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on Microeconomic European Issues |
| By: | Melanie Borah; Susanne Elsas |
| Abstract: | Analyses of income distributions across households crucially depend on equivalence scales. They define income increments necessary to keep a household’s living standard constant as it is joined by additional adults or children. Such scales have frequently been estimated using income satisfaction data, yet under the assumption that household income, size, and structure are exogenous. The present paper is the first to relax this assumption and consider the possible endogeneity of income and family size in income satisfaction. This involves an empirical analysis of data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) using fixed-effects regressions with heteroscedasticity-based instruments. Our results confirm that endogeneity is relevant in regressions of income satisfaction; equivalence weights, however, appear not to be biased significantly. Accounting for endogeneity in income and family size has virtually no implications for distribution and poverty analyses. |
| Keywords: | equivalence scale, income satisfaction, endogeneity, internal instruments |
| JEL: | I32 J13 D31 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1234 |
| By: | Corinna Frodermann; Katharina Wrohlich; Aline Zucco |
| Abstract: | Paid parental leave schemes have been shown to increase women's employment rates but to decrease their wages in case of extended leave duration. In view of these potential trade-offs, many countries are discussing the optimal design of parental leave policies. We analyze the impact of a major parental leave reform on mothers' long-term earnings. The 2007 German parental leave reform replaced a means-tested benefit with a more generous earnings-related benefit that is granted for a shorter period of time. Additionally, a "daddy quota" of two months was introduced. To identify the causal effect of this policy mix on long-run earnings of mothers, we use a difference-in-differences approach that compares labor market outcomes of mothers who gave birth just before and right after the reform and nets out seasonal effects by including the year before. Using administrative social security data, we confirm previous findings and show that the average duration of employment interruptions increased for mothers with high pre-birth earnings. Nevertheless, we find a positive longrun effect on earnings for mothers in this group. This effect cannot be explained by changes in the selection of working mothers, working hours or changes in employer stability. Descriptive evidence suggests that the stronger involvement of fathers, incentivized by the "daddy months", could have facilitated mothers' re-entry into the labor market and thereby increased earnings. For mothers with low pre-birth earnings, however, we do not find beneficial long-run effects of this parental leave reform. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwddc:dd115 |
| By: | Dominik Boddin; Thilo Kroeger |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the labor market impact of structural change by distinguishing between industry- and occupation-based measures of manufacturing and service employment. Using German data from 1975–2019, we find that 67% of manufacturing jobs lost in manufacturing industries are offset by new manufacturing jobs in service industries. Linking these aggregate patterns to worker-level outcomes, we show that the severity of displacement costs depends on the occupation–sector characteristics of the next job. Workers who retain manufacturing occupations in the service sector experience employment trajectories comparable to those remaining in manufacturing, indicating that structural change is less disruptive than commonly perceived. |
| Keywords: | Employment Structure, Structural Change, Displacements, Layoffs, Occupations, Manufacturing decline, Germany |
| JEL: | E24 J21 J24 J31 J63 L23 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwwpp:dp2144 |
| By: | Palladino, Marco G.; Bertheau, Antoine; Hijzen, Alexander; Kunze, Astrid; Barreto, Cesar; Gülümser, Dogan; Lachowska, Marta; Lassen, Anne Sophie; Lattanzio, Salvatore; Lochner, Benjamin; Lombardi, Stefano; Meekes, Jordy; Muraközy, Balázs; Nordström Skans, Oskar |
| Abstract: | We quantify the role of gender-specific firm wage premiums in explaining the private-sector gender gap in hourly wages using a harmonized research design across 11 matched employer-employee datasets — ten European countries and Washington State, USA. These premiums contribute to the gender wage gap through two channels: women’s concentration in lower-paying firms (sorting) and women receiving lower premiums than men within the same firm (pay-setting). We find that firm wage premiums account for 10 to 30 percent of the gender wage gap. While both mechanisms matter, sorting is the predominant driver of the firm contribution to the gender wage gap in most countries. We document three patterns that are broadly consistent across countries: (1) women’s sorting into lower-paying firms increases with age; (2) women are more concentrated in low-paying firms with a high share of part-time workers; and (3) women receive about 90 percent of the rents that men receive from firm surplus gains. |
| Keywords: | Gender wage gap, firms, cross-country comparison, J24, J31, J71, C52, fi=Tulonjako ja eriarvoisuus|sv=Inkomstfördelning och ojämlikhet|en=Income distribution and inequality|, fi=Työmarkkinat|sv=Arbetsmarknad|en=Labour markets|, |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fer:wpaper:181 |
| By: | Mattia Guerini (Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Italy.); Giovanni Marin (Dipartimento di Economia, Società , Politica, Università di Urbino Carlo Bo, Italy; SEEDS, Italy; FEEM,); Francesco Vona (Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy; FEEM;) |
| Abstract: | We study how monetary policy shapes firm level carbon emissions. Our identification strategy exploits the European Central Bank’s July 2012 move to the zero lower bound as a plausibly exogenous easing of credit supply, combined with rich administrative and survey data on French manufacturing firms from 2000–2019. Using a difference-in-differences design with debt-to-asset ratios as exposure, we find that financially constrained firms cut emissions by about 9.4% more than unconstrained ones. This effect primarily stems from improvements in energy efficiency, lower carbon intensity of energy, and general productivity improvements associated with capital deepening that outweighed modest scale effects. Small and medium firms drive these results, while large and EU ETS regulated firms show no significant response. On average, emissions fell by 3.3% per year, summing up to 5.3 million tonnes of ð ¶ð ‘‚2 saved. Despite the smaller marginal effects, total carbon savings due to the monetary easing are comparable to the savings from the EU ETS, highlighting the untargeted nature of the policy. |
