a column by Judith Delaney and Paul Devereux for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
Women are much less likely to study STEM degrees at university.
This column reveals that in the case of Ireland, the gender gap is concentrated in the areas of engineering, technology, and mathematics.
Subject choice in secondary school is the most important predictor of the portion of the gap that can be explained, with a small role for grades achieved in mathematics versus English. A gender gap of 9% remains even among students who studied the same subjects and achieved the same grades at secondary school.
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Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Friday, 26 April 2019
Friday, 25 January 2019
Who Goes to College via Access Routes? A Comparative Study of Widening Participation Admission in Selective Universities in Ireland and England
an article by Katriona O’Sullivan and Delma Byrne (Maynooth University, Ireland) and James Robson and Niall Winters (University of Oxford, UK) published in Social Inclusion Volume 7 Issue 1 (2019)
Abstract
This article explores changing national widening participation (WP) policy and responses from Higher Education institutions (HEIs) from a cross-national perspective. Specifically, the use of contextualised admissions and the provision of foundation year programmes in selective universities in Ireland and England are the key foci of interest.
Using data gathered from WP students in two selective universities in Ireland and England, we explore how student characteristics differ according to the WP route undertaken.
In an attempt to generate more knowledge of how HEIs enact WP policy, we draw on interviews conducted with staff involved in admission decision-making to explore how those with responsibility for admission within each institutional context perceive the WP pathways and their aims. The findings highlight how important it is for selective universities to adopt multiple WP pathways given that the use of contextualised admission and the provision of foundation years attract quite diverse student intakes.
In both contexts, those entering through foundation years have experienced greater levels of disadvantage in terms of family history of education and family occupation compared to their contextualised admission counterparts. The qualitative findings reveal that those with responsibility for admission perceive the WP admission routes in different ways, highlighting a clash between institutional culture and the goals of WP.
Full text (PDF 14pp)
Abstract
This article explores changing national widening participation (WP) policy and responses from Higher Education institutions (HEIs) from a cross-national perspective. Specifically, the use of contextualised admissions and the provision of foundation year programmes in selective universities in Ireland and England are the key foci of interest.
Using data gathered from WP students in two selective universities in Ireland and England, we explore how student characteristics differ according to the WP route undertaken.
In an attempt to generate more knowledge of how HEIs enact WP policy, we draw on interviews conducted with staff involved in admission decision-making to explore how those with responsibility for admission within each institutional context perceive the WP pathways and their aims. The findings highlight how important it is for selective universities to adopt multiple WP pathways given that the use of contextualised admission and the provision of foundation years attract quite diverse student intakes.
In both contexts, those entering through foundation years have experienced greater levels of disadvantage in terms of family history of education and family occupation compared to their contextualised admission counterparts. The qualitative findings reveal that those with responsibility for admission perceive the WP admission routes in different ways, highlighting a clash between institutional culture and the goals of WP.
Full text (PDF 14pp)
Friday, 19 October 2018
Subsidising long-term care: Lessons from subsidy expansions and cuts
a column by Joan Costa-i-Fon for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
Many European countries are revisiting how best to finance long-term care, balancing financial sustainability and the economic welfare of households.
Using examples of Spain and Scotland, this paper demonstrates that an expansion of public funding for long-term care has an effect on caregiving choices, household finances, and hospital care. Unconditional or cash subsidies may entail a ‘caregiving moral hazard’, but both cash and care subsidies can bring savings to the health system by reducing the frequency and intensity of hospitalisation.
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Many European countries are revisiting how best to finance long-term care, balancing financial sustainability and the economic welfare of households.
Using examples of Spain and Scotland, this paper demonstrates that an expansion of public funding for long-term care has an effect on caregiving choices, household finances, and hospital care. Unconditional or cash subsidies may entail a ‘caregiving moral hazard’, but both cash and care subsidies can bring savings to the health system by reducing the frequency and intensity of hospitalisation.
Continue reading
Tuesday, 24 July 2018
The impact of non-tariff barriers on EU goods trade after Brexit
a column by Stephen Byrne and Jonathan Rice for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
While the effect of Brexit on trade between the UK and the remaining EU member states has received considerable attention, to date little work has considered the issue of non-tariff barriers.
This column explores how increased documentary compliance and border delays will affect EU members’ exports to the UK. Time-sensitive goods are found to be most at risk of suffering from increases in non-tariff barriers.
Based on current trade composition, Latvia, Ireland, and Denmark are the trading partners that will be most affected.
