Overview of the labour market [June 2009]

Current interest in the Scottish labour market continues to focus on the trends and patterns in the unemployment figures, in this issue, in addition to noting recent changes in Scottish labour market trends, we explore a number of the underlying issues in employment, unemployment and activity rates. It is important to remember, as the ONS indicates, that we are exploring and seeking to measure changes generated by sample surveys and the results should be seen in terms of the relevant confidence levels

Trends in Expected Returns in Currency and Bond Markets

Under conventional notions about rational expectations and market efficiency, expected returns differ from the actual expost returns by a forecast error that is uncorrelated with current information. In this paper, we describe how small departures from conventional notions of rational expectations and market efficiency can produce trends in excess returns. These trends are in addition to the trends typically found in the level of asset prices themselves. We report strong evidence for the presence of additional trends in excess foreign exchange and bond returns. We also estimate the additional trend component in excess returns on foreign exchange and find that it varied between -.8% and 1% for one month returns and between -6% and 8% for three month returns.

Could short selling make financial markets tumble?

It is suggested to consider long term trends of financial markets as a growth phenomenon. The question that is asked is what conditions are needed for a long term sustainable growth or contraction in a financial market? The paper discuss the role of traditional market players of long only mutual funds versus hedge funds which take both short and long positions. It will be argued that financial markets since their very origin and only till very recently, have been in a state of ``broken symmetry'' which favored long term growth instead of contraction. The reason for this ``broken symmetry'' into a long term ``bull phase'' is the historical almost complete dominance by long only players in financial markets. Dangers connected to short trading are illustrated by the appearence of long term bearish trends seen in analytical results and by simulation results of an agent based market model. Recent short trade data of the Nasdaq Composite index show an increase in the short activity prior to or at the same time as dips in the market, and reveal an steadily increase in the short trading activity, reaching levels never seen before.Comment: Revtex, 7 pages, 7 figure

International and National Trends in the Market of Eating Out

In our paper we examine the Western European and overseas trends of eating out by analyzing relevant secondary data. Behind the increasing role of eating out we can notice several economic social and value changes. One of the stressed factors is time, which has even changed food consuming habits. It is true both in national and international relations that consumers tend to rely on the services of eating out increasingly to have more free time at their disposal. Consequently there is less and less time on food preparation and cooking so new eating trends are on their way. We assume international trends are also reflected in the domestic market of eating out but in an altered form and their effect can be a bit delayed. Like on the level of food consuming preferences, dissonant trends also appear in eating out habits and, as a result the market is being further polarized.eating out, leisure time, national trends, internatinal trends

Analysis of Facts and Dilemmas of Globalization Activities

This paper critically analyzes the key elements (world trends, national identity, human resources, market) of the effects of globalization on the market, as well as the role of our country in the entire process, listing practical examples. Through comparison and analysis of the available literature and experience, it was concluded that there is a dual impact of globalization in the economic sphere and the need for including management into world trends is increasing. The turbulent environment demands increasingly rapid adaptation of outdated management methods towards more progressive and modern methods, for that which was new yesterday may already be old today.globalization, economy, management, market

Application of Tuncay's language teacher model to business-customer relations

It seems that what has been said by now about market and competitiveness do not fit perfectly with competences of getting the best of profit. Sometimes, the classical methods of fundamentals of management do not apply to individual companies that face irregular accommodation on the market. It is high time to replace the perfect business with the right one. New approaches and models may help in identifying new competition trends, changes for better application of purposes and proposals.Comment: 5 pages, no figures, to be published in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Trends in financial market concentration and their implications for market stability

The link between financial market concentration and stability is a topic of great interest to policymakers and other market participants. Are concentrated markets - those where a relatively small number of firms hold large market shares - inherently more prone to disruption? This article considers that question by drawing on academic studies as well as introducing new analysis. Like other researchers, the authors find an ambiguous relationship between concentration and instability when a large firm in a concentrated market fails. In a complementary review of concentration trends across a number of specific markets, the authors document that most U.S. wholesale credit and capital markets are only moderately concentrated, and that concentration trends are mixed - rising in some markets and falling in others. The article also identifies market characteristics that might lead to greater, or less, concern about the consequences of a large firm's exit. It argues that the ease of substitution by other firms in concentrated markets is a critical factor supporting market resiliency.Financial markets ; Capital market ; Theory of the firm

Structure of Dairy Markets: Past, Present, Future

The U.S. dairy industry, many segments of which supported dairy policy changes in the 1996 Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act, is much different than it was 20 or even 10 years ago. This report provides a historical overview of the industry, more detailed examinations of the fluid milk market and selected manufactured dairy product markets, a discussion of future prospects and trends in the industry, and some thoughts on the implications of those prospects and trends for dairy farmers and their organizations, processors, dairy product manufacturers, and retailers.dairy, butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk, market structure, pricing, competition, Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

Embedding employability skills in UK Higher Education: between digitalization and marketization

This article contributes to the debate on employability skills in UK higher education. It starts by discussing the concept of employability and places the debate in the context of mega-trends affecting UK higher education and the broader UK labour market. It distinguishes between different types of employability skills, as identified by employers’ surveys, and matches them with specific small-group teaching activities, drawing on pedagogic theory and practice. The article concludes that, beyond work-integrated learning, traditional small-group teaching activities can go a long way towards bridging the gap between graduates’ skills and labour market needs