Labour reallocation during transition: the case of Poland

This paper analyses the reallocation of labour during the transition period, which is argued not only to ease the transition from a planned to market orientated economy, but also to be fundamental to the successful integration of Poland into the European Union. Labour force survey data is used to gauge the overall level of reallocation during the period 1994-1998, a period in which the transition process is considered to be well and truly under way. The results obtained illustrate the inherent immobility prevailing in the Polish labour market during this period and would appear to suggest the presence of relatively significant structural rigidities in the labour market. It is argued that mobility rates of this magnitude are likely to result in considerable strains being placed on the Polish economy when it enters the European Union and could, over the medium term, result in relatively high levels of unemployment. Unless mobility is stimulated, European accession is therefore likely to be a socially costly process. The microeconometric analysis of the determinants of individual mobility presented in the second part of the paper offers a first step to identifying the demographic, economic and social attributes which either aid or inhibit effective labour reallocation. The results obtained highlight a number of important differences in mobility behaviour across age, gender, educational attainment, occupational grouping and labour market experience, which will need to be taken into account in the formulation of active labour market policies to stimulate individual mobility. --

Identifying labour market dynamics using labour force survey data

This paper evaluates the appropriateness of the standard methodologies and the quality of the data frequently used to analyse labour market dynamics in Europe. Our results indicate that, due to recall error and heterogeneous survey design, the retrospective approach tends to result in a considerable number of spurious transitions being recorded. Whilst the use of quasi-longitudinal data should overcome such problems, sample attrition and more importantly, misclassification error, is shown to result in significant over-reporting of transitions. Studies which failure to allow for the error structure of the underlying data are therefore, likely to be subject to considerable bias. --

Labour Reallocation During Transition: The Case of Poland

This paper analyses the reallocation of labour during the transition period, which is argued not only to ease the transition from a planned to market orientated economy, but also to be fundamental to the successful integration of Poland into the European Union. Labour force survey data is used to gauge the overall level of reallocation during the period 1994-1998, a period in which the transition process is considered to be well and truly under way. The results obtained illustrate the inherent immobility prevailing in the Polish labour market during this period and would appear to suggest the presence of relatively significant structural rigidities in the labour market. It is argued that mobility rates of this magnitude are likely to result in considerable strains being placed on the Polish economy when it enters the European Union and could, over the medium term, result in relatively high levels of unemployment. Unless mobility is stimulated, European accession is therefore likely to be a socially costly process. The microeconometric analysis of the determinants of individual mobility presented in the second part of the paper offers a first step to identifying the demographic, economic and social attributes which either aid or inhibit effective labour reallocation. The results obtained highlight a number of important differences in mobility behaviour across age, gender, educational attainment, occupational grouping and labour market experience, which will need to be taken into account in the formulation of active labour market policies to stimulate individual mobility

A comparative analysis of the aggregate matching process in France, Great Britain and Spain

El presente documento lleva a cabo un analisis comparativo del proceso de emparejamiento en Francia, Gran Bretaña y España, adoptando lo que en nuestra opinion es un enfoque mas sistematico de la modelizacion econometrica de esta funcion y utilizando un conjunto de datos mas fiable. En contraste con los trabajos existentes en esta area, aunque nuestros resultados avalan la existencia de una funcion de emparejamiento agregada en cada uno de los tres mercados laborales objeto de este estudio, no encontramos evidencia destacable de rendimientos constantes a escala en la funcion de emparejamiento, que es la hipotesis habitual en la investigacion teorica. Esta funcion manifiesta, mas bien, rendimientos crecientes tanto en Gran Bretaña como en España y decrecientes en Francia. Mas importante aun, varios de nuestros resultados tenderian a poner en entredicho la convenciencia de la especificacion habitual dentro de un contexto europeo. (ulb) (mac

Adjustment costs, uncertainty and employment inertia

Los altos costes de despido en Europa han sido acusados insistentemente de la debil situacion del empleo. Sin embargo, las conclusiones que se extraen de la literatura relevante son algo ambiguas. Este trabajo analiza de nuevo el impacto de los costes de ajuste bajo incertidumbre. Se demuestra que la interaccion entre el nivel de los costes de ajuste y el tipo de incertidumbre puede tener importantes ramificaciones para la dinamica del empleo. En concreto, encontramos que el permitir la posibilidad de condiciones economicas transitorias aumenta considerablemente la persistencia del empleo. Concluimos el analisis con una serie de ejercicios de simulacion para ilustrar que el permitir cambios en el entorno economico en el que las empresas han venido operando en las ultimas dos decadas puede aumentar considerablemente nuestro entendimiento de la evolucion del empleo en Europa (ub) (mac

Identifying Labour Market Dynamics Using Labour Force Survey Data

This paper evaluates the appropriateness of the standard methodologies and the quality of the data frequently used to analyse labour market dynamics in Europe. Our results indicate that, due to recall error and heterogeneous survey design, the retrospective approach tends to result in a considerable number of spurious transitions being recorded. Whilst the use of quasi-longitudinal data should overcome such problems, sample attrition and more importantly, misclassification error, is shown to result in significant over-reporting of transitions. Studies which failure to allow for the error structure of the underlying data are therefore, likely to be subject to considerable bias

Impact on mental health care and on mental health service users of the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods survey of UK mental health care staff

