THE IMPACT OF TRAINING PROGRAMMES ON WAGES IN FRANCE: AN EVALUATION OF THE “QUALIFYING CONTRACT” USING PROPENSITY SCORES.

This paper evaluates the impact of a widely-used French training programme for youth on earnings. This programme is designed to increase labour market experience and education, validated by a formal diploma. It is not sure, however, whether this diploma and a similar diploma acquired through initial training have the same effect on post-training wages. To answer this question, we contrast the 2003 net wages of a group of participants enrolled in 1998 (the “treatment” group) to the 2003 net wages of a control group. The controls are individuals who completed their initial training in 1998 with diplomas similar to those obtained by the treated at the end of the programme. Using propensity score matching, we find a significantly positive effect of the treatment on the treated: participants in the programme benefit, five years after participation, from a positive wage premium. This suggests that firms do not simply value education: they value it more if it is coupled with some degree of labour market experience.active labour market policies; training programmes for youth; propensity score matching.

An Illustration of the Returns to Training Programmes: The Evaluation of the “Qualifying Contract" in France

We evaluate the labour market outcomes of a French training programme for youth, using a non-experimental sample of individuals who completed their studies (or dropped out) in 1998 and were observed until 2003. We use propensity score matching to estimate the impact of participation on three outcome variables: the net monthly wage, the monthly income and the probability of employment. We find a positive impact of participation on all three outcome variables. Non parametric robustness checks confirmed our results. We explain these results, which contrast with those of previous French studies, by the very strong training content of the programme.active labour market programmes, training programmes for youth, propensity score matching

Formative trajectory for distance teaching

In view of the growing number of distance learning courses, it is important to understand whether universities or government entities are properly training teachers, especially those in higher education, to work in this new type of educational programs. The main objective of this work was to analyze the learning trajectory of the teachers that teach distance learning modalities. For this purpose, a quantitative and qualitative study was carried out, developed in 2018, using the case-study methodology. Accordingly, 113 teachers from the Academic Unit for Distance Education of the State University of Bahia, who were teaching for at least two years, were approached. The goal of the study was to (i) understand how the learning trajectory of the teachers that teach distance learning course happens, (ii) the difficulties encountered in the scope of their training and practice, as well as (iii) the teacher´s perceptions of Distance Education (DE). The online questionnaire, previously validated by experts, was developed with the limeSurvey tool, was available for 2 months and reminders were sent weekly. In addition, based on a review of the literature and on the previous analysis of the results of the questionnaire, a semi-structured interview was built and conducted to 8 teachers who complemented the information about the training course for teaching in DE. From the analysis of the results of this cohort, the authors concluded that the teachers training process at a distance occurred in the absence of public policies promoted by the State, relying solely on the public and private higher education institutions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How to increase customer loyalty in the newspaper industry in Portugal : the Global Media Group case

The Global Media Group (GMG) is one of the major media groups in Portugal, being the owner of several brands in the Press, Radio and Internet sectors, namely Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias and TSF, among others. In an industry that is now characterized by the increase in online formats as sources of information, in detriment of traditional media formats such as print newspapers, it is essential to understand how to still increase and maintain customer loyalty in this area. Therefore, this dissertation tackles concepts such as loyalty, perceived value and brand trust, and uses both primary and secondary research methods to answer the problem statement. Through a set of in-depth interviews with group management employees, a focus group among consumers, and a public survey, as well as information from the market and the company, this dissertation provides conclusions on what factors influence buying choice, perceived value and brand trust, how consumers can be characterized, and ultimately how to increase customer loyalty for the GMG and the industry in general. Moreover, the dissertation includes recommendations on specific initiatives the group can use to increase the mentioned variable. Finally, the dissertation includes a chapter with notes for using this dissertation for teaching purposes, with suggestions of questions to be made for students.O Global Media Group é um dos maiores grupos de media em Portugal, detendo marcas nos sectores de Imprensa, Rádio e Internet, nomeadamente o Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias e TSF, entre outras. Numa indústria onde o formato online se impõe cada vez mais como fonte de informação, em detrimento de formatos tradicionais como jornais impressos, é essencial perceber como continuar a aumentar e manter a fidelização dos consumidores nesta área. Como tal, esta dissertação aborda conceitos como lealdade do consumidor, valor percecionado e confiança na marca, e usa métodos de investigação tanto primários como secundários para responder ao problema apresentado. Através de entrevistas estruturadas a dirigentes do Grupo, um focus group a consumidores e um questionário público, bem como informação do mercado e da empresa, esta dissertação apresenta conclusões que ajudam a identificar que fatores influenciam a decisão de compra, o valor percecionado e a confiança na marca, como se podem caracterizar os consumidores, e como, em conclusão, se pode aumentar a lealdade dos consumidores do Global Media Group, e na indústria da imprensa como um todo. Para além disso, a presente dissertação inclui recomendações sobre iniciativas concretas que o grupo pode usar para aumentar a variável mencionada. Finalmente, o documento inclui um capítulo com notas de apoio a lecionar, com sugestões de perguntas que podem ser feitas a alunos

Entropic dynamics of networks

Here we present the entropic dynamics formalism for networks. That is, a framework for the dynamics of graphs meant to represent a network derived from the principle of maximum entropy and the rate of transition is obtained taking into account the natural information geometry of probability distributions. We apply this framework to the Gibbs distribution of random graphs obtained with constraints on the node connectivity. The information geometry for this graph ensemble is calculated and the dynamical process is obtained as a diffusion equation. We compare the steady state of this dynamics to degree distributions found on real-world networks

