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on Transition Economics |
| By: | Kahancová, Marta; Brunnerová, Simona; Holubová, Barbora; Martišková, Monika |
| Abstract: | This report is part of the EC-funded research project DEFEN-CE: Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets (VS/2021/0196). It scrutinizes how social partners influenced COVID-19-related policy responses towards vulnerable groups in the labour market, and whether this experience created opportunities for strengthening social dialogue in general. The empirical focus is on Czechia and Slovakia as representatives of embedded neoliberal countries. This means liberalizing labour market policies during their economic transition starting in the 1990s, but at the same time, anchoring some institutional mechanisms of policy-making, including social dialogue at the national level. The analysis is based on new empirical data in two dimensions: • primary data on policy measures relevant for the vulnerable groups in the labour market, categorized in a standard database of the most important COVID-19 measures relevant for vulnerable groups. • 19 original semi-structured interviews with employer organizations, trade unions, governments, and NGOs in Czechia and Slovakia, implemented in 2022-2023. |
| Date: | 2023–11–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:cvprx_v1 |
| By: | Vuving, Alexander |
| Abstract: | This article examines how Vietnam has responded to the Russia-Ukraine war, how the war has impacted Vietnam’s foreign policy, and why Hanoi has behaved the way it has. It is organized into three major sections. The first discusses the impact of the Ukraine war on Vietnam’s strategic environment and grand strategy. It also outlines the broad contour of Vietnam’s grand strategy and identifies major possible directions along which Hanoi may steer its course in the future. The second section examines Russia’s unique role in Vietnam’s strategic calculus and Russian soft power in Vietnam. It also discusses the pre-war developments that strengthened Russia’s role and soft power, thus providing a larger context without which Vietnam’s responses to the war cannot be fully understood. The third section documents Vietnam’s domestic and foreign policy responses to the war. The article argues that although the Russia-Ukraine war has triggered diverse, even opposing, responses from Vietnam’s ruling elite, it has not changed the general direction of Vietnam’s foreign policy because it has not directly and fundamentally affected Vietnam’s quest for security, resources, and identity. However, the war posed moral and strategic dilemmas for Hanoi, tore the web of geopolitical partnerships upon which Vietnam relied to secure its place in the world, and threatened to shake Russia’s unique and critical role in Vietnam’s foreign relations. Hanoi responded by reinforcing the current paradigm of its foreign policy, performing a delicate balancing act between the great powers, and deepening ties with the major powerhouses in its surrounding region. In the long term, however, the costs of this “bamboo diplomacy” may outweigh its benefits. |
| Date: | 2024–05–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:e3rf4_v1 |
| By: | Bossavie, Laurent Loic Yves; Rozo Villarraga, Sandra Viviana; Urbina Florez, Maria Jose |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the effect of exposure to extremist ideologies in the home country on the subsequent integration of refugees in host countries. For this purpose, it combines a rich census of Afghan refugees living in Tajikistan in 2023, following the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, with uniquely scraped district-yearly data on the territories controlled by the Taliban, U.S. allies, and contested territories between the two factions between 2017 and 2021. The empirical strategy compares the integration outcomes of refugees who experienced varying exposure to extremism generated by the exogenous and sudden dramatic shift in Taliban’s territorial control in their province of birth between 2017 and 2021. Findings suggest that refugees who were born in provinces with increased Taliban territorial control between 2017 and 2021, despite having comparable pre-migration characteristics to refugees born elsewhere in Afghanistan, are less integrated into their Tajik host communities than the other refugees. These refugees also show lower educational levels and more mental health problems. |
| Date: | 2023–11–21 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10612 |
| By: | de Astarloa, Bernardo Díaz; Pkhikidze, Nino |
| Abstract: | Casual observation suggests that intra-national trade costs remain high in low- and middle-income countries. Precisely estimating them is crucial for guiding policies aimed at optimizing economic efficiency within a country's borders. This paper estimates intra-national trade costs for six low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Eastern Europe: Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Georgia. The analysis exploits unit-level price data collected by countries’ national statistical offices for consumer price index calculation purposes. It applies the price differential methodology, which aims at estimating trade costs while accounting for the possibility of imperfect competition among intermediaries, controlling for spatial variation in markups. The findings show that the intra-national trade costs in the sample of countries are between 2.5 and 14 times larger than previous estimates for the United States using the same methodology. |