| Keywords: | Financial constraints, credit supply, firm level carbon emissions, climate policies |
| JEL: | Q52 Q48 D22 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:srt:wpaper:1525 |
| By: | Giulio Valerio Corbelli (Università degli Studi di Ferrara; SEEDS, Italy) |
| Abstract: | This working paper investigates how Italian innovative startups integrate sustainability, innovation, and inclusion within their strategic and organizational frameworks. Drawing on a national survey of 1, 000 firms registered under the Italian Start-up Act, the study examines the structural, behavioral, and perceptual dimensions of sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship. The empirical analysis combines descriptive, comparative, and multivariate methods—including hierarchical and K-means cluster analyses—to identify typologies of startups that reflect different configurations of technological intensity, environmental commitment, and inclusiveness. The results show that Italian innovative startups are predominantly small, recently founded, and highly research-oriented, with a strong concentration in knowledge-intensive sectors. Sustainability- oriented startups—those identifying as “green†or “partially green†—represent almost half of the sample. They tend to be younger, employ a higher share of R&D personnel, and meet a greater number of legal requirements for innovative status. However, gender inclusiveness remains limited: female participation among founders and managers is low, and only a minority of startups implement formal inclusion policies. Cluster analysis reveals two main archetypes: (1) Technological Mainstream startups—larger, R&D- intensive firms focused on technological performance—and (2) Sustainable and Gender- Balanced startups—smaller but more inclusive and institutionally embedded. Within the subset of sustainability-oriented firms, two additional groups emerge: Tech-Green Operative Firms, focused on eco-efficiency and technological solutions, and Sustainable & Inclusive Champions, integrating environmental, social, and economic objectives. Finally, a set of econometric models was estimated to assess whether sustainability orientation systematically predicts key performance, innovation, and perception outcomes. The results confirm that green and partially green startups display distinct behavioral and strategic patterns even after controlling for size, age, sector, and regional factors. |
| Keywords: | Sustainable entrepreneurship; Innovation ecosystems; Startups; Italy; Inclusion; Resource Based View; Institutional Theory; Cluster analysis. |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:srt:wpaper:1425 |
| By: | Raquel Andrés (Departament d'Economia i CAEPS, Universitat de Barcelona); Alexandrina Stoyanova (Departament d'Economia, CAEPS, BEAT, Universitat de Barcelona) |
| Abstract: | Europe’s rapidly ageing population poses critical challenges for long-term care (LTC) systems, particularly guaranteeing equitable access. While socio-economic disparities in LTC utilisation are well documented, inequalities in unmet needs—the gap between required and received care—are less studied. Using the 2019 European Health Interview Survey for Spain, we quantify the care gap in hours and classify unmet needs as full, partial, or none. Employing the concentration index, we assess socio-economic inequalities in unmet needs, stratified by eligibility for publicly funded LTC and by limitation severity (number of ADL limitations). We find a pronounced pro-poor concentration of the care gap, disproportionately affecting women, individuals living alone, and the oldest-old. Among individuals below the eligibility threshold, inequality is not statistically significant; however, it becomes substantial among those who are eligible and increases with the severity of limitations. Our decomposition analysis reveals that health status, income, and living arrangement explain most of the observed inequality. Notably, among eligible individuals with more severe ADL limitations, living arrangement emerges as the largest contributor. These results point to the need to reduce inequalities that disproportionally affect those in the bottom socio-economic strata and address disparities through more effective resource allocation and targeted policy interventions. By providing a granular measure of unmet LTC need and its socio-economic determinants, this study contributes to the broader discussion on fairness and efficiency of LTC provision in ageing societies. |
| Keywords: | Long-term care, Care gap, Unmet needs, Inequalities |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ewp:wpaper:489web |
| By: | Sébastien Fontenay; Libertad González |
| Abstract: | We estimate the long-term impact of early paternal involvement by exploiting the 2002 Belgian paternity leave introduction as a natural experiment. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that the reform significantly increased fathers' long-term time investment in childcare. Tracking children into early adulthood, we find precisely estimated null effects on a comprehensive set of outcomes, including educational attainment, labor market attachment, and family formation. These results hold across subgroups, including children of low and high- educated fathers. We conclude that while paternity leave may increase father involvement, it does not generate detectable advantages (or disadvantages) in children's early adult lives. |
| Keywords: | intergenerational effects, paternity leave |
| JEL: | J08 J13 J16 J18 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bge:wpaper:1542 |
| By: | Michalek Jerzy; Ciaian Pavel (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | Support for young farmers is an important objective in the EU’s agricultural policy framework, aiming to promote generational renewal as a means of enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU’s agricultural sector. This paper focuses on the economic prospects of young farmers by estimating the microeconomic impacts of rural development programme (RDP) support on the economic performance of young farmers in Poland and Germany between 2007 and 2012. Using the synthetic control method and Farm Accountancy Data Network panel data, we find that the support had mixed effects. In Poland, RDP-supported young farmers underperformed relative to their unsupported counterparts, probably due to the entry of less-performing farmers into the sector, high environmental compliance costs and/or insufficiently tailored policy design. Conversely, old farmers benefited more, probably due to their superior entrepreneurial skills and lower commitment to adopting environmental practices. In Germany, RDP support improved the performance of young farmers, suggesting that it probably addressed some market imperfections. These findings underscore the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to supporting young farmers and the need for region-specific policies. Policymakers should mitigate unintended consequences, such as incentivising less-performing entrants, and better tailor interventions to the needs of young farmers. While our findings are specific to Poland and Germany, they contribute to broader policy discussions on the effectiveness of agricultural support for young farmers and highlight the need for further research in different contexts. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc143803 |
