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on Transition Economics |
| By: | Alicia De Quinto Notario (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | This policy brief draws on the survey data to analyse the socio-economic conditions of FEAD beneficiaries, with a focus on key demographic trends and regional disparities.The analysis focuses on six countries—Belgium, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Poland, and Romania - that provided detailed regional data, enabling a nuanced exploration of localized poverty dynamics and the impact of FEAD interventions. Across the six countries analysed women make up the majority of FEAD beneficiaries (67.6%), with individuals aged 25–49 comprising the largest group (43.8%). However, distinct patterns emerge across countries, reflecting specific re-gional vulnerabilities and demographics. Food packages are the primary form of FEAD aid, reaching 86.8% of recipients. Additional support includes hygiene kits, clothing, and other essential goods, with variations in availability and distribution across countries and regions. While 91% of FEAD beneficiaries report stable housing, significant regional disparities persist. Precarious housing conditions are more preva-lent in Romania and Poland, contrasting with near-universal housing stability in Hungary and Finland. FEAD assistance is widely perceived as effec-tive, with 74.8% of beneficiaries rating it as “helpful”. Most beneficiaries rely on social benefits or household members' income rather than labour earnings, emphasizing the critical role of social safety nets in supporting at-risk populations with low work intensity. |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc140588 |
| By: | Beata Wo\'zniak-J\k{e}chorek; S{\l}awomir Ku\'zmar; David Bole |
| Abstract: | The main goal of this paper is to assess the likelihood of office workers relocating to the suburbs due to work-from-home opportunities and the key factors influencing these preferences. Our study focuses on Poland, a country with different cultural individualism at work, which can impact work-from-home preferences and, indirectly, home relocation desires. Given the methodological limitations of official data on remote work practices in Poland, we conducted an original survey, gathering primary data from a nationally representative sample of office workers living in cities with populations exceeding 100, 000. To investigate the factors shaping employees' preferences for suburban relocation driven by remote work, we utilized logistic regression to analyze the effects of socio-economic and employment characteristics, commuting experiences, and reported changes in work productivity. Our findings reveal that age, mode of commuting, perceived changes in work productivity, and sector ownership are significant determinants, strongly affecting home relocation preferences in response to work-from-home opportunities. These results align with previous research, typically based on data from countries with different cultural frameworks and more developed work-from-home practices. |
| Date: | 2024–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2412.07459 |
| By: | Ferrazzi, Matteo; Schanz, Jochen; Wolski, Marcin |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the state of innovation in Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern EU countries. Despite increased innovation capacity, the region faces significant challenges threatening its growth and competitiveness, including severe skills shortages, uneven productivity, and barriers to commercialising innovation. The paper highlights the role of foreign direct investment in driving innovation, noting that firms established through greenfield investments exhibit higher productivity than their domestic counterparts. Contributing to the skills shortage are low public R&D spending, insufficient corporate investment in continuing education, and emigration. Limited collaboration between universities and businesses and a shortage of risk capital are key obstacles to bringing innovative ideas to market. To address these challenges, the paper recommends various measures to improve the availability of skilled labour, secure risk capital, foster collaboration between academia and industry, and enhance the overall business environment. Dashboards illustrate how innovation capacity and outcomes vary between CESEE countries, combining data from the EIB's Investment Survey with a range of firm-level public and private datasets. |
| Keywords: | Innovation, competitiveness, EU-CESEE, CESEE, central, eastern and south-eastern Europe, economic growth, EU accession |
| JEL: | O11 O52 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:eibwps:308812 |
| By: | Ruedin, Didier |
| Abstract: | The objective of this research synthesis is to collect and summarize the research literature on Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland. This is done through a systematic review, mostly in the form of a narrative review and with statistical indicators that are synthesized. There is a wide range of evidence on Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland and their integration, although substantive and systematic gaps remain. The review provides a brief historical background, looks at the demographic composition of Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland, discusses economic integration, housing, education, social integration, crime and safety, health and well-being, and attitudes to Ukrainian refugees. Much less is known about cultural integration and political participation. Given the size of the population and the ongoing war in Ukraine, more research on Ukrainian refugees is warranted, particularly in the direction of successful integration in a context where return seems increasingly unlikely --- although dual-intent remains the official focus ---, and in areas beyond economic integration that affect well-being and intentions to return. |
| Keywords: | Ukraine, Switzerland, attitudes, demographics, economics, education, health, housing, integration, media, participation, literature review, refugees |
| JEL: | F22 O15 J15 J61 K37 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:308844 |
| By: | Mr. Serhan Cevik; Yueshu Zhao |
| Abstract: | European electricity markets are in the midst of unprecedented changes—caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the rise of renewable sources of energy. Using high-frequency data, this paper investigates volatility spillovers across 24 countries in the European Union (EU) during the period 2014–2024 to provide a better understanding of the transmission of risks in an international context. We develop both a static and a dynamic assessment of spillover effects and directional decomposition between individual countries. Our main findings show that about 73 percent of the forecast error variation is explained by cross-variance shares, which means only 27 percent can be attributed to shocks within each country. In other words, cross-border volatility spillovers dominate the behavior in national electricity markets in Europe—and this effect has grown over time. We also implement an augmented gravity model of bilateral volatility spillovers across power markets in the EU. Altogether, these results provide important insights to policymakers and regulators with regards to greater integration of electricity markets and infrastructure improvements that would also help with the transition to low-carbon sources of power generation and strengthen energy security in Europe. |
