an article by Dan A Black (University of Chicago, NORC, and IZA, Chicago, USA), Natalia Kolesnikova (University of Mississippi, USA), Seth G Sanders (Duke University, Durham, USA) and Lowell J Taylor (Carnegie Mellon University, NORC, and IZA, Pittsburgh, USA) published in IZA Journal of Labor Economics volume 2 Number 2 (this article May 2013)
Abstract
A standard object of empirical analysis in labor economics is a modified Mincer wage function in which an individual's log wage is a function of education, experience, and race. We analyze this approach in a context where individuals live and work in different locations (thus facing different housing prices and wages). Our model justifies the traditional approach, but with the important caveat that the regression should include location-specific fixed effects. Empirical analysis of men in U.S. labor markets demonstrates that failure to condition on location causes us to significantly overstate the decline in black-white wage disparity over the past 60 years.
JEL classification: J31, J71, R23
Full text (PDF 19pp)
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Friday, 3 May 2013
New Enterprise Allowance: qualitative evaluation
DWP Research Report RR836 : A report of research carried out by Ecorys on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions published April 2013
Summary
This report presents the findings from a qualitative evaluation of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), undertaken by Ecorys between October 2012 and February 2013. Rolled out nationally in stages from April 2011, the NEA was developed to support unemployed people to establish sustainable businesses through offering a combination of financial and mentoring support. The evaluation focused on exploring the extent to which the NEA was meeting this objective along with offering insights into which elements of the programme are perceived as being particularly effective, or otherwise.
Overall, the evaluation found that the programme was offering effective support for those interested in self-employment as a route to (re-) entering the labour market and playing a useful role in supporting the development of new enterprises. However, these enterprises were typically of a smaller scale and with less growth potential than initially anticipated in terms of the NEA policy intent. Despite this, for those assisted by the programme, the opportunity to support themselves and their families through starting a business was clearly welcomed in many cases. In particular, the combination of mentoring support with financial assistance appeared central to the programme’s strength and effectiveness.
Although the implementation of the NEA has been broadly effective, the evaluation indicated a number of areas where improvements could be made. In particular, raising awareness of the programme amongst frontline Jobcentre Plus staff along with improving their knowledge and understanding would be beneficial. Equally, the nature and consistency of the support offered once participants have commenced trading could be improved, and the weekly financial allowance offered to programme participants could be more gradually tapered in the early stages of trading.
Full text (PDF 88pp)
Summary
This report presents the findings from a qualitative evaluation of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), undertaken by Ecorys between October 2012 and February 2013. Rolled out nationally in stages from April 2011, the NEA was developed to support unemployed people to establish sustainable businesses through offering a combination of financial and mentoring support. The evaluation focused on exploring the extent to which the NEA was meeting this objective along with offering insights into which elements of the programme are perceived as being particularly effective, or otherwise.
Overall, the evaluation found that the programme was offering effective support for those interested in self-employment as a route to (re-) entering the labour market and playing a useful role in supporting the development of new enterprises. However, these enterprises were typically of a smaller scale and with less growth potential than initially anticipated in terms of the NEA policy intent. Despite this, for those assisted by the programme, the opportunity to support themselves and their families through starting a business was clearly welcomed in many cases. In particular, the combination of mentoring support with financial assistance appeared central to the programme’s strength and effectiveness.
Although the implementation of the NEA has been broadly effective, the evaluation indicated a number of areas where improvements could be made. In particular, raising awareness of the programme amongst frontline Jobcentre Plus staff along with improving their knowledge and understanding would be beneficial. Equally, the nature and consistency of the support offered once participants have commenced trading could be improved, and the weekly financial allowance offered to programme participants could be more gradually tapered in the early stages of trading.
Full text (PDF 88pp)
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Homeworking: negotiating the psychological contract
an article by Alison M. Collins and Susan Cartwright (Lancaster University, UK) and Donald Hislop (Loughborough University, UK) published in Human Resource Management Journal Volume 23 Issue 2 (April 2013)
Abstract
This article explores the psychological contract of female clerical homeworkers who work from home full-time and are employed at a local authority.