| By: | Shirshikova, Alina (ROA / Human capital in the region); Cörvers, Frank (RS: GSBE MORSE, RS: FdR Institute ITEM, RS: GSBE - MACIMIDE, ROA / Human capital in the region); Montizaan, Raymond (RS: GSBE UM-BIC, ROA / Labour market and training); Pfeifer, Harald (RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, ROA / Labour market and training) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates whether the social, digital, and analytical skills of job applicants, as well as their knowledge about the profession, can mitigate ethnic disparities in entry-level positions in the labour market. We conducted a survey experiment among a large, nationally representative sample of German firms that hire apprentices. We asked recruiters to evaluate the probability of inviting fictitious applicants to a job interview based on randomised characteristics, including ethnicity, skill quality, gender, time of residence, and education level. Our results show heterogeneous effects of skills on ethnic discrimination. While social skills help alleviate discrimination, our results indicate that discrimination intensifies at higher levels of knowledge about the profession, implying greater disparities due to ethnic discrimination at the top of the skill distribution. We also found that the effect of skills differs depending on the ethnicity of the applicant. |
| JEL: | I24 J15 J23 J24 J71 |
| Date: | 2025–12–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:umaror:2025002 |
| By: | Chiaf, Elisa; Corsini, Alberto; Miniaci, Raffaele; Urgilés Salinas, María Paz |
| Abstract: | Unemployment and limited access to decent job opportunities disproportionately affect individuals facing various forms of vulnerability. In Italy, policies designed to promote the participation of this disadvantaged labour force grant Work Integration Social Cooperatives (WISC) tax benefits and contribution revenues. In return, WISCs employing disadvantaged individuals generate public finance savings by lowering publicly funded health care and social assistance expenditures, while also creating value added through increased VAT revenues. This paper investigates whether the net balance for public finances of such labour policies is negative or positive. We employ a monetary cost-benefit analysis of 6, 892 job placements facilitated by social cooperatives in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto between 2014 and 2023. Specifically, we use VALORIS, an evaluation approach that assesses the financial sustainability of every single job placement of disadvantaged workers, and apply it to 92 WISCs followed between 2014 and 2023. Our results indicate that the Italian active labour policy of work integration of disadvantaged workers in social cooperatives is self-financing. Moreover, we find heterogeneity in the costs and benefits associated with different types of disadvantages. Finally, we highlight the relevance of the job placement of workers who are signalled as vulnerable by social services, but who do not receive incentives for their hiring, in producing positive effects on the public budget. |
| Keywords: | Work Integration Social Enterprises, Active labour market policy, Disadvantaged workers, Policy evaluation |
| JEL: | J68 P13 H43 J14 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:333976 |
| By: | Hollandt, Nils Torben; Müller, Steffen |
| Abstract: | Spatial segregation of low- and high-wage workers is a persistent economic issue with broad social implications. Using social security data and an AKM wage decomposition, this paper examines spatial wage inequality in West Germany. Spatial inequality in log wages rose sharply between 1998 and 2008, mainly due to increased variance in worker pay premiums across regions (48%) and stronger positive spatial assortative matching of workers and establishments (40%), i.e. colocation. Changes in establishment wage premia are mostly unrelated to rising colocation whereas labor mobility even reduced it. Instead, growth in worker pay premiums among stayers was concentrated in regions where high-wage workers and high-wage establishments were overrepresented already in the 1990s and, thus, magnified pre-existing colocation leading to 'colocation without relocation'. Germany's rising trade surplus, especially with Eastern Europe, boosted stayers' worker pay premiums in those ex-ante high-wage regions and fully explains rising colocation. |
| Keywords: | assortative matching, colocation, international trade and wages, regionalmobility |
| JEL: | J31 J61 R23 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:iwhdps:333940 |
| By: | A. DiLiberto; L. Giua; F. Schivardi; M. Sideri; G. Sulis |
| Abstract: | We study how managerial practices of school principals affect student performance and aspirations. For 2011 and 2015, we merge administrative data on Italian high school students with the management quality indices of their principals, constructed using the World Management Survey methodology. The frequent principals' turnover over this period allows us to causally interpret school-fixed-effect estimates. We find that management quality positively and substantially impacts standardized math and language tests and student desire to attend college. The comparison to pooled-OLS suggests that fixed effects correct for the downward bias arising from selection of better principals into more difficult schools. |
| Keywords: | management;School principals;Student outcomes |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cns:cnscwp:202518 |
| By: | Lovisa Reiche; Gabriele Galati; Richhild Moessner |
| Abstract: | We study how consumers form and revise inflation expectations using a unique, highly balanced monthly panel of Dutch households. We develop a Bayesian frame-work that nests Full-Information Rational Expectations (FIRE) alongside common forecasting heuristics and test it by recovering person-specific belief-updating rules from individual time-series regressions. Our novel individual-level design reveals sub-stantial heterogeneity in how households process information over time. On average, consumers systematically overreact to current inflation, echoing patterns found for pro-fessional forecasters. Only 2.5 percent, predominantly wealthier, more educated men, behave consistently with FIRE. Most consumers rely on simple heuristics, especially adaptive expectations. Our results show that heuristic learning, not FIRE, character-izes expectation formation for the vast majority of households. Crucially, heterogeneity in belief updating is both large and systematic. |
