Labour Market Dynamics, Work-Life Balance, Life-Course Transitions

Regional unemployment and industrial restructuring in Poland

by Francesco Pastore

Co-authored with Andrew Newell.
Eastern European Economics, 2006, 44(3): 5-28.
(also available as IZA DP, n. 194, November 2000, University of Sussex DP, n. 63, May 2000, e CELPE DP, n. 51, February 2000)

This paper studies regional unemployment inequality in Poland. We find that regions experiencing greater change in... more This paper studies regional unemployment inequality in Poland. We find that regions experiencing greater change in industrial structure have higher unemployment rates. We also find that high-unemployment regions have higher inflow rates to unemployment rather than longer spells of unemployment. These findings suggest that regional unemployment varies importantly with job destruction in Poland. Econometric analysis of the determinants of employment to unemployment flows reinforces this impression. We use our estimates to assess the extent to which regional unemployment variation is due to economic restructuring. We show that this cannot be done unambiguously, and offer reasons why many previous attempts to separate out the effects of restructuring on unemployment have been unsuccessful.

Between reforms and birth rates: Germany, Japan and family policy discourse', Social Politics, 18: 331-360

by Tuukka Toivonen

This paper examines the development of employment-oriented family policy in Germany and Japan, two countries united by... more This paper examines the development of employment-oriented family policy in Germany and Japan, two countries united by conservative welfare legacies and very low birthrates, through a close analysis of discourse. Why have recent reforms in Germany moved well beyond those in Japan despite remarkably similar “human capital” discourses? The relative strength of interpretative patterns—in this case, discursive patterns that successfully frame family policy reform as an economic imperative—and the role of employers are identified as critical explanatory factors. Further comparative attention is called to the role of the state as a guarantor of new family policy entitlements.

From market hegemony to diverse economies: evaluating the plurality of albour practices in Ukraine

by Colin Williams

Journal of Economy and its Applications

Drawing inspiration from a burgeoning corpus of scholars who have begun to question the narrative of impending market... more Drawing inspiration from a burgeoning corpus of scholars who have begun to question the narrative of impending market hegemony, this paper seeks to further advance this
emergent ‘diverse economies’ literature by constructing a conceptual framework for representing the multiple labour practices in economies. Transcending the simplistic
market/non-market dichotomy, this conceptualises multiple kinds of labour existing along a spectrum from market-oriented to non-market oriented practices, which is cross-cut by
another spectrum ranging from wholly monetised to wholly non-monetised practices. The resultant portrayal of a plurality of labour practices that seamlessly merge into each other
is then applied to understanding the types of labour used in Ukraine. Analysing the results of 600 interviews conducted across various populations reveals not only the shallow
permeation of the formal market economy in this society that has been supposedly undergoing a ‘transition’ to the market but also the existence of diverse work cultures across different populations along with marked socio-spatial variations in the nature of individual labour practices. The outcome is a call for a re-reading of the organisation of labour in Ukraine and the wider application of this conceptual lens that captures the proliferative nature of labour practices in economies.

The Principle and Practices Behind the Success of Abdul Sattar Edhi

by Uzair Mughal

"This project focuses on the life and successes of Abdul Sattar Edhi in the context of the Meaningful Life... more "This project focuses on the life and successes of Abdul Sattar Edhi in the context of the Meaningful Life Framework. We will analyze these under the broad headings which come under the Meaningful Life Framework: Strategic Visions, Strategic Time Management, Competence and Leadership."

Note - The Meaningful Life framework has been developed by Suleiman Ahmer and is used in some of the workshops conducted by his consulting firm, Timelenders.

Literature Review on Work/Life Balance, Workplace Culture and Maternity/Childcare Issues

by Eileen Drew

Women and Work: Current RMIT University Research 2007

by Elizabeth Branigan

This monograph brings together eight articles, most of which were originally presented as papers at the third annual Women and Work conference at RMIT University.

The monograph publishes research on women and work that addresses work and family balance, female-dominated... more The monograph publishes research on women and work that addresses work and family balance, female-dominated occupations and women in male-dominated occupations and roles, gender and sex work, the work involved in negotiating work and welfare, gendered bullying, and the ways we might understand gender and its effects in the workplace.

"De-gendering social justice in the 21st century: An immanent critique of neoliberal capitalism", in European Journal of Social Theory (2012)

by Albena Azmanova

This article presents a blueprint of a feminist agenda for the twenty-first century that is oriented not by the telos... more This article presents a blueprint of a feminist agenda for the twenty-first century that is oriented not by the telos of gender parity, but instead evolves as an ‘immanent critique’ of the key structural dynamics of contemporary capitalism – within a framework of analysis derived from the tenets of Critical Theory of Frankfurt School origin. This activates a form of critique whose double focus on: (1) shared conceptions of justice; and (2) structural sources of injustice, allows criteria of social justice to emerge from the identification of a broad pattern of societal injustice surpassing the discrimination of particular groups. In this light, women’s victimization is but a symptom of structural dynamics negatively affecting also the alleged winners in the classical feminist agenda of critique. The analysis ultimately produces a model of social justice in a formula of socially embedded autonomy that unites work, care, and leisure.

