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on Microeconomic European Issues |
| By: | Usman, Sehrish |
| Abstract: | Who thrives when alimony payments change? Restrictions on spousal alimony influence intra-family economic decisions by altering bargaining positions and raising concerns about post-divorce financial instability. Existing findings on restricted regimes are contradictory and need more clarity on the differential impact across heterogeneous households. This paper explores behavioural adaptations in labour supply and saving decisions of intact married partners in response to amendments in alimony reform in Germany. Using a difference-in-difference framework and longitudinal and retrospective datasets, I show that policy led to increased labour market participation of married women. However, behavioural responses vary significantly depending on the age cohort, family composition, duration of relationship, and income levels. |
| Keywords: | Household Economics, Spousal bargaining, Intra-family Decisions, Saving, Labor Supply, Policy Reform |
| JEL: | D13 D14 J12 J18 J22 |
| Date: | 2024–11–13 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:122675 |
| By: | WOOLFORD Jayne (European Commission - JRC); BACHTROEGLER-UNGER Julia; BURTON Anna; LALANNE Marie (European Commission - JRC); GULDA Krzysztof |
| Abstract: | This research quantifies the extent to which the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF) supported the provision of education and training relevant to the needs of territories and their smart specialisation (S3) domains in the 2014-2020 programming period. |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc139680 |
| By: | RUSSO Margherita; SIMONAZZI Annamaria; CETRULO Armanda |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the impact of technological upgrades and automation, on employment and working conditions in the automotive, sector in Romania, Spain and Germany. Utilising qualitative research methods, the study examines work organisation, job quality, and occupational composition from a gender perspective. The findings of the study exploring the impact of technology, identified main drivers for automation implementation as increased productivity, quality, and reduced manual labour availability. Automation and robotisation have also increased flexibility to cope with the variable composition of final products and the traceability of production processes. Barriers include high costs, technical difficulties, and the need for worker training. It observed that automation can simplify tasks, create new jobs, and increase responsibilities in middle management and team/shift leaders, while potentially reducing worker autonomy and increasing work pace. Positive job quality implications include ergonomics and improved operators' safety. Automation has reduced the number of line operators, while increased maintenance workers, quality control, logistics and indirect labour. The study observed vertical and horizontal gender segregation in hybrid production processes, with advancements towards horizontal gender equality in technologically advanced establishments. Addressing cultural attitudes and technical challenges is crucial for equitable benefits, as both industries currently undergo a transitional phase. |
| Date: | 2024–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc136545 |
| By: | Gromadzki, Jan (Vienna University of Economics and Business) |
| Abstract: | I study fertility adjustments after the introduction of a large universal child benefit in Poland. The program caused a six percent increase in the number of births. Patterns of selection into parenthood changed significantly and persistently, with a weakening of positive selection based on education and a strengthening of negative selection based on income. The share of births in the bottom half of the income distribution increased from 51 percent to 58 percent. Using a microsimulation approach, I combine changes in the births structure with existing estimates of the transfer's effect on labor supply to study the impact of these adjustments on poverty reduction. These impacts are very small due to the exceptional generosity of the transfer, but they become more pronounced in the middle of the income distribution. |
| Keywords: | fertility, child benefit, unconditional cash transfer, poverty |
| JEL: | J13 H31 I38 |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17456 |
| By: | Eichhorst, Werner (IZA); Krause-Pilatus, Annabelle (IZA); Dolls, Mathias (Ifo Institute for Economic Research); Lay, Max (Ifo Institute for Economic Research) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the crisis resilience of European welfare states. We analyse the capacity of social policy arrangements to contain poverty and inequality and avoid exclusion before, during and after periods of economic shocks. To achieve this goal, the paper takes a broad perspective to include different layers of protective arrangements, notably upstream systems such as unemployment insurance (UI), job retention and employment protection that are complemented by minimum income support (MIS) schemes. Together, these multiple layers play a crucial role in providing income and job protection in situations of crisis. In that respect we also distinguish systematically between regular/permanent policies (automatic stabilisers) and discretionary, typically temporary crisis response measures. We use a mixed-method approach that combines quantitative and qualitative research, such as descriptive and multivariate quantitative analyses and microsimulation methods based on EUROMOD. This is combined with in-depth case studies covering a sample of five countries that represent different welfare state types (Nordic, Continental, Mediterranean, Liberal and Central/East European) so that we can show the complex mechanisms of multi-layered protection at work and how the policies in place have evolved over time in response to crisis episodes, disentangling the role of automatic stabilisers and discretionary elements. Our observation period ranges from the mid-2000s to the early 2020s and allows us to cover both the Great Recession of 2008/09 and its aftermath as well as the Covid-19 pandemic. We find consistent differences in terms of crisis resilience across countries and welfare state types. In general, Nordic and Continental European welfare states with strong upstream systems and minimum income support show better outcomes in core socio-economic outcomes such as poverty and exclusion risks. However, labour market integration shows some dualisms in Continental Europe. The study shows that minimum income support holds particular importance if there are gaps in upstream systems or cases of severe and lasting crises. |
| Keywords: | minimum income support, crisis resilience, unemployment insurance, job retention, welfare states |
| JEL: | J65 J68 I38 |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17463 |
| By: | MCCANN Philip; JANSSEN Matthijs; STIERNA Johan (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | Mission-oriented innovation policies, as adopted by the European Union and several member states, tie top-down prioritization of societal problems to bottom-up problem-solving capacities. A critical challenge is to create resonance between (supra)national missions and the daily reality of field-level actors located in strong or weak regions with different problems, capabilities and institutions. Possibilities for synchronising those two worlds depend on how actors perceive risk and uncertainty, and on how these reframe the salience, credibility and legitimacy of missions. We conceptualise ‘local missions’ as both embedded in and re-scoping overarching missions, and discuss possibilities to support them through EU Cohesion policy. |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc139535 |
| By: | Celebi, Ismail |
| Abstract: | Increasing high-speed railway planning in Central Europe and the lack of border effect estimations in this region encouraged a border effect study in this region. With rail transport data collected in 2022, border effects in railway transport between six coun- tries were estimated separately by basing on Czechia and Slovakia. Significant border effects were found between these countries and their neighbours, and these effect were estimated ranging from 0.46 to 0.69 for Czechia, and 0.11 to 0.37 for Slovakia. However, no significant border effect was found between Czechia and Slovakia. These findings support arguments about that countries with common language, culture and history have lower border effects. |
| Date: | 2024–11–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:jqctz |
| By: | RODRÍGUEZ-POSE Andrés; DIJKSTRA Lewis (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | The European Union (EU) is at a critical juncture as it grapples with a series of structural challenges that have eroded its global competitiveness. While the EU remains an economic leader, the relative decline in its global standing, exacerbated by increasing within-country polarisation and stagnation in many regions, has raised concerns about its long-term economic prosperity and political stability. We argue that improving European competitiveness cannot be achieved without enhancing cohesion across the EU. Economic, social, and territorial inequality, particularly in regions caught in development traps, undermine the Union’s economic potential and its capacity to deliver on other fronts, such as the green and digital transitions or the functioning of the Single Market. Cohesion also contributes to economic prosperity by increasing involvement in the European project and stemming the rise of Euroscepticism. Addressing inequalities through a reformed cohesion policy is, therefore, necessary for the EU to regain its competitive edge and maintain unity in the face of global challenges. |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc139556 |