| Keywords: | Household Inflation Expectations; FIRE; Heuristic Learning |
| JEL: | E31 E37 E70 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dnb:dnbwpp:852 |
| By: | Parijat Maitra; Libertad González |
| Abstract: | We examine the impact of early elective birth timing on children's health and educational outcomes, focusing on cognitive development as measured by elementary school grades. We exploit a natural experiment in Spain: the abrupt termination of a generous child benefit at the end of 2010, which led to a sharp increase in elective deliveries during the final week of December. Children born during this spike had slightly shorter gestation periods and lower birth weights (within the normal range), and experienced a higher incidence of respiratory disorders during infancy. We find that the affected cohort of children had significantly lower academic performance at age seven (in second grade), suggesting large persistent effects on cognitive development. Our results provide causal evidence on the medium-term costs of early elective deliveries, and underscore the link between neonatal health and human capital. |
| Keywords: | birthweight, education, family benefits, health |
| JEL: | I2 I1 J13 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bge:wpaper:1539 |
| By: | Umkehrer, Matthias (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany ; Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES), University of Mannheim) |
| Abstract: | "In this paper, I study how the introduction of the nationwide minimum wage in Germany affects career outcomes of young workers who have just entered the labour market. The institutional setting, administrative micro data, and predicted minimum wage exposure allow estimating the causal effects of the policy by comparing cohorts initially affected by the minimum wage or not, while accounting for selection into educational track, endogenous timing of entry, changes in cohort composition, and macroeconomic conditions. Affected cohorts showed higher earnings, but no reduced employment. They worked somewhat more hours, were more likely to start careers at larger and higher-paying employers, less likely to perform occupations more exposed to the minimum wage, and less likely to carry out routine manual or menial tasks. According to these results, the minimum wage does not harm the education-to-work transition, but impacts the mix of both firms and occupations in the labour market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en)) |
| JEL: | J23 J38 J88 |
| Date: | 2025–12–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iab:iabdpa:202516 |
| By: | Michele Bertani (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice); Yanjiao Chen (Henan Normal University) |
| Abstract: | This paper comparatively analyzes the long-term care (LTC) systems in China and Italy, two countries experiencing profound demographic shifts with rapidly aging populations. While both nations face the common challenge of providing sustainable and adequate care for an increasing number of older adults, their regulations and policy responses diverge significantly, shaped by distinct socio-economic contexts, welfare regimes, and cultural norms. Italy, representing a Southern European welfare model, has historically relied on a fragmented system characterized by familial support, supplemented by cash-for-care benefits and a significant influx of migrant care workers. In contrast, China is in the process of constructing its LTC system, moving from a tradition of family-based care towards a state-led, multi-pillar framework that includes social insurance experiments, private sector engagement, and the integration of health and social care. This paper examines the evolution of LTC policies in both countries, analyzing the drivers behind their different strategic choices. By contrasting the Italian model of "familism by default" with China's top-down, experimental approach, we highlight the respective strengths and weaknesses of each system. The analysis concludes that while no single model is universally applicable, a cross-national comparison offers valuable insights for policymakers grappling with the global challenge of providing sustainable and equitable long-term care in an aging world. |
| Keywords: | Long-term care, China, Italy, Older adults, Governance, Social policies, Welfare systems |
| JEL: | H51 H53 I18 I38 J14 J18 Z18 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ven:wpaper:2025:27 |
| By: | Kay, Rosemarie; Bijedić-Krumm, Teita; Brink, Siegrun; Nielen, Sebastian |
| Abstract: | Objectives: The aim of this paper is to analyze the impact of public childcare provision on women's and men's start-up rates in Germany. Going beyond previous studies, we also analyze its impact on the extent of the gender gap in start-up rates. Literature review: The current state of research indicates that public childcare provision generally reduces women's startup propensity. However, recent studies suggest that the relationship between public childcare provision and women' start-up propensity is not that clear-cut. It rather depends on the age group childcare is provided for. As the evidence regarding public childcare's impact on men's start-up propensity is mixed, it is unclear whether public childcare contributes to closing the gender gap in entrepreneurial activities. Approach/Method: We analyze the impact of public childcare provision on the start-up rate of women and men, as well as its impact on the corresponding Gender Parity Score (GPS) at a regional level. To do this, we generated a database based on public statistics covering the years 2012 up to 2018 and estimated Fixed Effect models. Results/Findings: Our results show that the effect of public childcare provision on women's and men's start-up propensity depends on the type of the venture and the age group the childcare is provided for. Moreover, public childcare affects women's and men's start-up propensity differently. All in all, public childcare provision decreases the GPS, indicating a widening of the gender gap. Implications and Value: As important as public childcare provision for women's general labor market participation is, it does neither improve their start-up propensity (quite the contrary) nor contribute to closing the entrepreneurial gender gap generally. Thus, public childcare provision seems not to be a policy for reducing the gender gap in entrepreneurship, apart from establishing economically substantial businesses. |
