>Cet article analyse les inégalités de compétences scolaires pour des individus d’origine sociale différente comme une mesure d’(in)égalité des chances dans les pays de l’OCDE et étudie le rôle joué par les politiques publiques dans ce contexte. Le travail empirique est basé sur l’analyse de données individuelles harmonisées entre pays mesurant les compétences scolaires d’étudiants âgés de 15 ans. Les résultats montrent que les pays d’Europe du Nord sont caractérises par des niveaux relativement faibles d’inégalités, tandis que les pays d’Europe continentale sont caractérises par des niveaux relativement élevés d’inégalités, en particulier en termes de ségrégation socio-économique a l’école; enfin, les pays anglosaxons occupent a ce titre une position intermédiaire. Les politiques favorables à la mixité sociale à l’école réduisent la ségrégation scolaire sans en affecter la performance générale. Les pays qui mettent l’accent sur les services à la petite enfance et sur les institutions préscolaires sont caractérisés par des niveaux relativement faibles d’inégalités des chances, ce qui suggère l’efficacité potentielle des interventions éducatives précoces dans la promotion de la mobilité intergénérationnelle. L’analyse empirique suggere l’existence d’une association positive entre inégalités de compétences scolaires et inégalités de revenu. Par conséquent, les régressions inter-pays suggerent que les politiques redistributives peuvent aider à réduire les inégalités de compétences scolaires associées a l’origine sociale, et, ce faisant, les phénomènes de persistance éducative entre les générations. |
| Keywords: | education, éducation, public policy, politique publique, equality of education opportunity, égalité des chances scolaires, equity in student achievement, school socio-economic segregation, ségrégation socioéconomique à l'école, équité et compétences scolaires |
| JEL: | H23 I20 I21 I28 I38 |
| Date: | 2009–07–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:708-en&r=lab |
| By: | Edwards, John Richard (Cardiff Business School) |
| Abstract: | British-based studies of the education of aspiring accountants have confined attention to developments following the formation of professional bodies. This paper examines educational provision during the early modern period which broadly coincides with the rapid commercial expansion that occurred in mercantilist Britain 1550-1800. We reveal institutional and pedagogic innovations designed to meet the training requirements of aspirant accountants and bookkeepers. We also show how the gendered male orientation of teaching institutions and instructional texts in accounting did not entirely exclude young women from acquiring desired knowledge of the accounting craft. |
| Keywords: | accounting history; accounting literature; education; women |
| Date: | 2009–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdf:accfin:2009/2&r=lab |
| By: | Kenneth Hartgen (University of Göttingen); Stephan Klasen (University of Göttingen); Mark Misselhorn (University of Göttingen) |
| Abstract: | Spurred by international commitments and expanded funding at the national and international level, attendance in education and associated years of schooling have expanded substantially in developing countries in recent years. But has this expansion in enrolments reduced existing inequalities in educational access and achievements? This paper analyzes differences in improvements in the access to the education system and in educational outcomes across the welfare distribution between and within countries, and also by gender and regions for a sample of 37 developing countries using Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). For the analysis, the toolbox of pro-poor growth analysis is applied to several educational indicators. We find drastic inequalities in educational attendance across the income distribution. Interestingly, inequalities in attendance declines with rising average attendance, while inequality in completion rates or schooling years increases with rising completion rates or schooling years. We find great heterogeneity in the distribution of progress of education, with very little pro-poor progress in educational achievement indicators. Also, progress appears to be less pro-poor in countries with low initial educational achievement and high overall educational progress. We find no correlation between pro-poor progress and free education policies or initial inequality in education. At the regional level, educational progress was generally more pro-poor in Asia and Latin America, while in Africa the experience is very heterogeneous. While gender inequality has decreased slightly, large differences by region tend to persist over time. |
| Keywords: | education; human capital; inequality; pro-poor growth |
| JEL: | I20 I29 I31 I32 |
| Date: | 2009–07–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:got:gotcrc:8&r=lab |
| By: | Hans-Peter Blossfeld |
| Abstract: | There is a huge demand for high-quality longitudinal educational research in Germany. In particular, there is a clear need for both analytical and methodological progress in order to understand educational pathways through the life course and how they lead to different outcomes. This paper identifies the theoretical and methodological challenges of studying education across the life course and describes the structure of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) in Germany. |
| Keywords: | competence development, educational decisions, formal, informal and non-formal educational environments, returns to education, educational trajectories, life course research, longitudinal analysis, panel data |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rsw:rswwps:rswwps29&r=lab |
| By: | Alison L. Booth; Patrick Nolen |
| Abstract: | Using a controlled experiment, we examine the role of nurture in explaining the stylized fact that women shy away from competition. Our subjects (students just under 15 years of age) attend publicly-funded single-sex and coeducational schools. We found robust differences between the competitive choices of girls from single-sex and coed schools. Moreover, girls from single-sex schools behave more like boys even when randomly assigned to mixed-sex experimental groups. Thus it is untrue that the average female avoids competitive behaviour more than the average male. This suggests that observed gender differences might reflect social learning rather than inherent gender traits. |
