THE IMPACT OF TRAINING PROGRAMMES ON WAGES IN FRANCE: AN EVALUATION OF THE “QUALIFYING CONTRACT” USING PROPENSITY SCORES.

This paper evaluates the impact of a widely-used French training programme for youth on earnings. This programme is designed to increase labour market experience and education, validated by a formal diploma. It is not sure, however, whether this diploma and a similar diploma acquired through initial training have the same effect on post-training wages. To answer this question, we contrast the 2003 net wages of a group of participants enrolled in 1998 (the “treatment” group) to the 2003 net wages of a control group. The controls are individuals who completed their initial training in 1998 with diplomas similar to those obtained by the treated at the end of the programme. Using propensity score matching, we find a significantly positive effect of the treatment on the treated: participants in the programme benefit, five years after participation, from a positive wage premium. This suggests that firms do not simply value education: they value it more if it is coupled with some degree of labour market experience.active labour market policies; training programmes for youth; propensity score matching.

Monetary and Fiscal Policies in EMU: some relevant issues

The coexistence in EMU of one common monetary policy and several domestic fiscal policies raises a number of problems of both academic and political interest. First, there are reasons to assess a hypothetical need to also centralise fiscal policies in such circumstances, according to what prevails in federal states. Second, given that this hypothesis has not reached consensus in the EU, nor is it expected to do so in the near future, the issue of how to co-ordinate monetary and fiscal policies, in order to achieve the desired outcomes in both global and individual terms, arises. Third, the fact that policy spill-overs are enhanced in the EMU, the need to avoid free riding behaviour on the part of member states and the apparent non-reliance on financial markets to discipline sovereign debtors led to the option of restricting the autonomy of domestic fiscal policies by setting up constraints upon the relative levels of deficits and debts. Due to these restrictions, it is important to investigate the existence of alternative options in case of economic shocks that are specific to an economic area, or that do not equally affect all EMU members. Theory suggests that financial markets, when integrated, can provide relief by supplying the means to finance recovery. However, the lack of integration, uncovered by empirical analyses especially in peripheral EU areas, indicates that financial markets cannot be fully relied upon as mechanisms of adjustment. The current study analyses these topics of interest for monetary and fiscal policies in EMU.Regional Input, Monetary and Fiscal Policies, EMU

Antagonistic interactions between dominant invasive and native ant species in citrus orchards

Mestrado em Engenharia Agronómica - Proteção das plantas / Instituto Superior de AgronomiaThe Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr) established in the South of Portugal (Algarve), about 120 years ago. Zina et al. (2017) compared the composition of ant communities foraging in tree canopy in citrus orchards among the three ecological subregions of Algarve (Litoral, Barrocal and Serra) and observed that the invasive dominant species L. humile was absent from Serra. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that dominant native ant species, such as Tapinoma nigerrimum (Nylander) and Lasius grandis Forel could prevent the Argentine ant from invading Serra. Laboratory experiments were carried out, using both Petri dish arenas and cages to assess the antagonistic interactions between the Argentine ant and two dominant native species, at the individual and colony level, respectively. Overall, our results support the tested hypothesis. At the individual level, both T. nigerrimum and L. grandis showed higher aggression and survival levels than Argentine ant. At the colony level, the results suggest that both the Argentine ant and T. nigerrimum were able to recruit a relative large number of individuals from the colony when trying to colonise a food resource defended by the competitor species. In our experimental conditions, T. nigerrimum showed to be more efficient than Argentine ant in this type of competition, as it was able to defend a food resource in four out of five times from the attack of the former species, as well as to dominate a resource defended by Argentine ant in four out of five timesN/

The green road: Zenmotors´ transition to electric and personal reflections from a business simulation

This paper delves into the journey of ZenMotors, a fictional automotive company, as it navigates its path toward electric mobility within the context of the Business in Practice Simulation. Divided into two parts, it first provides an analysis of the company, illuminating how market changes influence strategic decisions, innovation trajectories, and financial management. It is followed by a personal introspection of my role within the simulation team through the analysis of two critical incidents. These center around the experience of receiving feedback, underscoring the importance of constructive criticism, and the concept of shared leadership to achieve dynamic collaboration