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While the effect of Brexit on trade between the UK and the remaining EU member states has received considerable attention, to date little work has considered the issue of non-tariff barriers.
This column explores how increased documentary compliance and border delays will affect EU members’ exports to the UK. Time-sensitive goods are found to be most at risk of suffering from increases in non-tariff barriers.
Based on current trade composition, Latvia, Ireland, and Denmark are the trading partners that will be most affected.
Continue reading
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Does union membership benefit immigrant workers in ‘hard times’?
an article by Thomas Turner and Christine Cross (University of Limerick, Ireland) published in Journal of Industrial Relations Volume 56 Number 5 (November 2014)
Abstract
Immigrants experience many obstacles in obtaining jobs with comparable pay and conditions to native workers. Arguably, unionisation could offer migrant workers the mechanism to obtain better pay and conditions.
This paper examines whether migrant workers have benefited from unionisation in terms of pay, pensions and health insurance in Ireland.
Based on a large-scale national survey, we find that union membership delivers a modest wage premium of a relatively similar magnitude to both nationals and immigrant workers. Unionised immigrants are twice as likely as non-unionised immigrants to earn above the median hourly earnings and have greater pension coverage.
In particular, immigrants from the new accession states in the European Union, with the lowest mean hourly earnings of any immigrant group, gain the most from union membership.
Nonetheless, Irish nationals enjoy greater benefits from membership than immigrant workers. Addressing this discrepancy will require a greater focus by unions on organising immigrant workers.
Abstract
Immigrants experience many obstacles in obtaining jobs with comparable pay and conditions to native workers. Arguably, unionisation could offer migrant workers the mechanism to obtain better pay and conditions.
This paper examines whether migrant workers have benefited from unionisation in terms of pay, pensions and health insurance in Ireland.
Based on a large-scale national survey, we find that union membership delivers a modest wage premium of a relatively similar magnitude to both nationals and immigrant workers. Unionised immigrants are twice as likely as non-unionised immigrants to earn above the median hourly earnings and have greater pension coverage.
In particular, immigrants from the new accession states in the European Union, with the lowest mean hourly earnings of any immigrant group, gain the most from union membership.
Nonetheless, Irish nationals enjoy greater benefits from membership than immigrant workers. Addressing this discrepancy will require a greater focus by unions on organising immigrant workers.
Thursday, 22 January 2015
Ireland’s immigration policies (1997–present): Links to global trends of labour division and effects on national labour market structure
an article by Siobhán R McPhee (University of British Columbia, Canada) published in Local Economy volume 19 Number 6-7 (September-November 2014)
Abstract
Ireland’s economic growth (1992–2007) was fuelled by availability of capital, but also through access to cheap flexible labour. This article attempts to provide evidence that the Irish state played a central role in facilitating and shaping labour supply, a role that has resulted in the clustering of non-Irish workers in particular sectors of the labour market.
Worker mobility across national borders takes place at the intersection of global economic trends and local or regional labour market development, thus creating global consistency in the operation of local or regional markets and demand for workers; however, each labour market is unique as each creates its own local and global social relations.
The state, as a main actor in the formulation of immigration policies and in shaping labour market structure, has a central role in affecting the nature of the interconnection between global and local. The analysis considers how Ireland’s immigration policies, as they reflect global labour trends, contribute to the clustering of certain migrants in particular sectors.
The method of analysis involves a three-step numerical analysis of clustering: (1) percentages, (2) ODDS ratios and (3) two-step cluster analysis.
Results suggest the existence of economic clustering and channelling of workers into specific jobs linked back to immigration policies and recruitment drives.
Abstract
Ireland’s economic growth (1992–2007) was fuelled by availability of capital, but also through access to cheap flexible labour. This article attempts to provide evidence that the Irish state played a central role in facilitating and shaping labour supply, a role that has resulted in the clustering of non-Irish workers in particular sectors of the labour market.
Worker mobility across national borders takes place at the intersection of global economic trends and local or regional labour market development, thus creating global consistency in the operation of local or regional markets and demand for workers; however, each labour market is unique as each creates its own local and global social relations.
The state, as a main actor in the formulation of immigration policies and in shaping labour market structure, has a central role in affecting the nature of the interconnection between global and local. The analysis considers how Ireland’s immigration policies, as they reflect global labour trends, contribute to the clustering of certain migrants in particular sectors.