Qualitative interviews were carried out with homeworkers and their supervisors.
Temporal flexibility was desired by all the homeworkers in order to achieve a better work–life balance, and was deemed important by women without children as well as those with childcare responsibilities.
Our findings highlight that homeworkers were able to negotiate their own idiosyncratic deals with line managers in order to attain their desired levels of temporal flexibility. However, the issue of flexibility remains ambiguous with some supervisory staff being more comfortable with the concept than others, leading to some homeworkers enjoying different levels of temporal flexibility than their co-workers.
Our findings suggest that employees perceive flexibility idiosyncratic deals of co-workers as fair as long as they achieve their own personal levels of temporal flexibility.
The potential implications for organisations are discussed.
Abstract
This article explores the psychological contract of female clerical homeworkers who work from home full-time and are employed at a local authority.
Qualitative interviews were carried out with homeworkers and their supervisors.
Temporal flexibility was desired by all the homeworkers in order to achieve a better work–life balance, and was deemed important by women without children as well as those with childcare responsibilities.
Our findings highlight that homeworkers were able to negotiate their own idiosyncratic deals with line managers in order to attain their desired levels of temporal flexibility. However, the issue of flexibility remains ambiguous with some supervisory staff being more comfortable with the concept than others, leading to some homeworkers enjoying different levels of temporal flexibility than their co-workers.
Our findings suggest that employees perceive flexibility idiosyncratic deals of co-workers as fair as long as they achieve their own personal levels of temporal flexibility.
The potential implications for organisations are discussed.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
The labour market experiences and strategies of young undocumented migrants
an article by Alice Bloch (University of Manchester, UK) published in Work Employment & Society Volume 27 Number 2 (April 2013)
Abstract
The article draws on data from in-depth interviews and testimonies with 75 young undocumented migrants from Brazil, China, Kurds from Turkey, Ukraine and Zimbabwe living in England.
The article provides a detailed qualitative understanding of the working lives and decision making of undocumented migrants, a group about which little is known. Sectors of employment and working conditions are explored alongside job-seeking strategies and the role of and use of social capital in job seeking.
Variations in employment experiences between undocumented migrants, particularly in relation to work within or outside of the ethnic enclave, are evident from the data.
Moreover, the role of narrow, usually co-ethnic and often undocumented, social networks in finding work and the intersections between job-seeking strategies and being undocumented is clear throughout the narratives.
Abstract
The article draws on data from in-depth interviews and testimonies with 75 young undocumented migrants from Brazil, China, Kurds from Turkey, Ukraine and Zimbabwe living in England.
The article provides a detailed qualitative understanding of the working lives and decision making of undocumented migrants, a group about which little is known. Sectors of employment and working conditions are explored alongside job-seeking strategies and the role of and use of social capital in job seeking.
Variations in employment experiences between undocumented migrants, particularly in relation to work within or outside of the ethnic enclave, are evident from the data.
Moreover, the role of narrow, usually co-ethnic and often undocumented, social networks in finding work and the intersections between job-seeking strategies and being undocumented is clear throughout the narratives.
The internationalisation of construction capital and labour force formation: Union responses in the transnational enterprise
an article by Stuart Rosewarne (The University of Sydney, Australia) published in The Journal of Industrial Relations Volume 55 Number 2 (April 2013)
Abstract
Throughout much of the advanced industrial world the building and construction industry has been extremely reliant upon migrant workers to meet industry labour force needs.
However, changes to work organisation in this sector, such as extended subcontracting chains and the increased significance of ‘phoenix’ operators, have reinforced greater recourse to migrant workers, especially temporary and undocumented workers.
Considered in the broader context of the widespread embrace of labour market flexibility and state engagement with neoliberal-oriented labour market policies that include less-restrictive labour migration programs, organised labour has been confronted by new and quite different industrial challenges in responding to migrant workers.
This article evaluates the significance of this shifting terrain in the construction sector for unions at the national, international and transnational level in engaging and organising migrant labour.
Abstract
Throughout much of the advanced industrial world the building and construction industry has been extremely reliant upon migrant workers to meet industry labour force needs.
