Inter-Regional Wage Differentials in Portugal: An Analysis Across the Wage Distribution

Typically, studies on regional wage differentials are based on ordinary least squares (OLS) estimates. Quantile regression is an alternative approach which allows these differences to be studied across the whole wage distribution. In this study, the quantile regression framework is considered for the analysis of regional wage differences in Portugal. The findings reveal significant differences in wage equations coefficients between regions for the various quantiles. Furthermore, it is concluded that the regional wage differentials and the components explained by differences in endowments and differences in returns increase across the whole wage distribution

FDI in the European Union and Mena Countries: Institutional and Economic Determinants

FDI flows to the Middle East and North Africa countries (MENA) have been relatively low when compared to the neighbouring European Union (EU) and to other developing and emerging countries. Furthermore, empirical research on FDI in these countries is relatively scarce. In this paper we use panel data regressions and consider a period of 9 years (since mid nineties) to investigate possible differences in the determinants of FDI performance in these regions. In particular, we use a panel of 42 countries which include 17 MENA countries and 25 European countries. Unlike previous studies, we consider the inward FDI performance index, as provided by UNCTAD, as dependent variable and include both institutional and macroeconomic variables as possible determinants of FDI. The aim is to investigate whether there are region-specific factors that are significant for FDI performance. We conclude that there are some significant differences on the institutional determinants of FDI performance, namely in what concerns Investment Freedom, Government Size and Trade Freedom.Foreign Direct Investment; Determinants; Institutions; Middle East North Africa countries (MENA); European Union (EU); Panel Data.

Analysing the Employability of Business and Administration Study Programs in Portugal

This paper presents an analysis on the higher education graduates' employability in the field of Business and Administration in Portugal. Using econometric techniques, we consider the impact of several variables in the unemployment "propensity" of the pair study program/institution. The results show that there are important differences between public and private institutions, between study programs of great and small size, between the several fields of graduation within Business and Administration as well as regional differences.Graduates;Business and Administration Science; Employability; Higher Education; Fractional Models.

InterRegional Wage Differentials in Portugal: An Analysis Across the Wage Distribution

TTypically, studies on regional wage differentials are based on OLS estimates and use Blinder (1973) and Oaxaca (1973) decomposition. Quantile regression is an alternative approach which allows for studying these differences across the whole wage distribution. In this study, the quantile regression framework is considered for the analysis of regional wage differences in Portugal. Our findings reveal significant differences in wage equations coefficients between regions for the various quantiles. Furthermore, we conclude that the regional wage differentials and the components explained by differences in endowments and differences in returns increase across the whole wage distribution.Regions; Wage differentials; Quantile regression; Quantile-based decompositions.

Regional Wage Differentials: Static And Dynamic Approaches

This work aims at studying regional wage differentials both in a static and in a dynamic perspective. Previous studies have typically studied this issue using the Blinder and Oaxaca static decomposition. This approach does not provide clear information about the sources explaining the change in regional wage differentials along the years. To overcome this problem this study also uses Junh, Murphy and Pierce (1991,1993) decomposition. We analyse the case of Portugal for 1995 and 2002. Our results show that, although there are small changes in the interregional wage inequality, particularly between the region of Lisboa and the other regions, there are important and counteracting factors shaping this outcome. In fact, Lisboa has reinforced its position as the region with more qualified workers, but the gap in unobserved characteristics has decreased.Regions, Wage Differentials, Wage Gap Decompositions

Understanding the transition to work for first degree university graduates in Portugal

A traditional way of looking at the importance of universities assumes that these are sources of positive effects from the viewpoint of the inputs. In accordance to this perspective, the importance of a university can be measured by its regional/national multiplier effects. This perspective can be complemented with the analysis of the issues associated with the transition to work by their graduates. The paper thus analyses the factors that may be important to explain the time to obtain the first job by first degree students, using a sample of students from one university in Portugal. In doing so, we estimate several specifications of discrete-time duration models. The results show that there are significant differences among the students from the several courses and highlight the importance of the final mark in the course. Nevertheless, in particular, we conclude that there are no significant differences between the area of Economics and Management and the area of Engineering and that these study areas are the most successful ones. We also did not find any significant differences between male and female students. Finally, we also conclude that there are significant differences on the probability of leaving unemployment among the several years considered in the sample, which reflects the business cycle.

