Stepping-stones for the unemployed: The effect of temporary jobs on the duration until regular work

Individual labour market transitions from unemployment into temporary work are often succeeded by a transition from temporary into regular work. We investigate whether temporary work increases the transition rate to regular work. In that case, temporary work may enhance labour market efficiency. We use longitudinal survey data of individuals to estimate a multi-state duration model, applying the “timing of events” approach. To deal with selectivity, the model incorporates transitions from unemployment to temporary jobs and unobserved determinants of the transition rates. The data contain multiple spells in labour market states at the individual level. We analyse the results using novel graphical representations. The results unambiguously show that temporary jobs serve as stepping-stones towards regular employment. They shorten the duration of unemployment and they substantially increase the fraction of unemployed workers who have regular work within a few years after entry into unemployment, as compared to a situation without temporary jobs.Unemployment; fixed term contracts; temporary work; job search; duration model; treatment effect

Stepping stones for the unemployed: the effect of temporary jobs on the duration until regular work

Individual labour market transitions from unemployment into temporary work are often succeeded by a transition from temporary into regular work. We investigate whether temporary work increases the transition rate to regular work. In that case, temporary work may enhance labour market efficiency. We use longitudinal survey data of individuals to estimate a multi-state duration model, applying the ?timing of events? approach. To deal with selectivity, the model incorporates transitions from unemployment to temporary jobs and unobserved determinants of the transition rates. The data contain multiple spells in labour market states at the individual level. We analyse the results using novel graphical representations. The results unambiguously show that temporary jobs serve as stepping stones towards regular employment. They shorten the duration of unemployment and they substantially increase the fraction of unemployed workers who have regular work within a few years after entry into unemployment, as compared to a situation without temporary jobs

The Inter-rater Variability of Clinical Assessment in Post-anoxic Myoclonus.

Acute post-anoxic myoclonus (PAM) can be divided into an unfavorable (generalized/subcortical) and more favorable ((multi)focal/cortical) outcome group that could support prognostication in post-anoxic encephalopathy; however, the inter-rater variability of clinically assessing these PAM subtypes is unknown. We prospectively examined PAM patients using a standardized video protocol. Videos were rated by three neurologists who classified PAM phenotype (generalized/(multi)focal), stimulus sensitivity, localization (proximal/distal/both), and severity (Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) and Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale (UMRS)). Poor inter-rater agreement was found for phenotype and stimulus sensitivity (κ=-0.05), moderate agreement for localization (κ=0.46). Substantial agreement was obtained for the CGI-S (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.64) and almost perfect agreement for the UMRS (ICC=0.82). Clinical assessment of PAM is not reproducible between physicians, and should therefore not be used for prognostication. PAM severity measured by the UMRS appears to be reliable; however, the relation between PAM severity and outcome is unknown

Orthobiologics and hyaluronic acid usage in the Netherlands: an electronic survey of 265 orthopaedic surgeons and sports physicians

Purpose "Biologic therapies" in the field of orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine, so called orthobiologics, have been gaining significant interest from physicians and patients, with increasing usage over the recent years. The aim of this study is to (1) evaluate the usage of orthobiologics in the Netherlands, (2) to clarify the reasons for the use or non-use of orthobiologics, and (3) the most addressed disease for use of orthobiologics. Methods The authors created a 19-quenstion online survey comprised of both closed-ended and open-ended response questions in order to examine the use of and the indication for orthobiologics. The survey was sent to all the members of the Dutch Orthopaedic Association and Netherlands Association of Sports Medicine of which 15% responded. Results The majority of the 265 respondents (65%) did not treat patients with or refer patients for treatment with orthobiologics. The most important reasons for not using orthobiologics were the lack of scientific evidence, the lack of good experience, and the lack of insurance coverage. Of the physicians that used orthobiologics, the most used hyaluronic acid (76%) and platelet-rich plasma (27%). Orthobiologics were most used for knee osteoarthritis and medial or lateral epicondylitis. Conclusion Although some orthobiologic treatments might be effective and the research interest is growing, our study shows that the majority of orthopaedic and sport physician clinicians in the Netherlands still does not make use of orthobiologics as a treatment option, but almost a third of them is contemplating to start using orthobiologics.Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Rehabilitatio

Labour market effects of job displacement for prime-age and older workers

This paper studies the effects of firm closures associated with bankruptcies on the employment status and wages of prime-age and older workers using Dutch administrative data for the period 2000–2011. Applying difference-in-differences techniques and non-parametric matching, we find adverse effects on the probability to be in work and on wages earned in the new job, which are larger for older workers than for prime-age workers. Within the older-age group, the effects are stronger for formerly long-tenured workers, for older workers who lost their job in declining sectors in the regional labour market and for workers who changed sectors. In the prime-age group, these differences are less pronounced. Our results suggest that job- and sector-specific factors are important for understanding the more vulnerable position of older workers after job loss

The interrelation between clinical presentation and neurophysiology of posthypoxic myoclonus

ObjectivePosthypoxic myoclonus (PHM) in the first few days after resuscitation can be divided clinically into generalized and focal (uni- and multifocal) subtypes. The former is associated with a subcortical origin and poor prognosis in patients with postanoxic encephalopathy (PAE), and the latter with a cortical origin and better prognosis. However, use of PHM as prognosticator in PAE is hampered by the modest objectivity in its clinical assessment. Therefore, we aimed to obtain the anatomical origin of PHM with use of neurophysiological investigations, and relate these to its clinical presentation. MethodsThis study included 20 patients (56 18 y/o, 68% M, 2 survived, 1 excluded) with EEG-EMG-video recording. Three neurologists classified PHM into generalized or focal PHM. Anatomical origin (cortical/subcortical) was assessed with basic and advanced neurophysiology (Jerk-Locked Back Averaging, coherence analysis). ResultsClinically assessed origin of PHM did not match the result obtained with neurophysiology: cortical PHM was more likely present in generalized than in focal PHM. In addition, some cases demonstrated co-occurrence of cortical and subcortical myoclonus. Patients that recovered from PAE had cortical myoclonus (1 generalized, 1 focal). InterpretationHypoxic damage to variable cortical and subcortical areas in the brain may lead to mixed and varying clinical manifestations of myoclonus that differ of those patients with myoclonus generally encountered in the outpatient clinic. The current clinical classification of PHM is not adequately refined to play a pivotal role in guiding treatment decisions to withdraw care. Our neurophysiological characterization of PHM provides specific parameters to be used in designing future comprehensive studies addressing the potential role of PHM as prognosticator in PAE