The method of analysis involves a three-step numerical analysis of clustering: (1) percentages, (2) ODDS ratios and (3) two-step cluster analysis.
Results suggest the existence of economic clustering and channelling of workers into specific jobs linked back to immigration policies and recruitment drives.
Thursday, 29 November 2012
'Protecting the most vulnerable' in an economic crisis: a participatory study of civil society organisations in Ireland
an article by Gemma M. Carney, Tony Dundon and ÁIne Ní Léime (affiliation(s) not provided) published in Voluntary Sector Review Volume 3 Number 3 (November 2012)
Abstract
This paper advances knowledge of how civil society organisations (CSOs) negotiate the shift from boom-time public expenditure to governmental austerity.
The study focuses on the Republic of Ireland, where CSOs occupied an important role in providing a voice for “vulnerable” citizens in corporatism for over a decade. The global financial crisis and subsequent austerity measures caused the country’s model of corporatist-style “social partnership” to collapse.
The article connects CSOs’ adaptation to austerity measures when protecting the “people behind the cuts” to broader questions about co-optation of civil society through state-led policy-making institutions.
Abstract
This paper advances knowledge of how civil society organisations (CSOs) negotiate the shift from boom-time public expenditure to governmental austerity.
The study focuses on the Republic of Ireland, where CSOs occupied an important role in providing a voice for “vulnerable” citizens in corporatism for over a decade. The global financial crisis and subsequent austerity measures caused the country’s model of corporatist-style “social partnership” to collapse.
The article connects CSOs’ adaptation to austerity measures when protecting the “people behind the cuts” to broader questions about co-optation of civil society through state-led policy-making institutions.
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Local Labour Market Diversity and Business Innovation: Evidence from Irish Manufacturing Businesses
an article by Helen McGuirk (University of Limerick, Ireland) and Declan Jordan (University College Cork, Ireland) published in European Planning Studies
Volume 20 Issue 12 (December 2012)
Abstract
This paper estimates the effect of diversity within local labour markets on business-level innovation. Using survey data and Irish census data, the paper explores whether the diversity of human capital at county level is associated with higher innovation output.
Diversity in age, nationality and educational attainment is measured using an index of heterogeneity and its effect on business innovation is estimated using an innovation production function approach. It is found that diversity in nationality and educational attainment is positively associated with the probability of a business product innovating.
The findings also suggest that greater external labour market diversity and greater levels of internal third-level education may be substitutes. Where a business is in a diverse location, it may not require higher levels of educational attainment among its workforce to source knowledge for product innovation.
Abstract
This paper estimates the effect of diversity within local labour markets on business-level innovation. Using survey data and Irish census data, the paper explores whether the diversity of human capital at county level is associated with higher innovation output.
Diversity in age, nationality and educational attainment is measured using an index of heterogeneity and its effect on business innovation is estimated using an innovation production function approach. It is found that diversity in nationality and educational attainment is positively associated with the probability of a business product innovating.
The findings also suggest that greater external labour market diversity and greater levels of internal third-level education may be substitutes. Where a business is in a diverse location, it may not require higher levels of educational attainment among its workforce to source knowledge for product innovation.
Thursday, 23 August 2012
The Immigrant Earnings Disadvantage across the Earnings and Skills Distributions: The Case of Immigrants from the EU's New Member States
an article by Alan Barrett and Séamus McGuinness (Economic and Social Research Institute) and Martin O'Brien (Central Bank of Ireland) published in British Journal of Industrial Relations Volume 50 Issue 3 (September 2012)
Abstract
We analyse the earnings of immigrants from the EU’s new member states (NMS) using a large-scale dataset with information on employees in Ireland.
We find that the average earnings difference between these immigrants and natives is between 10 and 18 per cent, depending on the controls used.
However, the difference is found to be lower for people at the lower end of the earnings distribution. It is also generally lower for people at the lower end of the education distribution.
We find mixed evidence on whether unions have an impact on the wages of immigrants from the NMS, although such immigrants appear to suffer a wage penalty as a result of being in firms that provided training to a significant proportion of their workforce.
Abstract
We analyse the earnings of immigrants from the EU’s new member states (NMS) using a large-scale dataset with information on employees in Ireland.
We find that the average earnings difference between these immigrants and natives is between 10 and 18 per cent, depending on the controls used.
However, the difference is found to be lower for people at the lower end of the earnings distribution. It is also generally lower for people at the lower end of the education distribution.
