3,439 research outputs found
Metropolitan area growth: a test of export base concepts
Regional economics ; Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
The Impact of Macroeconomic Conditions on the Instability and Long-Run Inequality of Workers’ Earnings in Canada
This paper examines the variability of workers’ earnings in Canada over the period 1982‑1997. Using a large panel of tax file data, we decompose total variation in earnings across workers and time into a long-run inequality component between workers and an average earnings instability component over time for workers. We find an increase in earnings variability between 1982‑89 and 1990‑97 that is largely confined to men and largely driven by widening long-run earnings inequality. Second, the pattern of unemployment rate and GDP growth rate effects on these variance components is not consistent with conventional explanations and is suggestive of an alternative paradigm of how economic growth over this period widens long-run earnings inequality. Third, when unemployment rate and GDP growth rate effects are considered jointly, macroeconomic improvement is found to reduce the overall variability of earnings as the reduction in earnings instability outweighs the widening of long-run earnings inequality.Le marchĂ© du travail canadien, au cours des dĂ©cennies 1980 et 1990, a connu de nombreux changements eu Ă©gard Ă la structure commerciale, Ă la technologie de production, aux amĂ©nagements atypiques du travail, aux fluctuations dĂ©mographiques, Ă la vulnĂ©rabilitĂ© des travailleurs, pour ne nommer que ceux-lĂ . Cet essai analyse le caractère variable de la rĂ©munĂ©ration des travailleurs canadiens au cours de la pĂ©riode 1982 et 1997 et l’ampleur de ces variations en termes d’indicateurs macroĂ©conomiques, du taux de chĂ´mage et du taux de croissance du PIB au cours de cette pĂ©riode. Nous reprenons les explications habituelles des changements cycliques au plan de l’inĂ©galitĂ© de la rĂ©munĂ©ration avec l’éclairage de ces changements caractĂ©risĂ©s au sein du marchĂ© du travail canadien.Notre essai fait appel Ă un large Ă©ventail de donnĂ©es de l’impĂ´t sur le revenu provenant de la banque de DonnĂ©es administratives longitudinales (DAL) de Statistique Canada au cours de la pĂ©riode 1982–1997 et utilise une mĂ©thodologie de ventilation d’écarts de la variation totale des gains entre les travailleurs au cours de la pĂ©riode pour en dĂ©gager une composante permanente et de longue pĂ©riode entre les travailleurs et une composante transitoire ou d’instabilitĂ© des gains dans le temps chez les travailleurs. Ces trois mesures de variabilitĂ© sont toutes converties en une fonction des indicateurs macroĂ©conomiques identifiĂ©s plus haut par une rĂ©gression multivariĂ©e. Jusqu’ici, dans les Ă©crits sur le sujet, les modèles de variance dans les configurations de gains faisaient appel aux techniques structurelles de sĂ©ries temporelles. Ces dernières exigent une pĂ©riode de temps d’une longueur homogène au plan des gains. Par consĂ©quent, ces Ă©tudes ont ciblĂ© seulement les travailleurs masculins dans la force de l’âge entretenant un lien Ă©troit avec le marchĂ© du travail. Cet essai s’en tient Ă une approche plus descriptive de l’ordre de sĂ©ries a-temporelles dont font Ă©tat Gottschalk et Moffitt (1994). Ceci permet de prĂ©senter une analyse empirique pour les femmes aussi bien que pour les hommes et pour un Ă©chantillon plus large de travailleurs.Des prĂ©lèvements larges et Ă©troits de donnĂ©es pour les hommes et les femmes sĂ©parĂ©ment sont regroupĂ©s Ă l’intĂ©rieur de deux sous-pĂ©riodes (1982–1989 et 1990–1997), en quatre groupes d’âge et pour six rĂ©gions gĂ©ographiques, ce qui donne 48 sous-Ă©chantillons. Dans chacun des cas ainsi constituĂ©, on a calculĂ© et analysĂ© la variance totale des gains annuels des travailleurs et de leurs deux composantes (instabilitĂ© et inĂ©galitĂ© des gains de longue pĂ©riode). Ces trois mesures de la variance sont retenues Ă titre de variables dĂ©pendantes dans les Ă©quations de rĂ©gression, qui incluent des contrĂ´les pour le glissement dans le temps entre les dĂ©cennies et pour les diffĂ©rences d’âge et de rĂ©gion. Les diffĂ©rences dans le temps et par rĂ©gion permettent l’identification d’un taux de chĂ´mage distinct et l’évaluation des effets du taux de croissance du produit intĂ©rieur brut. Les rĂ©sultats clĂ©s