Using data envelopment analysis to screen the possibility of a fair globalization

The International Labor Office, an arm of the UN based in Geneva, has as its goal to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Since 1999, the ILO has conducted a series of studies of the effects of globalization.In 2004, the organization posed the challenge of tempering the perceived effects of globalization, aiming for A Fair Globalization. Fair rules on trade and finance need to be put in place benefiting men and women in rich and poor countries alike. Using standard economic terms, A Fair Globalization may be seen as the output of a generalized input-output function, dependent upon variables of both economic performance and economic and social policy. Using data envelopment analysis, we fit a piece-wise linear frontier to observations for 72 countries from all continents. Inefficient countries reveal conditions of lacking fairness

Entrepreneurial Developments and Challenges in the Sud Muntenia Region of Romania

Entrepreneurship is crucial for the economic development of a region. Using entropy, cluster and shift-share analysis techniques, the authors present a detailed picture of the entrepreneurial milieu of the Sud Muntenia region of Romania, pointing both towards the presence of an overall development process, and also to inter-county and intra-county sectoral imbalances, evolutionary discrepancies and lack of adequate use of territorial resources. Policy recommendations are proposed to address the future challenges for the balanced development of the Sud Muntenia region of Romania. Keywords: entrepreneurship, territorial development, regional business demography, sectoral structure, regional policy JEL Classification: O18, R11, R12, R30

Developing an African Offshoring Industry—The Case of Nigeria

The purpose of this note1 is to raise awareness of Nigeria’s potential as an African offshoring hub, and it is aimed primarily toward policy makers, potential private sector investors, and development partners. What can Nigeria do to take advantage of the benefits of global trade in services; how can the country brand itself as an offshoring destination for international investors; and what government policies are required to ensure that Nigeria plays a role in the growing ICT offshoring sector?development, Africa, Offshoring, Industry Nigeria, trade in services, investment, ICT, government policies, IT, communications

Ergonomics in building construction

Protecting the safety and health of construction workers is challenging due to diversity and dynamic features of construction industry. Construction industry in recent years has shown interest in Ergonomics science. Some construction activities may lead to Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) due to lack of knowledge about Ergonomic Risk Factors (ERFs), illnesses and injuries related to construction activities. This research was aimed at studying Ergonomic Risk Factors (ERFs) in building construction sites so as to recommend suggestions which mitigate the current scenario of Ergonomic injuries. To achieve the aim of this research Ergonomic Risk Factors (ERFs) were studied. Data collected through questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS software, Ms excel, Mean value index and Risk assessment process. The reliability of data was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha (a); Mean value index and Risk assessment process were used to determine the risk level of ERFs; Relative Importance Index (RII) method was used in order to rank factors affecting Ergonomics injuries in order of importance. The results indicated that the most critical ERFs were extreme hot temperature, leaning forward/side, twisting the back, organizational factors (i.e. management style, policies, participation in decision making) and personality characteristics (i.e. stubbornness, inconsiderateness, ignorance). According to the results the most important factors by which Ergonomics injuries are affected, were training, management and organization communication, Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) and work practices. Based on the analysis and findings, suggestions were recommended to enhance the workers’ safety and health in construction sites. Finally the application of Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) in construction Ergonomics domain was investigated as a part of this research according to findings and analysis

Estimating The Cyclically Adjusted Budget Balance For The Romanian Economy. A Robust Approach

This paper provides estimates for the structural fiscal balance for the Romanian economy over the period 1998-2008. The calculation of the structural fiscal balance is useful, since it provides a clear picture of the fiscal stance of the economy and it is essential in the context of a medium term fiscal framework. In order to ensure the robustness of the estimation, we employed two methodologies for the computation of the elasticities of various categories of government revenues and expenditures with respect to the output gap. The two approaches issued similar results, the overall average budget sensitivity being equal to 0.285 and 0.290, respectively. The amplitude of the cyclical budget balance is around 1% of GDP. After constant improvement, the structural balance worsened in 2008, due mainly to the current crisis.fiscal policy, structural fiscal balance, cyclical budget balance, business cycle, tax elasticity

Estimating Potential GDP for the Romanian Economy. An Eclectic Approach

The paper provides potential output and output gap estimates for the Romanian economy in the period 1998-2008. Our approach consists in combining the production function structural method with several statistical de-trending methods. The contribution of our analysis to the scarce literature dealing with the estimation of the cyclical position of the Romanian economy is twofold. First, we identify the contribution of the production factors to the potential output growth. Second, we aggregate the results obtained through filtering techniques in a consensus estimate, ascribing to each method a weight inversely related to its revision stability. The results suggest for the period 2001-2008 an average annual growth rate of the potential output equal to 5.8%, but on a descending slope, due to the adverse developments in the macroeconomic context.potential GDP, output gap, NAIRU, business cycle

The contextual database of the Generations and Gender Program: overview, conceptual framework and the link to the Generations and Gender Survey

This paper follows two aims. First it intends to give an overview of the contextual database of the Generations and Gender Program and how it is linked to the Generations and Gender Survey. Secondly, it provides a documentation of the approaches taken towards the conceptual definition and construction of the database. The document consists of two parts. The first gives a brief description of the underlying ideas of the database and the approach taken in order to develop its conceptual framework and construct the database. The second part is a note on the link between the Generations and Gender Survey and the contextual database. Starting from the GGS questionnaire, the main interfaces between micro data and contextual domains are investigated.data collection

Educational attainments in developing countries : new estimates and projections disaggregated by gender

The authors present new estimates of educational attainment in 71 developing countries for the years 1985, 1990 and 1995. They also project levels of educational attainment through the year 2020 by using the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's projections of enrollment and the International Labor Organization's projections of population by age and sex. The projections suggest interesting trends: 1) growth of stock in human capital is expected to be highest in the Middle East and North Africa and lowest in sub-Saharan Africa; 2) South Asia -- currently the least educated part of the world is expected to substantially augment its stock of human capital by the year 2020; 3) in most regions, enrollment levels are expected to remain lower for girls than boys; and 4) the gender gap in education may have risen in the past decade, this trend toward a widening of the gender gap may continue unless countries intensify their efforts to educate girls.Teaching and Learning,Earth Sciences&GIS,Scientific Research&Science Parks,Economic Theory&Research,Demographics,Earth Sciences&GIS,Teaching and Learning,Science Education,Scientific Research&Science Parks,Demographics

Re-Industrialization of Europe: Industry4.0 and the Future of Work

The term “Industry 4.0” was first introduced in Germany in 2011. It refers to digitising industrial production. The concept outlines the vision of a smart factory, which is characterised by the complete networking of all production processes: real time control via ITC and the increased use of robots, which control themselves, are developments that should contribute to greater productivity and efficiency. The concept of Industry 4.0 is a base of re-industrialization of Europe. Industry 4.0 is shaping the digital discourse in the Czech Republic as well. The first step was the release of the National Initiative: Industry 4.0 by the Czech Ministry of Trade and Industry in 2015. We are now at the beginning of a fundamental debate that is still presenting more questions than offering answers. The aim of this paper is to discuss the issue: re-industrialization and its consequences for the world of work. If widespread predictions are correct, the digitisation of production can mean the extinction for millions of jobs. Innovations may seem grandiose, but they can also be destructive, rendering entire professions obsolete