| Date: | 2024–06–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10789 |
| By: | Baquie, Sandra; Behrer, Arnold Patrick; Du, Xinming; Fuchs Tarlovsky, Alan; Nozaki, Natsuko Kiso |
| Abstract: | Air pollution profoundly impacts welfare, causing more deaths globally than malnutrition, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. In the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, air pollution levels exceed international standards and surpass levels in other cities in the region. The average monthly PM2.5 concentration in Tbilisi is 20 Micrograms per cubic meter, four times higher than the World Health Organization’s annual recommended limit. This paper uses multiple data sources — administrative data, satellite imagery, private real estate transactions, and traffic data — to estimate the impact of air pollution on the health and productivity of people in Tbilisi. It estimates that a 1 percent increase in PM2.5 levels corresponds to a 0.24 percent increase in respiratory hospitalization rates. A 1 percent increase in PM2.5 is also associated with a 0.2 percent decrease in rental prices. All the estimates are lower bounds of the total impact of air pollution as they only account for short-term consequences. The study shows that traffic and industrial activity are significant drivers of air pollution in Tbilisi. The paper also estimates the positive co-benefits of potential carbon pricing policies from air pollution reduction. Adopting a carbon tax of $25 per ton would reduce hospitalizations by 0.44 percent per district by 2036, while increasing rental prices by 0.38 percent. |
| Date: | 2023–12–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10643 |
| By: | Robayo, Monica; Cabrera, Maynor Vinicio |
| Abstract: | Bulgaria still ranks among the EU countries with the highest levels of poverty and inequality. Before 2023, Bulgaria's Social Assistance / Monthly Social Allowance scheme had limited coverage, strict eligibility criteria, and limited impact on poverty reduction. Additionally, it was not adjusted or linked to inflation. The Bulgarian government introduced a reform in 2022 aimed to increase the scope and access of individuals to social support by increasing the basis for determining the differentiated minimum income threshold (now 30 percent of the relative poverty line) and the parameters linked with age, health condition, and social status, affecting the social programs anchored to it, such as the Monthly Social Allowance and the heating allowance. This paper assesses this reform's potential ex-ante poverty and distributional impacts, relying on a comprehensive tax/benefit system assessment called the Commitment to Equity and microsimulation techniques. The changes in the legal basis for determining access to social assistance introduced with the reform are expected to create some relief from the indexation of the benefits over time. They will now be tied to the evolution of the relative poverty line and, therefore, linked to the evolution of median income. The results of the policy simulations show that the combined effect of the changes in the Monthly Social Allowance and the heating allowance contributes to a slight reduction in the poverty gap but not enough to move a sizable share of people out of poverty, as shown by the negligible impact on the at-risk-of-poverty rate. Inequality is barely affected. Compared with a Bulgarian food basket, the results show that eligibility thresholds are still restrictive. These results suggest further scope for improvement in the design of these programs, including anchoring them to an absolute poverty line or basic consumption basket. |
| Date: | 2024–06–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10817 |
| By: | Fihel, Agnieszka; Janicka, Anna; Buschner, Andrea; Ustinavičienė, Rūta; Trakienė, Aurelija |
| Abstract: | Background: In Central Europe, the increase in mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic exceeded the number of deaths registered due to coronavirus disease. Miscertification of COVID-19 has been suggested as one of the possible explanations. Analysis of all mentions from death certificates allows us to identify cases where COVID-19 was reported as a contributing rather than the underlying cause of death (UCoD). Methods: Analysis of 187, 000 death certificates with a COVID-19 mention from Austria, Bavaria, Czechia, Lithuania and Poland, 2020–2021. Cause of Death Association Indicators (CDAIs) and Contributing CDAIs were calculated to identify and measure the strength of associations between COVID-19, reported as UCoD or not, and all other medical mentions. Results: Death certificates reporting COVID-19 included on average more medical information than other death certificates. In 171, 600 deaths with COVID-19 as the UCoD, ten groups of comorbidities and ten types of complications revealed significant and strong association with COVID-19. Further 15, 700 deaths were certified with COVID-19 only as a contributing condition, of which almost 20% were assigned to typical coronavirus complications, such as cerebral infarction, Acute Myocardial Infarction, renal failure. In Austria, Bavaria, Czechia and Lithuania the reported scale of COVID-19 mortality would have been 18-27% higher had COVID-19 been coded as the UCoD in all the cases. Conclusions: Complete death certificate information allows us to assess the scale of COVID-19 miscertification and the burden of COVID-19. Deaths registered with a coronavirus comorbidity were equivalent to the total estimated excess mortality in Austria and Czech Republic, and its large proportion in Lithuania and Bavaria. |
