an article by Yasmin Y. Ortiga (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) published in British Journal of Sociology of Education
Volume 38 Issue 4 (2017)
Abstract
This article demonstrates how neoliberal higher education has come to play a distinct role in the global market for migrant labor, where a growing number of developing nations educate its citizens for overseas work in order to maximize future monetary remittances.
Located in the Philippines, this study shows how local colleges and universities attempt to impose an ideal notion of flexibility, quickly shifting academic manpower and resources to programs that would produce the ‘right’ types of workers to address foreign labor demands.
Based on qualitative interviews with Filipino college educators and students, the article then discusses how such ‘flexible’ strategies undermine the job security of college faculty and lead to the constant restructuring of physical space within university campuses. Such changes negatively affect both students and teachers.
Friday, 27 October 2017
Cycling, car, or public transit: a study of stress and mood upon arrival at work
an article by Stéphane Brutus, Roshan Javadian and Alexandra Joelle Panaccio, (Concordia University, Montreal, Canada) published in International Journal of Workplace Health Management Volume 10 Issue 1 (2017)
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of various commuting modes on stress and mood upon arrival at work.
Design/methodology/approach
Data on stress and mood were collected after 123 employees arrived at work by bike, car, or public transit. In order to account for the natural fluctuation of stress and mood throughout the day, the assessment of the dependent variables was made within the first 45 minutes of arrival at work.
Findings
As hypothesized, those who cycled to work were less stressed than their counterparts who arrived by car. However, there was no difference in mood among the different mode users.
Practical implications
A lower level of early stress among cyclists offers further evidence for the promotion of active commute modes.
Originality/value
This study underscores the importance of being sensitive to time-based variations in stress and mood levels when investigating the impact of commute modes.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of various commuting modes on stress and mood upon arrival at work.
Design/methodology/approach
Data on stress and mood were collected after 123 employees arrived at work by bike, car, or public transit. In order to account for the natural fluctuation of stress and mood throughout the day, the assessment of the dependent variables was made within the first 45 minutes of arrival at work.
Findings
As hypothesized, those who cycled to work were less stressed than their counterparts who arrived by car. However, there was no difference in mood among the different mode users.
Practical implications
A lower level of early stress among cyclists offers further evidence for the promotion of active commute modes.
Originality/value
This study underscores the importance of being sensitive to time-based variations in stress and mood levels when investigating the impact of commute modes.
Women’s healthcare and the concept of mind-body interaction
a blog post by Mira Lal for Oxford University Press
Throughout history, and across many different cultures, the human being has been considered to consist of a mind with body (and sometimes a soul). Despite this, across much of modern medicine there has been a tendency to conceive of these aspects as distinctly separate entities, whether in disease generation or in its management.
The problem of such an approach is that it engenders a sort of Cartesian confusion.
In this way, healthcare providers may become oblivious to the idea, which seems so obvious to those who have not been blinded by excessive reductionism, that both of these facets can interact to manifest clinical conditions. This should not be a surprise since the findings of modern-day neuroscience have revealed an intimate link between the mind and the brain, and therefore the nervous system and the rest of the body – the scientific basis of the mind-body connection.
Continue reading
The scientific book promoted by the blog post is probably beyond all but an expert.
Throughout history, and across many different cultures, the human being has been considered to consist of a mind with body (and sometimes a soul). Despite this, across much of modern medicine there has been a tendency to conceive of these aspects as distinctly separate entities, whether in disease generation or in its management.
The problem of such an approach is that it engenders a sort of Cartesian confusion.
In this way, healthcare providers may become oblivious to the idea, which seems so obvious to those who have not been blinded by excessive reductionism, that both of these facets can interact to manifest clinical conditions. This should not be a surprise since the findings of modern-day neuroscience have revealed an intimate link between the mind and the brain, and therefore the nervous system and the rest of the body – the scientific basis of the mind-body connection.
Continue reading
The scientific book promoted by the blog post is probably beyond all but an expert.
Do People Favour Policies that Protect Future Generations? Evidence from a British Survey of Adults
an article by Hilary Graham, J. Martin Bland, Richard Cookson, Mona Kanaan and Piran C. L. White (University of York, UK) published in Journal of Social Policy Volume 46, Issue 3 July 2017
Abstract
Long-range temporal choices are built into contemporary policy-making, with policy decisions having consequences that play out across generations. Decisions are made on behalf of the public who are assumed to give much greater weight to their welfare than to the welfare of future generations. The paper investigates this assumption.
It briefly discusses evidence from sociological and economic studies before reporting the findings of a British survey of people's intergenerational time preferences based on a representative sample of nearly 10,000 respondents.
Questions focused on two sets of policies:
For both saving lives and protecting against floods, only a minority selected the policy that most benefited their generation; the majority selected policies bringing equal or greater benefits to future generations.
