1,721,747 research outputs found

    Unemployment Benefits and Unemployment Rates of Low-Skilled and Elder Workers in West Germany: A Search Equilibrium Approach

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    Approach Author & abstract Download 16 References 1 Citations Related works & more Corrections Author Listed: Launov, Andrey ([email protected]) (University of Kent) Wolff, Joachim ([email protected]) (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg) Klasen, Stephan ([email protected]) (University of Göttingen) Registered: Stephan Klasen Abstract In this paper we investigate whether the extension of the entitlement to unemployment benefits in the mid 80s can explain the increase in the unemployment rates of unskilled and elder workers in western Germany. To answer this question we estimate a version of the Burdett-Mortensen search equilibrium model and analyze how workers’ search behaviour responded to these reforms. We try both nonparametric and fully-parametric estimation methods and identify the cases in which the nonparametric approach cannot be applied. We find that the entitlement reforms are largely responsible for the increase of unemployment among unskilled workers

    Unemployment Benefits and Unemployment Rates of Low-Skilled and Elder Workers in West Germany: A Search Equilibrium Approach

    No full text
    Approach Author & abstract Download 16 References 1 Citations Related works & more Corrections Author Listed: Launov, Andrey ([email protected]) (University of Kent) Wolff, Joachim ([email protected]) (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg) Klasen, Stephan ([email protected]) (University of Göttingen) Registered: Stephan Klasen Abstract In this paper we investigate whether the extension of the entitlement to unemployment benefits in the mid 80s can explain the increase in the unemployment rates of unskilled and elder workers in western Germany. To answer this question we estimate a version of the Burdett-Mortensen search equilibrium model and analyze how workers’ search behaviour responded to these reforms. We try both nonparametric and fully-parametric estimation methods and identify the cases in which the nonparametric approach cannot be applied. We find that the entitlement reforms are largely responsible for the increase of unemployment among unskilled workers

    Surviving Unemployment without State Support: Unemployment and Household Formation in South Africa

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    High unemployment in many OECD countries is often attributed, at least in part, to the generosity and long duration of unemployment compensation. It is therefore instructive to examine a country where high unemployment exists despite the near complete absence of an unemployment insurance system. In South Africa unemployment stood at 23% in 1997 and the unemployed have no unemployment insurance nor informal sector activities to fall back on. This paper examines how the unemployed are able to get access to resources without support from unemployment compensation. Analysing a household survey from 1995, we find that the household formation response of the unemployed is the critical way in which they assure access to resources. In particular, unemployment delays the setting up of an individual household of young people, in some cases by decades. It also leads to the dissolution of existing households and a return of constituent members to parents and other relatives and friends. Access to state transfers (in particular, non¡ contributory old age pensions) increases the likelihood of attracting unemployed persons to a household. Some unemployed do not benefit from this safety net, and the presence of unemployed members pulls many households supporting them into poverty. We also show that the household formation responses draw some unemployed away from employment opportunities and thus lowers their employment prospects. The paper discusses the implications of these findings for debates about unemployment and social policy in South Africa and in OECD countries

    Malnourished and surviving in South Asia, better nourished and dying young in Africa: What can explain this puzzle?

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    This paper examines the factors explaining the very different relationship between anthropometric shortfall and child mortality in South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. While in the former, very high rates of anthropometric shortfall coexist with comparatively lower child mortality rates, rates of anthropometric shortfall in Sub Saharan Africa are much lower, yet under five mortality is much higher than in South Asia. This puzzle is examined using a panel data set of undernutrition, mortality, and their correlates. The analysis suggests that the unusually high rates of anthropometric shortfall in South Asia are partially due to the use of a US¡based reference standard which appears to generate misleading international comparisons of undernutrition. The very high rates of under five mortality in Africa seem to be mostly due to very high fertility, high and rising HIV prevalence, and a possible multiplicative interaction of risk factors

    Does gender inequality reduce growth and development: evidence from cross-country regressions

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    Using cross-country and panel regressions, this report investigates to what extent gender inequality in education and employment may reduce growth and development. The report finds a considerable impact of gender inequality on economic growth which is robust to changes in specifications and controls for potential endogeneities. The results suggest that gender inequality in education has a direct impact on economic growth through lowering the average quality of human capital. In addition, economic growth is indirectly affected through the impact of gender inequality on investment and population growth. Point estimates suggest that between 0.4-0.9 percent of the differences in growth rates between East Asia and Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East can be accounted for by the larger gender gaps in education prevailing in the latter regions. Moreover, the analysis shows that gender inequality in education prevents progress in reducing fertility and child mortality rates, thereby compromising progress in well-being in developing countries

    Armutsreduzierung im Zeitalter der Globalisierung

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    In diesem Beitrag werden theoretische und empirische Zusammenhänge zwischen Globalisierung und absoluter Armut in Entwicklungsländern beleuchtet. Es wird gezeigt, dass die zunehmende Handelsintegration die Chancen für verbesserte Armutsreduktion eröffnet und viele Entwicklungsländer davon profitieren konnten. Allerdings haben viele Entwicklungsländer davon nicht profitieren können und auch Maßnahmen zur weiteren Handelsliberalisierung haben hier wenig bewirkt. Ebenso leisten globalisierte Kapitalmärkte keinen nachweisbaren Beitrag zur Armutsreduktion und bergen eine Reihe von Risiken für Entwicklungsländer. Es werden Politikimplikationen für die Gestaltung der Globalisierung und der Entwicklungspolitik diskutiert

    Does gender inequality reduce growth and development: evidence from cross-country regressions

    No full text
    Using cross-country and panel regressions, this report investigates to what extent gender inequality in education and employment may reduce growth and development. The report finds a considerable impact of gender inequality on economic growth which is robust to changes in specifications and controls for potential endogeneities. The results suggest that gender inequality in education has a direct impact on economic growth through lowering the average quality of human capital. In addition, economic growth is indirectly affected through the impact of gender inequality on investment and population growth. Point estimates suggest that between 0.4-0.9 percent of the differences in growth rates between East Asia and Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East can be accounted for by the larger gender gaps in education prevailing in the latter regions. Moreover, the analysis shows that gender inequality in education prevents progress in reducing fertility and child mortality rates, thereby compromising progress in well-being in developing countries

    Anthropometric Survey Methods

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    Pro Poor Growth and Gender: What can we learn from the Literature and the OPPG Case Studies?

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    This paper examines to what extent gender gaps in education, health, employment, productive assets and inputs can affect pro poor growth (in the sense of increasing monetary incomes of the poor). After discussing serious methodological problems with examining gender issues in the context of household income poverty, the paper considers theory and evidence of the impact of gender inequality on pro poor growth. While there is a considerable literature demonstrating impacts of gender gaps on growth, there is much less information on the impact of gender gaps on inequality. The paper then examines the 14 countries included in the OPPG case studies and finds that the pro poor growth-relevant gender issues differ dramatically between the country cases so that no blanket analysis can be done. In addition, there is considerable evidence that low gender inequality contributed to pro-poor growth in the case study countries. Finally, the study identifies five clusters of countries with similar gender issues and associated policy priorities
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