| Date: | 2024–02–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:hy9zn_v1 |
| By: | Jellema, Jon Robbert; Grown, Caren; Fuchs Tarlovsky, Alan; Wai-Poi, Matthew Grant; Tiwari, Sailesh; Sosa, Mariano Ernesto |
| Abstract: | Fiscal policies affect households and individuals in a variety of ways. Even though these effects are likely to be different for men and women, conventional tools of fiscal incidence analysis are typically unable to capture these gender differences. Using a particular type of incidence analysis known in the literature as the Commitment to Equity framework, this paper proposes a methodology to overcome this challenge. A particular novelty the paper introduces is the explicit incorporation of social reproduction into the fiscal incidence analysis framework, enabling the implicit valuation of unpaid work that is typically undertaken by women on activities such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for children and the elderly. Applying this methodology to the cases of Jordan and Armenia — two countries with very different approaches to fiscal policy and cultural norms around the economic and social roles of men and women — the paper also highlights some of the insights that this engendered perspective could add to standard fiscal incidence analysis. |
| Date: | 2024–03–21 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10733 |
| By: | Foster, James E.; Lokshin, Michael M. |
| Abstract: | Despite the multitude of measures of multidimensional inequality, none is regularly used in policymaking. This paper proposes multidimensional inequality measures that are easily implementable and transparent and overcome many deficiencies of existing measures. The measures follow a traditional two-stage format, which aggregates dimensions first and then applies a unidimensional measure like the Gini coefficient to the distribution of aggregates. A novel characterization result identifies the precise form of aggregation needed to obtain axiomatically sound measures. The paper derives an additive decomposition formula — breaking down multidimensional inequality into terms reflecting the average specific inequalities (within dimensions) and the joint distribution (across dimensions) — for any measure created using a standard unidimensional measure or the Lorenz curve. The paper also provides an approach to calibrating the measure for use with data over time, replacing the usual ad hoc normalization of variables with one that accounts for a policymaker’s normative weights. The technology is illustrated first using synthetic data to understand how the measure varies as the components are changed and then using data from Azerbaijan. |
| Date: | 2024–04–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10748 |
| By: | Robayo, Monica; Cabrera, Maynor Vinicio |
| Abstract: | This paper delves into Bulgaria's persistent issue of child poverty, even amidst policy efforts at the European Union (EU) and national levels. The study updates a comprehensive fiscal incidence analysis using the Commitment to Equity (CEQ) model, considering COVID-19's impact and a child-focused perspective, and simulates child-related policy interventions' effectiveness in alleviating child poverty. Our results show that Bulgaria's fiscal system has a limited impact on the overall at-risk of poverty rate, though it shows potential in reducing poverty for lower income deciles. Bulgaria's fiscal system reduces inequality compared to other countries with similar income levels, primarily driven by the substantial influence of direct transfers, education, and health allocations. Nevertheless, the redistributive effect of direct taxes and transfers remains comparatively modest within Europe. The study emphasizes the progressive nature of Bulgaria's fiscal components, benefiting the poorest through social benefits. When applying a child lens, our results show that fiscal policy is not very effective in addressing child poverty, as it reduces it by just 0.3 percentage points. However, means-tested programs targeting families and children play a significant role in mitigating child poverty. This research also underscores that specific households in Bulgaria face heightened vulnerability and may not receive optimal support from fiscal measures, including households with three or more children and lone-parent households, especially those headed by lone females. Microsimulation results suggest that enhancing child tax deductions among low-income earners and refining the design of child benefits to improve targeting effectiveness and generosity can notably contribute to child poverty reduction. The paper offers insights into more equitable policy design in Bulgaria's pursuit of combating child poverty. |
| Date: | 2024–01–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10657 |
| By: | Korhonen, Iikka; Parviainen, Sinikka; Simola, Heli; Solanko, Laura |
| Abstract: | Russia's war of aggression, which has brought wide destruction and loss to Ukraine, has also transformed the Russian economy in significant ways. The Russian government's role in the economy has grown, with an ever-increasing amount of economic resources allocated to the war effort. The government, abandoning long-standing conservative fiscal discipline, now regards public sector deficits as acceptable. The country has managed to cover its budget deficits by draining the country's financial reserves and increasing domestic borrowing. While the point at which Russia loses its ability to wage war remains remote, its economic troubles are likely to snowball in the longer run. |