The Metallicity of the Open Cluster Tombaugh 2

We investigate the nature of the chemical composition of the outer disc open cluster Tombaugh 2, that a recent study by Frinchaboy et al. (2008) suggested to possess an intrinsic metal abundance dispersion. We aim to investigate such claims by high resolution spectra obtained for a number of stars in the Tombaugh 2 field, together with independent UBVIc photometry. The spectra, together with input atmospheric parameters and model atmospheres, are used to determine detailed chemical abundances for a variety of elements in 13 members having good spectra. We find the mean metallicity to be [Fe/H]=-0.31+-0.02 with no evidence for an intrinsic abundance dispersion, in contrary to the recent results of Frinchaboy et al. (2008). We find Ca and Ba to be slightly enhanced while Ni and Sc are solar. The r-process element Eu was found to be enhanced, giving an average [Eu/Ba]=+0.17. The Li abundance decreases with Teff on the upper giant branch and maintains a low level for red clump stars. The mean metallicity we derive is in good agreement with that expected from the radial abundance gradient in the disc for a cluster at its Galactocentric distance. The surprising result found by Frinchaboy et al. (2008), that is the presence of 2 distinct abundance groups within the cluster, implying either a completely unique open cluster with an intrinsic metallicity spread, or a very unlikely superposition of a cold stellar stream and a very distant open cluster, is not supported by our new result.Comment: 11 pages, 5 eps figures, in press on A&

Homofobia: perceção dos discursos sociais e experiência de vitimação de homossexuais

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia (área de especialização em Psicologia da Justiça)Este estudo, de caráter exploratório, visa compreender a natureza dos crimes homofóbicos, a partir da perspetiva das vítimas. Mais especificamente, pretende-se caracterizar discursos e práticas de natureza homofóbica, bem como o seu impacto e significação para as vítimas. Para este efeito, constituiu-se uma amostra de conveniência de 13 indivíduos de ambos os sexos, homossexuais ou bissexuais, com experiências de vitimação homofóbica, que responderam a uma entrevista centrada na homofobia e nos discursos culturais sobre a homossexualidade, assim como nos episódios de vitimação experimentados por estes participantes. Os resultados obtidos remetem para discursos pautados pela não-aceitação da homossexualidade e para a inexistência de um perpetrador tipo ou de contextos caraterísticos tendencialmente associados à ocorrência dos episódios de vitimação de motivação homofóbica, prevalecendo, no entanto, as agressões verbais. Neste cenário, as vítimas tendem a mobilizar estratégias de ocultação da sua orientação sexual, recorrendo a vários tipos de suporte social.This study, of exploratory character, aims to understand the nature of homophobic crimes from the perspective of victims. More specifically, we intend to characterize the discourses and practices of homophobic nature, as well as its impact and significance for the victims. For this purpose, is was selected a convenience sample of 13 individuals of both sexes, homosexual or bisexual, with experiences of homophobic victimization, which responded to an interview focused on homophobia and cultural discourses about homosexuality, as well as episodes of victimization experienced by these participants. The results show that social discourses reveal an attitude of non-acceptance of homosexuality and the lack of one perpetrator type or characteristic contexts associated with the occurrence of episodes of victimization with homophobic motivation, prevailing, however, the verbal abuse. In this scenario, the victims tend to mobilize strategies of concealment of sexual orientation, using various types of social support

A resilência e a relação terapêutica em crianças maltratadas/mal-amadas

Tese de mestrado, Vitimização da Criança e do Adolescente, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2010O conceito da Resiliência, tem evoluído, enquanto conceito operativo, no campo da saúde. Está relacionado com a capacidade de um indivíduo para ultrapassar os traumatismos e os efeitos nefastos que estes provocam, conseguindo reconstruir-se apesar das feridas. A Resiliência será entendida, enquanto processo contínuo de crescimento psíquico, em que o sujeito é capaz de retomar o desenvolvimento suspenso, aquando do impacto provocado pelo trauma. A Relação Terapêutica enquanto lugar de encontro, de afeição, promotor de crescimento e saúde mental, poderá constituir um factor de protecção para o sujeito sofredor. Na medida em que, encontra ao seu dispor um outro. O psicoterapeuta surge como este outro, que o acolhe, com a sua individualidade, com a sua história que é única. Contem e digere as suas experiências emocionais, numa busca de sentido (s), de significado, fortalecendo (Flexibilidade da Pele-psíquica) a textura do seu aparelho para pensar. O objectivo deste estudo, será tentar perceber porquê que algumas destas crianças são de facto capazes de transformar o trauma e outras não? Quais são os factores envolvidos para que isso ocorra? Serão factores de natureza interna do próprio (flexibilidade da pele-psíquica)? Poderão os clínicos, baseados numa relação terapêutica estabelecida com estas crianças, serem “tutores de resiliência”, através da construção de uma relação vinculativa e transformadora, com um novo objecto promotor de um estilo relacional libertador e sanígeno, que promova o pensamento, o grande impulsionador da qualidade da vida mental?The concept of the Resilience, has evolved, while operative concept, in the field of health. It is related with the capacity of an individual to exceed the ominous traumas and effect that these provoke, obtaining to reconstruct it self although the wounds. The Resilience will be understood, while a continuous process of psychic growth, where the subject is capable to retake the development suspended, in the moment of the impact provoked for the trauma. The therapeutic relationship as a meeting place, of affection, promoter of growth and mental health, will be able to constitute a factor of protection for the suffering subject. In this way, he finds here another one receptive for him. The Psychotherapist appears as another one that receives him, with its individuality, with its own history. Capable to digest its emotional experiences, in a search of meaning, for his own feelings. Making the texture of his psychic-skin stronger (flexibility of psychic-skin). The goal of this study is to try to understand the reason that some children’s are capable to transform the trauma and others do not. Which are the involved factors to it? Will it be his own internal factors (flexibility of his own psychic-skin)? Will the psychotherapist be able, based on a therapeutic relationship established with these children to be “tutor of resilience”? Trough the construction of a connecting and transforming relationship with a new promoting object for a healthy and free relationship style. That promotes the thought, the great booster of the quality of the mental life

