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on Confederation of Independent States |
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Issue of 2015‒08‒25
twelve papers chosen by |
| By: | Larisa Smirnykh; Andreas Wörgötter |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the use of two forms of non-standard work contracts in Russia with data from an enterprise survey for the years 2009 to 2011. Non-standard work contracts are less costly and more flexible for employers. Internal adjustment in form of wage cuts or unpaid leave is not covered by the Labour Code and earlier practices to impose such measures are less tolerated. Therefore more firms use non-standard work contracts for external flexibility. Statistical analysis shows that companies using non-standard work contracts have similar unobserved characteristics and consider fixed-term contracts and agency work as complements. The main concern for policy is the growing danger of duality following the asymmetric distribution of adjustment costs for workers.<P>Contrats atypiques, flexibilité et ajustement de l'emploi : Enseignements tirés de données sur les établissements en Russie<BR>Cet article examine l'utilisation de deux formes de contrats de travail atypiques en Russie sur la base d'une enquête réalisée auprès des entreprises de 2009 à 2011. Les contrats de travail atypiques sont moins coûteux et plus flexibles pour les employeurs. Les ajustements internes sous la forme de réductions de salaires ou de congés sans solde ne sont pas couverts par le Code du travail et les pratiques antérieures visant à imposer de telles mesures sont moins tolérées. Par conséquent davantage d'entreprises utilisent des contrats de travail atypiques pour accroître leur flexibilité externe. L'analyse statistique montre que les entreprises utilisant des contrats de travail atypiques ont des caractéristiques non observées similaires et considèrent les contrats à durée déterminée et le travail intérimaire comme des compléments. Une préoccupation du point de vue des politiques publiques est le risque croissant de dualisme lié à une distribution asymétrique des coûts d'ajustement pour les travailleurs. |
| Keywords: | Russia, labour turnover, employment level, labour contracts |
| Date: | 2015–08–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:1253-en&r=cis |
| By: | Calvo,Paula Andrea; Lopez-Calva,Luis-Felipe; Posadas,Josefina |
| Abstract: | Wage inequality decreased significantly in the Russian Federation over the 2000s. The economic expansion experienced throughout the decade led to an improvement in social indicators, with a large reduction in poverty rates and an increase in higher education. In this context, wage inequality showed a sharp decline, with the Gini index on labor income decreasing by 18 percent between 2002 and 2012. Using data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey, this paper documents the reduction in wage inequality and explores potential factors behind the trend. The analysis uses a decomposition technique proposed by Fortin, Lemieux, and Firpo (2011) to disentangle the main drivers behind changes in the wage distribution. The results suggest that wage structure effects are more important than composition effects for explaining changes in wage inequality. Institutional factors, such as minimum wage policies and changes in the returns to employment in different sectors and types of firms as well as the reduction of the skill premium, emerge as the most relevant factors for explaining changes in the wage structure. |
| Keywords: | Labor Markets,Income,Economic Theory&Research,Labor Policies,Poverty Impact Evaluation |
| Date: | 2015–08–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7392&r=cis |
| By: | Sunanda Sen |
| Abstract: | Developing countries, led by China and other BRICS members (Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa), have been successfully organizing alternative sources of credit flows, aiming for financial stability, growth, and development. With their goals of avoiding International Monetary Fund loan conditionality and the dominance of the US dollar in global finance, these new BRICS-led institutions represent a much-needed renovation of the global financial architecture. The nascent institutions will provide an alternative to the prevailing Bretton Woods institutions, loans from which are usually laden with prescriptions for austerity--with often disastrous consequences for output and employment. We refer here to the most recent example in Europe, with Greece currently facing the diktat of the troika to accept austerity as a precondition for further financial assistance. It is rather disappointing that Western financial institutions and the EU are in no mood to provide Greece with any options short of complying with these disciplinary measures. Limitations, such as the above, in the prevailing global financial architecture bring to the fore the need for new institutions as alternative sources of funds. The launch of financial institutions by the BRICS--when combined with the BRICS clearing arrangement in local currencies proposed in this policy note--may chart a course for achieving an improved global financial order. Avoiding the use of the dollar as a currency to settle payments would help mitigate the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on transactions within the BRICS. Moreover, using the proposed clearing account arrangement to settle trade imbalances would help in generating additional demand within the BRICS, which would have an overall expansionary impact on the world economy as a whole. |
| Date: | 2015–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:lev:levypn:15-5&r=cis |
| By: | Ruud Egging; Franziska Holz |
| Abstract: | Recent supply security concerns in Europe have revived interest into the natural gas market. Here, we investigate investment behavior and trade in an imperfect market structure under uncertainty in both supply and demand. We focus on three uncertain events: i) transit of Russian gas via Ukraine that may be disrupted from 2020 on; ii) natural gas intensity of electricity generation in OECD countries that may lead to higher or lower natural gas demand after 2025; and iii) availability of shale gas around the globe after 2030. We illustrate how timing of investments is affected by inter-temporal hedging behavior of market agents, such as when LNG capacity provides ex-ante flexibility (e.g., in Ukraine to hedge for a possible Russian supply disruption) or an expost fallback option if domestic or nearby pipeline supply sources are low (e.g., uncertain shale gas resources in China). Moreover, we find that investment in LNG capacities is more determined by demand side pull (due to higher needs in electric power generation) than by supply side push (higher shale gas supplies needing an outlet). |