| Keywords: | Russia, economy, sanctions, economic policy |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:bofitb:312402 |
| By: | Dauda, Seidu; Pop, Georgiana; Iootty De Paiva Dias, Mariana |
| Abstract: | This paper assesses the performance of Romanian state-owned enterprises with various degrees of ownership (minority owned with 10 to 24.9 percent stakes, minority owned with 25 to 49.9 percent stakes, and majority owned with at least 50 percent ownership stakes) and control levels (central versus local state-owned enterprises and directly versus indirectly owned state-owned enterprises) relative to privately owned enterprises. The paper uses the Romanian firm-level data from the Ministry of Finance covering enterprises of all sizes from 2011 to 2020, combined with the new World Bank Businesses of the State dataset, which tracks ownership of state business entities with at least 10 percent stake in Romania. The paper analyzes whether various degrees of state ownership and levels of control matter for state-owned enterprises’ performance. The paper also assesses whether Romanian state-owned enterprises were able to act as stabilizers during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the presence of state-owned enterprises in markets correlates with market outcomes. The findings show that relative to private firms, Romanian state-owned enterprises, particularly those that are majority owned, directly owned, and local ones, employ more people, pay higher wages, but are less productive. In addition, Romanian state-owned enterprises cushioned the job and wage losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic better than private firms, especially in competitive sectors. Finally, there is evidence that the presence of state-owned enterprises may limit private firm entry and allocative efficiency. |
| Date: | 2023–12–18 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10649 |
| By: | Jessen, Jonas; Jessen, Robin; Johnston, Andrew; Gałecka-Burdziak, Ewa |
| Abstract: | We exploit policy discontinuities in Poland's unemployment insurance to examine the causal effect of changes to both benefit durations and levels. Using a regression discontinuity approach, we uncover three findings: (1) Higher benefit levels distort employment more than benefit extensions. (2) Benefit durations and levels interact: Longer durations substantially increase the distortionary effect of more generous payments. (3) Higher payments increase the transition of employed workers into unemployment. We develop a model of optimal unemployment insurance that accounts for moral hazard among both employed and unemployed workers. Notably, for level increases, distortionary costs are larger among the employed than unemployed. |
| Abstract: | Wir nutzen politische Diskontinuitäten in der polnischen Arbeitslosenversicherung, um die kausale Wirkung von Änderungen der Leistungsdauer und -höhe zu untersuchen. Unter Verwendung eines Regressionsdiskontinuitätsansatzes kommen wir zu drei Ergebnissen: (1) Höhere Leistungsniveaus verzerren die Beschäftigung stärker als Leistungsverlängerungen. (2) Die Dauer der Leistungsgewährung und Niveaus interagieren: Längere Laufzeiten erhöhen die verzerrende Wirkung großzügigerer Zahlungen. (3) Höhere Zahlungen erhöhen den Übergang von Erwerbstätigen in die Arbeitslosigkeit. Wir entwickeln ein Modell für eine optimale Arbeitslosenversicherung, das das moralische Risiko sowohl bei Beschäftigten als auch bei Arbeitslosen und arbeitslosen Arbeitnehmern berücksichtigt. Bei einer Erhöhung des Niveaus sind die verzerrenden Kosten bei den Beschäftigten größer als bei Arbeitslosen. |
| Keywords: | Unemployment insurance, spell duration, regression discontinuity, endogenous separations |
| JEL: | H55 J20 J65 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:rwirep:312428 |
| By: | Egamberdiev, Bekhzod; Bobojonov, Ihtiyor; Ren, Yanjun |
| Abstract: | Although women play an important role in developing countries, they face persistent social and economic constraints limiting their inclusivity in household decision-makings. The Asian enigma, the case in which economic growth is not followed by expected improvements in nutritional outcomes, states that women’s low social status is to blame. This paper sheds some light on the issue by studying the linkages between the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) and food security indicators in Tajikistan by using population-based survey in Tajikistan with 2000 households. We apply a latent class approach to represent the relationship between the most disempowering domains and nutritional or food security outcomes. Accordingly, women’s empowerment in the purchase, sale, or transfer of assets has a positive association with improved diet diversity of children. As for food security outcomes, higher women’s empowerment in autonomy in production has a relationship with improved household hunger. Findings clearly indicate that group membership is one of the most promising areas for policy intervention. Precisely, group membership-based women’s empowerment is associated with better diet diversity, decreased number of stunted children and improved household hunger. Considering findings for nutritional outcomes, women’s empowerment and different anthropometric measures have messages for further policy formulations to enhance nutrition-sensitive approaches. |