| Abstract: | Die vorliegende Arbeit analysiert die Auswirkungen öffentlicher Kinderbetreuungsangebote auf die Gründungsraten von Frauen und Männern in Deutschland basierend auf öffentlichen Daten aus den Jahren 2012 bis 2018 auf Regionalebene. Während eine höhere Verfügbarkeit von Kinderbetreuungsangeboten die geschlechtsspezifischen Unterschiede im Unternehmertum insgesamt sogar noch vergrößert, verringert sie diese Unterschiede bei wirtschaftlich substanzhaltigen Unternehmen und bei der Betreuung von Kindern im Alter zwischen drei und sechs Jahren. |
| Keywords: | Public childcare provision, Start-up propensity, Gender |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ifmwps:333923 |
| By: | Serrano-Domingo, Guadalupe (Department of Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics, University of Valencia, Avda dels Tarongers, s/n, Campus dels Tarongers, E-46022 Valencia, Spain.); Requena-Silvente, Francisco (Department of Applied Economics II, Faculty of Economics, University of Valencia, Avda dels Tarongers, s/n, Campus dels Tarongers, E-46022 Valencia, Spain.); María A. Martín-Montaner, Joan (Institute of International Economics, University Jaume I of Castellón, Castellón, Spain.); Raúl Mínguez (Camara de Comercio de España and Universidad Nebrija de Madrid, Spain.) |
| Abstract: | We use a dose-response function to investigate how the level of imports of intermediate inputs affects the level of exports using the universe of Spanish two- way trading manufacturers in the year 2004. First, we find a positive but non- linear import-export nexus. Second, low levels of imports don’t significantly boost exports—but as import levels reach the median range, the positive impact becomes much more pronounced. Third, the impact varies by the level of income of the country-of-origin of imports; the larger effect on total exports is linked to imports coming mainly but not exclusively from high-income countries. Finally, higher imports from high-income countries lead firms to export more to these countries relative to low-income countries while the opposite is not observed. |
| Keywords: | Exports performance, Imports of intermediate inputs, Dose-Response function, Spanish firms |
| JEL: | F14 F23 L25 C14 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eec:wpaper:2516 |
| By: | Stefan Schneck |
| Abstract: | This exploratory study examines the effects of parental socialization and parental role models at ages 7 to 10 on the entrepreneurial intentions of their children in adolescence. Analysis of German household data and more than 1, 400 observations shows a moderation effect between parental role models and socialization. An adolescent’s willingness to become self-employed in the future is influenced by parental role models and moderated by parental child-rearing practices related to risk-taking during childhood. While child-rearing practices not focused on risk-avoidance reinforce the parental role model effect and increase an adolescent’s intentions to become self-employed, parental child-rearing practices geared toward risk aversion nullify any positive effects of having self-employed parents as role models. Parental socialization during childhood thus casts a long-term shadow and may explain why some children with self-employed parents have as little intention of becoming self-employed as children of employees. Early parental socialization practices may, thus, contribute to explaining the lack of willing entrepreneurs and family business successors. |
| Keywords: | entrepreneurial intentions; life course theory; role model; self-employment; socialization |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1233 |
| By: | Charlotte Michel (MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - UM - Université de Montpellier); Nicolas Hervé (ENSFEA - École Nationale Supérieure de Formation de l'Enseignement Agricole de Toulouse-Auzeville, EFTS - Education, Formation, Travail, Savoirs - UT2J - Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès - Comue de Toulouse - Communauté d'universités et établissements de Toulouse - ENSFEA - École Nationale Supérieure de Formation de l'Enseignement Agricole de Toulouse-Auzeville) |
| Abstract: | Sylv'Agora est un jeu de rôle qui vise à simuler des négociations d'acteurs sociaux à propos de décisions à prendre sur la gestion d'une forêt fictive. Le jeu comprend 12 acteurs représentatifs de la gestion forestière, des usages de la forêt et du territoire. Chaque personnage a des objectifs à atteindre : achat de bois, mise en conservation écologique de parcelles, droits de pêche et de chasse, maintien des emplois locaux, accès aux espaces, etc. La prise de décision collective porte sur des orientations de gestion d'un socio-écosystème forestier : extension de la réserve actuelle, planification forestière sous la forme de choix sylvicoles, aménagement touristique (parkings, routes). A la fin des négociations, les arbitres veulent s'assurer d'avoir une majorité de « oui » pour le projet retenu de réserve pour éviter les conflits entre acteurs. |
| Keywords: | Forêt, Transition, Formation, Négociation |
| Date: | 2025–12–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05346694 |
| By: | Calza Elisa (European Commission - JRC); Napolitano Lorenzo (European Commission - JRC); Soguero Escuer Jorge (European Commission - JRC); De Prato Giuditta (European Commission - JRC); Tuebke Alexander (European Commission - JRC); Tuebke Alexander (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | We analyse the advanced manufacturing (AM) industrial landscape via the Digital Techno-Eco-nomic ecoSystem (DGTES) and position the EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard firms. Over 70% of global AM firms are concentrated in China (45%), the US (17%), and Europe (10%), pointing to a clear regional dominance in the DGTES AM ecosystem. The EU is still well positioned relative to its number of activities in critical technologies for the AM industry, like´3D Printing´. The EU and Japan have higher R&D investment and patent filings of Scoreboard firms compared to the broader DGTES AM ecosystem (e.g., 16% vs. 10% in the EU) making them candidates for driving the uptake of AM technologies. However, China leads in overall AM ecosystem patent activity. ´3D printing´ dominates the AM ecosystem (27%), but Scoreboard firms excel in ´Power Electronics´ (35% vs. 20%). The manufacturing sector leads in both (47% overall, 68% for Scoreboard firms), with significant presence in ´ICT´ and ´professional services´. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc142720 |
| By: | Uwe Jirjahn; Martha Ottenbacher |
| Abstract: | Using representative data from Germany, this study compares the role of the Big Five personality traits in the sex life of single and partnered individuals. While extraversion has a positive influence on the sex life of both single and partnered individuals, the influence is much stronger for singles. By contrast, the positive role of conscientiousness in sexual fulfillment is stronger for partnered than for single individuals. Openness to experience and agreeableness play a positive role only in the sex life of partnered individuals. Neuroticism has a detrimental impact on people’s sex life with the impact being stronger for singles than for partnered individuals. The empirical findings fit our theoretical considerations. Personality traits play different roles in the sex life of single and partnered individuals as the sexual relationships of these individuals are characterized by different time horizons. |