| Keywords: | Stochasticity, mixed complementarity model, natural gas |
| JEL: | C73 L71 Q34 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp1498&r=cis |
| By: | Brown, J. David (U.S. Census Bureau); Earle, John S. (George Mason University); Shpak, Solomiya (George Mason University); Vakhitov, Volodymyr (Kyiv School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper estimates the relative multi-factor productivity (MFP) of privatized and state-owned enterprises using a long panel on all initially state-owned manufacturing firms in Ukraine. The large size and length of the time series in the data permit us to track the privatization process and to estimate the impact of privatization within industry-year cells and with controls for firm fixed effects and trends. Results with these methods imply an average 5-10% relative MFP for majority privatized versus state-owned firms. The gap increases with time since privatization, reaching about 15-17% five years after privatization. It also increases with calendar time although recent privatizations are associated with smaller relative MFP. We find no evidence of "sequencing" of privatization based on 1992 relative MFP, but the data suggest a higher survival rate for privatized versus state firms and one that is more closely linked to 1992 MFP. The results also imply that MFP gains from privatization are decreasing in pre-privatization MFP. The relatively few cases in which foreign investors take control result in much higher relative MFP, 22-40% on average, compared to domestic private ownership, but the gap is much lower when the foreign source country is "offshore" – an indirect channel for Ukrainian nationals – and it is also lower when the source is Russia. Privatization of 100% ownership has much larger effects than partial privatization of either minority or majority stakes, ownership structures that have largely disappeared since the early 2000s, as Ukraine has sold off remaining shares. Nevertheless, our database contains more than 1000 majority state-owned manufacturing firms as of 2013 that could be considered for privatization in the future. |
| JEL: | D24 G34 L33 P31 |
| Date: | 2015–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9261&r=cis |
| By: | Erik Kubicka; Andrej Piovarci; Jozer Simuth; Vladimir Dubrovskiy |
| Abstract: | The publication was issued within the project ‘Transfer of Know-How for Small and Mid-size Businesses in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine’ which aims to assist SMEs in those countries by providing support to stakeholders in their efforts to develop analytical and policy advocacy capabilities and by opening new channels of communication between SMEs and NGOs in the Visegrad Four countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) and the rest of the European Union. The objective of the study is to deliver the complete findings and outcomes of the project aimed at Ukraine. This White Paper serves as an authoritative document with action plans, budgets, and a tangible way for the beneficiary country stakeholders to move forward with the agenda of small and medium-sized business development. It presents an overview of the collected background information and contains basic data on the countries, including some key macroeconomic comparisons as well as rankings in major competitiveness reports (e.g. Doing Business report by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development), identifies the project stakeholders and provides an overview of the situation of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine. It also includes the findings of two surveys implemented by the Slovak-Ukrainian team. Based on the findings, the “Discussion and Recommendations” section presents various perspectives on the problems of SMEs in Ukraine using the experience of the accession process of Slovakia, specific examples of key initiatives that led to the resolution of the problems, as well as case studies from various industries. It stresses the involvement of all parties including the EU, local governments, civil society, business associations, and the SMEs themselves. The key outcome of the paper is a road map – a very specific plan of actions including schedules, budgets, and other details within the scope of this project that will help the beneficiary country to cope with problems regarding the agenda of small and middle business development using the expertise and experience of institutions and stakeholders accumulated throughout the Slovak EU accession process. It includes a wide range of activities including a discussion of the project results with various Ukrainian stakeholders, workshops aimed at increasing knowledge about EU markets, legislation and standards, as well as strategic and institutional moves. |
| Keywords: | Small and middle enterprises (SMEs), know-how, knowledge transfer, European Union, Visegrad Group, Eastern Partnership |
| JEL: | H25 O12 L26 O11 O19 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sec:cnrepo:0121&r=cis |
| By: | Catherine Locatelli (équipe EDDEN - PACTE - Politiques publiques, ACtion politique, TErritoires - CNRS - Grenoble 2 UPMF - Université Pierre Mendès France - IEPG - Sciences Po Grenoble - Institut d'études politiques de Grenoble - Grenoble 1 UJF - Université Joseph Fourier) |
| Abstract: | La crise entre la Russie et l’UE à propos de l’Ukraine est venue rappeler combien les interdépendances en matière de gaz naturel entre ces trois acteurs étaient importantes. L’Ukraine se positionne en effet comme une voie de transit majeur du gaz russe à destination de l’Europe. Au-delà des enjeux politiques actuels, de fortes incompréhensions persistent entre ces trois acteurs quant à la manière de structurer ces échanges en matière de gaz naturel. Ceux-ci ont en effet été profondément déstabilisés par la mise en place d’un modèle concurrentiel d’organisation des marchés gaziers de l’UE. Cette structure de gouvernance est en effet en profonde contradiction avec le modèle plus intégré défendu par la Russie. |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01174452&r=cis |