| Keywords: | Women’s empowerment, food security, latent analysis, hunger |
| JEL: | Q18 O13 P36 E21 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esprep:312281 |
| By: | Burilkov, Alexandr; Wolff, Guntram B. |
| Abstract: | We provide initial estimates of the additional weapons and troops Europe will need to defend itself, assuming an effective US withdrawal from Europe. Russia's military production has ramped up: In 2024, Russia produced and refurbished an estimated 1, 550 tanks, 5, 700 armoured vehicles and 450 artillery pieces of all types. If the US withdraws from supporting Ukraine, the EU would have to spend only another 0.12 percent of its GDP to replace the US military contributions - a feasible amount. A US-Russian deal on Ukraine, resulting in a continued Russian military build-up would require an increase in European capacities equivalent to the fighting capacity of 300, 000 US troops, with a focus on mechanised and armoured forces to replace US army heavy units. European defence spending will have to increase substantially from the current level of about 2 percent of GDP. An initial assessment suggests an increase by about €250 billion annually (or around 3.5 percent of GDP) is warranted in the short term. |
| Abstract: | Wir liefern erste Schätzungen über die zusätzlichen Waffen und Truppen, die Europa zur Selbstverteidigung benötigen würde, falls sich die USA aus Europa zurückziehen. Die russische Militärproduktion wurde hochgefahren: Es wurden schätzungsweise 1.550 Panzer, 5.700 gepanzerte Fahrzeuge und 450 Artilleriegeschütze produziert oder instand gesetzt. Falls die USA ihre militärische Unterstützung für die Ukraine einstellen, müsste die EU lediglich zusätzliche 0, 12 Prozent ihres BIP aufwenden, um die Lücke auszugleichen - ein machbarer Betrag. Ein amerikanisch-russisches Abkommen über die Ukraine, das zu einer weiteren Aufrüstung Russlands führen würde, würde eine Aufstockung der europäischen Kapazitäten um die Kampfstärke von 300.000 US-Soldaten erfordern. Die europäischen Verteidigungsausgaben müssten erheblich über das derzeitige Niveau von etwa 2 Prozent des BIP hinaus steigen. Erste Schätzungen legen nahe, dass kurzfristig eine Erhöhung um etwa 250 Milliarden Euro jährlich (oder etwa 3, 5 Prozent des BIP) erforderlich ist. |
| Keywords: | USA, Europe, Germany, Ukraine, Defense, Security policy, USA, Europa, Deutschland, Ukraine, Verteidigung, Sicherheitspolitik |
| JEL: | H56 F51 F52 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:ifwkpb:312398 |
| By: | Rude, Britta Laurin; Robayo, Monica |
| Abstract: | Energy poverty has gained attention in the context of increasing energy prices and the recent energy crisis in Europe. However, measuring energy poverty and characterizing the energy poor are challenging, given that expenditure surveys (household budget surveys) often need more information to characterize the energy poor. Additionally, there is no consensus on how to measure and monitor energy poverty. It is also unknown how and why it differs from income poverty. While income poverty relies on a well-defined poverty line, energy poverty does not have a clearly defined energy poverty line that indicates the minimum energy necessary for satisfying basic needs. In addition, monetary poverty and other welfare measures are measured with income in EU countries using the European Survey of Income and Living Conditions. Therefore, it is not straightforward to characterize energy affordability among the monetary income poor or to estimate the overlap between official income poverty and energy poverty. This paper explores statistical matching as a potential strategy to overcome these data challenges in the context of Bulgaria. Via data fusion, a unique dataset is generated that contains information on energy spending shares, income-based indicators of poverty and inequality, and additional variables on households' living conditions and welfare. For this purpose, the paper first generates a harmonized dataset, which consists of the European Survey of Income and Living Conditions and household budget survey data. It then employs different imputation models and chooses the best-performing one to impute energy spending shares into data. Based on the resulting dataset, it overlays energy poverty with monetary poverty. The findings show that a large share of the energy poor is not income poor, calling for differentiated policy measures to tackle energy poverty. Importantly, these findings depend on the underlying definition of energy poverty. This paper contributes to a growing body of literature exploring the potential of statistical matching to improve the current data environment in the European Union. |
| Date: | 2024–06–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10818 |
| By: | Robayo, Monica; Rude, Britta Laurin |
| Abstract: | This paper uses the introduction of preparatory school classes targeting six-year-old children in Romania to study whether universal, compulsory, public care provision could increase female employment. Results from difference-in-difference estimations show that the reform resulted in rising employment rates for mothers of six-year-old children. The effect is lower for mothers living in households with elderly people, but larger for those facing stronger trade-offs prior to the reform. Overall, investing in universal, compulsory, public childcare is beneficial and could significantly increase female employment and labor force participation rates. |
