Hysteresis in Unemployment: Evidence from Norwegian Counties

The paper tests hysteresis effects in unemployment using aggregate and panel data for Norway. While tests using aggregate or county— specific time series do not reject the null of unit root hysteresis, the panel tests firmly reject the null. When a one—time structural break is incorporated, the unit root hypothesis is rejected (or nearly so) in most counties. All results reveal a high degree of unemployment persistence, but the speed of adjustment is much higher when we allow for a change in mean.Hysteresis; panel unit root tests; structural break

Regional Wage Curves Empirical Evidence from Norway

The papers studies wage formation using panel data for a large sample of Norwegian municipalities covering the time period 1970— 1992. The main conclusions are the following. Regional manufacturing wages are negatively related to regional unemployment, but the effects of open as well as total regional unemployment are small. We find a numerically important wage dampening effect of labour market programs. However, we can not reject the null that only total unemployment matters. Finally, manufacturing profitability is important in shaping regional manufacturing wages and reduced regional payroll taxes are almost fully transmitted into reduced regional wage costs.Panel Data; Wage Curve; Labour Market Programs

Survey-based Indicators of Regional Labour Markets and Interregional Migration in Norway

A rich set of regional labour market variables is utilised to explain interregional migration in Norway. In particular, regional indicators of labour market pressure are computed from survey data in which respondents are asked to evaluate local job prospects in their resident municipality and the surroundings. Mean satisfaction with local job prospects reported by respondents in a region and related survey-based indicators have a positive and significant impact on net in-migration to the region, also when controlling for traditional measures of regional labour market conditions, such as regional unemployment and wage differentials. Our results suggest that surveys may provide useful information about regional labour markets.Interregional migration; regional labour markets; survey data

Wages and Subjective Assessments of Regional Labour Market Pressure

We utilise a rich set of regional labour market variables to explain regional variation in Norwegian manufacturing wages. In particular, regional indicators of labour market pressure are computed from survey data in which respondents are asked to evaluate local job prospects. We find that average reported satisfaction with local job prospects and other survey-based indicators perform better in regional wage equations than traditional labour market variables, including the regional unemployment rate. Our results suggest that surveys may provide useful information about regional labour markets.Regional wages; Labour market pressure; Survey data

Origin and Development of Seamanship Competence

Source at https://www.transnav.eu/Article_Origin_and_Development_of_Seamanship_Johansen,62,1229.html.Seafaring is one of the oldest documented human activities, with a rich heritage created by generations of seamen. The first boats were developed several thousand years ago, based on primitive principles, and they were probably not suitable for other than simple purposes. Analyzing the history of boat building shows a gradual change in designs. These design changes were most likely due to improvements, related to different aspects of experiences undergone; the changing activity purposes of the boats; and the continual resolution of a conflict between what is possible and what is desired. Nevertheless, design changes and different improvements were developed in a relationship between experiences gained by sailors and shipbuilders. Therefore, the development of seafaring was probably, both directly and indirectly, based on the experiences of sailors who had gained knowledge of the sea. The first written documentation to support the relationship between sailors and knowledge of the sea is in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, approximately 950 years before Christ. King Solomon of Israel formed an alliance with the Phoenician king of Tyre, Hiram 1, because he needed the Phoenicians’ ships and naval expertise. “And Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, sailors that have knowledge of the sea, along with the servants of Solomon” (1. King IX – 27). The phrase “sailors with knowledge of the sea” correlates with a partial core of seamanship science. The science of seamanship is a multi-dimensional expression, which concerns seamen’s complete competence in sailing and operating a ship. The purpose of this article is to discuss the origin and development of the ship-operating aspects of seamanship and shed light on aspects of the development and challenges regarding exercise of seamanship competence-related maritime education and training (MET)

Challenges regarding digital distance learning of operationally- oriented professions, due to Covid-19 pandemic

