Do homeowners stay unemployed longer ? A French micro-econometric study

The objective of this paper is to provide microeconomic evidence for the so called “Oswald's hypothesis”, which is whether homeownership results in negative outcomes in the labour market. In a first step, a multinomial logit model for the choice of tenure status is estimated. Estimated probabilities of being either homeowner, renter or housed free of charge are then used to explain the length of an individual unemployment spell. This flexible method of estimation accounts for both censoring and selection bias, without constraining the shape of the hazard rate of leaving unemployment. Results from a 3,965 individuals French data set suggest that homeownership has a positive effect on unemployment duration.duration model; job search; mobility; residential status; selectivity bias

Interplay between density and superconducting quantum critical fluctuations

We consider the case of a density-driven metal-superconductor transition in the proximity of an electronic phase separation. In particular we investigate the interplay between superconducting fluctuations and density fluctuations, which become quantum critical when the electronic phase separation vanishes at zero temperature into a quantum critical point. In this situation the critical dynamical density fluctuations strongly affect the dynamics of the Cooper pair fluctuations, which acquire a more singular character with a z=3 dynamical critical index. This gives rise to a scenario that possibly rules the disappearance of superconductivity when the electron density is reduced by elecrostatic gating at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Do spatial constraints affect the job search efficiency?

Theoretical and empirical works on job search often neglect the role of unemployed environment like spatial constraints meets while searching for a job. This paper proposes a job search model where both the spatial search area and the reservation wage are assumed to be endogenous. We exploit data from a French survey conducted by Research Direction of Employment Ministry (DARES) to estimate the structural parameters of the model. First we estimate the choice of the search area, i.e. the choice between passive (receiving job offers through the local public employment agencies) and active strategies (extending the job search area using others search channels). Using a bivariate probit model, we highlight that this choice depends significantly on individual attributes and spatial constraints and that it affects job quality. Besides, the independence of irrelevant alternatives is not rejected. Secondly, using Gamma duration model we treat both individual and unobservable heterogeneity and the multiple destinations after unemployment (long-term jobs, short-term jobs and subsidised jobs). Moreover, estimations are made on sub-samples in which individuals are homogenous according to their level of diploma and their situation towards the unemployment insurance. Controlling for unobservable heterogeneity and selection bias, the econometric results show that the passive strategy is more efficient for lowgraduated people accessing a subsidised job. However, the active strategy is more efficient for high-graduated individuals accessing a full-term or a short-term job.job search, spatial constraints

Subjective Time and Mindfulness

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how time is subjectively experienced when one is being mindful or fully engaged in the present moment. Although attending to and being aware of the present moment is a defining feature of mindfulness (Brown & Ryan, 2003), there has been little research done concerning how time is experienced when being mindful. Thus, the present study examined the relationship between mindfulness and four different conceptions of the subjective experience of time: Time Perspective, Balanced Time Perspective, Temporal Focus, and Temporal Depth. One hundred and forty-two university students responded to scales measuring each student\u27s attitude toward the past, present, and future (Time Perspective), ability to flexibly engage in the past, present, and future (Balanced Time Perspective), attention toward the past, present, and future (Temporal Focus), and distance traveled when imagining their past and future (Temporal Depth). The study results suggest that while being mindful is primarily about being focused in the present, it also involves having positive attitudes about and being flexibly engaged in the past, present, and future. Implications of these findings on theory and the treatment of temporal biases were discussed

An Investigation of Existential and Positive Psychological Resources in College Students

The number of college students reporting moderate to severe mental health symptoms has steadily increased since the 1990s to the point of a “mental health crisis” occurring on the majority of American college campuses (Joyce, 2016, p. 17). Students face a number of stressors including academic pressure, developmental challenges, and the existential issues of meaning in life and identity formation. Unfortunately, many college students struggle to respond to psychological stress in healthy and adaptive ways. This study measured the relationships between positive psychological resources, existential thought, coping strategies, and mental health symptoms among a national sample of 251 undergraduate students. Results indicated that the positive psychological resources of mindfulness, hope, and meaning of life predicted relatively lower rates of maladaptive coping strategies and mental health symptoms. Positive emotions and existential reflection predicted higher levels of adaptive coping. A multivariate canonical correlation analysis demonstrated a significant and positive relationship between maladaptive coping strategies and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Existential reflection was found to be beneficial to the cultivation of adaptive coping and presence of meaning in life, but also positively correlated to maladaptive coping and increased mental health symptoms. The light and the dark aspects of existential thought are discussed. This research significantly contributes to the literature of existential and positive psychology, as well as college counseling. Positive psychological resources are internal strengths that can be cultivated throughout a student’s time at college. It is recommended that university administrators, college counselors, and faculty explore these constructs with students in order to further develop their individual strengths

La production scientifique des enseignants-chercheurs en économie : Quelques résultats économétriques issus du dispositif PES

Working paper GATE 2010-30La littérature sur la mesure et les déterminants de la production scientifique des enseignants-chercheurs s'est montrée particulièrement prolifique ces dix dernières années. Le cas français est particulièrement intéressant à étudier tant les successions de réformes en vue d'améliorer la position des universités françaises dans le classement de Shanghai se sont récemment succédées à un rythme effréné. La réforme du statut des enseignants chercheurs et l'application progressive de la loi du 10 août 2007 Liberté et Responsabilité des Universités ont ouvert un changement structurel profond dans le management des ressources humaines au sein des universités françaises. Dans ce contexte, si la littérature s'est intéressée aux critères de mesure de la production scientifique, rares sont les études qui ont pu contrôler, lors de l'évaluation de la production scientifique, les multiples facettes qui animent l'activité d'un enseignant-chercheur à partir d'une même base statistique. La mise en place en France depuis 2009 de la Prime d'Excellence Scientifique (PES) offre une base de données originale et particulièrement adaptée à cette attente à deux niveaux. D'une part la procédure de sélection des candidats respecte les conditions d'une logique de tournoi bien connue des économistes du travail. D'autre part la richesse des données permet de contrôler les différentes dimensions de l'activité des enseignants – chercheurs ainsi que leur environnement de recherche lors de l'étude des facteurs explicatifs de leur production scientifique. Nous exploitons dans cet article les données relatives aux candidats de la première campagne de la PES 2009 appartenant au domaine des sciences économiques. L'économétrie des données censurée est utilisée en mobilisant deux critères de mesure de la production scientifique, l'un qualitatif l'autre quantitatif. Les résultats économétriques obtenus confirment l'existence d'un effet Saint Matthieu lié au cycle de vie de la production scientifique. L'étude complète les rares résultats délivrés par la littérature sur les économistes français