The impact of sizeof the firm and exchange rate in the export propensity of domestic and foreign owned firms in a developing country: A study of the Brazilian exporters

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsIntegrating the resource based view and theory behind exchange rates, this study analysis the export propensity of domestic and foreign owned Brazilian exporters. Panel data of 214 of the biggest Brazilian firms with years ranging from 2001 to 2010 is used with a fixed effects logistic regression. Results suggest that Size and Real Effective Exchange Rate affect the export propensity of firms differently, depending on the source of ownership of the firm. Size will have a high positive impact on the export propensity of foreign owned Brazilian firms, while the Real Effective Exchange Rate will have a low but positive impact on the export propensity of Brazilian owned firms

Winners and losers from a commodities-for-manufactures trade boom

A recent boom in commodities-for-manufactures trade between China and other developing countries has led to much concern about the losers from rising import competition in manufacturing, but little attention on the winners from growing Chinese demand for commodities. Using census data for Brazil, we find that local labour markets more affected by Chinese import competition experienced slower growth in manufacturing wages and in-migration rates between 2000 and 2010, and greater rises in local wage inequality. However, in locations benefiting from rising Chinese demand, we observe higher wage growth, lower takeup of cash transfers and positive effects on job quality

Reemployment and substitution effects from increased activation: Evidence from times of crisis

Although activation services such as monitoring, training, or job subsidies have been shown to increase exits from unemployment, there is little comprehensive evidence about the effects of activation during recessions. Here we evaluate a large activation programme introduced in Portugal in 2012, a time of very high unemployment. This programme required specific unemployment benefit recipients to meet jobcentre caseworkers and then participate in active labour market policies. Our analysis draws on rich longitudinal data, the programme’s focus on those unemployed for at least six months, and fuzzy regression discontinuity methods. We find that, despite the weak labour market, the programme is very successful as it doubles the monthly reemployment probability. The results are robust to a number of checks, including a falsification exercise based on pre-programme data and an analysis of non-employment and income effects. Moreover, in a novel IV approach using information on all unemployed, we find no evidence of substitution effects such as decreased transitions to employment amongst non-eligible individuals.N/

The Portuguese universal access program to direct-acting antivirals (Sovaldi® and Harvoni®) for the treatment of Hepatitis C : a financial analysis of the first 2 years

Nowadays, 350.000 people die annually due to the direct or indirect action of the Hepatitis C virus, responsible for many acute and chronic hepatitis worldwide and their further progression to more severe diseases like Hepatic Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Portugal is no exception as 150.000 people are estimated to be infected with related deaths up to 1.200 annually. Two years ago, after Gilead's development of two new drugs - Sovaldi® (Sofosbuvir) and Harvoni® (Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir) - with treatment success rates around 95%, the Portuguese government took the decision of granting universal access to this drugs to all patients infected with the HCV, regardless of the stage of progression of the disease. The objective of this thesis is therefore to perform an economic analysis of this measure, understanding the impact, costs and benefits for the patients and healthcare system, what conclusions are willing to be taken and how can it influence future deals. The collection of data from the Infarmed press releases as well as previous studies enabled the comparison of the economic profit for the government when treating patients with Sovaldi® / Harvoni® versus Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin. The results showed that the new therapy is cost-effective, increasing HCV infected patients’ life expectancy while avoiding many severe occurrences.Actualmente, 350.000 pessoas morrem anualmente devido à acção directa ou indirecta do vírus da Hepatite C. Portugal não é excepção, uma vez que se estima que 150.000 pessoas estejam infectadas e que ocorram anualmente 1.200 mortes relacionadas com este vírus. Há dois anos atrás, após o desenvolvimento por parte da Gilead de dois novos fármacos – Sovaldi® (Sofosbuvir) e Harvoni® (Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir) – com taxas de sucesso de tratamento à volta dos 95%, o governo português tomou a decisão de garantir o acesso universal destes fármacos a todos os pacientes infectados com o VHC, independentemente do estádio de progressão da doença. Esta tese pretende realizar uma análise económica desta medida, tentando calcular o impacto, os custos e os benefícios que pode trazer para os pacientes e para o Sistema Nacional de Saúde, tendo a noção que as conclusões obtidas poderão influenciar decisões futuras. Os dados recolhidos do Infarmed conjugados com o de estudos anteriores permitiram comparar os ganhos económicos para o Estado ao tratar pacientes com Sovaldi® / Harvoni® quando comparado com Interferão Peguilado e Ribavirina. No final, os resultados mostraram que a nova terapia é custo-efectiva, aumentando a esperança média de vida dos pacientes infectados com VHC e permitindo evitar um grande número de ocorrências graves

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection causes lethal diseases with neurological, visual, auditory and systemic injuries, including the hemophagocytic syndrome. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) can be caused by primary hereditary immunological defects, as well as several infectious triggering factors, such as viruses, bacteria and fungus, among them the cytomegalovirus (CMV). Here we present the case report of a male newborn male, delivered by cesarean at term (gestation age of 39 weeks), weighing 3,250 g, with suffusion skin lesions spread throughout the body, anemia, generalized edema, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia associated with grunts and difficulty breathing, treated with ganciclovir after receiving the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection. After a few days of hospitalization, the patient presented with high fever, persistent hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia, in addition to elevated ferritin and triglycerides, receiving the diagnosis of HLH treated with immunosuppressive therapy, corticosteroids and intravenous human immunoglobulin. The present case report highlights the importance for health professionals to carry out the investigation of congenital diseases, especially in developing countries, as well as their complications, such as HLH