Ties configuration in entrepreneurs’ personal network and economic performances in African urban informal economy

As to explore social networks influence in African informal economy, this paper fits in the conceptual framework of reticular embeddedness. By going into the analyse of ties strength, our purpose is to question the real influence of ties content. We use a recent original dataset to evaluate how entrepreneurs’ networks influence their activities economic outcomes. ‘Multiple name generators’ method provides a vast amount of information about ties content, which can be treated by factor analysis to describe and categorize networks. Finally, we show that not only business ties but the particular configuration of ties strength in networks improve informal earnings.Informal economy; embeddedness; social networks; informal earnings

Ties configuration in entrepreneurs’ personal network and economic performances in African urban informal economy

As to explore social networks influence in African informal economy, this paper fits in the conceptual framework of reticular embeddedness. By going into the analyse of ties strength, our purpose is to question the real influence of ties content. We use a recent original dataset to evaluate how entrepreneurs’ networks influence their activities economic outcomes. ‘Multiple name generators’ method provides a vast amount of information about ties content, which can be treated by factor analysis to describe and categorize networks. Finally, we show that not only business ties but the particular configuration of ties strength in networks improve informal earnings.Informal economy ; embeddedness ; social networks ; informal earnings

Using your ties to get a worse job? The differential effects of social networks on quality of employment in Colombia

This article examines the effect of social networks by investigating how mobilizing family, friendship or kindship ties in job searches affects the quality of employment (QoE) using a mixed approach. Drawing from socioeconomic literature on the segmented labor market, the authors propose an original and multidimensional measure of job quality and a fruitful estimation of the effect of social networks on QoE that allows for dealing with complex inter-groups heterogeneity. Using the Great Integrated Household Survey (GIHS) and a sample on Bogota's workers in 2013, they provide empirical support that the use of ties is negatively correlated with the QoE for those who are vulnerable. Likewise, the use of social relations is not significant for protected workers. Complemented by focus groups interviews, these results raise questions about the difference prevailing in relational practices between necessity networks for precarious workers and opportunity networks for protected workers in the Colombian capital

Diversity of capitalism and Central and Eastern European Countries. A statistical analysis. (In French)

Realised within the framework of the ESEMK project supported by the EU (FP6, Priority 7, Contract CIT-CT-2004-506077), the present study proposes a statistical analysis of the variety of the European socio-economic models integrating Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) using Bruno Amable’s approach of the diversity of capitalism. The analysis relies on the theoretical design of institutional complementarities whose coherence defines the character of model of capitalism. The aim of this methodological study is to test the stability of Amable’s results when new countries are introduced (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey and one emerging country, Mexico, in order to diversify our sample), and to position the CEEC with respect to the European models already identified. Although the typology of the five capitalisms seems finally well resist to the introduction of new countries, it is however necessary to note some more dubious configurations on the side of European continental and Mediterranean models. Concerning the new introduced countries, the three Central European countries differs from the whole of the other models whereas Turkey is close to the Mediterranean model.variety of capitalism, institutional complementarities, Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC)

Using your ties to get a worse job? The differential effects of social networks on quality of employment: Evidence from Colombia

This article examines the effect of social networks through the use of family, friends or relatives ties on quality of employment (QoE). Drawing from the socioeconomic literature on social networks and labor market, we propose an original and multidimensional measure of QoE, and a fruitful estimation approach of the effect of social networks on QoE that allows to deal with complex inter-groups heterogeneity. Using the Great Integrated Houshold Survey (GIHS) and a sample on Bogota's workers in 2013, we find evidence proving that the use of ties has high negative effects on QoE index for those who are in the lower quality of employment range. Likewise, the use of social networks has very low negative effects on QoE index for individuals who are in the better quality of employment range. Complemented by focus groups interviews, these empirical results raise questions about the difference prevailing in relational practices between necessity networks for precarious workers and opportunity networks for protected workers

Using your ties to get a worse job? The differential effects of social networks on quality of employment in Colombia

This article examines the effect of social networks by investigating how mobilizing family, friendship or kindship ties in job searches affects the quality of employment (QoE) using a mixed approach. Drawing from socioeconomic literature on the segmented labor market, the authors propose an original and multidimensional measure of job quality and a fruitful estimation of the effect of social networks on QoE that allows for dealing with complex inter-groups heterogeneity. Using the Great Integrated Household Survey (GIHS) and a sample on Bogota's workers in 2013, they provide empirical support that the use of ties is negatively correlated with the QoE for those who are vulnerable. Likewise, the use of social relations is not significant for protected workers. Complemented by focus groups interviews, these results raise questions about the difference prevailing in relational practices between necessity networks for precarious workers and opportunity networks for protected workers in the Colombian capital