| By: | Magdolna Sass; Oliver Kovacs; Lidis Garbovan; Renata Anna Jaksa |
| Abstract: | The report focuses on the potential of the development of small and mid-size businesses in Moldova. It provides an economic overview of the country, and then analyzes various best practices and lessons learned from the development of SMEs in the Visegrad countries, especially Hungary. The report provides a description of economic developments, main trade figures, relevant labor developments, migration and the role of remittances and defines the bottlenecks for SME development in the country. The authors built their analysis on available literature and statistics as well as their own survey and interview series. The study highlights six case studies relevant for SME development selected for deeper investigation such as simplified tax schemes, online tax reporting, entrepreneurship education, agriculture and producers’ organizations, the wine industry and issues of measurement of the SME sector. Finally the report draws up potential intervention schemes for Moldovan stakeholders and provides further recommendations for longer term initiatives and actions taken for the support of economic and SME development. |
| Keywords: | SME development, economic development, Moldova, Visegrad countries |
| JEL: | L25 H2 J6 O2 Q1 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sec:cnrepo:0122&r=cis |
| By: | Marion Cochard (OFCE - OFCE - Sciences Po) |
| Abstract: | Après une année 2012 de fort ralentissement, voire de récession pour certains pays de la zone, la croissance a repris progressivement au cours de l'année 2013 dans les pays d'Europe centrale. Le second semestre, et le quatrième trimestre en particulier, ont été marqués par la vigueur d'une croissance tirée par un assouplissement de la politique budgétaire et le regain de croissance en zone euro (notamment en Allemagne). l'ensemble des pays de la zone ont vu leurs enquêtes de conjoncture s'améliorer tout au long de l'année. Si les chiffres de croissance annuelle demeurent faibles pour l'année 2013, en raison notamment d'acquis de croissance très négatifs, cette sortie de l'ornière se traduira dans les chiffres dès 2014. Les pays d'Europe centrale renoueraient avec une croissance dynamique, quoique encore en deçà des rythmes qui prévalaient avant la crise (avec 2,2 % en 2014 et 2,8 % en 2015). Mais l'incertitude majeure concerne l'Europe orientale, déstabilisée par le bouleversement politique qu'a connu l'Ukraine et les conséquences que pourrait avoir l'intervention russe pour les économies des deux pays. Nous prévoyons que les sanctions économiques imposées à la Russie pèseront sur une économie russe déjà en net ralentissement, mais nous soulignons le risque d'une escalade de la situation géopolitique, qui pourrait avoir de graves conséquences sur une économie totalement dépendante de ses exportations de matières premières. |
| Date: | 2014–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00994102&r=cis |
| By: | Valdis Avotinš (Ventspils University College (Latvia) Author-Workplace-Homepage http://venta.lv/); Liene Resele (Ventspils University College (Latvia) Author-Workplace-Homepage http://venta.lv/) |
| Abstract: | The report offers an analysis of the R&I system in Latvia for 2014, including relevant policies and funding, with particular focus on topics critical for two EU policies: the European Research Area and the Innovation Union. The report was prepared according to a set of guidelines for collecting and analysing a range of materials, including policy documents, statistics, evaluation reports, websites etc. The report identifies the structural challenges of the Latvian research and innovation system and assesses the match between the national priorities and those challenges, highlighting the latest policy developments, their dynamics and impact in the overall national context. |
| Keywords: | R&I system, R&I policy, ERA, innovation union, Semester analysis, Latvia |
| JEL: | I20 O30 Z18 |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc96489&r=cis |
| By: | Agne Paliokaite (Visionary Analytics UAB (Lithuania) Author-Workplace-Homepage http://www.visionary.lt/) |
| Abstract: | The report offers an analysis of the R&I system in Lithuania for 2014, including relevant policies and funding, with particular focus on topics critical for two EU policies: the European Research Area and the Innovation Union. The report was prepared according to a set of guidelines for collecting and analysing a range of materials, including policy documents, statistics, evaluation reports, websites etc. The report identifies the structural challenges of the Lithuanian research and innovation system and assesses the match between the national priorities and those challenges, highlighting the latest policy developments, their dynamics and impact in the overall national context. |
| Keywords: | R&I system, R&I policy, ERA, innovation union, Semester analysis, Lithuania |
| JEL: | I20 O30 Z18 |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc96488&r=cis |
| By: | Ruuta Ruttas-Küttim (freelance consultant (Estonia)) |
| Abstract: | The report offers an analysis of the R&I system in Estonia for 2014, including relevant policies and funding, with particular focus on topics critical for two EU policies: the European Research Area and the Innovation Union. The report was prepared according to a set of guidelines for collecting and analysing a range of materials, including policy documents, statistics, evaluation reports, websites etc. The report identifies the structural challenges of the Estonian research and innovation system and assesses the match between the national priorities and those challenges, highlighting the latest policy developments, their dynamics and impact in the overall national context. |
| Keywords: | R&I system, R&I policy, ERA, innovation union, Semester analysis, Estonia |
| JEL: | I20 O30 Z18 |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc96487&r=cis |