Our study raises questions about a core assumption of standard economic evaluation, pointing instead to concern for future generations as a value that many people hold in common.
Full text (HTML)
Abstract
Long-range temporal choices are built into contemporary policy-making, with policy decisions having consequences that play out across generations. Decisions are made on behalf of the public who are assumed to give much greater weight to their welfare than to the welfare of future generations. The paper investigates this assumption.
It briefly discusses evidence from sociological and economic studies before reporting the findings of a British survey of people's intergenerational time preferences based on a representative sample of nearly 10,000 respondents.
Questions focused on two sets of policies:
- health policies to save lives and
- environmental policies to protect against floods that would severely damage homes, businesses and other infrastructure.
For both saving lives and protecting against floods, only a minority selected the policy that most benefited their generation; the majority selected policies bringing equal or greater benefits to future generations.
Our study raises questions about a core assumption of standard economic evaluation, pointing instead to concern for future generations as a value that many people hold in common.
Full text (HTML)
The support paradox in community enterprise experiments in the Netherlands
an article by Reinout Kleinhans (Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands) and Maarten Van Ham (Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands; University of St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland)
published in International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Volume 31 Number 4 (2017)
Abstract
In many European countries, community-based entrepreneurship is increasingly considered as a means to initiate small-scale urban regeneration. However, residents in deprived neighbourhoods are often viewed to lack key entrepreneurial skills.
Most research on community entrepreneurship support is based on cross-sectional studies and overly focused on government support. This paper extends current knowledge by reporting a unique national experiment in the Netherlands with community enterprises receiving support from a private foundation.
The paper aims to investigate how active citizens perceive the benefits and drawbacks of this support. Using a unique longitudinal approach, the paper analyses transcriptions of repeated semi-structured interviews (panel design) from community enterprises in several neighbourhoods.
While positive feedback is found, the study provides strong evidence for a 'support paradox': the support that was intended to overcome a number of entry barriers and difficulties on the road to community entrepreneurship has significantly hampered progress among several community enterprises.
Abstract
In many European countries, community-based entrepreneurship is increasingly considered as a means to initiate small-scale urban regeneration. However, residents in deprived neighbourhoods are often viewed to lack key entrepreneurial skills.
Most research on community entrepreneurship support is based on cross-sectional studies and overly focused on government support. This paper extends current knowledge by reporting a unique national experiment in the Netherlands with community enterprises receiving support from a private foundation.
The paper aims to investigate how active citizens perceive the benefits and drawbacks of this support. Using a unique longitudinal approach, the paper analyses transcriptions of repeated semi-structured interviews (panel design) from community enterprises in several neighbourhoods.
While positive feedback is found, the study provides strong evidence for a 'support paradox': the support that was intended to overcome a number of entry barriers and difficulties on the road to community entrepreneurship has significantly hampered progress among several community enterprises.
Thursday, 26 October 2017
Rethinking What Really Matters: The Four Most Important Things in Life
a post by Carl Phillips for the Tiny Buddha blog
Our most precious commodities are not our smartphones, 3D TVs, brand new cars, or even our big and impressive houses.
Our most precious commodities can’t be found at the bank. They can’t be ordered online. The truth is, they are on a very short list.
Amongst our most precious commodities are our purpose, time, health, and our relationships.
Continue reading
“Life is short. Focus on what matters and let go of what doesn’t.” Unknown
Our most precious commodities are not our smartphones, 3D TVs, brand new cars, or even our big and impressive houses.
Our most precious commodities can’t be found at the bank. They can’t be ordered online. The truth is, they are on a very short list.
Amongst our most precious commodities are our purpose, time, health, and our relationships.
Continue reading
Labour reallocation is not why China’s economy is slowing: Busting the myth of surplus peasants in China’s growth
a column by Peter Robertson and Longfeng Ye for VOX: CEPR’s Policy Portal
The conventional wisdom is that labour reallocation has been a key driver of China’s growth miracle, and slowing migrant labour flows and rapid wage growth have raised concerns over whether this source of growth has run its course. This column argues that the literature on growth and labour reallocation in China has been dominated by a method that, relative to the now standard growth accounting model, substantially overstates the gains. Allowing for this and for human capital differences across sectors, sectoral labour reallocation has not been a key source of productivity growth in China.
Continue reading
The conventional wisdom is that labour reallocation has been a key driver of China’s growth miracle, and slowing migrant labour flows and rapid wage growth have raised concerns over whether this source of growth has run its course. This column argues that the literature on growth and labour reallocation in China has been dominated by a method that, relative to the now standard growth accounting model, substantially overstates the gains. Allowing for this and for human capital differences across sectors, sectoral labour reallocation has not been a key source of productivity growth in China.
Continue reading
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