| Date: | 2023–12–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10638 |
| By: | Blaziene, Inga; Karnite, Raita; Moskvina, Julija |
| Abstract: | This is a comparative country report of Latvia and Lithuania for the project DEFEN-CE: Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets. DEFEN-CE is a research project funded by the Directorate-General for Employment, the European Commission (Grant number: VS/2021/0196). The project investigates the experience of various stakeholders with the design and implementation of COVID-19-related policies relevant to work and employment in EU Member States (Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Czechia, Slovakia, Italy, and Spain) and two candidate countries, Serbia and Turkey. The aim of the project is to identify the role of social dialogue in facilitating policy implementation that addresses the labour market situation of vulnerable groups in the post-COVID-19 labour markets. With this aim in mind, the report seeks to answer three main research questions from a comparative perspective, emphasising similarities and differences between Latvia’s and Lithuania’s pandemic response, industrial relations (with a key focus on social dialogue structures and interactions), policy design, and protection of vulnerable groups. 1. What public policy and social dialogue measures targeting selected vulnerable groups were implemented for employment and social protection during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022? 2. To what extent and how did social dialogue play a role in the implementation of social and employment rights of selected vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022? 3. What lessons and opportunities does the COVID-19 pandemic yield for strengthening social dialogue in the studied countries? The report mixes analysis and findings based on the construction of country-specific Defence-Databases (one for Latvia and one for Lithuania) and qualitative interviews with national stakeholders. The respective database contains information on almost 60 countries-specific Covid-19 policies that have been gathered from international databases (e.g., Eurofound, Eurostat, and ICTWSS), national and international policy documents and legislation, reports from trade unions and employers’ organisations, and academic literature. The interviews that complement the general information provided from the databases were conducted with representatives from trade unions, employers’ organisations and the government. In total, 10 interviews were done in Latvia, and 10 interviews were done in Lithuania (see Annex 1 and 2). Interview data were analysed based on qualitative content analysis using the DEFEN-CE coding scheme. |
| Date: | 2023–11–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:qa6yt_v1 |
| By: | Tervola, Jussi; Iivonen, Saija; Hiilamo, Heikki |
| Abstract: | Social insurance and social assistance reflect fundamental principles of social policies. Social insurance benefits cover employed individuals against a social risk event such as unemployment or disability in exchange of paid contributions. Social assistance benefits, in turn, are designed typically to secure the minimum standard of living, regardless of past contribution. In this article we ask if the dualism is feasible to depict contemporary social benefits that cover traditional social risks: unemployment, childbirth, sickness, disability, and old age. A policy analysis of six European countries with extensive social security systems – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom – demonstrates that while traditional insurance benefits and assistance benefits still make up the majority of risk-based benefits, also different kinds of deviations from the pure forms are observed. Some countries provide hybrid benefits where past contribution affects benefit rate, but non-contributory minimum is guaranteed for all facing the risk. Some countries provide income-tested contributory benefits which is against the traditional insurance logic. Moreover, universal flat-rate benefits are found especially covering the risk of old age. |
| Date: | 2024–03–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:97xzj_v1 |
| By: | Arandarenko, Mihail; Aleksić, Dragan |
| Abstract: | The aim of this country report is to provide answers to the following DEFEN-CE research questions: 1. What public policy and social dialogue measures targeting the selected vulnerable groups were implemented to employment and social protection during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020-2022? 2. To what extent and how did social dialogue play a role in the implementation of social and employment rights of selected vulnerable groups in the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022? 3. What lessons and opportunities does the COVID-19 pandemic yield for strengthening social dialogue in the studied countries? In order to answer these questions we used a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques. We started with the collection of the most relevant labour market data, especially regarding vulnerable groups. Then, by using the desk research we were able to synthesize the existing knowledge on public policies and social dialogue in the COVID-19 crisis. Finally, we conducted 10 semi-structured interviews to explore in-depth the role of social partners in the defence of the vulnerable groups. |
| Date: | 2023–11–24 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:gh9mn_v1 |