Informal Hiring Patterns with Endogenous Job Contacts

I model informal hiring in a constant returns to scale, single-firm industry. Applications are accepted when the relative gain from high quality exceeds the low-quality odds. Informal applications provide two sources of information: noisy signalling through the endogenous arrival probability of applications, and an exogenous report conveyed directly by the application. I find the informal channel may be used in equilibrium to signal quality, improve connection between potential workers and the firm, or may not be used at all due to insufficient benefit, social norms, or incompatible incentives. I find complementarity between the report screening power and the quality composition of applicants. When used alone, the informal channel endogenously generates a favourable applicant pool, with or without homophily effects in referrals. With formal hiring present, an unfavourable informal applicant pool is also possible, as is sometimes noted empirically. Formal hiring generally affects the informal channel adversely, and may shut it down. Existence of equilibria and comparative static results are sensitive to the informal arrival cost specification. Introducing a more explicit networking scenario, I provide networking cost conditions for use of informal hiring in equilibrium. When networking costs increase, any bias in the quality composition of informal applicants is intensified. I find non-monotonic parameter effects on the informal pool composition and profits. My results highlight how informal hiring patterns and equilibrium outcomes depend on the costliness and informativeness of job contacts, and are affected by the firm\u27s quality needs and its ability to discern quality through formal versus informal sources

Connections Between Computation Trees and Graph Covers

Connections between graph cover pseudocodewords and computation tree pseudocodewords are investigated with the aim of bridging the gap between the theoretically attractive analysis of graph covers and the more intractable analysis of iterative message-passing algorithms that are intuitively linked to graph covers. Both theoretical results and numerous examples are presented

Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education

This Grants Collection uses the grant-supported open textbook OpenEDUC from the University of Georgia: http://oer.galileo.usg.edu/education-textbooks/4 This Grants Collection for Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education was created under a Round Two ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/education-collections/1001/thumbnail.jp

Greater Springfield employment challenges: findings of employer survey and interviews

This paper presents the findings from in-depth interviews and a survey of employers in the Greater Springfield area regarding (a) employment opportunities for entry-level workers with limited skills and (b) barriers that residents of Springfield's low-income neighborhoods face in accessing these jobs. The survey and interviews indicate that entry-level jobs that do not require college are available in the Springfield area. However, even entry-level jobs require the ability to perform a variety of tasks, and many applicants lack the skills needed to perform these jobs or have work readiness problems. Lack of prior experience and the absence of referral networks limit access to these jobs for residents of Springfield's low-income neighborhoods.Cities and towns - Massachusetts ; Labor market - Massachusetts

Towards a more prosperous Springfield, MA: what jobs exist for people without a college education?

This paper analyzes projections of Massachusetts employment opportunities by occupation to address concerns about a shortage of jobs for those who lack a college education. While occupations requiring a college degree will grow more rapidly over the period 2006-2016 than occupations that do not require college, replacement needs will ensure large numbers of job openings that do not require college. Wage levels in jobs that do not require college are generally low, however. The exceptions usually require meaningful training of another sort, such as long-term on-the-job training or courses in postsecondary schools or community college. Additionally, some individuals who demonstrate the necessary qualities achieve higher wages through promotion. The distribution of occupations in the Springfield metropolitan area is sufficiently similar to that in Massachusetts that inferences from the Massachusetts projections should be relevant to Springfield.Cities and towns - Massachusetts ; Labor market - Massachusetts

End of One Way

Describes the role of three South Minneapolis community-based organizations. Demonstrates how the organizations form partnerships and share leadership with their communities. Explores a set of themes derived from each example of community engagement

Creating Positive Teams using Clifton Strengths

Our Creator has wired us to be in relations and nurturing teamwork and teambuilding is essential. One way to build cohesion is to have our team complete the Clifton Strengthsfinder survey to identify our top strengths. Once these strengths are identified then we can help people to work more in our strengths. Our school of nursing and online campus have monthly meetings to make sure we are all on the same page and moving in the same direction. All of the committee members have completed the Clifton Strengthsfinder survey and have shared their top five strengths

Reinvigorating Springfield's economy: lessons from resurgent cities

As part of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's commitment to supporting efforts to revitalize the economy of Springfield, Massachusetts, this paper analyzes the economic development approaches of other mid-sized manufacturing-oriented cities during the past half century. From among a comparison group of 25 municipalities that were similar to Springfield in 1960, the study identifies 10 "resurgent cities" that have made substantial progress in improving living standards for their residents, and that are recognized as vital communities in a broader sense by experts on urban economic development and policy. These case studies suggest that industry mix, demographic composition, and geographic position are not the key factors distinguishing the resurgent cities from Springfield. Instead, the most important lessons from the resurgent cities concern leadership and collaboration. Initial leadership in these cities came from a variety of key institutions and individuals. In some cases, the turnaround started with efforts on the part of the public sector, while in other cases nongovernmental institutions or private developers were at the forefront. Regardless of who initiated the turnaround, economic redevelopment efforts spanned decades and involved collaborations among numerous organizations and sectors.Cities and towns ; Cities and towns - Massachusetts ; Economic policy - Massachusetts

A Universal Theory of Pseudocodewords

Three types of pseudocodewords for LDPC codes are found in the literature: graph cover pseudocodewords, linear programming pseudocodewords, and computation tree pseudocodewords. In this paper we first review these three notions and known connections between them. We then propose a new decoding rule — universal cover decoding — for LDPC codes. This new decoding rule also has a notion of pseudocodeword attached, and this fourth notion provides a framework in which we can better understand the other three

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of Veterans’ spouses: a cross sectional analysis

Background COVID-19 has negatively impacted the mental health and well-being of both Canadians and the world as a whole, with Veterans, in particular, showing increased rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Spouses and common-law partners often serve as primary caregivers and sources of support for Veterans, which may have a deleterious effect on mental health and increase risk of burnout. Pandemic related stressors may increase burden and further exacerbate distress; yet the effect of the pandemic on the mental health and well-being of Veterans’ spouses is currently unknown. This study explores the self-reported mental health and well-being of a group of spouses of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans and their adoption of new ways to access healthcare remotely (telehealth), using baseline data from an ongoing longitudinal survey. Methods Between July 2020 and February 2021, 365 spouses of Veterans completed an online survey regarding their general mental health, lifestyle changes, and experiences relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also completed were questions relating to their use of and satisfaction with health-care treatment services during the pandemic. Results Reported rates of probable major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), and PTSD were higher than the general public, with 50–61% believing their symptoms either directly related to or were made worse by the pandemic. Those reporting being exposed to COVID-19 were found to have significantly higher absolute scores on mental health measures than those reporting no exposure. Over 56% reported using telehealth during the pandemic, with over 70% stating they would continue its use post-pandemic. Conclusions This is the first Canadian study to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic specifically on the mental health and well-being of Veterans’ spouses. Subjectively, the pandemic negatively affected the mental health of this group, however, the pre-pandemic rate for mental health issues in this population is unknown. These results have important implications pertaining to future avenues of research and clinical/programme development postpandemic, particularly relating to the potential need for increased support for spouses of Veterans, both as individuals and in their role as supports for Veterans