Active labour-market policies in Germany: Do regional labour markets benefit?

Active labour-market policy (ALMP) not only affects the labour-market success of participants. Due to indirect effects, they might also affect the job perspectives of non-participants. Hence, even if ALMP programmes have a positive effect for the participants, this does not mean that ALMP improves the labour-market situation as a whole. Therefore, this paper deals with the question whether ALMP improves the matching-process between job-seekers and vacancies and thus increases the total number of outflows from unemployment into employment at the regional level. To answer this question, we use data for local employment offices of the German Federal Employment Agency for the time period 2006 to 2010 and focus on job-seekers subject to unemployment insurance. As microeconometric evaluation studies show, the search effectiveness of programme participants is low during participation due to the lock-in effect, but ideally increases at the end of the programme. In contrast to previous studies on aggregate effects of ALMP, we take this into account and explicitly differentiate current and former programme participants. The result from our augmented matching function shows that the lock-in effect is also present on the regional level. However, a higher search effectiveness after completion of the programme is not outweighed by potential indirect effects on non-participants. A higher share of former programme participants among the job-seekers in a region leads to an increase of the regional matches. This findings show that the application of ALMP improves the regional matching process. However, this effect varies largely between different types of programmes. Positive effects occur for long-term vocational training and wage subsidies as well as for in-firm training measures. Further, our results show that the effect of the different programme types depends to some extent on the regional labour-market situation.Aktive Arbeitsmarktpolitik (AAMP) beeinflusst nicht nur den Arbeitsmarkterfolg der Teilnehmer, sondern kann durch indirekte Effekte auch den Arbeitsmarkterfolg von Nichtteilnehmern beeinflussen. Auch wenn AAMP eine positive Wirkung auf die Teilnehmer hat, kann somit nicht geschlussfolgert werden, dass der Einsatz von AAMP mit einer allgemeinen Verbesserung der Arbeitsmarktsituation einhergeht. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich daher mit der Frage, ob es durch den Einsatz von AAMP gelingt, den Matching-Prozess zwischen Arbeitsuchenden und offenen Stellen zu verbessern und somit die Gesamtzahl der Übergänge aus Arbeitsuche in Beschäftigung zu erhöhen. Untersucht wird dies auf Ebene der Agenturen für Arbeit für den Zeitraum 2006 bis 2010 für Arbeitsuchende (Arbeitslose und Maßnahmeteilnehmer) im Rechtskreis Sozialgesetzbuch III (SGB III). Aus mikroökonomischen Evaluationsstudien ist bekannt, dass die Sucheffektivität der Teilnehmer während der Maßnahme aufgrund des Einbindungseffekts niedrig ist, gegen Ende der Maßnahme aber ansteigt. Im Gegensatz zu bisherigen Studien berücksichtigen wir dies in unseren Analysen und unterscheiden zwischen aktuellen und ehemaligen Maßnahmeteilnehmern. Wie unsere Ergebnisse auf Basis einer erweiterten Matching-Funktion zeigen, ist der Einbindungseffekt auch auf der regionalen Ebene zu beobachten. Eine höhere Sucheffektivität durch die Teilnahme an einer Maßnahme wird auf regionaler Ebene jedoch nicht (vollständig) durch mögliche indirekte Effekte auf die Nichtteilnehmer überlagert. Ein höherer Anteil von ehemaligen Maßnahmeteilnehmern unter den Arbeitsuchenden geht mit einem Anstieg der Übergänge aus Arbeitslosigkeit in Beschäftigung einher. Wie diese Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, verbessert der Einsatz von AAMP den regionalen Matching-Prozess. Dieser Effekt variiert deutlich zwischen verschiedenen Arten von Maßnahmen. Positive Effekte zeigen sich für den Anteil ehemaliger Teilnehmer im Fall des Eingliederungszuschusses und Maßnahmen zur Förderung der beruflichenWeiterbildung, die länger als sechs Monate dauern, sowie für Teilnehmer an betrieblichen Trainingsmaßnahmen. Weiterhin zeigen unsere Ergebnisse, dass der Effekt der verschiedenen Maßnahmen teils von der regionalen Arbeitsmarktsituation beeinflusst wird