| Keywords: | Electricity prices; Volatility; Spillovers; Gravity model; Renewable energy; Electricity market reform; Europe |
| Date: | 2025–01–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2025/007 |
| By: | Stephen Drinkwater (University of Roehampton); Matt Curds (Welsh Government); Ffion Lloyd-Williams (Welsh Government) |
| Abstract: | One of the outcomes of the Brexit referendum result was that EU nationals were required to register on the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) if they wanted to remain in the UK after its departure from the EU. In order to be granted settled or pre-settled status, applications needed to have been submitted by 30th June 2021. However, applications continue to have been submitted and processed after this date because of late applications (with a reasonable explanation), transfers from pre-settled to settled status and family members wishing to join relatives in the UK. Published Home Office statistics provide only limited information on applications received since June 2021 separately for the countries in the UK, which is not that helpful for devolved governments. In this paper, we apply a simple method to calculate applications received after June 2021 from the four countries in the UK, focusing particularly on applications for several demographic subgroups from Wales. Our results show increases in applications from Romanian and Bulgarian nationals since June 2021 as well as rises in refused, withdrawn and invalid applications. We also find that a relatively high percentage of recent applications were made by people living in Newport since this local authority accounted for around 18% of the Welsh total after June 2021 compared to 11% before this. |
| Keywords: | EU Nationals; Settlement Scheme; Brexit; United Kingdom; Wales |
| JEL: | K37 F22 J61 |
| Date: | 2024–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:crm:wpaper:2428 |
| By: | Edwige Landais (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Raphaël Pelloquin (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement); Elodie Maître D’hôtel (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement); Mai Truong Tuyet (NIN - National Institute of Nutrition); Nga Hoang Thu (NIN - National Institute of Nutrition); Yen Bui Thi Thao (NIN - National Institute of Nutrition); Ha Do Thi Phuong (NIN - National Institute of Nutrition); Trang Tran Thi Thu (NIN - National Institute of Nutrition); Jérôme Somé (IRSS - Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé - CNRST - Centre national de la recherche scientifique et technologique [Ouagadougou]); Christophe Béné (The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) [Cali] - Alliance - Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) [Rome] - CGIAR - Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR]); Eric O Verger (UMR MoISA - Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (Social and nutritional sciences) - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CIHEAM-IAMM - Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier - CIHEAM - Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques Méditerranéennes - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - Institut Agro Montpellier - Institut Agro - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement) |
| Abstract: | In a world rapidly transitioning, food consumption away from home is rising, therefore representing an increasing share of individual's diet. Food consumed away from home negatively impacts diet, nutritional status and consequently has detrimental effects on health. In some contexts, where individual level dietary intake surveys are not regularly conducted, this behavior is not well documented leading to a gap of knowledge. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate in Burkina Faso and Vietnam specific modules that could be added to Household Consumption and Expenditure Surveys that are usually regularly conducted worldwide, in order to document the economic and nutritional importance of food consumption away from home. In each country, two survey modules, one long (100 food items) and one short (30 food items) were developed, to measure individual-level food consumption away from home over the last 7 days. The modules were relatively validated in comparison with data from three non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls conducted over the same 7-days period. The validation was conducted in different settings (urban, peri-urban and rural) in Burkina Faso (n = 924) and Vietnam (n = 918). In both countries, a good concordance between the 24-hour dietary recalls and the modules in their ability to identify a person as having consumed food away from home (>77%) was found. However, in both countries, both modules underestimate the mean energy intake coming from foods consumed away from home (from 122 to 408 kcal) while they overestimate the budget allocated to it (from -0.07 to -0.29 USD/day). None of developed food away from home modules were considered as valid. There is a need for the international community to continue to work on developing and validating tools capable to estimate nutritional intakes related to food consumption away from home and that could be added to regular national household-level surveys. |
| Keywords: | food consumed away from home, Vietnam, Burkina Faso, validation, module, assessment |
| Date: | 2024–12–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04815728 |
| By: | Juha, Sharmin Jahan; Mizan, Arefin |
| Abstract: | Bangladesh started its COVID-19 mass vaccination program from February 2020. According to the COVAX live (Live COVID-19 Vaccination Tracker), as of May 2022, 70.26% of the total population have been vaccinated. This is indeed an example of Bangladesh governments' astounding competence that Bangladesh is considered among the first few countries to start vaccinations. However, Bangladesh did experience occasional hiccups in steady vaccine roll-out due to disruptions in the supply chain. Experts condemned Bangladesh's diplomatic choice of relying on only India as a steady vaccine manufacturing source after India decided to temporarily halt vaccinations right before the administration of second doses. Bearing reference to the 'Neighborhood Effect' in International Politics which implies that excessive dependency on geographical neighbors can cause similar levels of instability in both the countries (neighbors), this paper examines Bangladesh's overall Diplomatic approach in its COVID-19 Vaccination program with comparison to its East Asian counterpart Mongolia. Mongolia secured high-ranking position in COVID-19 mass vaccination using its strategic partnerships to pool vaccines from multiple sources as a result of its 2011 multi-pillars Foreign Policy (Third Neighborhood Policy) approach. Using a novel computational multimodal discourse analysis using machine learning assisted techniques in two large hand-collected datasets, the paper delves into the practices implemented by Bangladesh's multi-level stakeholders from the early stages of the pandemic until January this year to find any signs of or impacts of the Neighborhood Effect in its Vaccine Diplomacy. The paper later on makes policy-level suggestions on how to resolve this in case of future health crisis with occasional mention and comparison to Mongolia's Third Neighborhood approach and its implacability in Bangladeshi context. |
| Date: | 2025–01–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:eg58k |