| Date: | 2009–07–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esx:essedp:673&r=lab |
| By: | Hornig, Stephan O.; Rottmann, Horst; Wapler, Rüdiger (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany]) |
| Abstract: | "This paper analyses the effects of education signals for Ethnic Germans and Germans without a migration background ('Native Germans'). We base our analysis on a sorting model with productivity enhancing effects of education. We compare whether the signalling value differs between the migrants and non-migrants in the German labour market. Starting from the theoretical result that only a separating equilibrium can exist, we find substantial empirical differences between Ethnic and Native Germans with the same formal education level. This empirical analysis is done with a completely new dataset based on administrative data from the German Federal Employment Agency." (author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en)) |
| JEL: | J24 J31 F22 |
| Date: | 2009–07–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iab:iabdpa:200914&r=lab |
| By: | Petra Stanat; Hans Döbert |
| Abstract: | Research on school education is exceptionally active at present. This heightened level of activity is partly due to the realization that, compared to other countries, Germany knows very little about its school system. Before the results from the first cycle of PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) were published at the end of 2001, for example, even the proportion of immigrant students attending German schools was largely unknown (Baumert and Schümer 2001). Although the situation has changed tremendously over the last 10 years, many questions remain open. One of the major research gaps pertains to how students’ competencies and other aspects of educational success develop over time and across different stages of the education system. Similarly, information on factors shaping these developments is lacking. This is particularly the case for process factors within schools, classrooms, and families that affect student learning. Although considerable progress has been made in capturing cognitive competencies and skills, moreover, little is known about how they unfold over time. Also, the role “soft-skills,” such as social competencies, play as determinants and outcomes of educational processes is largely unclear. To provide a basis for exploring these and other issues, it is necessary to make existing data sets available to researchers and to generate additional data sets with improved research designs and instrumentation. |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rsw:rswwps:rswwps38&r=lab |
| By: | Andrés Rodríguez-Pose (London School of Economics); Vassilis Tselios (Newcastle University) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines whether differences in educational externalities affect individual earnings across regions in the EU. Using microeconomic data from the European Community Household Panel, the analysis relies on spatial economic analysis in order to determine to what extent differences in individual earnings are the result of (a) the educational attainment of the individual, (b) the educational attainment of the other members of the household he/she lives in, (c) the educational endowment of the region where the individual lives, or (d) the educational endowment of the neighbouring regions. The results highlight that, in addition to the expected positive returns of personal educational attainment, place-based regional and supra-regional educational externalities generate significant pecuniary benefits for workers. These findings are robust to the inclusion of different individual, household, and regional control variables. |
| Keywords: | individual earnings; educational attainment; externalities; households; regions; Europe |
| Date: | 2009–07–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imd:wpaper:wp2009-07&r=lab |
| By: | Alexia Prskawetz; Barbara Zagaglia; Thomas Fent; Vegard Skirbekk |
| Abstract: | In this paper we study changes in the size and the composition of the labour force in ve OECD countries from 1983 through 2000. We apply a recent decomposition method to quantify the components of the change over time in the crude labour force rate and the mean age of the labour force. Our results show that the change in the crude labour force rate was dominated by the change in age-specic labour force participation rates. For the mean age of the labour force we nd that for males the change in the age composition of the population predominately explains the overall change while the results for females are less clear-cut. |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:vid:eudgrp:0401&r=lab |
| By: | Orsetta Causa; Åsa Johansson |
| Abstract: | This paper assesses recent patterns in intergenerational social mobility across OECD countries and examines the role that public policies can play in affecting such mobility. It shows that the relationship between parental or socio-economic background and offspring’s educational and wage outcomes is positive and significant in practically all countries for which evidence is available. Intergenerational social mobility is measured by several different indicators since no single indicator provides a complete picture. However, one pattern that emerges is of a group of countries, e.g. southern European countries and Luxembourg, which appears to rank as relatively immobile on most indicators, while another group, e.g. Nordics, is found to be more mobile. Furthermore, public policies such as education and early childcare play a role in explaining observed differences in intergenerational social mobility across countries. In addition, this study also finds a positive cross-country correlation between intergenerational social mobility and redistributive policies.