The CEECs as FDI attractors: are they a menace to the EU periphery?

The change of economic, social and political orientation in Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), together with their expressed intention of joining the European Union (EU) in a foreseeable future, have raised a number of challenging questions. One object of interest has been the implications of Eastern openness in terms of international capital reallocation. This paper concentrates on the issue of foreign direct investment (FDI), which is considered a major channel of economic integration. In fact, in the particular case of these countries, a dramatic change in the pattern of FDI inflows took place in recent years. A number of studies have surveyed the determinants of FDI to this region but the issue still remains relatively unexplored from the empirical point of view. Using a random effects panel data model in the analysis, we try to empirically uncover the main determinants of FDI and to examine the probability of FDI diversion from the EU periphery to these transition economies. This issue is especially interesting for the EU periphery in general, and for cheap labour suppliers such as Portugal in particular, since there are reasons to believe that ‘the east may be getting what would otherwise come south’

An Analysis of Actual and Potential Trade between the EU Countries and the Eastern European Countries

The Eastern Enlargement represents an opportunity for trade growth for all the European Union (EU) countries. In fact, trade between the EU and the Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) has increased considerably in the nineties. However, both benefits and losses from trade expansion do not equally affect all countries and regions inside the EU. This paper focus on the analysis of the potential bilateral trade flows between the EU and the CEEC and in special between the CEEC and the Southern European countries. The analysis is based on the gravity model approach using panel data from 1993 to 1999. It is possible to conclude that there is still scope for further expansion of the trade flows between some CEEC and some of the EU countries, in particular of some Southern countries

Understanding the transition to work for first degree university graduates in Portugal

A traditional way of looking at the importance of universities assumes that these are sources of positive effects from the viewpoint of the inputs. In accordance to this perspective, the importance of a university can be measured by its regional/national multiplier effects. This perspective can be complemented with the analysis of the issues associated with the transition to work by their graduates. The paper thus analyses the factors that may be important to explain the time to obtain the first job by first degree students, using a sample of students from one university in Portugal. In doing so, we estimate several specifications of discrete-time duration models. The results show that there are significant differences among the students from the several courses and highlight the importance of the final mark in the course. Nevertheless, in particular, we conclude that there are no significant differences between the area of Economics and Management and the area of Engineering and that these study areas are the most successful ones. We also did not find any significant differences between male and female students. Finally, we also conclude that there are significant differences on the probability of leaving unemployment among the several years considered in the sample, which reflects the business cycle

Uma Análise do Tempo de Procura de Emprego dos Recém-Licenciados pela Universidade de Évora

Na avaliação da qualidade ou desempenho das universidades, as questões associadas com o sucesso na procura de emprego por parte dos seus diplomados têm vindo a ganhar importância dada a evolução na configuração jurídica das universidades. Para além disso, nos últimos anos, tem sido cada vez mais difícil para os licenciados encontrar o seu primeiro emprego, na sequência do agravamento das condições do mercado de trabalho em geral. Este trabalho analisa os fatores que se revelam explicativos do tempo de procura de emprego pelos recém-licenciados da Universidade de Évora. Para tal usamos uma amostra de 767 estudantes e estimam-se várias especificações de modelos de duração a tempo discreto. Os resultados mostram que existem diferenças significativas entre os estudantes dos diversos cursos, salientando-se os cursos de Economia, Engenharia e de Gestão, e destacam a importância da nota final do curso. Por outro lado, não se encontram diferenças significativas entre estudantes do sexo feminino e masculino e os diplomados mais jovens parecerem estar numa situação de desvantagem em relação aos mais diplomados mais velhos