Unemployment duration among immigrants and natives: unobserved heterogeneity in a multi-spell duration model

This paper studies whether the unemployment dynamics of immigrants differ from those of natives, paying special attention to the impact of accounting for unobserved heterogeneity among individuals. Using a large administrative data set for Spain, we estimate multiple-spell discrete duration models which disentangle unobserved heterogeneity from duration dependence. Specifically, we estimate random effects models assuming that the distribution of the effects is discrete with finite support, and fixed effects models in which the distribution of the unobserved effects is left unrestricted. Our results show the importance of accounting for unobserved heterogeneity and that mistaken policy implications can be derived due to improper treatment of unmeasured variables. We find that lack of control for unobserved heterogeneity leads to the conclusion that immigrant males have a higher probability of leaving unemployment than natives and that the negative effect of unemployment benefits for immigrants lasts longer than for natives. Nonetheless, the estimates which do control for unobserved heterogeneity show the opposite results

Unobserved Heterogeneity in Multi-Spell Discrete Time Duration Models

This paper considers the estimation of discrete time duration models. We highlight the enhance identification opportunities embedded in multiple spell data to separately identify the effect of duration dependence and individual time invariant unobserved heterogeneity. We consider two types of models: (i) random effects models specifying a mass point distribution for the unobserved heterogeneity; and (ii) fixed effects models in which the distribution of the effects is left unrestricted. The availability of multiple spell data allows us to consider this type of models, in the spirit of fixed effects discrete choice panel data models. We study the finite sample properties of different estimators for previous models by means of Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, as an empirical illustration, we estimate unemployment duration models using Spanish administrative data with information on the entire labor history of the individuals.Duration models; Discrete choice; Multiple spells; Unobserved heterogeneity; Unemployment.

Unemployment duration among immigrants and natives: unobserved heterogeneity in a multi-spell duration model

This paper studies whether the unemployment dynamics of immigrants differ from those of natives, paying special attention to the impact of accounting for unobserved heterogeneity among individuals. Using a large administrative data set for Spain, we estimate multiple-spell discrete duration models which disentangle unobserved heterogeneity from duration dependence. Specifically, we estimate random effects models assuming that the distribution of the effects is discrete with finite support, and fixed effects models in which the distribution of the unobserved effects is left unrestricted. Our results show the importance of accounting for unobserved heterogeneity and that mistaken policy implications can be derived due to improper treatment of unmeasured variables. We find that lack of control for unobserved heterogeneity leads to the conclusion that immigrant males have a higher probability of leaving unemployment than natives and that the negative effect of unemployment benefits for immigrants lasts longer than for natives. Nonetheless, the estimates which do control for unobserved heterogeneity show the opposite results.Duration models, Discrete choice, Multiple spells, Unobserved heterogeneity, Unemployment, Immigration

Unobserved heterogeneity in multi-spell discrete time duration model

This paper considers the estimation of discrete time duration models. We highlight the enhance identification opportunities embedded in multiple spell data to separately identify the effect of duration dependence and individual time invariant unobserved heterogeneity.Duration models, Discrete choice, Multiple spells, Unobserved heterogeneity, Unemployment.

Unemployment Duration among Immigrants and Natives: Unobserved Heterogeneity in a Multi-Spell Duration Model

This paper studies whether the unemployment dynamics of immigrants differ from those of natives, paying special attention to the impact of accounting for unobserved heterogeneity among individuals. Using a large administrative data set for Spain, we estimate multiple-spell discrete duration models which disentangle unobserved heterogeneity from duration dependence. Specifically, we estimate random effects models assuming that the distribution of the effects is discrete with finite support, and fixed effects models in which the distribution of the unobserved effects is left unrestricted. Our results show the importance of accounting for unobserved heterogeneity and that mistaken policy implications can be derived due to improper treatment of unmeasured variables. We find that lack of control for unobserved heterogeneity leads to the conclusion that immigrant males have a higher probability of leaving unemployment than natives and that the negative effect of unemployment benefits for immigrants lasts longer than for natives. Nonetheless, the estimates which do control for unobserved heterogeneity show the opposite results.Duration models; Discrete choice; Multiple spells; Unobserved heterogeneity; Unemployment; Immigration.

Economic Conditions and Employment Dynamics of Immigrants versus Natives: Who Pays the Costs of the "Great Recession"?