The focus on challenges related to digital distance learning has become particularly relevant since educational institutions had to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Teaching related to operationally oriented professions, such as e.g., aviation and nautical represent educations that have faced extensive challenges. Education portfolios for such professions contain subjects that require transfer of competence based on experiential-based learning leading to in-demand knowledge, skills, attitudes, and sustainable understanding. Such operativeoriented competence is difficult to acquire through exclusively digital distance learning. This paper highlights challenges related to the operationally oriented topics of maritime education and training (MET). Traditionally, operationally oriented learning associated to MET has been carried out based on “on-scene” transfer of experience i.e., inexperienced sailors have gained experience by being guided by experienced sailors. Modern MET has evolved towards more passive "off-scene" learning activities. As a replacement for reduced "on-scene" learning activities, modern simulator and laboratory-based learning platforms have been developed within maritime and other operationally oriented educations. Learning platforms like these are probably the most challenging to find digital distance teaching substitutes for, regarding the Covid-19 pandemic closure. The purpose of this paper is to show whether the rapid change of learning context due to the pandemic closure affected the instant knowledge displayed in exam grades. In addition, the paper addresses possible challenges related to the loss of experienceoriented simulator and laboratory-based teaching activities, due to the pandemic closure

Wage Formation, Regional Migration and Local Labour Market Tightness

Economic theory predicts that local labour market tightness affects local wage setting as well as individuals’ migration decisions. But how should we measure local labour market tightness? In this paper we show that the common practice of using the local rate of unemployment as the tightness indicator may be misplaced. Instead, we propose a human capital adjusted outflow rate from unemployment that can be computed on the basis of micro register data. This outflow rate performs better than traditional measures of regional labour market conditions in panel data analyses of regional wages and interregional migration.Regional wages; interregional migration; labour market tightness

Politics in Wage setting: Does government colour matter?

This paper studies the relationship between wage formation and the political colour of the government in an economy with centralized wage bargaining. Ideological, organizational and personal ties between the central trade union and the social democratic political party suggest that the trade union may behave significantly different in wage negotiations under a social democratic than under a conservative government. Using time series data for Norway, we estimate that changing from a conservative to a social democratic central government significantly reduces manufacturing wages and makes wages more responsive to unemployment. This result is consistent with a wage bargaining model augmented by political preferences of the union leaders and suggests that the effect of bargaining coordination depends on the political colour of the government. The estimated effects are both robust with respect to model specification and stable over time.Wages; political regime;time series analysis

SYMPTOMER OG SOCIALITET: Interview med Dorte Effersøe Gannik

Dorte Effersøe Gannik’s book Social Theory of Disease: A Situational Perspective is the revised version of her doctoral thesis in medical sociology. In the book, Gannik uses empirical research on backaches to construct a general sociological theory of disease. In this interview with Jansbøl and Johansen, Gannik primarily talks about the theoretical aspects of her work. Gannik’s theory of disease helps us reach a more precise understanding of connections between the two complex entities “disease” and “the social”. Gannik claims that disease is far more socially embedded than the health sector thus far has acknowledged, and she points out that factors outside of the health sector determine whether or not a person interprets some kind of physical discomfort as a symptom of disease severe enough to seek medical attention for. Even after a person has been transformed into a patient, many of his or her symptom-related actions are still more often determined by conditions in the home, at work, or among friends than it is by strictly medical matters. Gannik claims that the health sector hitherto has had an inadequate understanding of disease, because its spokespersons have defined it as a fundamentally biological entity which is largely unaffected by social conditions. In contrast, Gannik argues that disease can only be properly understood if one seriously takes into consideration the social lives of patients, inside the health sector, as well as outside it. &nbsp

In the green? Perceptions of hydrogen production methods among the Norwegian public

This article presents findings from a representative survey, fielded through the Norwegian Citizen Panel, examining public perceptions of hydrogen fuel and its different production methods. Although several countries, including Norway, have strategies to increase the production of hydrogen fuel, our results indicate that hydrogen as an energy carrier, and its different production methods, are still unknown to a large part of the public. A common misunderstanding seems to be confusing ‘hydrogen fuel’ in general with environmentally friendly ‘green hydrogen’. Results from a survey experiment (N = 1906) show that production method is important for public acceptance. On a five-point acceptance scale, respondents score on average 3.9 for ‘green’ hydrogen, which is produced from renewable energy sources. The level of acceptance is significantly lower for ‘blue’ (3.2) and ‘grey’ (2.3) hydrogen when respondents are informed that these are produced from coal, oil, or natural gas. Public support for hydrogen fuel in general, as well as the different production methods, is also related to their level of worry about climate change, gender, and political affiliation. Widespread misunderstandings regarding ‘green’ hydrogen production could potentially fuel public resistance as new ‘blue’ or ‘grey’ projects develop. Our results indicate a need for clearer communication from the government and developers regarding production methods to avoid distrust and potential public backfire.publishedVersio