sont prĂ©sentĂ©s dans les tableaux 4 Ă 6 et le tableau-rĂ©sumĂ© 2 du texte principal.Plusieurs conclusions se dĂ©gagent de l’étude. Premièrement, une simple constatation aussi bien qu’une analyse de rĂ©gression indiquent un accroissement de la variabilitĂ© de l’ensemble des gains des travailleurs au passage d’une pĂ©riode Ă une autre, surtout chez les hommes. On a dĂ©jĂ fait de telles observations dans des Ă©tudes antĂ©rieures tant au Canada qu’aux États-Unis. Cependant, la majeure partie de l’accroissement dans la variabilitĂ© des gains, en particulier chez les hommes, pouvait ĂŞtre attribuĂ©e Ă l’ampleur croissante de l’inĂ©galitĂ© des gains en longue pĂ©riode. Chez l’échantillon plus vaste des hommes sur le marchĂ© du travail, les augmentations de la variabilitĂ© des gains de longue pĂ©riode reprĂ©sentaient entre 59 et 134 pourcent de la variabilitĂ© la plus Ă©levĂ©e des gains, alors que, dans l’échantillon des hommes occupant des emplois permanents, elles rendaient compte de presque toutes les augmentations. L’instabilitĂ© des gains accrue jouait effectivement un rĂ´le secondaire dans l’ensemble de l’augmentation des gains des hommes. Par contre, chez les femmes, le changement Ă©tait Ă peine perceptible ou encore, dans le cas d’un mĂŞme groupe d’âge, il contribuait Ă rĂ©duire l’ensemble de la variabilitĂ© des gains. En bout de ligne, le dĂ©calage des variances de gains entre les femmes et les hommes s’est remarquablement estompĂ©.Deuxièmement, tant les taux de chĂ´mage que les taux de croissance du produit intĂ©rieur brut exercent un impact statistiquement significatif sur la variabilitĂ© totale des gains et ses composantes. LĂ encore, le taux de chĂ´mage crĂ©e des effets plus prononcĂ©s quand on le considère en termes d’élasticitĂ©. Le profil de l’impact du taux de chĂ´mage et de celui de l’accroissement du PIB sur l’instabilitĂ© des gains corroborent les arguments conventionnels du jeu du marchĂ© du travail cyclique Ă l’effet que le chĂ´mage et l’instabilitĂ© des gains croissent au cours des rĂ©cessions ou les pĂ©riodes de croissance lente et entrent de nouveau dans un dĂ©clin au moment des dĂ©tentes subsĂ©quentes associĂ©es Ă des marchĂ©s du travail plus serrĂ©s. Cependant, l’effet anticipĂ© du taux croissance sur l’inĂ©galitĂ© de gains en longue pĂ©riode ne cadre aucunement avec les raisonnements habituels. Il est plutĂ´t compatible avec le paradigme alternatif qui veut que la croissance Ă©conomique rĂ©cente soit associĂ©e aux efforts de restructuration Ă©conomique et de rĂ©amĂ©nagement des lieux de travail. Ces efforts se veulent une rĂ©ponse aux changements dans la production des biens et aux changements technologiques liĂ©s Ă l’économie du savoir, au moment oĂą ces mĂŞmes changements contribuent Ă intensifier l’inĂ©galitĂ© des gains sur le marchĂ© du travail. L’effet positif du taux de croissance apparaĂ®t plus prononcĂ© chez les travailleurs dans des emplois permanents et moins chez ceux qui occupent une position marginale sur le marchĂ© du travail. Ceci nous amène Ă croire que la prĂ©sente rĂ©vision fĂ©dĂ©rale des normes du travail et de l’emploi du Code canadien du travail, pilotĂ©e par Harry Arthurs, devrait se pencher plus particulièrement sur les effets de la restructuration et des amĂ©nagements des lieux de travail sur les travailleurs, ceux qui occupent des emplois permanents et dont la situation crĂ©e un Ă©largissement constant de l’inĂ©galitĂ© au sein de la force de travail.Este documento examina la variabilidad de los ingresos de trabajadores en Canadá durante el periodo 1982-1997. Utilizando una amplia lista de ficheros de datos fiscales, descomponemos la variaciĂłn total en los ingresos, entre trabajadores y a travĂ©s del tiempo, en un componente de desigualdad de largo plazo entre trabajadores y un componente de inestabilidad del ingreso promedio de los trabajadores a lo largo del periodo. Encontramos un incremento en la variabilidad de los ingresos entre los periodos 1982-89 y 1990-97, esencialemente restringido a los hombres y principalmente ocasionado por la ampliaciĂłn de la desigualdad de largo plazo en los ingresos. Segundo, la tendencia de la tasa de desempleo y los efectos de la creciente tasa de GDP sobre esos componentes de variaciĂłn no son consistentes con las explicaciones convencionales y sugieren un paradigma alternativo para explicar cĂłmo el crecimiento econĂłmico en ese periodo amplĂa la desigualdad de largo tiempo en los ingresos. Tercero, cuando la tasa de desempleo y los efectos de la creciente tasa de GDP son considerados conjuntamente, la mejora macroeconomica se revela como un reductor de la variabilidad general de los ingresos mientras que la reducciĂłn de la inestabilidad de los ingresos pesa más que la ampliaciĂłn de la desigualdad de largo plazo en los ingresos
