Wage Inequality in Europe: the Role of Labour Market and Redistributive Institutions

This paper aims at a deeper understanding of the determinants of wage inequality, the most important component of income inequality, in the European countries. We investigate on how wage inequality is affected by government regulation in the labour market and by the redistribution operated by the social protection system, also controlling for the impact of the effect of skillpremium related to technical change. To explain the continuously rising wage inequality in Europe, two regression models of wage inequality are employed each one using a different databases. In the last period, the overall degree of governance of the labour markets does not substantially change, but a different balance between decreasing labour market regulation and increasing redistribution manifest across Europe. While job and wage protection has been eased, income redistribution was strengthened, though its size differs across four clusters of European countries, depending on the majority voting preference for “risk insurance”. Overall, institutional substitution between labour market regulation and income redistribution seems to back the upward trend in wage inequality

Do Preferences in EU Member-States Support Fiscal Federalism?

The aim of this paper is to assess preferences with respect to fiscal federalism in EU member-states. In particular, we address the question of whether each EU country would - if the decision were taken by 'majority voting' - or should – if the decision were takenby a social planner – favour centralisation or decentralisation of mutual risk insurance. Our analysis implicitly assumes that each EU median voter or each EU social planner takes the composition of the fiscal federation as given, leaving aside the issue of how manyand which countries take part in the optimal EU fiscal federation. With majority voting, the median voter 'individual' and the median voter 'region' in each EU country are decisive. In this situation, the national (federal) government level for redistribution is preferredif the national ratio between median income and mean income is lower (higher) than the EU ratio. In contrast, were the decision taken by the social planner, the choice in favour of centralisation(decentralisation) would be derived from the maximisation of a social welfare function. In terms of European regions, the index of 'jurisdictional distance' indicates that social welfare ismaximised by (de)centralised redistribution whenever intra -national income dispersion is greater (smaller) than inter-national income dispersion. The results show that, for the large majority ofEU member-states, when one of the two decision-makers prefers centralisation (decentralisation), the other has the opposite preference; moreover, the chosen government level is in most cases thesame for interpersonal redistribution and inter-jurisdictional redistribution: what is good for the individual is also good for the nation.Income Distribution ; Public Choice ; Fiscal Federalism ; European Economics

A very prolonged asystolic vasovagal syncope is suspended but not aborted by counterpressure manoeuvre

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Influence of Comfort Expectations on Building Energy Need

Increase thermal comfort is considered as one of the main benefits of a deep renovation right after energy saving. However, an increase in thermal comfort could be seen as a behavioural change caused by the energy efficiency improvement that reduces expected energy saving: the so-called rebound effect. This paper shows how building energy need is correlated to comfort category, defined in EN 15251. The study is conducted via dynamic simulations performed by TRNSYS 17 software using 3D multi-zone models. Models are tailored on occupant behaviour and driven by thermal comfort constraints. Calculations of energy need for space heating and space cooling is done both before and after a deep renovation. The effect of building and user characteristics is evaluated too. Users are differentiated by number of persons and occupancy schedule. The relation between thermal comfort, set-point temperature and energy need is investigated, focusing attention on changes that occur after the building has been thermally insulated. Computational results are critically discussed and compared with an empirical study on building renovation that includes a survey on thermal comfort perception and user behaviour. Finally, rebound effect is discussed and its magnitude is evaluated

Multiple abdominal abscesses complicated by severe sepsis as a result of occult Crohn's disease

Intra-abdominal infections represent an important cause of mortality in worldwide population and often require both rapid diagnostic work-up and swift therapeutic decisions. In this paper a relatively frequent pathologic condition in industrialized countries is described as a potential cause of multiple abdominal abscesses with severe sepsis. In the subsequent review of the literature, first-line diagnostic examinations and therapeutic options, both medical and surgical, are discussed according to the most recent guidelines and recommendations

Innovation and wage polarisation in European industries

By linking different innovation indicators and education to the polarisation of wages by skill level within industries, the paper aims to find out the importance of sectoral structure: industry analysis analysis of levels of polarisation (not change) so to test the relevance of technology and educational factors in polarisation of wage

Population Dynamics of Native Parasitoids Associated with the Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus)

Native parasitoids may play an important role in biological control. They may either support or hinder the effectiveness of introduced nonnative parasitoids released for pest control purposes. Results of a three-year survey (2011–2013) of the Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW) Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) populations and on parasitism rates by native indigenous parasitoids (a complex of chalcidoid hymenopterans) in Italian chestnut forests are given. Changes in D. kuriphilus gall size and phenology were observed through the three years of study. A total of 13 species of native parasitoids were recorded, accounting for fluctuating parasitism rates. This variability in parasitism rates over the three years was mainly due to the effect of Torymus flavipes (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), which in 2011 accounted for 75% of all parasitoid specimens yet decreased drastically in the following years. This strong fluctuation may be related to climatic conditions. Besides, our data verified that parasitoids do not choose host galls based on their size, though when they do parasitize smaller ones, they exploit them better. Consequently, ACGWs have higher chances of surviving parasitism if they are inside larger galls

Isometric arm counter-pressure maneuvers to abort impending vasovagal syncope

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