Using the EU-SILC to model the impact of the economic crisis on inequality

peer-reviewedIn this paper we attempted to chart the impact of the early part of Ireland’s economic crisis from 2008–2009 on the distribution of income. In order to decompose the impact of changes in different income components, we utilised a microsimulation methodology and the EU-SILC User Database. This simulation based methodology involved the disaggregation of the 6 main benefit variables in the EU-SILC into 17 variables for our tax-benefit model. Validating, our results were positive, giving us confidence in our methodology. We utilised the framework to model changes in the level of income inequality from the period just before the crisis in 2004 to the depth of the worst year of the crisis in 2009. In terms of the impact of the economic crisis, we found that income inequality fell in the early part of the crisis modelled in this paper. Much of this change was due to rising inequality of market incomes, (even when discounting unemployment). This was due to the differential effect of the downturn on different sectors where some sectors such as the construction and public sectors were significantly hit, while the international traded sectors have been relatively immune from the downturn and have seen continued growth. The impact of the tax-benefit system has been to mitigate this upward pressure, with a gradual rise in the redistributive effect of the tax-benefit system driven by an increase in demand on the benefits side and increased progressivity on the tax side. Jel codes H22, H55, C1

(η5-Penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl)(η6-4-phenyl­butan-2-one)ruthenium(II) tetra­phenyl­borate

The title compound, [Ru(C10H15)(C10H12O)][B(C6H5)4], crystallizes as discrete (η5-penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl)Ru(η6-4-phenyl­butan-2-one)]+ cations and [BPh4]− anions. In the cation, the non-H atoms of the butan-2-one group are approximately planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.056 Å) and lie nearly perpendicular to the plane of the phenyl ring with a dihedral angle between the two planes of 69.3 (1)°. No significant C—H⋯O inter­actions are observed between the methyl and phenyl H atoms and the carbonyl O atom

(η6-Isopropyl N-phenyl­carbamate)(η5-penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl)ruthenium(II) tetra­phenyl­borate acetone monosolvate

The title complex, [Ru(C10H15)(C10H13NO2)](C24H20B)·C3H6O, is related to the analogous O-methyl complex. The average Ru—C distance to the penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dienyl (Cp*) group is 2.19 (3) Å, and 2.21 (1) Å to the ortho, meta and para C atoms of the arene ring. The Ru—Cipso bond length of 2.272 (3) Å is significantly longer, reflecting movement of the Ru atom away from the C atoms with electronegative substituents attached. The amide H atom in the cation forms an inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond with the carbonyl O atom of the acetone solvent mol­ecule. A C—H⋯O inter­action also occurs

Comprehensive Approaches to Health and Safety: A Program Design Context

The following paper is an attempt at a comprehensive health and safety plan for an experiential program studying the history and practice of martial arts in Japan. The focus of this work is meant to be on health, safety, and risk management, which therefore puts less of an emphasis on other program design elements. The paper makes an effort to recommend certain policies and procedures where Rutgers University lacks them. The broad health and safety plans outlined below are based in the policies and procedures of Rutgers University and may not be suitable for adoption by other institutions. This program carries inherent risk due to the physical and potentially dangerous practice of martial arts. Students and faculty engaged in this program function as rational actors and assume responsibility for these risks as outlined in the program code of conduct, available in the appendix of this work. Because of this risk, the health and safety plan below aims to address as many potential incidents as possible, dealing with each in a complete, yet flexible way

An Exploration of the Factors That Support Improved Pro-Social Outcomes for Young People in Detention: Social Care Practitioners\u27 Perspectives.