Pilotierung der Weiterbildungsberatung durch die Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Implementationsstudie und quantitative Begleitforschung

Im vorliegenden Forschungsbericht bilanzieren das Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB) und das Institut für Sozialforschung und Gesellschaftspolitik (ISG) ihre Begleitforschung zur Pilotierung der Weiterbildungsberatung (WBB) durch die Bundesagentur für Arbeit (BA). Inhalte des Forschungsberichts sind die unveränderten Endberichte beider Institute, wie sie im Sommer 2016 der BA übergeben wurden. Mithin umfasst der vorliegende Forschungsbericht zwei eigenständige, redaktionell voneinander unabhängige Teile, die auf zwei separat durchgeführten Forschungsprojekten basieren, aber letztlich denselben Gegenstand untersuchen, die Weiterbildungsberatung.In this Research Report the authors expose results of the evaluation of the pilot project "Weiterbildungsberatung" (counseling on further education and training) of the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit, BA) by the Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB) and the Institut für Sozialforschung und Gesellschaftspolitik (ISG). The two parts of this Research Report t are the final reports delivered to the BA in the summer of 2016 based on the two distinct research projects of IAB and ISG on the implementation of counseling on further education and training in the BA

Job satisfaction and stressors for working in out-of-hours care – a pilot study with general practitioners in a rural area of Germany

Background: Challenging work environment, high workload, and increasing physician shortages characterize current rural general practice in Germany and in most European Countries. These factors extend into Out-Of-Hours Care (OOHC). However, little research about potential stressors for general practitioners (GPs) in OOHC settings is available. This pilot study aimed to evaluate workload, different elements of job satisfaction and stressors for GPs in OOHC and to analyze whether these aspects are associated with overall job satisfaction. Methods: Cross-sectional survey with a sample of 320 GPs who are working in OOHC was used to measure workload in OOHC, job satisfaction (using the Warr-Cook-Wall scale) and stressors with the effort-reward imbalance questionnaire. In order to assess associations between workload, job satisfaction and stressors at work we performed descriptive analyses as well as multivariable regression analyses. Results: The response rate was 40.9%. Over 80% agreed that OOHC was perceived as a stressor and 79% agreed that less OOHC improved job satisfaction. Only 42% of our sample were satisfied with their overall job satisfaction. The regression analysis showed that the modification of current OOHC organization was significantly associated with overall job satisfaction. Conclusions: Our results suggest that OOHC in the current form is a relevant stressor in daily work of rural GPs in Germany and one of the reasons for a decreasing overall job satisfaction. Strategic changes such as the implementation of structural reforms e.g. reducing frequency of OOHC duties for each GP and improving continuing professional development options related to OOHC are needed to address current workload challenges experienced by GPs providing OOHC in Germany

Liquid assisted plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition with a non-thermal plasma jet at atmospheric pressure

The present study introduces a process for the synthesis of functional films onto substrates directly from the liquid phase. The reported method is based on the initialization of the synthesis by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet operating with argon above a thin liquid film of the starting material. The process is demonstrated by the formation of a thin, solid SiOx film from siloxane-based liquid precursors. Changes in the chemical properties of the precursor were studied in-situ during the polymerization process on the diamond crystal by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy The elemental composition of the SiOxCy films was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, XPS was applied to study the effect of post-annealing processes on the composition of the films. The obtained deposits exhibit a low concentration of carbon groups. The amount of hydroxyl groups and interstitial water can be reduced significantly by post-process annealing of the films

Liquid assisted plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition with a non-thermal plasma jet at atmospheric pressure

The present study introduces a process for the synthesis of functional films onto substrates directly from the liquid phase. The reported method is based on the initialization of the synthesis by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet operating with argon above a thin liquid film of the starting material. The process is demonstrated by the formation of a thin, solid SiOx film from siloxane-based liquid precursors. Changes in the chemical properties of the precursor were studied in-situ during the polymerization process on the diamond crystal by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy The elemental composition of the SiOxCy films was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, XPS was applied to study the effect of post-annealing processes on the composition of the films. The obtained deposits exhibit a low concentration of carbon groups. The amount of hydroxyl groups and interstitial water can be reduced significantly by post-process annealing of the films