| Keywords: | Big Five Personality Traits, Casual Sex, Singlehood, Romantic Relationship, Sexual Well-Being, Frequency of Intercourse, Family Economics |
| JEL: | D91 I31 J10 J12 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:trr:wpaper:202513 |
| By: | Wilhelmsson, Mats (Department of Real Estate and Construction Management, Royal Institute of Technology) |
| Abstract: | Churches are visible both in the city and in the countryside, and throughout history, the church has been central to both religious and administrative life. However, the role of the church has changed over time. We examine whether churches influence the housing market beyond their religious functions. Three questions are in focus: how churches are geographically distributed, whether proximity to a church affects housing prices, and whether this is linked to social cohesion, such as voter turnout. The study is based on more than 33, 000 housing sales in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2023, and uses a combination of hedonic pricing, geographically weighted regression, and propensity score matching. Data on church locations are obtained from OpenStreetMap and the Swedish National Heritage Board. The results show that proximity to a church is generally associated with higher housing prices (around 2-12%), especially within 250 metres. Proximity to cemeteries has a slightly higher impact on prices (around 10-13%). Hence, it suggests that churches and cemeteries are regarded as amenities or positive externalities. Overall, the results show that even in secularised societies, culturally charged places such as churches can have tangible economic value in the urban landscape. |
| Keywords: | Church; Cemeteries; Capitalisation; House Prices |
| JEL: | R14 R21 R31 Z12 |
| Date: | 2025–12–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:kthrec:2025_014 |
| By: | Martin Ertl; Adrian Wende |
| Abstract: | Abstract:This policy brief examines the extent to which Austrian exports are exposed to exchange rate risk and how exchange rate fluctuations affect exports to countries outside the euro area. As exchange rates are largely disconnected from macroeconomic fundamentals, they are likely driven to some extent by financial shocks, resulting in significant volatility and exchange rate risk. Nevertheless, Austria’s overall exposure to such risk is relatively limited. Most exports go to countries with comparatively stable currencies, while highly volatile currencies account for only a small share of both total exports and exporting firms. Survey evidence indicates that many Austrian exporters manage exchange rate risk by invoicing in euros, which substantially reduces short-term risk, especially for small and medium-sized firms. In addition, a considerable number of firms use trade insurance. Empirical studies show that Austrian exports react only moderately to exchange rate movements, although the degree of sensitivity varies significantly across sectors and products. |
| Keywords: | International Competitiveness, Austria, export performance, Currency volatility, Euro invoicing, Exchange rate risk |
| JEL: | F31 F14 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wsr:pbrief:y:2025:m:12:i:71 |
| By: | Maya-Jariego Isidro; Holgado-Ramos Daniel; Villar Onrubia Daniel (European Commission - JRC); Cachia Romina (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | "This technical report provides practical information on how school networks can be leveraged as a key enabling factor for successful digital education and training. Building networks is a medium and long-term process, which is facilitated when schools belong to the same institutional context and have a previous history of collaboration. In the initial phases of building a network of schools, it is practical to start with those most active teachers, who are especially motivated in the adoption of digital education. In this report, we show through different examples, how networks started by a small group of educational innovators are able to spread to the rest of the teaching staff and to different schools. The key factors in the structure and composition of school networks to facilitate educational digitalization are examined. The report discusses factors such as the readiness of both teachers and students to engage in digital education when planning its integration into teaching-learning activities. Visual network representation techniques, such as ""Netmap"" and ""Netmirror"", are also presented, which can facilitate awareness and behavioural change among teachers. Finally, the report presents a detailed guide on how to build networks that can harness the potential of regional and local networks to enable innovation and digitalisation of education." |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc143437 |
| By: | Ali Hassan (Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, France); Jean-Baptiste Hasse (Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, France & UCLouvain, LIDAM-LFIN, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium); Christelle Lecourt (Aix-Marseille Univ., CNRS, AMSE, Marseille, France) |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we examine the determinants of investor money flows in sustainable mutual funds. Owing to differences in preferences, we posit that ESG investors are more sensitive to mutual fund financial attributes than impact investors are. Using a dataset of 840 actively managed European sustainable equity funds for the period 2018–2025, we find that fund flows are significantly more sensitive to past performance for ESG funds than for impact funds. Our empirical results are in line with impact investor specificity among sustainable investors: the first invest for ESG values, whereas the latter invest with ESG values. Our findings are robust to alternative sustainable classifications, geographical investment areas, investor types and time sampling. |
| Keywords: | Impact investing; Mutual funds; Investor behavior; Cash flows |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aim:wpaimx:2521 |