Seasonal variations in the effect of structural complexity of olive productions systems on bat activity: implications for natural pest control services

Agricultural landscapes have suffered drastic changes as a consequence of management intensification, leading to a decline in biodiversity, specially in Mediterranean olive farms. Among others, homogenization affects the activity levels of bats, an important component of agricultural ecosystems by acting as biocontrol agents against olive pests. To understand how seasonal variations affects bat occurrence and the biocontrol services they provide, we sampled olive groves with different structural complexities over three seasons, coinciding with the peak activity of Prays oleae, one of the major pests of olive production systems. We found strong differences in the response of bats to the structural complexity of olive production systems, being these species-specific and strongly season-dependent. Thus, our results suggest that habitat heterogeneity is of great importance for bat activity, implying that structurally-complex agricultural landscapes could promote higher natural pest control services provided by bats; Variações sazonais no efeito da complexidade estrutural em olivais com diferentes sistemas de produção na atividade de morcegos: implicações para os serviços de controlo natural de pragas Resumo: As paisagens agrícolas sofreram drásticas mudanças por consequência da intensificação da gestão, levando ao declínio da biodiversidade, especialmente em olivais mediterrânicos. Entre outros, a homogeneização afeta os níveis de atividade dos morcegos, os quais apresentam elevada importância nos ecossistemas agrícolas pela sua capacidade de controlo natural de pragas. Para compreender como as variações sazonais afetam a ocorrência destes nos olivais, amostrámos olivais com diferentes complexidades estruturais em três estações, coincidindo com o pico de atividade de Prays oleae, uma das principais pragas dos olivais, para investigar se morcegos poderão atuar no seu controlo. Foram encontradas diferenças nas respostas dos morcegos em relação à complexidade estrutural dos olivais, sendo estas dependentes de cada espécie e da estação. Assim, os resultados sugerem que a heterogeneidade do habitat apresenta grande importância na atividade dos morcegos, implicando que paisagens agrícolas estruturalmente complexas poderão promover serviços de controlo natural de pragas fornecidos pelos morcegos

Personal satisfaction : a case study with ASAE employees

Relatório de estágio do mestrado em Administração Pública Empresarial, apresentado à Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de CoimbraA Administração Pública enfrenta hoje problemas sérios no que diz respeito satisfação dos seus recursos humanos. Quando os trabalhadores não estão satisfeitos isso reflete-se no serviço que estes prestam aos utentes (utilizadores). Desta forma, existe cada vez mais necessidade de compreender e de melhorar as condições de trabalho dos funcionários para que estes possam prestar um melhor serviço o que resultaria numa melhoria dos serviços públicos em geral. Este relatório de mestrado tem como objetivo avaliar a satisfação dos funcionários da ASAE. Para o efeito, recolheu-se uma amostra constituída por 105 funcionários. Os resultados demonstram, de uma forma geral, que a satisfação geral dos funcionários está relacionada positivamente com a gestão e o sistema de gestão e as condições de trabalho. ABSTRACT Public administration today faces serious problems regarding employee satisfaction. When workers are not happy this is reflected in the service they provide to users (users). Thus, there is a growing need to understand and improve working conditions for employees so that they can provide better service which would result in an improvement of public services in general. This work aims to study the satisfaction of ASAE employees. For this purpose, we collect a sample consists of 105 employees. The results shows, the overall satisfaction of employees depends on their satisfaction whit internal management and work condition