Non-linear Unemployment Effects in Sickness Absence: Discipline or Composition Effects?

By applying Smooth Transition Regressions (Teräsvirta, 1998) we test whether effects on short (STA) and long term (LTA) sickness absence depend on the level of unemployment. The main question is to what extent unemployment affects sickness absence through so-called discipline and/or composition effects. The empirical analysis is carried out on time series data referring to blue collar workers in Norway. For LTA we conclude that only discipline effects are present. Concerning STA, none of these effects seems present among women, whereas both effects may be present among men. Non-linear effects of wage and sick pay scheme changes support these conclusions.sickness absence; unemployment; non-linear modelling

Absence and Overtime Work:Empirical Evidence from Norway

This paper presents both theoretical and empirical analyses of the relationship between overtime work and absence. Demand for absence is analysed under the assumption that workers in a given firm can be represented by one of two types of workers, denoted overemployed and underemployed. Increased demand for overtime hours has a nonpositive effect on absence. If actual overtime pay is higher than the reservation wage, a higher demand for overtime hours will reduce absence. Otherwise absence is unaffected. On the other hand, demand for overtime increases if absence increases. The empirical analysis is carried out on quarterly panel data from 263 firms, covering the time period 1990-96. The empirical results confirm the theoretical predictions except from the effect of overtime hours on absence, where positive elasticities are estimated.Absenteeism;overtime work

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Absence and Overtime Work: Empirical Evidence from Norway

This paper presents both theoretical and empirical analyses of the relationship between overtime work and absence. Demand for absence is analysed under the assumption that workers in a given firm can be represented by one of two types of workers, denoted overemployed and underemployed. Increased demand for overtime hours has a nonpositive effect on absence. If actual overtime pay is higher than the reservation wage, a higher demand for overtime hours will reduce absence. Otherwise absence is unaffected. On the other hand, demand for overtime increases if absence increases. The empirical analysis is carried out on quarterly panel data from 263 firms, covering the time period 1990-96. The empirical results confirm the theoretical predictions except from the effect of overtime hours on absence, where positive elasticities are estimated

Non-linear Unemployment Effects in Sickness Absence : Discipline or Composition Effects?

By applying Smooth Transition Regressions (Teräsvirta, 1998) we test whether effects on short (STA) and long term (LTA) sickness absence depend on the level of unemployment. The main question is to what extent unemployment affects sickness absence through so-called discipline and/or composition effects. The empirical analysis is carried out on time series data referring to blue collar workers in Norway. For LTA we conclude that only discipline effects are present. Concerning STA, none of these e¤ects seems present among women, whereas both effects may be present among men. Non-linear effects of wage and sick pay scheme changes support these conclusions

Booming Sector and Wage Effects: An Empirical Analysis on Norwegian Data.

Within the framework of a segmented labor model and under the assumption of market clearing wages in all submarkets, this paper analyzes demand and cost-of-living effects which a booming sector may create. The tests are based on data before and after the most intensive building-up period of the Norwegian petroleum sector. The empirical results indicate significant demand effects for the most petroleum relevant occupations and also positive cost-of-living effects in areas which are regionally close to this sector. Overall there is evidence that the Norwegian petroleum sector has caused weak manufacturing performance. Copyright 1997 by Royal Economic Society.

Academic work engagement, resources and productivity: empirical evidence with policy implications

This paper analyzes the impact of job resources on academic productivity measured by publication and credit points in 53 departments in one large Norwegian university. The theoretical framework is the so-called conservation of resources theory. The resources data came from the so-called ARK Intervention Program. The results showed that engagement and administrative and technical support for research and teaching stimulated research publications but had adverse effects on credit points from teaching, thus also contributing to the research-teaching nexus debate. To avoid adverse trade-offs between research and teaching, and to gain further positive effects on research productivity, targeted means and reward structures seem important

Does economic growth eat up environmental improvements? Electricity production and fossil fuel emission in OECD countries 1980-2014

We analyze to what extent electricity production by non-fossil fuel replaces fossil fueled electricity production in 27 OECD-countries 1980–2014. Depending on model specification, the long run replacement coefficient is in the range of minus 0.4–1.0, which is considerably larger than found in other studies. This means that an increase in non-fossil fuel based electricity production by 10 kWh/capita replaces fossil fuel based production in the range 4–10 kWh/capita. Over all the estimated replacement is not sufficient to prevent economic growth from increasing fossil based electricity production, thus eating up environmental improvements. However, we identify two important exceptions to this. First, countries with a ‘low’ level of fossil based production have an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) relationship when we allow for separate effects of the economic downturn after the Great Recession 2008–2009. Second, results for the EU countries indicate that the EU Emission Trading System, and possibly EU country specific policy instruments, have influenced the mix of electricity production in the intended direction

Sykefravær. Kunnskapsstatus og problemstillinger

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