<P>Mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle<BR>Cet article examine les tendances récentes de la mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle dans les pays de l’OCDE et analyse rôle joué dans ce contexte par les politiques publiques. On observe, dans la quasitotalité des pays pour lesquels les données sont disponibles, une relation positive et significative entre l’origine sociale et familiale et le niveau d’éducation et/ou de salaire d’un individu. La mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle est ici mesurée au travers d’une batterie d’indicateurs, parce qu’il n’existe pas d’indicateur unique permettant d’apprécier les phénomènes de persistance entre générations. Néanmoins l’analyse met clairement en évidence l’existence de deux groupes de pays: d’un coté les pays du Sud de l’Europe et le Luxembourg, où l’on mesure une faiblesse relative de la mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle, et ce quel que soit l’indicateur utilisé, et de l’autre les pays Nordiques, où l’on mesure une réalité inverse. De plus, l’article montre que certaines politiques, telles que les politiques éducatives et scolaires ou les politiques liées à la petite enfance, peuvent affecter la mobilité sociale entre générations. L’analyse empirique met également en évidence une association positive entre les politiques de redistribution du revenu et la mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle. |
| Keywords: | education, éducation, public policy, politique publique, intergenerational wage mobility, mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle des salariés, intergenerational education mobility, mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle de l'éducation |
| JEL: | C20 C21 H23 I20 J60 J62 |
| Date: | 2009–07–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:707-en&r=lab |
| By: | Choe, Chung (CEPS/INSTEAD); Chrite, E. LaBrent (University of Arizona) |
| Abstract: | Migrations historically have led to fears of “brain drain” from the sending regions because many studies show that the more highly skilled and motivated people are more likely to migrate. South Africa provides a natural testing ground for the study of brain drains because the Apartheid system, which ended in the early 1990s, had long constrained the locational choices of black migrants of all skill levels. As apartheid was being dismantled, new opportunities for movement opened up to black workers, leading to a surge in internal migration. We first analyze whether migration patterns of Black South Africans during the period 1992 to 1996 match the predictions of the two seminal papers, Roy (1951) and Sjaastad (1962), where individuals are hypothesized to be income-maximizers. The results from conditional logit regressions on individual choices among 318 locations show that they do. Individuals prefer localities with higher expected log wages regardless of their educations and skills. More importantly, workers with at least some matriculation tend to favor areas where a higher share of the population attended high school. In contrast, workers who did not attend high school find such areas less attractive. Over the study period, brain drain arose among blacks within South Africa: the share of high-educated residents in areas with high shares of high schooling increased. |
| Keywords: | Internal Migration; South Africa ; Self-selection ; Brain Drain |
| JEL: | D31 J61 O15 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irs:iriswp:2009-06&r=lab |
| By: | T. BERGER; F. HEYLEN |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the determinants of the level and the evolution of per capita hours worked in a panel of OECD countries since the 1970s. Following Pesaran (Econometrica, 2006), our empirical strategy allows for the possibility of cross-sectionally correlated error terms due to unobserved common factors which are potentially non-stationary. We find that much of the variation in hours worked across countries and over time can be explained by differences in fiscal policy, i.e. differences in the level and structure of taxes and in the structure of government expenditures. Hours worked rise when labour taxes and non-employment benefits fall and when the shares of productive government expenditures and government wage consumption increase. Differences in (the evolution of) labour and product market institutions have much less of a role to play. Our results show that a careful treatment of the time-series properties of the data is crucial. |
| Keywords: | hours worked, taxes, government expenditures, labour market institutions, panel data |
| JEL: | C33 E24 E62 H20 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rug:rugwps:09/601&r=lab |
| By: | Lee, Lena; Wong, Poh Kam; Foo, Maw Der; Leung, Aegean |
| Abstract: | An individual's intent to pursue an entrepreneurial career can result from the work environment and from personal factors. Drawing on the entrepreneurial intentions and the person–environment (P–E) fit literatures, and applying a multilevel perspective, we examine why individuals intend to leave their jobs to start business ventures. Findings, using a sample of 4192 IT professionals in Singapore, suggest that work environments with an unfavorable innovation climate and/or lack of technical excellence incentives influence entrepreneurial intentions, through low job satisfaction. Moderating effects suggest that an individual's innovation orientation strengthens the work-environment to job-satisfaction relationship; selfefficacy strengthens the job-satisfaction to entrepreneurial intentions relationship. |
| Keywords: | Entrepreneurial intentions Job satisfaction Self-efficacy |
| JEL: | L26 M13 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16195&r=lab |
| By: | Susanne Prantl (Department Wirtschaftszentrum Berlin and IFS); Alexandra Spitz-Oener (Humboldt University Berlin) |