The distribution of wages in Belarus

by Francesco Pastore

Co-authored with Alina Verashchagina.
Revised version published in: Comparative Economic Studies, 2006, 48 (3), 351-376.

This paper uncovers evidence on the distribution of wages in Belarus in the second half of the 1990s. The returns to... more This paper uncovers evidence on the distribution of wages in Belarus in the second half of the 1990s. The returns to education and work experience are high and stable. While the former is a typical finding of transition studies, the latter is not.
This might be due to the pervasive role of the state in fixing wages in the dominant budget sector, rather than to market forces coming into play. Women experience a small, though largely unexplained wage gap coupled with higher than average
returns to education. A wage curve effect is found, which is similar in size to that of other transition countries, but much higher than in market economies.

Topographien der Ungleichheit. Dequalifikation als ein weibliches Phänomen?

by Marina Richter

Richter, Marina. 2011. Topographien der Ungleichheit. Dequalifikation als ein weibliches Phänomen? Berichte zur deutschen Landeskunde 85(1):49-59.

Migration regimes in Fortress Europe are presently opening the borders for highly qualified migrants, but fencing... more Migration regimes in Fortress Europe are presently opening the borders for highly qualified migrants, but fencing other migrants out of the EU. Qualified migrants are preferred because they are needed in the labour market and because they are usually assumed to have a greater potential to integrate. This raises questions about how we determine whether or not migrants are qualified. The literature on migrant workers’ qualifications has two tendencies. First, researchers note that qualified migrants are often overqualified for the positions they hold. This notion of deskilling is mentioned mainly in studies of female migration. Second, skills are almost exclusively discussed in terms of deskilling, whereas other possible processes, such as reskilling or upskilling, are ignored. This article argues for greater complexity in these discussions by considering forms of inequality other than just gender, including the institutional logic of employers in discussions, and opening up the discussion about migrants’ qualifications.

Labour turnover and the spatial distribution of unemployment. A panel data analysis using employment registry data

by Francesco Pastore

Co-augthored with Joanna Tyrowicz-
Paper presented at the XXV AIEL Conference, University of Chieti and Pescara, 2010.

This paper aims to study whether the local variation in unemployment rates is related to labour turnover and what is... more This paper aims to study whether the local variation in unemployment rates is related to labour turnover and what is the sign of such relationship. In addition, the paper aims to assess the relative impact of inflow and outflow from unemployment on the dynamics of the local unemployment rate. The empirical analysis is based on a newly available unique dataset from the employment registry of a transition economy (Poland), encompassing nine years of monthly data (from 2000 to 2008) at a county (poviat) level. We find that turnover, as well as inflows and outflows separately, are ceteris paribus positively related to the unemployment level. This general conclusion is robust to sub-sampling that addresses potential heterogeneity of the analysed local labour markets. It is also robust to the use of different panel estimators, such as fixed effect and alternative GMM specifications, as well as for spatial clustering of poviats. Nonetheless, point estimators differ, reflecting the diverse adjustment patterns. We also find that elasticity is larger in the case of the inflow rate than for the outflow rate. Finally, we demonstrate that the effect is stronger in low unemployment regions.

The Youth Participation in the Labour Market in Germany, Spain and Sweden

by Francesco Pastore

Co-authored with Floro Ernesto Caroleo.
In T. Hammer (ed.), Youth Unemployment and Social Exclusion in Europe, The Policy Press, Bristol, Ch. 7: 115-141.

Flexicurity and Welfare reform

by Elke Heins

The Gender Wage Gap in Belarus

by Francesco Pastore

Co-authored with Alina Verashchagina.
Transition Studies Review, 12(3): 497-511.

A new release of the Belarusian Household Survey on Incomes and Expenditures provides the unique opportunity for an... more A new release of the Belarusian Household Survey on Incomes and Expenditures provides the unique opportunity for an in-depth study of the gender pay gap in Belarus. The econometric analysis involves estimates of augmented earnings equations, also corrected for sample selection bias, as well as for least absolute deviations estimates at different quantiles of the wage distribution. The results suggest that the gender wage gap is smaller than in other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Central and Eastern European countries, as one would expect considering the slow transition process, and is reduced after controlling for unobservable characteristics. Moreover, the gap increases as one moves from the 10th to the 90th quantile. This means that having jobs providing generally higher levels of wages for a woman, it is more and more difficult to get the same wage as that of a man.

