Prelude in E

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Methods for comparative evaluation of propulsion system designs for supersonic aircraft

The propulsion system comparative evaluation study was conducted to define a rapid, approximate method for evaluating the effects of propulsion system changes for an advanced supersonic cruise airplane, and to verify the approximate method by comparing its mission performance results with those from a more detailed analysis. A table look up computer program was developed to determine nacelle drag increments for a range of parametric nacelle shapes and sizes. Aircraft sensitivities to propulsion parameters were defined. Nacelle shapes, installed weights, and installed performance was determined for four study engines selected from the NASA supersonic cruise aircraft research (SCAR) engine studies program. Both rapid evaluation method (using sensitivities) and traditional preliminary design methods were then used to assess the four engines. The method was found to compare well with the more detailed analyses

‘Albania: €1’ or the story of ‘big policies, small outcomes’: how Albania constructs and engages its diaspora

Since the fall of the communist regime in the early 1990s, Albania has experienced one of the most significant emigrations in the world as a share of its population. By 2010 almost half of its resident population was estimated to be living abroad – primarily in neighbouring Greece and Italy, but also in the UK and North America. This chapter discusses the emergence and establishment of the Albanian diaspora, its temporal and geographical diversity, and not least its involvement with Albania itself. Albania’s policymaking and key institutions are considered, with a focus on matters of citizenship; voting rights; the debate on migration and development; and not least the complex ways in which kin-state minority policies – related to ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo, Montenegro, southern Serbia, Macedonia and Greece – are interwoven with Albania’s emigration policies

Portuguese Scientists' Migration: a study on the 2008 crisis aftermath

In the economic and social aftermath of the 2008 crisis there has been an important and growing new wave of highly qualified Portuguese emigration comprising scientists. No or very few public policies have been designed to reverse this phenomenon, risking the consequences of brain drain. International literature argues that professional reasons are central to scientists’ decision to migrate, even after the 2008 crisis. Spending some time in a foreign country to study, research, or teach, is perceived as a common step in an individual academic trajectory and an advantage for a successful professional career in academia. It is also encouraged by European Union policies. Twelve individual portraits of Portuguese scientists living in central Europe reveal how important other factors are to the migration decision‐making process. These factors include the economic crisis, student mobility programmes, and the current Portuguese scientific system revision

Mismatches in the Formal Sector, Expansion of the Informal Sector: Immigration of Health Professionals to Italy

Italy has an aging population which is placing a strain on the public health system and on families. At the same time, it has a distorted market of supply of health professionals. Past over enrolment in medical faculties has produced a current glut of doctors, although shortages will appear as this cohort retires. It is difficult for foreign-trained doctors, and Italian-trained foreigners, to practice medicine in Italy. In nursing, the situation is more critical, with far fewer graduates of nursing schools than necessary even to meet replacement needs. Care for the aged, which was traditionally borne by families, has increasingly been delegated to informal immigrant workers. In the absence of major changes in the care industry, recruitment efforts for nurses and other health technicians has expanded to include other source countries. Obstacles to international recruitment of nurses have been reduced, both by simplifying recognition of foreign qualifications and by exempting nurses from limits on labour migration to Italy. However, a ban on permanent employment in the public sector has relegated foreign nurses largely to private sector and shorter-term contract work. National and local health authorities have also become involved in supporting international recruitment of nurses, often through private agencies. In the home-care sector, families have been granted more opportunities to hire care workers from abroad legally, and many local authorities are attempting to integrate this spontaneous private care into their eldercare system through skill upgrades and support. Nonetheless, international migration will not be sufficient to solve Italy’s health care professional needs. Le vieillissement de la population en Italie pèse lourdement sur le système de santé public et les familles. Parallèlement, l’offre de professionnels de la santé sur le marché du travail est déséquilibré. Dans le passé, le nombre excessif d’inscriptions dans les facultés de médecine a entrainé une surabondance de médecins, mais des pénuries apparaîtront au fur et à mesure qu’ils partiront à la retraite. Il est difficile pour les médecins ayant étudié à l’étranger et les immigrés qui se sont qualifiés en Italie d’exercer la médecine dans ce pays. En ce qui concerne les infirmières, la situation est plus critique, avec un trop petit nombre de diplômés des écoles d’infirmières, même pour satisfaire uniquement les besoins de remplacement. Les soins aux personnes âgées, incombant traditionnellement aux familles, ont été de plus en plus délégués aux immigrés du secteur informel. En l’absence de changements majeurs dans les politiques de la santé, des efforts ont été faits pour recruter des infirmières et personnels de santé dans d’autres pays d’origine. La simplification de la reconnaissance des qualifications acquises à l’étranger et l’exemption de quotas d’infirmières étrangères sur le marché du travail en Italie ont réduit les obstacles au recrutement international d’infirmières. Cependant, l’interdiction de les employer de façon permanente dans le secteur public a relégué la majorité des infirmières étrangères dans le secteur privé et dans les contrats de travail à court terme. L’administration sanitaire nationale et locale a aussi contribué au recrutement international des infirmières souvent par le biais d’agences privées. Dans le secteur des soins à domicile, les familles se sont vu octroyer plus d’opportunités pour recruter légalement à l’étranger du personnel de soins à domicile. Beaucoup d’autorités locales s’efforcent d’intégrer ce type de soins privés dans leurs systèmes de soins aux personnes âgées en assistant les personnels soignants privés et en renforçant leurs compétences. Néanmoins, les migrations internationales ne seront pas suffisantes pour répondre aux besoins de l’Italie en professionnels de la santé.

Managing highly-skilled labour migration: a comparative analysis of migration policies and challenges in OECD countries

Most OECD countries expect growing shortages of highly-skilled labour in the coming two decades, and immigration is viewed as one way of addressing these. Most OECD countries have introduced policies aimed at facilitating the recruitment of such workers in recent years and efforts along these lines can be expected to continue. This report provides an overview of the issues related to the management of highly skilled labour migration