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has potential to disrupt and burden the mental health care system, and to magnify inequalities experienced by mental health service users. METHODS: We investigated staff reports regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in its early weeks on mental health care and mental health service users in the UK using a mixed methods online survey. Recruitment channels included professional associations and networks, charities, and social media. Quantitative findings were reported with descriptive statistics, and content analysis conducted for qualitative data. RESULTS: 2,180 staff from a range of sectors, professions, and specialties participated. Immediate infection control concerns were highly salient for inpatient staff, new ways of working for community staff. Multiple rapid adaptations and innovations in response to the crisis were described, especially remote working. This was cautiously welcomed but found successful in only some clinical situations. Staff had specific concerns about many groups of service users, including people whose conditions are exacerbated by pandemic anxieties and social disruptions; people experiencing loneliness, domestic abuse and family conflict; those unable to understand and follow social distancing requirements; and those who cannot engage with remote care. CONCLUSION: This overview of staff concerns and experiences in the early COVID-19 pandemic suggests directions for further research and service development: we suggest that how to combine infection control and a therapeutic environment in hospital, and how to achieve effective and targeted tele-health implementation in the community, should be priorities. The limitations of our convenience sample must be noted

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Effects of antiplatelet therapy after stroke due to intracerebral haemorrhage (RESTART): a randomised, open-label trial

Background: Antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of major vascular events for people with occlusive vascular disease, although it might increase the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. Patients surviving the commonest subtype of intracranial haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, are at risk of both haemorrhagic and occlusive vascular events, but whether antiplatelet therapy can be used safely is unclear. We aimed to estimate the relative and absolute effects of antiplatelet therapy on recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage and whether this risk might exceed any reduction of occlusive vascular events. Methods: The REstart or STop Antithrombotics Randomised Trial (RESTART) was a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint, parallel-group trial at 122 hospitals in the UK. We recruited adults (≥18 years) who were taking antithrombotic (antiplatelet or anticoagulant) therapy for the prevention of occlusive vascular disease when they developed intracerebral haemorrhage, discontinued antithrombotic therapy, and survived for 24 h. Computerised randomisation incorporating minimisation allocated participants (1:1) to start or avoid antiplatelet therapy. We followed participants for the primary outcome (recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage) for up to 5 years. We analysed data from all randomised participants using Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for minimisation covariates. This trial is registered with ISRCTN (number ISRCTN71907627). Findings: Between May 22, 2013, and May 31, 2018, 537 participants were recruited a median of 76 days (IQR 29–146) after intracerebral haemorrhage onset: 268 were assigned to start and 269 (one withdrew) to avoid antiplatelet therapy. Participants were followed for a median of 2·0 years (IQR [1·0– 3·0]; completeness 99·3%). 12 (4%) of 268 participants allocated to antiplatelet therapy had recurrence of intracerebral haemorrhage compared with 23 (9%) of 268 participants allocated to avoid antiplatelet therapy (adjusted hazard ratio 0·51 [95% CI 0·25–1·03]; p=0·060). 18 (7%) participants allocated to antiplatelet therapy experienced major haemorrhagic events compared with 25 (9%) participants allocated to avoid antiplatelet therapy (0·71 [0·39–1·30]; p=0·27), and 39 [15%] participants allocated to antiplatelet therapy had major occlusive vascular events compared with 38 [14%] allocated to avoid antiplatelet therapy (1·02 [0·65–1·60]; p=0·92). Interpretation: These results exclude all but a very modest increase in the risk of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage with antiplatelet therapy for patients on antithrombotic therapy for the prevention of occlusive vascular disease when they developed intracerebral haemorrhage. The risk of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage is probably too small to exceed the established benefits of antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention

Effects of antiplatelet therapy after stroke due to intracerebral haemorrhage (RESTART): a randomised, open-label trial

Background: Antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of major vascular events for people with occlusive vascular disease, although it might increase the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. Patients surviving the commonest subtype of intracranial haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, are at risk of both haemorrhagic and occlusive vascular events, but whether antiplatelet therapy can be used safely is unclear. We aimed to estimate the relative and absolute effects of antiplatelet therapy on recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage and whether this risk might exceed any reduction of occlusive vascular events. Methods: The REstart or STop Antithrombotics Randomised Trial (RESTART) was a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint, parallel-group trial at 122 hospitals in the UK. We recruited adults (≥18 years) who were taking antithrombotic (antiplatelet or anticoagulant) therapy for the prevention of occlusive vascular disease when they developed intracerebral haemorrhage, discontinued antithrombotic therapy, and survived for 24 h. Computerised randomisation incorporating minimisation allocated participants (1:1) to start or avoid antiplatelet therapy. We followed participants for the primary outcome (recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage) for up to 5 years. We analysed data from all randomised participants using Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for minimisation covariates. This trial is registered with ISRCTN (number ISRCTN71907627). Findings: Between May 22, 2013, and May 31, 2018, 537 participants were recruited a median of 76 days (IQR 29–146) after intracerebral haemorrhage onset: 268 were assigned to start and 269 (one withdrew) to avoid antiplatelet therapy. Participants were followed for a median of 2·0 years (IQR [1·0– 3·0]; completeness 99·3%). 12 (4%) of 268 participants allocated to antiplatelet therapy had recurrence of intracerebral haemorrhage compared with 23 (9%) of 268 participants allocated to avoid antiplatelet therapy (adjusted hazard ratio 0·51 [95% CI 0·25–1·03]; p=0·060). 18 (7%) participants allocated to antiplatelet therapy experienced major haemorrhagic events compared with 25 (9%) participants allocated to avoid antiplatelet therapy (0·71 [0·39–1·30]; p=0·27), and 39 [15%] participants allocated to antiplatelet therapy had major occlusive vascular events compared with 38 [14%] allocated to avoid antiplatelet therapy (1·02 [0·65–1·60]; p=0·92). Interpretation: These results exclude all but a very modest increase in the risk of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage with antiplatelet therapy for patients on antithrombotic therapy for the prevention of occlusive vascular disease when they developed intracerebral haemorrhage. The risk of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage is probably too small to exceed the established benefits of antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention