Public policies, productivity and economic growth in OECD countries

Since mid-1990s social sciences have re-started to give attention to the role played by the state in promoting economic growth, with important contributions from economists, sociologists and political scientists. This attention further increased after the economic and financial crisis of 2007/08 with a rising strand of research that is focusing on the institutional foundations of different growth models in advanced economies. This paper is related to this wide strand of research and analyses how industrial policies can favor the emerging of institutional conditions that are conducive to economic growth. In particular, the paper analyzes the neglected relationship between public policies and labor productivity in OECD countries. The focus is on four policy arenas that have a direct impact on labor productivity: labor market, human capital, innovation and on the efficiency of public administration. The analysis underlines a strong association between labour productivity and public policies addressed to promote training and activation, tha quality of educational institutions and inter-institutional networks in innovation. Other kind of policies, such as those addressed to flexibilise the labour market or to reduce labour costs or to increase the average number of years of schooling seem to play a minor role

Processi in atto e problemi in discussione nel biennio 2000-2001

This volume collects the best dissertations from the academic years 1999/00 and 2000/01 by students of the European Master in Work Sciences of the Department of Political Sciences "Cesare Alfieri" in Florence. The contributions focus on the theme of labour and its regulation in European countries, analysing aspects such as work flexibility, training, corporate industrial relations, corporate social responsibility, the promotion of participation of women and disabled people in the job market . These issues constitute privileged points of observation to highlight both the effects of promoting change in the process of European political integration and the role played by the presence of certain institutional architectures related to welfare, economic and work regulation systems that continue to differ from country to country. Looking at the coexistence between stability and change with a multidisciplinary and comparative approach like the one used in the works collected here is like using a kaleidoscope that helps to shed light on the multiple balances and on the different development paths that characterise the so-called "European social model"

Endoscopic transorbital eyelid approach for the removal of an extraconal cavernous venous malformation: Case report

Cavernous venous malformations (CVMs) are one of the most common benign primary orbital lesions in adults and the second most frequent cause of unilateral proptosis. Extraconal location is extremely rare, representing a favorable condition as compared to intraconal, as lesions at this level often adhere to orbital muscles and optic nerve. Herein, we report the case of a 50-year-old patient, who came to our attention because of progressive painless right axial proptosis. Magnetic resonance images were consistent with an extraconal CVM, occupying the superior temporal compartment of the orbit. Successful removal of the lesion was achieved through an endoscopic transorbital eyelid approach. The present case confirms the safety and efficacy of the endoscopic transorbital eyelid approach