This paper studies how unemployment and employment durations for immigrants and natives respond differently to changes in the economic conditions due to the 2008 crisis and to the receipt of unemployment benefits when the economy declines. Using administrative data for Spain, we estimate multi-state multi-spell duration models that disentangle unobserved heterogeneity from true duration dependence. Our findings suggest that immigrants are more sensitive to changes in economic conditions, both in terms of unemployment and employment hazards. Moreover, the effect of the business cycle is not constant but decreases with duration at a higher rate among immigrants. The results also point to a disincentive effect of unemployment benefits on unemployment duration, which is stronger for immigrants but only at the beginning of the unemployment spell and mainly during good times (before the 2008 recession). Finally, we find evidence of a positive effect of unemployment benefits on subsequent employment duration, but only for native workers with temporary contracts. Nonetheless, this effect vanishes as workers qualify again for unemployment benefits.Research funding from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Grants No. ECO2009-11165 and ECO010-21706 is acknowledged

Virtual Conductor for String Quartet Practice

This paper presents a system that emulates an ensemble conductor for string quartets. This application has been developed as a support tool for individual and group practice, so that users of any age range can use it to further hone their skills, both for regular musicians and students alike. The virtual conductor designed can offer similar indications to those given by a real ensemble conductor to potential users regarding beat times, dynamics, etc. The application developed allows the user to rehearse his/her performance without the need of having an actual conductor present, and also gives access to additional tools to further support the learning/practice process, such as a tuner or a melody evaluator. The system developed also allows for both solo practice and group practice. A set of tests were conducted to check the usefulness of the application as a practice support tool. A group of musicians from the Chamber Orchestra of Malaga including an ensemble conductor tested the system, and reported to have found it a very useful tool within an educational environment and that it helps to address the lack of this kind of educational tools in a self-learning environment.This work has been funded by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of the Spanish Government under Project No. TIN2010-21089-C03- 02 and Project No. IPT-2011-0885-430000 and by the Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio under Project No. TSI-090100-2011-25

Diagnóstico e innovación en la sociedad del conocimiento: estudio sobre “Técnicas e instrumentos de diagnóstico” (ITD)

Este artículo presenta un estudio empírico sobre las necesidades formativas de los estudiantes de Pedagogía en la materia "Técnicas e Instrumentos de Diagnóstico". El objetivo último es informar sobre dichas necesidades cara al proceso de innovación de la asignatura que desarrolla estos contenidos en el nuevo Plan de Estudios de Pedagogía. Se indaga en las ideas previas y actitudes de los alumnos, así como sobre el manejo conceptual y práctico que pueden realizar de estos contenidos. Para ello, al principio de este curso hemos sometido a examen a 154 alumnos presenciales matriculados en la asignatura. Se sondean sus conocimientos de sí mismos en relación con el aprendizaje de este tipo de materias y se recogen opiniones y actitudes ante las mismas. Exponemos los resultados del examen sobre el uso y dominio de las técnicas de diagnóstico (TD) y sobre los instrumentos concretos del mismo (ID). Se valora tanto el nivel cognitivo en el manejo de los contenidos básicos como el nivel metacognitivo, que nos permite establecer perfiles sobre su coherencia y realismo. Por otro lado, se sondean disposiciones hacia la aceptación de un enfoque cultural del diagnóstico, actualmente en boga. Las conclusiones remiten hacia algunos cambios en las propuestas docentes, especialmente en relación con la formación práctica y la introducción de responsabilidades de enseñanza recíproca entre los alumnos.This article presents an empiric study about the Pedagogy student´s needs in the subject "Technics and Instruments of Assessment". The final target is to report about these needs for the innovation process of the subject that develops these contents in the new syllabus. We look into the student´s prior ideas and attitudes as well as into the conceptual and practical control that they can carry out on these contents. In order to get it, we have submitted to assessment to 154 students registerd this course in the subject. We analyse the way they know themselves regarding the learning process in this type of subject and we collect opinions and attitudes abou it. We expose the results on the test about the use and control of the Techniques of the Assessment (TD) and about the Instruments of this Assessment activities (ID). It values the cognitive level and the metacognitive level in the control of the basic contents which allow us to stablish profiles on their coherence and realism. On the other hand, we study the attitudes towards the acceptance of a cultural focus of the assessment activities, so much in vogue nowadays. The conclusions remit towards some changes in the university teaching procedures, especially regarding the practical learning and the introduction of the reciprocal teaching responsabilities among the students