However, changes to work organisation in this sector, such as extended subcontracting chains and the increased significance of ‘phoenix’ operators, have reinforced greater recourse to migrant workers, especially temporary and undocumented workers.
Considered in the broader context of the widespread embrace of labour market flexibility and state engagement with neoliberal-oriented labour market policies that include less-restrictive labour migration programs, organised labour has been confronted by new and quite different industrial challenges in responding to migrant workers.
This article evaluates the significance of this shifting terrain in the construction sector for unions at the national, international and transnational level in engaging and organising migrant labour.
Mindfulness Meditation as an Adjunct Approach to Treatment Within the Correctional System
an article by Terra Dafoe and Lana Stermac (Ontario Institute of Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, Canada) published in Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume 52 Issue 3 (April 2013)
Abstract
Cognitive-behavioural therapy and relapse prevention represent the correctional gold standard in treatment, while the principles of risk, need, and responsivity are widely recognised as essential for reducing recidivism.
Addressing responsivity has become difficult as the number of inmates with mental health diagnoses continues to rise, complicating treatment programming and highlighting the need for adjunct, complementary therapies.
Mindfulness has been shown to be effective across a number of clinical populations found within correctional settings.
Furthermore, it has been shown to be effective for working with difficulties identified as dynamic, criminogenic needs; for example, self-regulation.
The present article reviews mindfulness research with the goal of demonstrating the utility of this adjunct approach to working with individuals residing within the correctional system.
Abstract
Cognitive-behavioural therapy and relapse prevention represent the correctional gold standard in treatment, while the principles of risk, need, and responsivity are widely recognised as essential for reducing recidivism.
Addressing responsivity has become difficult as the number of inmates with mental health diagnoses continues to rise, complicating treatment programming and highlighting the need for adjunct, complementary therapies.
Mindfulness has been shown to be effective across a number of clinical populations found within correctional settings.
Furthermore, it has been shown to be effective for working with difficulties identified as dynamic, criminogenic needs; for example, self-regulation.
The present article reviews mindfulness research with the goal of demonstrating the utility of this adjunct approach to working with individuals residing within the correctional system.
Participation and equity in higher education: are we going back to the future?
an article by Linda Leach (Massey University, New Zealand) published in Oxford Review of Education Volume 39 Issue 2 (April 2013)
Abstract
This article provides an overview of policy developments related to participation and equity in higher education in New Zealand, England and Australia from the 1960s to 2011. It explores these developments in four sections.
First, it sets the scene by tracing the shift from elite universities to massification.
Second, it summarises key participation and equity policy developments between the 1960s and 2008 in the three countries to set the context for the post-global financial crisis developments.
It then traces the different policy responses to the financial crisis, identifying Australia’s pathway as different from those taken in New Zealand and England.
Fourth, it explores the success of these policies, identifies a change in the equity discourse and considers some strategic institutional responses to the changing policies in each country and the likely effects of those.
It argues that the austerity approaches taken by New Zealand and England are likely to take them back to a future of selective, elite universities but that Australia may continue its counter-cyclical policies to support equity objectives – unless there is a change of government and/or pressures from rapidly increasing enrolments produce policy change.
Abstract
This article provides an overview of policy developments related to participation and equity in higher education in New Zealand, England and Australia from the 1960s to 2011. It explores these developments in four sections.
First, it sets the scene by tracing the shift from elite universities to massification.
Second, it summarises key participation and equity policy developments between the 1960s and 2008 in the three countries to set the context for the post-global financial crisis developments.
It then traces the different policy responses to the financial crisis, identifying Australia’s pathway as different from those taken in New Zealand and England.
Fourth, it explores the success of these policies, identifies a change in the equity discourse and considers some strategic institutional responses to the changing policies in each country and the likely effects of those.
It argues that the austerity approaches taken by New Zealand and England are likely to take them back to a future of selective, elite universities but that Australia may continue its counter-cyclical policies to support equity objectives – unless there is a change of government and/or pressures from rapidly increasing enrolments produce policy change.
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