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on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Antonio Di Paolo (Department of Econometrics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain); Aysıt Tansel (Department of Economics, METU; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Bonn, Germany; Economic Research Forum (ERF) Cairo, Egypt) |
| Abstract: | This paper analyzes the drivers of wage differences among college graduates who hold a degree in a different field of study. We focus on Turkey, an emerging country that is characterized by a sustained expansion of higher education. We estimate conditional wage gaps by field of study using OLS regressions. Average differentials are subsequently decomposed into the contribution of observable characteristics (endowment) and unobservable characteristics (returns). To shed light on distributional wage disparities by field of study, we provide estimates along the unconditional wage distribution by means of RIF-Regressions. Finally, we also decompose the contribution of explained and unexplained factors in accounting for wage gaps along the whole distribution. As such, this is the first work providing evidence on distributional wage differences by college major for a developing country. The results indicate the existence of important wage differences by field of study, which are partly accounted by differences in observable characteristics (especially occupation and, to a lesser extent, employment sector). These pay gaps are also heterogeneous over the unconditional distribution of wages, as is the share of wage differentials that can be attributed to differences in observable characteristics across workers with degrees in different fields of study. |
| Keywords: | Fields of Study, Wage Differentials, Decomposition, Unconditional Wage Distribution, Turkey |
| JEL: | J31 J24 I23 I26 |
| Date: | 2017–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:met:wpaper:1708&r=cwa |
| By: | Duha T. Altindag; Elif S. Filiz; Erdal Tekin |
| Abstract: | An important question in representative democracies is how to ensure that politicians behave in the best interest of citizens rather than their own private interests. Aside from elections, one of the few institutional devices available to regulate the actions of politicians is their pay structure. In this paper, we provide fresh insights into the impact of politician salaries on their performance using a unique law change implemented in 2012 in Turkey. Specifically, the members of the parliament (MPs) in Turkey who are retired from their pre-political career jobs earn a pension bonus on top of their MP salaries. The law change in 2012 significantly increased the pension bonus by pegging it to 18 percent of the salary of the President of Turkey, while keeping the salaries of non-retired MPs unchanged. By exploiting the variation in total salaries caused by the new law in a difference-in-differences framework, we find that the salary increase had a negative impact on the performance of the retired MPs. In particular, the overall performance of these MPs was lowered by 12.3 percent of a standard deviation as a result of the increase in salary caused by the new law. This finding is robust to numerous specification tests. Furthermore, results obtained from an auxiliary analysis suggest that one of the mechanisms through which MPs reduce their performance is absenteeism. |
| JEL: | J22 J26 J33 J45 |
| Date: | 2017–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23613&r=cwa |
| By: | Emilliano Alessandri |
| Abstract: | While possible, prospects for repairing existing fractures through multilateral dialogue and compromise have become elusive as crises in the region persist. There are quite a few unfavorable conditions hindering the emergence of some form of multilateral security process: areas of hot conflict have widened in recent years making violence almost endemic in the region, in countries like Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya; the Middle East peace process is in a stalemate and already thin trust between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships is all but gone as both have become more contested among respective constituencies and less respected abroad; in some countries, the social contract seems to be breaking after a failed Arab Spring, challenging government authority even in places like Tunisia where a fragile democratic transition audaciously continues despite growing socio-economic discontent and a deteriorating security situation; some other MENA states have become weaker as a result of chronic violence and dysfunctional governance; while non-Arab states, from Turkey to Iran, have seen an opportunity to expand their clout in a Middle East in flux, even if themselves under great pressure, extra-regional actors have never appeared more divided about the course to follow, or more distracted by other priorities. |
| Date: | 2017–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ocp:ppaper:pb-1712&r=cwa |
| By: | Asiye KAKIRMAN YILDIZ (Marmara University); Varol SAYDAM (Marmara University); Bahattin YALÇINKAYA (Marmara University) |
| Abstract: | The aim of this study is to emphasise that, in order for reading culture to be instilled and for reading to become a habit in Turkey, not only does reading as an activity need to be instilled in children at preschool level, but to also stress that public libraries need to adopt an active role in the embedding of the notion of the book and reading in the minds of children of preschool age. International standards state that public libraries should devote at least 25% of their collections, services and activities to children. Within the scope of this study, the efficiency of public libraries in terms of children?s services including the library as a space will be examined, in addition to determining the extent to which the preschool period is included in the planning of services. For the purposes of this study, a ?current situational analysis? comprising of 20 criteria was undertaken of public libraries operating in 30 different districts of Istanbul. Throughout this process, ?Guidelines for Library Services to Babies and Toddlers? prepared by IFLA was used as a reference for questionnaires and research documentation. The research carried out revealed that those public libraries that were effective and efficient in the districts in which they operated in were preferred by preschool children and their families. The results of the study also determined that these libraries were pioneering in terms of promoting reading as a habit and library use, because of the services and activities they provided. |
| Keywords: | Reading habit, public libraries, preschool period, Turkey |
| Date: | 2017–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:itepro:4907768&r=cwa |
| By: | Lia Charekishvili (Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Invited Associate Professor) |
| Abstract: | The child labour is very important problem in the world. The statistical findings based on the survey results, providing details on child labour phenomenon in Georgia, its dimensions and scope, including characteristics and results. According to the survey 5.8% of children aged 5-17 are economically active. The boys account for 76.5% of employed children aged 5-17. Children engaged in economic activities constitute 1.6% in urban and 11.4% in rural areas. The educational level of parents of children in child labour is relatively low compared to the educational level of non-working children. Poverty and low income are among the main causes of child labour. |
| Keywords: | Legislation, ILO, Survey, Statistics |
| JEL: | J82 D19 J01 |
| Date: | 2017–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:5006982&r=cwa |