| Abstract: | We analyze how an entry regulation that imposes a mandatory educational standard affects entry into self-employment and occupational mobility. We exploit the German reunification as a natural experiment and identify regulatory effects by comparing differences between regulated occupations and unregulated occupations in East Germany with the corresponding differences in West Germany after reunification. Consistent with our expectations, we find that entry regulation reduces entry into selfemployment and occupational mobility after reunification more in regulated occupations in East Germany than in West Germany. Our findings are relevant for transition or emerging economies as well as for mature market economies requiring large structural changes after unforeseen economic shocks. |
| Keywords: | Entry Regulation,Self-Employment, Occupational Mobility |
| JEL: | J24 J62 K20 L11 L51 M13 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:trf:wpaper:267&r=lab |
| By: | Eve Caroli; Jérôme Gautié; Annie Lamanthe |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates wages and working conditions of operators in the French food manufacturing sector. In many countries (especially the USA and the UK) the food processing sector employs by a very large fraction of low-paid workers. In France, as evidenced by our case studies in confectionery and meat processing, the model at play is quite different. It is rather characterised by high relative wages, high work intensity, and bad working conditions. This is essentially due to the fact that, in order to cope with increasing competitive pressures - due to the growing market power of retailers, the greater requirements in terms of health and security, as well as to changing consumer habits - French firms have been less able to compress compensation, in contrast with other countries, notably Germany and the United Kingdom. Indeed, the French regulatory framework reduces the margin for adopting "social dumping" strategies. As a consequence, French firms have reacted by increasing productivity by adopting "lean production" and new production processes in which physical burden is lower but mental strain is higher. As a consequence, even if from a foreign eye employment conditions of food processing operators may appear as rather good in France, dissatisfaction is high among workers. |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pse:psecon:2009-23&r=lab |
| By: | Janet Looney |
| Abstract: | Do some forms of student (and school) assessment hinder the introduction of innovative educational practices and the development of innovation skills in education systems? This report focuses on the impact of high-stake summative assessment on innovation and argues that it is possible to reconcile high-stakes assessments and examinations through innovative approaches to testing. While necessary, assessment based on high-stake examinations often acts as an incentive to teach or study “to the test”. It may thus limit risk-taking by teachers, students and parents, for instance. The problem may be amplified if a system of accountability and incentives uses the results of these examinations and tests to assess teachers and schools. What should be done to ensure that the systems used to assess education systems do not stifle the risk-taking inherent to innovation – and that they foster innovation skills in students? This study proposes three main ways of combining assessment and innovation: 1) developing a wide range of performance measurements for both students and schools; 2) rethinking the alignment of standards and assessment; 3) measuring the impact of assessments on teaching and learning. One way of influencing teaching and learning might be to modify high-stake testing. Systems will adapt to this, and both teaching and learning will focus on acquiring the right skills. Rather than testing the content of learning, standards could relate to cognitive skills such as problem-solving, communicating and reasoning – with test/examination developers adapting those skills to subjects such as mathematics, science or literary analysis. Similarly, more use might be made of innovative assessment methods based on information and communication technologies, inasmuch as these may feature simulation or interactivity, for instance, at a reasonable cost. Focusing the assessment on cognitive processes rather than content would leave more scope for teachers to put in place innovative teaching/learning strategies. This does, however, assume a high standard of professionalism in teachers and an adequate system of continuing training and knowledge management. As a single type of assessment cannot fully capture student learning, one effective strategy might also be to multiply the number of measurements and thus relieve the pressure on students and teachers to perform well in a single, high-visibility, high-stake test. At the same time, this larger number of measurements could provide the necessary input for systems based on accountability, diagnosis and assessment of the effectiveness of innovative practice. Finally, assessing the technical standard of tests and examinations is an integral part of their development, but it is less common to address the impact they have on teaching/learning or the validity of how their results are used. Since assessment is an integral part of the education process, it is just as important to assess tests and examinations as it is other educational practices in order to achieve improvements and innovation in educational assessment, but also in educational practice.