We find mixed evidence on whether unions have an impact on the wages of immigrants from the NMS, although such immigrants appear to suffer a wage penalty as a result of being in firms that provided training to a significant proportion of their workforce.
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Monitoring Ireland’s Skills Supply – Trends in Education and Training Outputs 2012
via Forfas.ie | Publications
Monitoring Ireland’s Skills Supply – Trends in Education and Training Outputs is an annual report produced by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit of FÁS on behalf of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.
This series of reports aims to provide an indication of the supply of skills to the Irish labour market from the formal education and training system by examining outflows from the formal education system across levels 1-10 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
Publication Files
Monitoring Ireland’s Skills Supply – Trends in Education and Training Outputs 2012 (PDF, 145 pages, 2,460KB)
Press Release: Expert Group Provides a View of Ireland’s Skills Supply and Demand (PDF, 3 pages, 35KB)
Presentation: Monitoring Ireland’s Skills Supply – Trends in Education and Training Outputs 2012 (PDF, 14 pages, 208KB)
Related Links
Publication: Monitoring Ireland's Skills Supply 2011 - Trends in Education and Training Outputs
Monitoring Ireland’s Skills Supply – Trends in Education and Training Outputs is an annual report produced by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit of FÁS on behalf of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.
This series of reports aims to provide an indication of the supply of skills to the Irish labour market from the formal education and training system by examining outflows from the formal education system across levels 1-10 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
Publication Files
Monitoring Ireland’s Skills Supply – Trends in Education and Training Outputs 2012 (PDF, 145 pages, 2,460KB)
Press Release: Expert Group Provides a View of Ireland’s Skills Supply and Demand (PDF, 3 pages, 35KB)
Presentation: Monitoring Ireland’s Skills Supply – Trends in Education and Training Outputs 2012 (PDF, 14 pages, 208KB)
Related Links
Publication: Monitoring Ireland's Skills Supply 2011 - Trends in Education and Training Outputs
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
An analysis of the interdependence of demographic factors, labour effort and economic growth in Ireland
an article by Justin Doran (University College Cork) published in International Journal of Social Economics Volume 39 Issue 3 (2012)
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects of a declining birth rate and an increasing old age-population ratio on Ireland’s economic output.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper utilises data on the birth rate, old-age population ratio, economic output and labour effort of the Irish economy to estimate a vector-autoregressive model. The results of this model are then analysed to test for the presence of Granger causality among these variables. In doing so it is possible to assess whether there are statistically significant causal relationships existing among these factors. Subsequently, impulse response functions are derived from this model in order to assess the magnitude of the causal relationships.
Findings
The results suggest that declining fertility rates and increases in the old-age dependency ratio have a significant impact on labour effort and economic output. Labour effort is also found to explain variation in the fertility rate and economic output. Economic output is found to effect labour effort and the fertility rate.
Social implications
The results derived in this paper raise interesting policy implications. It is evident that Ireland’s declining birth rate and increasing old-age population ratio are creating a demographic situation which will have implications for future economic growth. Policies need to be put in place to mitigate the negative effects these factors will have on Irish growth.
Originality/value
This paper adopts modern econometric techniques to assess the causal relationships which exist between the demographic and economic factors considered. These have not previously been applied to the Irish situation. In doing this, this paper provides an important insight into the changing dynamics of the Irish economy.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects of a declining birth rate and an increasing old age-population ratio on Ireland’s economic output.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper utilises data on the birth rate, old-age population ratio, economic output and labour effort of the Irish economy to estimate a vector-autoregressive model. The results of this model are then analysed to test for the presence of Granger causality among these variables. In doing so it is possible to assess whether there are statistically significant causal relationships existing among these factors. Subsequently, impulse response functions are derived from this model in order to assess the magnitude of the causal relationships.
Findings
The results suggest that declining fertility rates and increases in the old-age dependency ratio have a significant impact on labour effort and economic output. Labour effort is also found to explain variation in the fertility rate and economic output. Economic output is found to effect labour effort and the fertility rate.
Social implications
The results derived in this paper raise interesting policy implications. It is evident that Ireland’s declining birth rate and increasing old-age population ratio are creating a demographic situation which will have implications for future economic growth. Policies need to be put in place to mitigate the negative effects these factors will have on Irish growth.
Originality/value
This paper adopts modern econometric techniques to assess the causal relationships which exist between the demographic and economic factors considered. These have not previously been applied to the Irish situation. In doing this, this paper provides an important insight into the changing dynamics of the Irish economy.
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