Using your ties to get a worse job? The differential effects of social networks on quality of employment in Colombia

This article examines the effect of social networks by investigating how mobilizing family, friendship or kindship ties in job searches affects the quality of employment (QoE) using a mixed approach. Drawing from socioeconomic literature on the segmented labor market, the authors propose an original and multidimensional measure of job quality and a fruitful estimation of the effect of social networks on QoE that allows for dealing with complex inter-groups heterogeneity. Using the Great Integrated Household Survey (GIHS) and a sample on Bogota's workers in 2013, they provide empirical support that the use of ties is negatively correlated with the QoE for those who are vulnerable. Likewise, the use of social relations is not significant for protected workers. Complemented by focus groups interviews, these results raise questions about the difference prevailing in relational practices between necessity networks for precarious workers and opportunity networks for protected workers in the Colombian capital

Social networks in the entrepreneurial career: life-stories analysis of informal entrepreneurs in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina-Faso) (In French)

This paper analyzes the evolution and transformation of social relations and networks of access to resources during the professional career of micro entrepreneurs in the informal African urban economy. Our analysis of social networks fits in the ‘structural embeddedness’ framework of Granovetter (1985) associated with a dynamic perspective of social relations. This perspective allows taking into account the temporal dimension of embeddedness, and its links with others social mediations, as communities, organizations and formal institutions. With such a view, embeddedness is analyzed with its reverse, the decoupling that is to say how actors and structures become independent from social relations (White, 1992). From a methodological standpoint, our analysis of life-stories of micro and small entrepreneurs of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina-Faso) combines qualitative and quantitative methods. It suggests that social networks and interpersonal relations of access to resources are constructed through a long-time process. Thus they can not be so easily and quickly mobilized by the entrepreneurs as it is sometimes suggested in social capital approaches. We then observe a co-construction phenomenon of social networks and activity that undermine the view of social capital as a substitute for lack of personal resources. The development and resilience of micro and small activities are directly linked to the professionalization and the stabilization of the network; and even the institutionalization of access to resources. However, it should not mask strong inequalities among entrepreneurs according to their initial social network and the dynamic of their business environment.Embeddedness, Social networks, Informal economy, Life-story analysis, Burkina-Faso

‘We are (the) Middle Class’ The new Turkish middle class: identification, behaviors and expectations

Abstract. This article aims to identify and characterise the Turkish middle class. Our objective is to improve its description by implementing a clustering method combining an economic and a sociological approach. Using the Income and Living Conditions Survey (2014), we first identify the middle-class on the basis of an income interval. We then use information about employment and education to characterise the heterogeneity of this middle-income class. The distinctive behaviors and aspirations of four middle class groups are explored in depth by using the results of original qualitative field research carried out among middle class households from two contrasting regions.Keywords. Social stratification, Income distribution, Middle class, Turkey, Clustering methods.JEL. O15, D13, E25

A mutation of the human EPHB2 gene leads to a major platelet functional defect.

The ephrin transmembrane receptor family of tyrosine kinases is involved in platelet function. We report the first EPHB2 variant affecting platelets in 2 siblings (P1 and P2) from a consanguineous family with recurrent bleeding and normal platelet counts. Whole-exome sequencing identified a c.2233C>T variant (missense p.R745C) of the EPHB2 gene. P1 and P2 were homozygous for this variant, while their asymptomatic parents were heterozygous. The p.R745C variant within the tyrosine kinase domain was associated with defects in platelet aggregation, αIIbβ3 activation, and granule secretion induced by G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists and convulxin, as well as in thrombus formation on collagen under flow. In contrast, clot retraction, flow-dependent platelet adhesion, and spreading on fibrinogen were only mildly affected, indicating limited effects on αIIbβ3 outside-in signaling. Most importantly, Lyn, Syk, and FcRγ phosphorylation, the initial steps in glycoprotein VI (GPVI) platelet signaling were drastically impaired in the absence of platelet-platelet contact, indicating a positive role for EPHB2 in GPVI activation. Likewise platelet activation by PAR4-AP showed defective Src activation, as opposed to normal protein kinase C activity and Ca2+ mobilization. Overexpression of wild-type and R745C EPHB2 variant in RBL-2H3 (rat basophilic leukemia) cells stably expressing human GPVI confirmed that EPHB2 R745C mutation impaired EPHB2 autophosphorylation but had no effect on ephrin ligand-induced EPHB2 clustering, suggesting it did not interfere with EPHB2-ephrin-mediated cell-to-cell contact. In conclusion, this novel inherited platelet disorder affecting EPHB2 demonstrates this tyrosine kinase receptor plays an important role in platelet function through crosstalk with GPVI and GPCR signaling