<BR>Certaines formes d’évaluation des élèves (et des écoles) font-elles barrière à l’introduction de pratiques pédagogiques innovantes et au développement des compétences individuelles pour l’innovation au sein des systèmes éducatifs ? Ce rapport se concentre sur l’impact de l’évaluation à fort enjeu (« high-stake summative assessment ») sur l’innovation et argue qu’il est possible de réconcilier ce type d’évaluation et d’examens grâce à des approches innovantes de l’évaluation. Bien que nécessaire, l’évaluation reposant sur des examens à forts enjeux donne souvent des incitations à enseigner et à étudier dans le but premier de réussir à l’examen. Elle peut ainsi limiter la prise de risque des enseignants, des étudiants, des parents, etc. Ce problème peut être amplifié si un système de responsabilisation et d’incitations utilise les résultats de ces examens et tests pour évaluer les enseignants et les écoles. Comment faire pour que les systèmes d’évaluation des systèmes éducatifs n’empêchent pas la prise de risque inhérente à l’innovation et permettent le développement des compétences pour l’innovation des étudiants ? Cet examen propose trois pistes principales pour combiner évaluation et innovation : 1) développer une multiplicité de mesures de la performance des étudiants et des écoles ; 2) repenser l’alignement entre objectifs (standards) et évaluation ; 3) évaluer l’impact des évaluations sur l’enseignement et l’apprentissage. Une manière d’influencer l’enseignement et l’apprentissage pourrait consister à modifier les examens à forts enjeux. Les systèmes vont s’y adapter, et l’on étudiera et l’on enseignera pour acquérir les bonnes compétences. Plutôt que de tester les contenus d’apprentissage, les objectifs pourraient porter sur des compétences cognitives telles que la résolution de problèmes, la communication et le raisonnement – avec une adaptation par les développeurs de tests et examens de ces compétences aux mathématiques, à la science, à l’analyse littéraire, etc. On pourrait de même davantage tirer profit des méthodes innovantes d’évaluation basées sur les technologies de l’information et de la communication, dans la mesure où celles-ci peuvent intégrer des simulations, de l’interactivité, etc., à un coût raisonnable. Axer l’évaluation sur des processus cognitifs plutôt que sur les contenus laisserait davantage de liberté aux enseignants pour mettre en place des stratégies innovantes d’enseignement et d’apprentissage. Cela suppose cependant un haut niveau de professionnalisme des enseignants et un système de formation continue et de gestion des connaissances adéquats. Dans la mesure où un type d’évaluation ne peut pas capturer pleinement l’apprentissage des étudiants, une stratégie efficace pourrait aussi être de multiplier les mesures afin de baisser la pression qui pèse sur les étudiants et les enseignants de bien réussir un seul test à haute visibilité et fort enjeu. Cette multiplicité de mesures pourrait dans le même temps fournir l’information nécessaire à des systèmes de responsabilisation, de diagnostic et d’évaluation de l’efficacité des pratiques innovantes. Enfin, alors que l’évaluation de la qualité technique des évaluations et examens fait partie intégrante de leur développement, l’impact qu’ils ont sur l’enseignement et l’apprentissage ou la validité des usages que l’on fait de leurs résultats sont plus rarement examinés. Dans la mesure où l’évaluation fait partie intégrante du processus pédagogique, l’évaluation des tests et examens est tout aussi importante que celle des autres pratiques pédagogiques pour le perfectionnement et l’innovation de l’évaluation dans l’éducation, et aussi des pratiques pédagogiques. |
| Date: | 2009–07–16 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:eduaab:24-en&r=lab |
| By: | Brienna Perelli-Harris (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany); Wendy Sigle-Rushton; Trude Lappegård; Paola Di Giulio (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany); Aiva Jasilioniene (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany); Keizer Renske; Katja Köppen (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany); Caroline Berghammer (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany); Michaela Kreyenfeld (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany) |
| Abstract: | This study analyzes the dramatic increase in nonmarital childbearing in Europe, an increase which occurred primarily within cohabitation. Using data from 10 countries, we present descriptive trends in nonmarital childbearing from 1970 to the early 2000s. In addition, we analyze union context at conception, birth, and one year after birth. This allows for the classification of different patterns of family formation into five broad categories. We also investigate how the relationship between fertility and union status changed over time and developed along different trajectories. Our research shows that despite widespread claims that marriage is disappearing in Europe, it still remains the preferred institution for raising children. |
| Keywords: | Europe, family formation |
| JEL: | J1 Z0 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-2009-021&r=lab |
| By: | Danielle Venn |
| Abstract: | This paper presents updated estimates of the OECD employment protection indicators for 30 OECD countries and 10 emerging economies and considers important aspects of employment protection other than those provided in legislation. Collective agreements often contain provisions relating to employment protection, but in most OECD countries, severance pay and notice periods in collective agreements are similar to those set out in legislation. Where bargaining takes place largely outside individual firms at the national, regional or sectoral level and collective agreements include provisions substantially more generous to employees than those in legislation, they are incorporated into the OECD indicators. Many OECD countries exempt some groups of firms or workers from employment protection rules. Such exemptions have mixed success in promoting employment among exempted groups, but do not have a large impact on the accuracy of the OECD indicators. More than half of OECD countries have specialised courts or procedures to handle unfair dismissal cases, reducing the time taken to deal with cases and improving satisfaction with legal outcomes. Resolving disputes early (either through pre-court dispute resolution procedures or pre-trial conciliation) saves time and money compared with waiting for a court decision. More research and cross-country comparable data are needed on the efficiency of conciliation procedures and the cost of pursuing or defending dismissal cases.