A simple method to identify kinases that regulate embryonic stem cell pluripotency by high-throughput inhibitor screening
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can self-renew or differentiate into all cell types, a phenomenon known as pluripotency. Distinct pluripotent states have been described, termed "naĂŻve" and "primed" pluripotency. The mechanisms that control naĂŻve-primed transition are poorly understood. In particular, we remain poorly informed about protein kinases that specify naĂŻve and primed pluripotent states, despite increasing availability of high-quality tool compounds to probe kinase function. Here, we describe a scalable platform to perform targeted small molecule screens for kinase regulators of the naĂŻve-primed pluripotent transition in mouse ESCs. This approach utilizes simple cell culture conditions and standard reagents, materials and equipment to uncover and validate kinase inhibitors with hitherto unappreciated effects on pluripotency. We discuss potential applications for this technology, including screening of other small molecule collections such as increasingly sophisticated kinase inhibitors and emerging libraries of epigenetic tool compounds
Big Hole (41TV2161): Two Stratigraphically Isolated Middle Holocene Components in Travis County, Texas Volume I
During April and May 2006, an archeological team from the Cultural Resources Section of the Planning, Permitting and Licensing Practice of TRC Environmental Corporation’s (TRC) Austin office conducted geoarcheological documentation and data recovery excavations at prehistoric site 41TV2161 (CSJ: 0440-06-006). Investigations were restricted to a 70 centimeter (cm) thick target zone between ca. 220 and 290 cm below surface (bs) on the western side of site 41TV2161 – the Big Hole site in eastern Travis County, Texas.
This cultural investigation was necessary under the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the implementing regulations of 36CRF Part 800 and the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resource Code, Title 9, Chapter 191 as amended) to recover a sample of the significant cultural materials prior to destruction by planned construction of State Highway 130 (SH 130). The latter by a private construction firm – Lone Star Infrastructure. This necessary data recovery was for Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), Environmental (ENV) Affairs Division under a Scientific Services Contract No. 577XXSA003 (Work Authorization No. 57701SA003). Over the years since the original award, multiple work authorizations between TxDOT and TRC were implemented and completed towards specific aspects of the analyses and reporting. The final analyses and report were conducted under contract 57-3XXSA004 (Work Authorization 57-311SA004). All work was under Texas Antiquities Committee Permit No. 4064 issued by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to J. Michael Quigg.
Initially, an archeological crew from Hicks & Company encountered site 41TV2161 during an intensive cultural resource inventory conducted south of Pearce Lane along the planned construction zone of SH 130 in the fall of 2005. Following the initial site discovery, archeologists expanded their investigations to the west across the SH 130 right-of-way, and completed excavation of 10 backhoe trenches, 13 shovel tests, and 11 test units at site 41TV2161. The investigations encountered at least seven buried cultural features and 1,034 artifacts, some in relatively good context. The survey and testing report to TxDOT presented their findings and recommendations (Campbell et al. 2006). The ENV Affairs Division of TxDOT and the THC reviewed the initial findings and recommendations, and determined site 41TV2161 was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and as State Antiquities Landmark as the proposed roadway development was to directly impact this important site and further excavations were required.