| By: | Philippidis George; Van Leeuwen Myrna; Bartelings Heleen; Smeets Kristkova Zuzana; Laquai Verena; Sturm Viktoriya; Alvarez Rodrigo Xavier; M'barek Robert (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | The present report summarises the enhancements made with recognised (bioeconomy) economic modelling tools (MAGNET and AGMEMOD/BioMAT) to better capture the nuances of bio-based markets and provides a plausible medium-term baseline that combines the strengths of the simulation models. As such, this study is envisaged as an initial preparatory step for further scenario-based analyses that might serve as further insides into different pathways for the EU bioeconomy, in the event of the upcoming update of EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan expected at the end of 2025. The design of the modelling framework, which started in 2023, considers a range of modelling enhancements and alignments that are relevant to policy documents and topics. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc143688 |
| By: | Alessi Lucia (European Commission - JRC); Cojoianu Theodor F.; Cotignano Giacomo (European Commission - JRC); Hoepner Andreas G. F.; Schneider Fabiola I.; Vu Anh |
| Abstract: | The proliferation of more than 50 green taxonomies has shown the increasing interest of policymakers worldwide to foster green capital flows and counteract greenwashing. The Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Mapper (SFTM) aims to foster interoperability across taxonomies worldwide through mapping taxonomy design features as well as technical screening criteria across economic activities substantially contributing to climate or wider environmental objectives. The paper lays out the methodology adopted in the SFTM to map an initial set of 11 taxonomies. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc144447 |
| By: | Iaione Christian Fernando; Bertozzi Cecilia (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | With an eye to the upcoming 2030 deadline, this report aims to explore the potential of Co-Governance and Joint Management of Commons mechanisms in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local level. It argues that commons-based co-governance mechanisms have the potential to significantly enhance citizens’ sense of ownership of the SDGs, including those who may be frail and vulnerable, thus enabling broad engagement and actions sustained over time. Through desk research and literature review, the report examines the alignment between SDGs localization and commons-based co-governance experiences. The in-depth analysis of five case studies unfolds new forms of collaboration that have been developed and tested locally, encompassing diverse contexts across the European Union, and provides practical insights and evidence of Co-Governance in enhancing public policy effectiveness, social innovation, and citizen participation in vulnerable neighbourhoods, cities and territories. The report concludes that commons-based Co-Governance models, going beyond the traditional top-down vs bottom-up dichotomy, could provide a powerful tool for localizing SDGs; however, further research and policy efforts are needed to overcome challenges linked to administrative silos, scaling up, financial sustainability and the inclusion of diverse groups of civil society. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc140873 |
| By: | Jacobs-crisioni Chris; Schiavina Marcello; Alessandrini Alfredo; Dijkstra Lewis (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has produced long timeseries of global population by degree of urbanization, as well as for each city in the world. These long timeseries describe population changes by degree of urbanization, that is for cities, towns and semi-dense areas, and rural areas, as well as for individual cities from 1950 to 2100. They were produced as inputs for the 2025 UN World Urbanization Prospects report, complementing UN statistics on urban/rural population according to national definitions. The timeseries were obtained by combining three sources, namely rescaled GHS-POP grids for the period 1975-2020, supplemented with backcast population estimates for the period 1975-1950, and population grids projected by the CRISP model for the period 2020-2100. The report outlines the various sources and relevant inputs and shows a selection of results to characterize the data produced. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc144219 |
| By: | Tiznado-Aitken, Ignacio; Singer, Matan; Morency, Catherine; Hassan, Howaida; Morissette, Samuel Duhaime; Verreault, Hubert; Palm, Matthew; Farber, Steven |
| Abstract: | Transport poverty is a complex, multidimensional issue that remains loosely defined and inadequately measured. Persistent challenges related to data quality, consistency, and comparability, highlighted by the European Commission, continue to limit effective policymaking. Despite increasing attention to equity in transport research and practice, most countries still lack standardized national datasets that can capture the scale and severity of transport poverty. This paper presents the design and implementation of the first large-scale survey on transport poverty and transport-related social exclusion worldwide, developed by the Mobilizing Justice Partnership across all of Canada. We describe a multi-phase process involving collaborative workshops, input from a community advisory group, a pilot study, and a robust data collection strategy, including a comprehensive sampling and weighting process. The resulting dataset, covering over 27, 000 respondents and openly available to researchers, decision-makers, and the public, offers extensive spatial and demographic coverage, enabling robust and policy-relevant analysis. A snapshot of findings reveals pronounced socioeconomic and demographic inequalities in Canada. Car ownership remains substantially lower among lower-income Canadians (under 70%) compared to higher-income groups (94%), while transit pass possession is more common among lower-income respondents. Approximately one in four participants experience modal dissonance, though its prevalence does not differ by income; instead, reasons behind this mismatch vary, with lower-income groups citing affordability constraints, whereas higher-income groups attribute mismatches to convenience and time considerations. Significant disparities in perceived safety were observed across gender, with non-binary individuals reporting the lowest levels of perceived safety, followed by women, and men reporting the highest. Satisfaction with transport conditions increases with age, with younger groups reporting consistently lower satisfaction. Racial disparities were evident in reported employment impacts, as Indigenous respondents and visible minorities were more likely to report declining job opportunities due to transport barriers. Housing affordability concerns were most acute among recent immigrants, who more frequently reported spending beyond their means on housing. Spatial analyses further demonstrate strong geographic variability in transport disadvantage, particularly in patterns of forced car ownership, suggesting the need for further exploration into the sociodemographic characteristics of this phenomenon, moving beyond solely built environment factors. Finally, accessibility to everyday destinations generally improves with city size, with larger metropolitan areas offering more consistent access than smaller towns and non-CMA areas. |