The association between use of electronic media and prevalence of headache in adolescents: results from a population-based cross-sectional study

Background: Use of electronic media, i.e. mobile phones, computers, television, game consoles or listening to music, is very common, especially amongst adolescents. There is currently a debate about whether frequent use of these media might have adverse effects on health, especially on headaches, which are among the most-reported health complaints in adolescents. The aim of the present study was to assess associations between frequent use of electronic media and the prevalence of different types of headache in adolescents. Methods: Data were derived from a population-based sample (n = 1,025, ages 13-17 years). Type of headache (i.e. migraine, tension-type headache, unclassifiable headache) was ascertained by standardized questionnaires for subjects reporting headache episodes at least once per month during the last six months. Duration of electronic media use was assessed during personal interviews. Associations were estimated with logistic regression models adjusted for age group, sex, family condition and socio-economic status. Results: Most of the adolescents used computers (85%), watched television (90%) or listened to music (90%) daily, otherwise only 23% of the participants used their mobile phones and only 25% played with game consoles on a daily basis. A statistically significant association between listening to music and any headache (odds ratio 1.8; 95% confidence interval 1.1-3.1 for 30 minutes per day, 2.1; 1.2-3.7 for 1 to 2 hours per day; 2.0; 1.2-3.5 for 3 hours and longer listening to music per day) was observed. When stratifying for type of headache, no statistically significant association was seen. Conclusions: Apart from an association between listening to music on a daily basis and overall headache, no consistent associations between the use of electronic media and different types of headache were observed

Life on the edge: hydrogen sulfide and the fish communities of a Mexican cave and surrounding waters

Most eucaryotic organisms classified as living in an extreme habitat are invertebrates. Here we report of a fish living in a Mexican cave (Cueva del Azufre) that is rich in highly toxic H2S. We compared the water chemistry and fish communities of the cave and several nearby surface streams. Our study revealed high concentrations of H2S in the cave and its outflow (El Azufre). The concentrations of H2S reach more than 300μM inside the cave, which are acutely toxic for most fishes. In both sulfidic habitats, the diversity of fishes was heavily reduced, and Poecilia mexicana was the dominant species indicating that the presence of H2S has an all-or-none effect, permitting only few species to survive in sulfidic habitats. Compared to habitats without H2S, P. mexicana from the cave and the outflow have a significantly lower body condition. Although there are microhabitats with varying concentrations of H2S within the cave, we could not find a higher fish density in areas with lower concentrations of H2S. We discuss that P. mexicana is one of the few extremophile vertebrates. Our study supports the idea that extreme habitats lead to an impoverished species diversit

Evaluating grazing response strategies in winter annuals : A multi-trait approach

Plants minimize fitness losses through grazing by three fundamental strategies: tolerance, avoidance and escape. Annual species have been traditionally assumed to escape grazing through their short life cycle and seed dormancy; however, their grazing response strategies remain almost unexplored. How traits and their coordination affect species' grazing responses, and whether the generalized grazing model, which posits convergent filtering by grazing and drought, is applicable to this ecologically and economically important species group thus remain unclear. We used a trait-based approach to evaluate grazing response strategies of winter annuals from the Middle East. Across 23 species, we examined the coordination of 16 traits hypothesized to be relevant for grazing responses, and linked them to species' fecundity responses, as proxy for fitness responses, to simulated grazing in controlled conditions, to species' abundance responses to grazing in the field and to species' distribution along a large-scale rainfall gradient. Winter annuals exhibited both grazing escape and to a lesser extent tolerance indicated by (a) independent coordination of escape and tolerance traits, and (b) maintenance of higher fecundity in species with more pronounced escape or tolerance traits under simulated grazing. In the natural habitat, species with a more pronounced escape but not tolerance strategy maintained higher abundance under grazing in dry habitats, indicating convergent favouring of escape by both grazing and drought. However, this finding at the local scale was not mirrored by a strategy shift along a large-scale rainfall gradient. Synthesis. The convergent favouring of escape traits by grazing and drought in annuals is consistent with the generalized grazing model. This model, which has been developed for perennials based on the avoidance strategy, can thus be extended to annuals based on escape, a finding that should facilitate projecting consequences of global change in drylands dominated by annuals. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Societ