Subsequently, TRC archeologists led by Paul Matchen (Project Archeologist) and J. Michael Quigg (Principal Investigator) initiated data recovery excavations through the mechanical-removal of between 220 and 250 cm of sediment from a 30-by-40 meter (m) block area (roughly 3,000 m3). This was conducted to allow hand-excavations to start just above the deeply buried, roughly 70 cm thick targeted zone of cultural material. Mechanical stripping by Lone Star Infrastructure staff created a large hole with an irregular bottom that varied between 220 and 260 cmbs. To locate specific areas to initiate hand-excavations within the mechanically stripped area, a geophysical survey that employed ground penetrating radar (GPR) was conducted by Tiffany Osburn then with Geo-Marine in Plano, Texas. Over a dozen electronic anomalies were detected through the GPR investigation. Following processing, data filtering, and assessment, Osburn identified and ranked the anomalies for investigation. The highest ranked anomalies (1 through 8) were thought to have the greatest potential to represent cultural features. Anomalies 1 through 6 were selected and targeted through hand-excavations of 1-by-1 m units that formed continuous excavation blocks of various sizes. Blocks were designated A, B, C, D, E, and F. The type, nature, quantity, and context of encountered cultural materials in each block led the direction and expansion of each excavation block as needed. In total, TRC archeologists hand-excavated 38.5 m3 (150 m2) from a vertically narrow target zone within this deep, multicomponent and stratified prehistoric site.
Hand-excavation in the two largest Blocks, B and D (51 m2 and 62 m2 respectively), revealed two vertically separate cultural components between roughly 220 and 290 cmbs. The younger component was restricted to Block B and yielded a Bell/Andice point and point base, plus a complete Big Sandy point. These points were associated with at least eight small burned rock features, one cluster of ground stone tools, limited quantities of lithic debitage, few formal chipped and ground stone tools, and a rare vertebrate faunal assemblage. Roughly 20 to 25 cm below the Bell/Andice component in Block B and across Block D was a component identified by a single corner-notched Martindale dart point. This point was associated with a scattered burned rocks, three charcoal stained hearth features, scattered animal, bird, and fish bones, mussel shells, and less than a dozen formal chipped and ground stone tools.
Both identified components contained cultural materials in good stratigraphic context with high spatial integrity. Significant, both were radiocarbon dated by multiple charcoal samples to a narrow 200-year period between 5250 and 5450 B.P. during the middle Holocene. With exception of the well-preserved faunal assemblages, perishable materials were poorly preserved in the moist silty clay loam. Charcoal lacked structure and was reduced to dark stains. Microfossils (e.g., phytoliths and starch gains) were present, although in very limited numbers and deteriorated conditions.
The four much smaller Blocks (A, C, E, and F) yielded various quantities of cultural material and features, but these blocks also lacked sufficient charcoal dates and diagnostic artifacts Those artifacts and samples were left unassigned and analyzed separately from the Bell/Andice and Martindale components. The two well-defined components in Blocks B and D are the focus of this technical report. The components provide very significant data towards understanding rare and poorly understood hunter-gatherer populations during late stages of the Altithermal climate period.
This final report builds upon the interim report submitted to TxDOT (Quigg et al. 2007) that briefly described the methods, excavations, preliminary findings, initial results from six feasibility studies, and proposed an initial research design for data analyses. Context and integrity of the cultural materials in the two identified components was excellent. This rare circumstance combined with detailed artifact analyses, solid documentation of their ages through multiple radiocarbon dates, and multidisciplinary approach to analyses, allowed significant insights and contributions concerning the two populations involved. Results provide a greater understanding of human behaviors during a rarely identified time in Texas Prehistory.
The cultural materials and various collected samples were temporarily curated at TRC’s Austin laboratory. Following completion of analyses and acceptance of this final report, the artifacts, paper records, photographs, and electronic database were permanently curated at the Center for Archaeological Studies (CAS) at Texas State University in San Marcos
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