A note on the substitution between wage and non-wage benefits in spot labour markets

by Stavros Drakopoulos

published in Economic Letters, vol.45, 1994

Recent empirical work suggests that spot labour market workers have a strong preference towards wages over fringe... more Recent empirical work suggests that spot labour market workers have a strong preference towards wages over fringe benefits. This paper provides a theoretical framework based on this finding. After a discussion of the utility function and equilibrium, the paper proceeds to a comparative statics analysis. An important result is that workers spend all extra compensation on wages only. This is shown to be true in the case that wage benefits
are taxed. Furthermore, proportional taxes have no effect for workers’ choice between wage and non-wage benefits.

Vocational training and disabled young people in Great Britain [Formation professionnelle et jeunes handicapés en Grande-Bretagne]

by Scott Yates

Published in Nouvelle revue de l'adaptation et de la scolarisation, 8(2) [The Journal of the French Ministry of Social Affairs]
Co-authored with Alan Roulstone

This article will explore the history of vocational services very briefly, explore recent policy shifts and ask why,... more This article will explore the history of vocational services very briefly, explore recent policy shifts and ask why, despite so many shifts in policy and programme, disabled young people’s access to training and employment are still very limited. A reading of UK vocational and post school policy of the last ten years would lead a reasonable observer to conclude that disabled young people had never been as well supported and protected in their search for economic belonging and wellbeing. Policy has shifted towards mainstreaming and emphasised disabled people’s right to live ordinary lives and to realise their expectation. However, institutional discrimination, credentialism and inaccessible learning and training environments are all seen as important. Access to employment and training are two key issues for disabled young people attempting to get a foothold in contemporary society. Their social inclusion and economic standing remain closely linked to their entry to the world of paid work. Despite major policy shifts aimed at enhancing the social inclusion of disabled young people and similar efforts to join up post school training, qualification and employment support systems, there remain real barriers to disabled young people getting equal treatment and opportunities. This article will largely explore the vocational position of disabled young people in England, but will also draw on some key findings from Wales and Scotland which inform policy analyses in this area.

Youths' career aspirations and socio-economic outcomes in adulthood.

by Scott Yates

Early Occupational Aspirations and Fractured Transitions: A Study of Entry into 'NEET'Status in the UK

by Scott Yates

Published in Journal of Social Policy
Co-authored with Angel Harris, Ricardo Sabates and Jeremy Staff

There has been significant recent research and policy interest in issues of young people’s occupational aspirations,... more There has been significant recent research and policy interest in issues of young people’s occupational aspirations, transitions to employment and the antecedents of NEET (not in employment, education or training) status.Many have argued that changes to the youth labour market over the past 30 years have led to transitions to work becoming more individualised, complex and troublesome for many, particularly those from poorer backgrounds. However, little research has examined the connection between early uncertainty or misalignment in occupational aspirations and entry into NEET status. This paper draws on the British Cohort Study to investigate these issues, and finds that young people with uncertain occupational aspirations or ones misaligned with their educational expectations are considerably more likely to become NEET by age 18. Uncertainty and misalignment are both more widespread andmore detrimental for those from poorer backgrounds. These findings are discussed in the context of recent research and debates on emerging adulthood and the youth labour market.

"Minding the gap" between policy visions and service implementation: lessons from Connexions

by Scott Yates

Published in Youth & Policy
Co-authored with Malcolm Payne

From 2001, Connexions was phased in across England to meet policy visions centred on uniting youth-oriented services... more From 2001, Connexions was phased in across England to meet policy visions centred on uniting youth-oriented services into a coherent whole, and providing universal advice and guidance alongside targeted support. Recent evaluations suggest that the service was not fulfilling these visions successfully, and current policy remains focused on implementing a new co-ordination of services to meet broadly similar visions. This paper draws on research evidence to explore the reasons for this failure in Connexions. It highlights a range of problems in service implementation from initial contact and assessment through to final interventions. It locates these problems in the political, bureaucratic, financial and social contexts in which the service existed. Notably the requirements to pursue a broad remit and meet hard targets with limited resources, instigate joint-working across existing professional boundaries, and unite and adapt disparate working paradigms presented significant challenges that are likely to remain relevant for future services.

Demographic pressure versus labour market space : A global view

by Marga Peeters

co-authored with Loek Groot

Fiscal pressure from demographic changes is mounting across the globe. But some countries have ample space left to... more Fiscal pressure from demographic changes is mounting across the globe. But some countries have ample space left to increase labour market participation. Cross-country comparisons suggest that, until at least 2050, the countries most under pressure will be Poland, Turkey, and Greece.

Egypt's demographic pressure - Where and how to create jobs

by Marga Peeters

After the drama of Egypt’s revolution comes the economic reality – one of the catalysts for regime change was the... more After the drama of Egypt’s revolution comes the economic reality – one of the catalysts for regime change was the country’s high unemployment. This column shows that the growing number of young people entering the job market will only add to the pressure. It argues that job creation in the private sector should be the number one priority for stimulating Egypt’s economic growth.