1,721,096 research outputs found
Heterogeneous paths to stability
No full textIn this paper, we show that incentives to convert temporary contracts into permanent ones might be less effective when the employment protection legislation associated with temporary contracts is lax. Drawing upon rich administrative data and using a difference-in-differences methodology, we estimate that workers at their first work experience hired on more flexible contracts undergo a reduction in the conversion rate to permanent employment of 6.3 percentage points after the implementation of the incentives (and of 3.2 percentage points over a year), compared to peers hired on more rigid contracts. This reduced conversion rate, which results in a 17% wage penalty even 2 years into their professional journey, points to a significant negative impact of flexible temporary jobs on the future prospects of young workers
Improving Oxygen Transport in Perovskite-Type LaGaO3Solid Electrolyte through Strain
No full textLattice strain is a promising possibility to improve materials performance in view of their application in thin-film devices. In particular, defect and transport properties in ionic conductors may be tailored through strain effects, since defect formation energy and migration barriers are correlated to structural parameters which, in turn, are influenced by strain-induced deformations. In this computational study we predicted that oxide-ion diffusion in perovskite-type lanthanum gallate can be improved through application of tensile strain. The structural deformations required to accommodate tensile lattice strain in the perovskite system are shown to result in a preferential localization of the oxygen vacancies in the equatorial plane of the GaO6 octahedra, while oxide-ion diffusion becomes anisotropic
Young people between education and the labour market during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
Full text linkWe analyse the distribution and the flows between different types of
employment (self-employment, temporary, and permanent), unemployment,
education, and other types of inactivity, with particular focus on the duration
of the school-to-work transition (STWT). The aim is to assess the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy on the careers of individuals aged 15-34. We find
that the pandemic worsened an already concerning situation of higher
unemployment and inactivity rates and significantly longer STWT duration
compared to other EU countries, particularly for females and residents in the
South of Italy. In the midst of the pandemic, individuals aged 20-29 were less
in (permanent and temporary) employment and more in the NLFET (Neither in the
Labour Force nor in Education or Training) state, particularly females and non
Italian citizens. We also provide evidence of an increased propensity to return
to schooling, but most importantly of a substantial prolongation of the STWT
duration towards permanent employment, mostly for males and non Italian
citizens. Our contribution lies in providing a rigorous estimation and analysis
of the impact of COVID-19 on the carriers of young individuals in Italy, which
has not yet been explored in the literature.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, 3 table
The role of job uncertainty in inter-regional commuting: The case of Italy
Full text linkThis paper studies the evolution of the determinants of inter-regional commuting in Italy in the period 1992–2016, during which the labour market has been significantly reformed. To capture the changes in commuting patterns, the analysis of the role of individual, job, firm, and regional characteristics is performed. Specifically, the focus is on the impact of job uncertainty at both micro and macro level, through the analysis of the way the diffusion of temporary contracts has affected the decision to commute for work. The findings suggest that in more recent years workers hired on a temporary contract are more likely to commute to another region. Moreover, the higher the relative share of temporary contracts in the region of residence, the higher the probability of commuting across regions. These findings support the idea that the strong utilisation of (short) temporary contracts represents a push factor, which drives workers away in search of better job opportunities, with potentially negative consequences for poorly performing regions
Regional Commuting in Italy: Do Temporary Contracts Affect the Decision?
Full text linkIn this paper we study how the determinants of regional commuting in Italy have evolved in the past fifteen years. Using labour force data from 1992 to 2008 we estimate a model where the probability of commuting is regressed on a wide set of individual, job, firm and regional characteristics. Specifically, we focus on understanding how the increased exibility of the labour market in the late nineties/early twenties have affected the individual decision to commute across regions. Consistent with the previous literature, we identify specific types of individual working in firms with well-defined features who are more keen to commute. However, even though temporary employees tend to commute more than permanent employees, the increased utilization of temporary contracts did not have a strong impact on the commuting decisions of Italian workers
Informal work in a flexible labour market
Full text linkInformal employment is a pervasive and persistent feature of most developing and developed economies. Labour taxation and labour market regulations are deemed two major causes for operating in the informal sector. Using data from France, Italy, and Spain, we analyse gross job flows and gross worker flows in the formal and informal sectors in the presence of lenient employment protection legislation, and investigate the way traditional policy interventions may favour transitions from one sector to the other. We show that optimal outcomes in terms of reduction and formalisation of informal jobs across the three countries examined are achieved with the combination of lower payroll taxes for permanent contracts and higher inspection rate for firms operating in the informal sector. Coupling lower firing costs with more frequent labour inspections also reduces informality, but this comes at the cost of an increased ratio of temporary to total employment
Feeling the strain:enhancing ionic transport in olivine phosphate cathodes for Li- and Na-ion batteries through strain effects
Full text linkOlivine-type phosphates LiFePO4 and NaFePO4 are among the most widely studied cathode materials for rechargeable batteries. To improve their rate behaviour for future electronic and vehicle applications, it is vital that the Li+ and Na+ conductivities be enhanced. In this study, atomistic simulation methods (including molecular dynamics) are used to investigate the effect of lattice strain on ion transport and defect formation in olivine-type LiFePO4 and NaFePO4, as these properties are directly related to their intercalation behaviour. The results suggest that lattice strain can have a remarkable effect on the rate performance of cathode materials, with a major increase in the ionic conductivity and decrease in blocking defects at room temperature. Such understanding is important for the future optimization of high-rate cathodes for rechargeable batteries, and is relevant to the growing interest in developing thin film solid-state batteries
Don’t Stop Me Now: Cross-Border Commuting in the Aftermath of Schengen
No full textA Single European Labour Market has not been achieved yet, despite strong efforts in promoting cross-country labour mobility. In this paper, we assess the effectiveness of one of the most important policies implemented to reach this goal: the Schengen Agreement. Using data from the European Labour Force Survey, we show that the individual probability to become a cross-border commuter after the entrance of Switzerland in the Schengen area increased by 0.5 and 4 percentage points among labour force individuals and inter-regional commuters, respectively. We also show evidence of a substantial redirection of internal inter-regional commuters to Swiss regions
Does the abolition of border controls boost cross-border commuting? Evidence from Switzerland
No full textIn this paper we study the effects of Switzerland implementing the Schengen agreement in December 2008 on labour mobility. As vehicles are allowed to cross borders without stopping and residents in border areas are granted freedom to cross borders away from fixed checkpoints, we expect cross-border commuting to Switzerland to be higher after Switzerland joined the Schengen area. Using data from the European Labour Force Survey (ELFS), we estimate a Difference-in-Differences model and find that the individual probability to cross-border commute to Switzerland has increased from a minimum of 3.2 percentage points to a maximum of 7 percentage points, according to different model specifications. Our result is particularly important due the timely and meaningful policy implications
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