| Date: | 2025–12–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:j2pkm_v1 |
| By: | Boris Helleu (NIMEC - Normandie Innovation Marché Entreprise Consommation - UNICAEN - Université de Caen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - ULH - Université Le Havre Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - UNIROUEN - Université de Rouen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - IRIHS - Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire Homme et Société - UNIROUEN - Université de Rouen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université) |
| Abstract: | The fan experience, a central concept in sports marketing, refers to the full range of interactions experienced by a spectator before, during, and after a game. Fan satisfaction cannot rely solely on the performance or victory of their favorite team but must also depend on the quality of peripheral services: hospitality, catering, entertainment, comfort, etc. Since the early 2000s, the NFL and MLB have deployed brand globalization strategies by relocating regular-season games to London. The NFL has organized over 40 games at Wembley, Twickenham, and Tottenham, while MLB has staged six matchups at the London Stadium. The objective is twofold: to attract European fans and to provide American expatriates and traveling supporters with an experience as authentic as in the United States. This paper, based on a participant observation methodology, examines the modalities of globalizing the fan experience. |
| Abstract: | La fan experience, concept central du marketing du sport, désigne l'ensemble des interactions vécues par un spectateur avant, pendant et après un match. La satisfaction du fan ne peut reposer seulement sur la victoire de son club préféré, mais aussi sur la qualité des services périphériques : accueil, restauration, animation, confort, etc. Depuis les années 2000, la NFL (football US) et la MLB (baseball) ont déployé une stratégie de globalisation en délocalisant des rencontres à Londres. La NFL a organisé plus de 40 matchs à Wembley, Twickenham et Tottenham, et la MLB 6 confrontations au London Stadium. L'objectif est double : séduire les fans européens et offrir aux Américains expatriés ou en voyage une expérience fidèle à celle des États-Unis. Cette contribution, mobilisant la méthode de l'observation participante, interroge les modalités de globalisation de l'expérience du fan. |
| Keywords: | globalization, glocalization, Americanization, sportainment, spectacle sportif, américanisation, glocalisation, globalisation, fan expérience |
| Date: | 2025–11–13 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05368138 |
| By: | Centeno Clara (European Commission - JRC); Cosgrove Judith (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | One decade on from DigComp’s first publication, the purpose of this policy brief is to present the value that it provides to different stakeholders, and to illustrate its adoption and various uses across policy areas throughout the different skills development stages, from policy goal setting, skills development and assessment to recognition and monitoring across employment and formal, non-formal and informal education and training contexts. It also describes the next steps in the evolution of the framework. |
| Date: | 2025–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc143430 |
| By: | Marc Kaufmann (Central European University); Malte Kornemann (University of Bonn); Botond Kőszegi (University of Bonn) |
| Abstract: | We study how secondary markets for durable goods interact with consumers’ social-responsibility motives to mitigate environmentally harmful new production. On the positive side, secondary markets may allow responsible consumers to acquire used goods that would otherwise be discarded, reducing premature waste. On the negative side, secondary markets introduce two major harmful forces. First, the possibility of buying used goods and thereby causing less harm can raise the demand of responsible consumers, often increasing the production necessary to serve the market. Second, said demand can increase the price of used goods, encouraging purchases of new goods. These forces imply that if used goods have positive private consumption value, then secondary markets always erode the benefits of social responsibility. If, instead, used goods may have negative private value, then secondary markets can enhance or erode the benefits of social responsibility. |
| Keywords: | Socially responsible consumers, climate change, externalities, secondary markets, durable goods, used goods |
| JEL: | D01 D11 D50 D62 D64 D91 |
| Date: | 2025–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:382 |
| By: | Lydia Papadaki; Eirini Afentouli; Phoebe Koundouri |
| Abstract: | The climate crisis puts a lot of stress on the agriculture sector, from the extreme weather patterns, water shortages, to deteriorating soil health. Innovation is essential for fostering resilience via climate-smart behaviors, sophisticated technology, and adaptable value chains. The goal of this study is to provide a review of the strategies, and processes that have consistently led to superior outcomes in rural innovation and entrepreneurship in the context of start-up villages located in Europe. Employing a structured evaluative framework, this study dissects successful initiatives by examining critical dimensions such as leadership dynamics, regional readiness levels, core economic sectors and the roles of key players. The analysis further delves into the innovation and creativity embedded within each practice, and the systemic barriers to entrepreneurship encountered across various contexts. Spanning diverse geographic and socio-economic profiles-distinguished by size, proximity to urban centers, and sectoral strengths-the selected case study areas offer a rich comparative lens. The study identifies common success factors and local adaptations, highlighting how strategic resource mobilization, enabling infrastructure, and community-based leadership underpin effective innovation ecosystems. Lessons learned from each context are distilled to assess scalability potential and strategic implications for Startup Village Partners and similar initiatives aiming to foster rural revitalization through sustainable entrepreneurship. By comparing and examining startup villages listed in the European Startup Village Forum, this analysis contributes a replicable framework for identifying and transferring best practices, ultimately supporting more inclusive, place-based innovation policies. |
| Keywords: | Climate resilience, Food security, Innovation, start-up villages, entrepreneurship |
| Date: | 2025–12–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:aue:wpaper:2571 |