ON THE RECENT EXTENSION OF PRICE AND PRODUCTION STATISTICS TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION

The paper pertains to the recent extension of price and production statistics to health, social assistance services and education. In the first part, it is underlined that using net prices instead of gross prices, as it has been decided for the European harmonised consumer price index, is inaccurate. The index is thus partly hybrid and inconsistent. The second part explains why, even if quality is a significant issue, production measures should not rely on the user’s changes of condition. It should rather be based on supplied quality. The paper then describes and discusses two complementary ways to estimate quality changes.MEASUREMENT, OUTPUT, QUALITY, PRICE INDEX.

FULL MARKET OPENING IN THE POSTAL SERVICES FACING THE SOCIAL AND TERRITORIAL COHESION GOAL IN FRANCE

The paper focuses on the impact of the Full Market Opening in postal services on the territorial cohesion. In the first section the paper recalls the specificities of the sector and the distance so far covered by deregulation. It underlines the reasons that raise worries. In the second section the paper analyses the territorial stake in France. Actual outlet network is notably extended and actively supports rural cohesion. It has been mostly preserved since WWII. A special law has introduced specific territorial obligations; however their funding is not entirely set.Postal services, deregulation, rural and territorial cohesion.

THE PEACE OF WORK AGREEMENT: THE EMERGENCE AND ENFORCEMENT OF A SWISS LABOUR MARKET INSTITUTION

This paper deals with a specific institution of the Swiss labour market called the work peace agreement. It notably appeared in 1937 in the machine and metal work industry. First, the paper portrays the characteristics of the agreement and work peace clauses in Switzerland. Second, the paper describes the emergence of the 1937 agreement, which was a big step in Swiss industrial relations. The agents’ strategies and external economic pressure which provoked the move to cooperation are the main factors stressed. Third, the problem of the agreement persistence is addressed. As benefits from the convention generate a context of public goods allocation, finally the paper scrutinises the free rider problem which is expanding when the agreement is continuously signed.

THE NEW APPROACH TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SERVICES IN VIEW OF SERVICES SPECIFICITIES: ECONOMIC AND REGULATION ISSUES

The paper deals with the issue of integration and trade of services industries. It argues that the specificities of services producing industries compared to goods producing industries explain several difficulties of the new approach to international trade in services. First, the paper discusses the definition of services to remind that long distance trade of services is quite difficult, even if new information and communication technologies have made it easier in some cases. Second, the paper shows that the balance of payments presents an incomplete and confusing image of trade in services. Third, the paper describes the four modes, pertaining to the new approach to trade in services, developed for GATS. It outlines that some of these modes are distorting traditional economic concepts. The last part of the paper focuses the consequences of the Mutual Recognition Principle (MRP), the Country of Origin Principle (COP) in relation with Freedom of Establishment and Free movement of Services principles. It is argued that even if COP is a natural following of MRP –basically developed to deal with trade in goods–, the shift to services brings new drawbacks not yet extensively assessed.

Longitudinal Two-Year Follow-Up of Updating and Flexibility Functions in Drivers with Parkinson’s Disease: Preliminary Results

This paper outlines the preliminary results of a longitudinal follow up at two years interval (t0 versus t2) in 10 drivers with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 10 matched controls. Changes of (1) driving habits assessed by a questionnaire, (2) neuropsychological performances measured by a set of cognitive tests and (3) cognitive abilities while driving using a simulator, were analyzed. Two types of changes were observed: the decline over time in PD group at two years interval and the appearance of some deficits in PD patients (compared to controls) at the second assessment (t2). These deficits were not observed at the first one (t0). The results showed that PD patients had changed their driving habits over time (reduction of mileage, more avoidance, underestimation of their own driving competency). The cognitive status of PD patients remained relatively stable over time, except for the Trail Making Test performances (part A and part B) which declined. A deficit for the TMT-part A in PD patients, compared to controls, appeared at t2. The data from driving simulator showed no significant decline in PD patients for both updating and flexibility performances. However, a deficit in flexibility appeared at t2 in PD patients, as demonstrated by their poorer performances on the flexibility cost. Our data suggest that flexibility may be significantly affected in PD patients with more advanced disease. The small size on our sample does not allow us any conclusion on updating function in both PD patients and controls

LES CONTOURS DE LA PRESTATION DE SERVICES EN EUROPE : SUR QUELQUES PARADOXES ET PARTICULARITES DU COMMERCE DE SERVICES

Cet article présente une perspective d’économiste sur les contours de la prestation de services, dans la perspective du commerce de services. Il est l’occasion de faire un tour d’horizon rapide des connaissances disponibles sur le commerce de services dans l’Union Européenne (UE). Il conduit à essayer de clarifier certains paradoxes qui obscurcissent la compréhension courante du commerce de services et naturellement à en examiner les possibilités de mesure. Autant que faire se peut, il s’agit de clarifier certains termes des débats qui concernent le détachement, tout en répondant à une série de questions de cadrage. L’intérêt d’une telle démarche, au-delà d’une meilleure appréhension de la place de la prestation, comme du détachement, dans le commerce de services, est aussi de mieux éclairer les politiques publiques.

Que peut-on attendre de la directive services ?

L’article s’intéresse aux effets prévisibles de la Directive Services. En premier lieu il étudie les trois manières d’interpréter l’expression commerce de services : celle des Comptes nationaux, celle de la Balance des Transactions Courantes et celle de la Directive. En deuxième lieu l’article analyse le contenu de la Directive, en particulier son champ et son mécanisme principal. Ce faisant, il s’intéresse au sens et aux effets du Principe du Pays d’Origine. Enfin l’article examine les principales études économétriques disponibles sur les conséquences de la Directive. Une incohérence statistique majeure apparaît dans l’usage des données disponibles. Les chiffres usuels fournis par les comptes nationaux ne sont pas combinables avec ceux de la balance de façon à étudier les effets de la Directive. Les études tendent en conséquence à en surestimer les effets. L’impact du retrait du PPO est aussi examiné. Il en ressort que contrairement à un avis courant, il ne devrait pas occasionner de conséquences s ensibles.Services, Commerce, Comptes Nationaux, Balance des Paiements.