<BR>Cet article présente la mise à jour des estimations des indicateurs de la protection de l’emploi de l’OCDE pour 30 pays de l’OCDE et 10 pays émergents et examine les aspects important de la protection de l’emploi, autres que celles prévues dans la législation. Les conventions collectives comportent souvent des dispositions relatives à la protection de l’emploi, mais dans la plupart des pays de l’OCDE, les indemnités de cessation d’emploi et les délais de préavis prévus par les conventions collectives sont comparables à ceux stipulés par la législation. Lorsque la négociation collective se situe au niveau de la branche, au niveau régional ou au niveau national, et que les conventions collectives intègrent des dispositions sensiblement plus généreuses pour les salariés que celles inscrites dans la législation, il en est tenu compte dans les indicateurs de protection de l’emploi de l’OCDE. De nombreux pays de l'OCDE exemptent certains groupes d'entreprises ou de travailleurs de la protection de l'emploi. Ces dérogations ont un succès mitigé dans la promotion de l'emploi parmi les groupes exemptés, mais ils n'ont pas un grand impact sur la précision des indicateurs de l'OCDE. Plus de la moitié des pays de l’OCDE ont des juridictions ou des procédures spécialisées pour traiter les affaires de licenciement abusif, qui facilitent l’accès à la justice, réduisent les délais de procédure et améliorent la satisfaction quant aux résultats. Résoudre les conflits précocement (soit par des procédures précontentieuses de règlement des litiges, soit par une conciliation au stade de la mise en état) permet d’économiser du temps et de l’argent plutôt que d’avoir à attendre la décision d’une juridiction. De plus amples travaux de recherche sont nécessaires concernant l’efficience et l’effectivité des procédures de conciliation, encore qu’elles aient généralement beaucoup de succès auprès des parties à un différend. |
| JEL: | J52 J63 J65 K31 |
| Date: | 2009–06–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:elsaab:89-en&r=lab |
| By: | Sami Bibi; John Cockburn; Luca Tiberti; Massa Coulibaly |
| Abstract: | Since 2006, Mali has experienced the full effects of the global food crisis, with price increases of up to 67%. This study presents simulations of the impacts of this crisis and a number of policy responses with respect to the welfare of children. The impacts are analyzed in terms of monetary (food) poverty, nutrition, education, child labor and access to health services of children. According to simulations, food poverty among children would have increased from 41% to 51%, with a corresponding rise in caloric insufficiency from 32% to 40%, while the impacts on school participation, work and access to health services would have been relatively weak. |
| Keywords: | child education; child health; child labour; child poverty; economic crisis; food crises; nutrition; |
| JEL: | E39 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ucf:inwopa:inwopa09/65&r=lab |
| By: | Alison L. Booth; Patrick Nolen |
| Abstract: | Women and men may differ in their propensity to choose a risky outcome because of innate preferences or because pressure to conform to gender-stereotypes encourages girls and boys to modify their innate preferences. Single-sex environments are likely to modify students' risk-taking preferences in economically important ways. To test this, we designed a controlled experiment in which subjects were given an opportunity to choose a risky outcome - a real-stakes gamble with a higher expected monetary value than the alternative outcome with a certain payoff - and in which the sensitivity of observed risk choices to environmental factors could be explored. The results of our real-stakes gamble show that gender differences in preferences for risk-taking are indeed sensitive to whether the girl attends a single-sex or coed school. Girls from single-sex schools are as likely to choose the real-stakes gamble as boys from either coed or single sex schools, and more likely than coed girls. Moreover, we found that gender differences in preferences for risk-taking are sensitive to the gender mix of the experimental group, with girls being more likely to choose risky outcomes when assigned to all-girl groups. This suggests that observed gender differences in behaviour under uncertainty found in previous studies might reflect social learning rather than inherent gender traits. |
| Date: | 2009–07–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:esx:essedp:672&r=lab |
| By: | Christian Dustmann (University College London, CReAM); Tommaso Frattini (University College London, CReAM); Caroline Halls (CReAM) |
| Abstract: | This paper assesses the fiscal consequences of migration to the UK from the Central and Eastern European countries that joined the EU in May 2004 (A8 countries). We show that A8 immigrants who arrived after EU enlargement in 2004, and who have at least one year of residence – and are therefore legally eligible to claim benefits - are 60% less likely than natives to receive state benefits or tax credits, and 58% less likely to live in social housing. Even if A8 immigrants had the same demographic characteristics of natives, they would still be 13% less likely to receive benefits and 28% less likely to live in social housing. We then compare the net fiscal contribution of A8 immigrants with that of individuals born in the UK, and find that in each fiscal year since enlargement in 2004, A8 immigrants made a positive contribution to public finance despite the fact that the UK has been running a budget deficit over the last years. This is because they have a higher labour force participation rate, pay proportionately more in indirect taxes, and make much lower use of benefits and public services. |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:crm:wpaper:200918&r=lab |
| By: | Andrade, Eduardo de C.; Moita, Rodrigo M. |
| Date: | 2009–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ibm:ibmecp:wpe_183&r=lab |
| By: | Hainmueller, Jens; Hofmann, Barbara (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany]); Krug, Gerhard (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany]); Wolf, Katja (Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany]) |
| Abstract: | "In this paper we examine the effect of a pilot project of the German Federal Employment Agency, where in 14 German local employment offices the caseload (number of unemployed per caseworker) was significantly reduced. Since the participating local offices were not chosen at random, we have to take into account potential selection bias. Therefore, we rely on a combination of matching and a difference-in-differences estimator. We use two indicators of the offices' success (unemployment rate, growth of the number of SCIII clients). Our results indicate a positive effect of a lower caseload on both outcome variables." (author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en)) |
| Keywords: | Arbeitsvermittlung - Erfolgskontrolle, Arbeitsvermittler - Modellversuch, berufliche Reintegration - Quote, Arbeitslosenquote |
| JEL: | J68 H43 C14 |
| Date: | 2009–07–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iab:iabdpa:200913&r=lab |
| By: | Anne Goujon; Samir K.C. |
| Abstract: | This paper examines levels of educational attainment in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam for the period 1970-2030 through the reconstruction and projection of levels of educational attainment. While the study of the past shows that the determination to invest in education has been strong in the six countries, the investments were implemented at different pace and intensity, the projections show the legacy of past investments. In Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, there will be tangible increases in the proportion of the working age population with a tertiary education. The Philippines will have a dichotomous society where large proportions will either have a tertiary education or only a primary education. In Indonesia, the bulk of the working age population will shift from primary in 2000 to secondary by 2030. The projection horizon and the trend type of scenario do not allow Vietnam to catch up with the other countries. |
| Keywords: | Southeast Asia, education, human capital |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:vid:wpaper:0607&r=lab |
| By: | Marlène Isoré |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses the most relevant issues concerning teacher evaluation in primary and secondary education by reviewing the recent literature and analysing current practices within the OECD countries. First, it provides a conceptual framework highlighting key features of teacher evaluation schemes. In particular, it emphasises the importance of clarifying the purposes of teacher appraisal, whether summative when designed to assure that the practices enhancing student learning are undertaken or formative when conducted for further professional development objectives. It also encompasses the diverse criteria and instruments commonly used to assess teachers as well as the actors generally involved in the process and potential consequences for teachers’ professional life. Second, it deals with a number of contentious points, including the question of the use of student outcomes to measure teaching performance, the advantages and drawbacks of different approaches given the purpose emphasised and resource restrictions, the implementation difficulties resulting from different stakeholders’ interests and possible ways to overcome these obstacles. Finally, it provides an account of current empirical evidence, pointing out mixed results stemming from difficulties in assessing the effects of such evaluation schemes on teaching quality, teachers’ motivation and student learning. It concludes by considering the circumstances under which teacher evaluation systems seem to be more effective, fair and reliable. Developing a comprehensive approach to evaluate teachers is critical to make demands for educational best practice compatible with teachers’ appropriation of the process as well as to enhance the decisive attractiveness and recognition of the teaching profession.<BR>Ce document examine les principales questions relatives à l’évaluation des enseignants du primaire et du secondaire en passant en revue la littérature récente et en analysant des pratiques actuelles au sein des pays de l’OCDE. Premièrement, il fournit un cadre conceptuel mettant en évidence les éléments clés entrant dans les processus d’évaluation des enseignants. En particulier, il souligne l’importance de clarifier les objectifs de l’évaluation, qu’ils soient de nature sommative lorsqu’ils visent à assurer que les pratiques favorisant l’apprentissage des élèves sont à l’oeuvre ou de nature formative lorsqu’ils sont conduits à des fins de formation professionnelle continue. Il comprend également les différents critères et instruments communément utilisés pour évaluer les enseignants ainsi que les acteurs généralement impliqués dans le processus et les conséquences potentielles sur la vie professionnelle des enseignants. Deuxièmement, il traite d’un certain nombre de points conflictuels, parmi lesquels la question de l’utilisation des résultats des élèves pour mesurer la performance des enseignants, les avantages et inconvénients de différentes approches compte tenu de l’objectif mis en exergue et de ressources limitées, ou encore les difficultés de mise en place résultant de divergence d’intérêts et les moyens possibles d’y remédier. Enfin, il examine l’évidence empirique sur le sujet et explique en quoi ses résultats nuancés tiennent aux difficultés d’estimer les effets de tels processus sur la qualité de l’enseignement, la motivation des personnels et l’apprentissage des élèves. Pour conclure, il considère les circonstances dans lesquelles l’évaluation des enseignants semble plus efficace, équitable et fiable. Développer une approche d’évaluation compréhensive est cruciale pour concilier les exigences d’enseignement et l’appropriation du processus par les enseignants, tout en recherchant une nécessaire amélioration de l’attractivité et de la reconnaissance du métier d’enseignant. |
| Date: | 2009–07–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:eduaab:23-en&r=lab |
| By: | Edwards, John Richard (Cardiff Business School) |
| Abstract: | The early modern period, which covers the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, saw England transformed from a relatively insignificant European nation to one of the world's leading economies. During this era a transformation in educational provision was designed to meet the needs of a changing occupational landscape. The continued focus of grammar schools and the universities on the supply of clerics and scholars ignored the educational requirements of those involved in the administration and management of entities located within both the commercial and non-profit making sectors. Against a background of increased literacy, this paper reveals that the private schools and academies of the early modern period responded to the information requirements of larger scale entities by developing a unified commercial education based on the intertwining of writing, arithmetic and double entry bookkeeping. |
| Keywords: | accounting history; business education; writing master |
| Date: | 2009–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdf:accfin:2009/3&r=lab |
| By: | C. L. Chua (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne); G. C. Lim (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne); Sarantis Tsiaplias (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne) |
| Abstract: | A forecasting model for unemployment is constructed that exploits the time-series properties of unemployment while satisfying the economic relationships specified by Okun’s law and the Phillips curve. In deriving the model, we jointly consider the problem of obtaining estimates of the unobserved potential rate of unemployment consistent with Okun’s law and Phillips curve, and associating the potential rate of unemployment to actual unemployment. The empirical example shows that the model clearly outperforms alternative forecasting procedures typically used to forecast unemployment. |
| Keywords: | Forecasting, Unemployment, Unobserved Components. |
| JEL: | C53 E27 |
| Date: | 2009–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2009n19&r=lab |
| By: | Vincent, BODART (UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES)); Philippe, LEDENT (UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES) and ING); Fatemeh, SHADMAN-METHA (UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES)) |
| Abstract: | Economic theory considers economic growth and wage costs as crucial determinants in the process of job creation. In this paper, we try to quantify the relationship that exists between these variables in Belgium. Our objective being mainly the use of the empirical model for forecasting purposes, we use a V AR model to enable us to apply statistical tools to test some possible constraints within a loose model. We analyse the relationship at three levels: one national and two sectoral. |
| Keywords: | Employment growth, long-run equilibrium, VAR model |
| JEL: | C32 C52 E24 E27 |
| Date: | 2009–06–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ctl:louvir:2009016&r=lab |
| By: | D. VERHAEST; E. OMEY |
| Abstract: | Purpose of the paper - To assess the sensitivity of the estimated determinants of overeducation to the used overeducation measure.<br>Design/Methodology/Approach - We analyse the determinants of overeducation among Flemish school leavers in their first job by means of probit regression analysis. Overeducation is measured on the basis of job analysis, self-assessments and realised matches.<br>Findings - Our results demonstrate that the application of different overeducation measures sometimes leads to different outcomes. Only a few variables – for instance the student’s academic grade in the final year – are consistently found to be important for the explanation of overeducation. Some outcomes are consistent with the supposition that some indicators actually measure other concepts.<br>Research limitations/Implications - Further research using job analysis measures that are based on alternative and more recent occupational classifications would be useful.<br>Practical Implications - Measuring overeducation in various ways is recommendable to make reliable conclusions. At least, a careful consideration of the extent to which the measure used really captures overeducation is needed.<br>Originality/Value - The application of different measures provides further insight into the overeducation measurement problem. |
| Keywords: | mismatch, overqualification, underemployment, measurement error |
| Date: | 2009–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rug:rugwps:09/592&r=lab |
| By: | Rego, Conceição; Caleiro, António |
| Abstract: | Many studies, provided by diverse authors and institutions, demonstrate that, at a territorial level, development is directly related to the level of education and R&D. Territories with higher development levels are, generally, those that have a higher level of education and R&D. The relationship between the acquisition of knowledge and institutional education is therefore decisive. In this area, the role of universities is fundamental. The retention of university graduates is one of the main ways that the cities and the regions can adopt to retain those endowed with higher propensity to innovation, enterprise spirit and management capacity. Given that higher education institutions, in general, and universities, in particular, are obviously crucial in the process of knowledge increase, it becomes important to analyse how can these institutions act as ways of spatial diffusion of knowledge given that their graduates may migrate to other regions of the country (or for another country). The alleged increased probability of this migration to occur when the university is located in a small or medium sized town makes that analysis also interesting from the viewpoint of the development role that this kind of cities can perform, not only in the adjacent rural areas, but also across all the urban areas of the territory. The focus of our work consists in this analysis, which complements a theoretical approach with an empirical part based upon the results that can be observed for the influence of one university located in a small/medium sized town (the University of Évora) in the spatial diffusion of knowledge through its graduates. |
| Keywords: | Human capital; Small towns; Spatial diffusion of knowledge; Universities |
| JEL: | O15 I23 J24 R11 |
| Date: | 2009–07–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:16241&r=lab |