Youth detention facilities like many other services funded by public money need to be able to demonstrate the difference it makes to the lives of the small cohort of young people who are detained. In a world which has become more security and safety conscious, evidencing the difference made to the lives of these ‘troubled youths’ is of particular interest to society today. This study aimed to explore the factors that support improved pro social outcomes for young people detained. As key agents of change having access to a formative time in young people’s lives while in detention, social care practitioners were purposefully chosen as the research sample to inform this research. A qualitative approach using semi structured interviews was used. The factors that support pro social outcomes were noted as; the quality of the relationship between the young person and staff, the organisational support of staff and interagency cooperation and planning for reintegration of a young person back into the community. The interview data was analysed and coded. The findings suggested that the relational properties of the total institution has a cumulative and prevailing effect on pro-social outcomes for young people in detention. Relationships between the care staff and young people can mirror the relational experience between care staff and management. This combined with current experiences of change and reform is experienced has the potential to destabilise the balance between care and control, resulting in a climate that is less conducive to supporting improved pro social outcomes for young people detained. This research is timely in that Irelands National Detention Facility is undergoing historical and unprecedented change. As part of this change a new and revised evidence informed and hopeful ‘way forward’ is being developed to provide the best possible standard of care for young people in the context of the governments overarching National framework ‘Better Outcomes Brighter futures’. This facility will be referred to as Oberstown for the remainder of the thesis. This study addresses the gap in research in identifying the factors that support improved pro social outcomes for young people detained. It is envisaged that the research will add to the debate which needs to be held on the future of children’s services generally in Ireland and the type of interventions used to divert young people away from crime

Microsimulation of indirect taxes

The goal of this paper is to simulate a tax shift from labour to consumption and perform a distributional analysis of the reform. Microsimulation programs are often uniquely focussed on the personal income tax system and on social security contributions and benefits. However, against a political background where income taxes are under increased pressure and alternative, less distortive forms of taxation come under consideration, microsimulation models enriched with expenditure data and consumption tax structures could play an important role in sharpening the (distributional) picture of such systemic changes. The current paper discusses an algorithm for this enrichment - mainly with VAT, excises and other consumption taxes - within the context of the EUROMOD-framework and applies the obtained program to the simulation of a decrease of social security contributions compensated by a rise in standard VAT rate to maintain government budget neutrality for four EU countries. The measure is found to have a (first order) regressive effect, pointing to the fact that keeping redistribution constant would require the remaining post-reform income taxation to become more progressive.

Hotspot identification for Mapper graphs

Mapper algorithm can be used to build graph-based representations of high-dimensional data capturing structurally interesting features such as loops, flares or clusters. The graph can be further annotated with additional colouring of vertices allowing location of regions of special interest. For instance, in many applications, such as precision medicine, Mapper graph has been used to identify unknown compactly localized subareas within the dataset demonstrating unique or unusual behaviours. This task, performed so far by a researcher, can be automatized using hotspot analysis. In this work we propose a new algorithm for detecting hotspots in Mapper graphs. It allows automatizing of the hotspot detection process. We demonstrate the performance of the algorithm on a number of artificial and real world datasets. We further demonstrate how our algorithm can be used for the automatic selection of the Mapper lens functions.Comment: Topological Data Analysis and Beyond Workshop at the 34th Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS 2020

Beta-blocker under-use in COPD patients

Background: Cardiovascular (CVS) comorbidities are common in COPD and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality, especially following acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). Beta-blockers (BBs) are safe and effective in COPD patients, with demonstrated survival benefit following myocardial infarction. We sought to determine if BBs are under-prescribed in patients hospitalized with AECOPD. We also sought to determine inpatient rates of CVS and cerebrovascular complications, and their impact on patient outcomes. Methods: Retrospective hospital data was collected over a 12-month period. The medical records of all patients 40 years of age coded with a diagnosis of AECOPD were analyzed. Prevalent use and incident initiation of BBs were assessed. Comorbidities including indications and contraindications for BB use were analyzed. Results: Of the 366 eligible patients, 156 patients (42.6%) had at least one indication for BB use – of these patients, only 53 (34.0%) were on BB therapy and 61 (39.1%) were not on BB therapy but had no listed contraindication. Prevalent use of BBs at the time of admission in all 366 patients was 19.7%, compared with 45.6%, 39.6% and 45.9% use of anti-platelets, statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blockers, respectively. CVS and cerebrovascular complications were common in this population (57 patients, 16%) and were associated with longer length of stay (p,0.01) and greater inpatient mortality (p=0.02). Conclusions: BBs are under-prescribed in COPD patients despite clear indication(s) for their use. Further work is required to explore barriers to BB prescribing in COPD patients