Spillovers in Vocational Training

The German apprenticeship system is often considered a role model for vocational education. Its influence on economic growth and technological progress through the provision of human capital to the workforce is widely acknowledged. But recent declines in the number of apprenticeships have led to increasing unrest among policy makers. To counter this development, the government is considering to introduce a training levy scheme that collects training levies from non-training firms in order to subsidize apprenticeship training ("Ausbildungsplatzabgabe"). Such training levy schemes already exist in several industrialized countries and even in some sectors in Germany. Yet, economists differ greatly in opinion about this policy. More surprisingly, however, a general economic analysis of this policy instrument is still lacking. Recent contributions have relied on rather qualitative and partial analyses. This paper aims at closing this gap. Following the training literature, we use a simple oligopsonistic labor market model. Such a setting allows to explain why firms provide and (at least partially) finance general vocational training. Moreover, it can demonstrate that a positive externality arises as other firms benefit from vocational training through poaching. In principle, the Pigouvian prescription of a subsidy scheme financed by a non-distortionary tax could restore the social optimum. The proposed training levy scheme, by contrast, is a particular scheme that links subsidies and levies. This paper unveils that it basically corresponds to a uniform subsidy on apprenticeship training that is financed by a distortionary tax on labor. We show that introducing such a levy scheme can entail ambiguous repercussions on general welfare.Das duale Ausbildungssystem in Deutschland gilt vielen Ländern als Vorbild für die berufliche Bildung. Es dient einem großen Teil der Bevölkerung zum Aufbau von Humankapital. Der Einfluss auf Wirtschaftswachstum und technischen Fortschritt ist weithin anerkannt. Der beobachtbare Rückgang der Ausbildungsplätze und Ausbildungsbereitschaft gibt jedoch zunehmend Anlass zur Beunruhigung. Um dieser Entwicklung entgegenzuwirken, bestehen seit längerem Überlegungen für die Einführung einer Ausbildungsplatzabgabe. Sie soll einen finanziellen Ausgleich für Ausbildungsunternehmen schaffen und zugleich Nicht-Ausbildungsunternehmen zu eigener Ausbildung ermuntern. Anreizsysteme für betriebliche Bildung bestehen bereits in einer Reihe anderer Industriestaaten und sogar in einigen Sektoren in Deutschland. Unter Ökonomen ist das Vorhaben einer Ausbildungsplatzabgabe jedoch umstritten. Überraschenderweise besteht jedoch keine allgemeine Analyse dieses Politikvorschlags. Bestehende Analysen sind eher qualitativ und partialanalytisch. Dieser Beitrag versucht diese Lücke zu schließen. Im Anschluss an die jüngere Humankapitalliteratur wird hier ein einfaches Modell betrieblicher Ausbildung in friktionellen Arbeitsmärkten vorschlagen. In einem solchen Rahmen werden Unternehmen allgemeine Ausbildung bereitstellen und zumindest partiell finanzieren. Zugleich lässt sich ein positiver externer Effekt aufzeigen, der aufgrund von Abwerbung ("Poaching") von ausgebildeten Mitarbeitern entsteht. Grundsätzlich könnte eine ideale Pigou-Subvention das soziale Optimum wiederherstellen. Dagegen stellt die vorgeschlagene Ausbildungsabgabe ein bestimmtes Steuer-Subventions-Verfahren dar. Mit diesem Instrument erfährt Ausbildung eine Einheitssubvention, während aktuelle Beschäftigung besteuert wird. Es kann gezeigt werden, dass ungeachtet des positiven externen Effekts die Einführung einer Ausbildungsplatzabgabe nicht zwingend wohlfahrtssteigernd ist.Vocational Training; Frictional Labor Markets; Poaching; Levy-Grant-Scheme; Training levyBerufliche Bildung; Arbeitsmarktfriktionen; Abwerbung; Steuer-Subventions-Verfahren; Ausbildungsplatzabgabe

Qualitative Analyse audiovisueller Informationen mit ATLAS.ti

Ist man daran interessiert, audiovisuelle Informationen unter formalen und inhaltlichen Aspekten aufzuarbeiten und zu analysieren, so ist es nicht nur zeitgemäss, sondern vor allem funktional, auf technische Unterstützung in Form von Computersoftware zurückzugreifen. Insbesondere wenn das Aufdecken innerer und argumentativer Strukturen von Phänomenen im Zentrum des Interesses steht, empfiehlt sich die Arbeit mit ATLAS.ti. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Analysewerkzeugen steht hier nicht das Auszählen und Berechnen von Häufigkeiten des Auftretens einzelner Phänomene, sondern das am Forschungsgegenstand orientierte interpretative Entwickeln von Aussagen und Zusammenhängen im Vordergrund. Im Beitrag wird zunächst auf die Möglichkeiten der Filmanalyse durch die Interpretation der ästhetischen Dimensionen eines nonfiktionalen Films und auf das grundlegende Verständnis der Filmanalyse eingegangen, methodische Aspekte qualitativer Analysen bei der Arbeit mit ATLAS.ti schliessen sich an. Die Analyse audiovisueller Information wird an einem Fallbeispiel aus der Nachrichtensendung «Wochenspiegel» der ARD exemplarisch vorgestellt. Beispielhaft werden die einzelnen Schritte des Kodierprozesses sowie die Entwicklung von Netzwerken betrachtet. Abschliessend werden Vor- und Nachteile diskutiert und ein Ausblick auf mögliche Einsatzfelder der Filmanalyse mit ATLAS.ti gegeben

Complex magnetism of B20-MnGe: from spin-spirals, hedgehogs to monopoles

B20 compounds are the playground for various non-trivial magnetic textures such as skyrmions, which are topologically protected states. Recent measurements on B20-MnGe indicate no clear consensus on its magnetic behavior, which is characterized by the presence of either spin-spirals or 3-dimensional objects interpreted to be a cubic lattice of hedgehogs and anti-hedgehogs. Utilizing a massively parallel linear scaling all-electron density functional algorithm, we find from full first-principles simulations on cells containing thousands of atoms that upon increase of the compound volume, the state with lowest energy switches across different magnetic phases: ferromagnetic, spin-spiral, hedgehog and monopole

ChipScope Symposium: Novel Approaches for a Chip-Sized Optical Microscope

In the Chipscope project funded by the EU, a completely new strategy towards optical microscopy is explored by a team of researchers from different European institutions. In this workshop, the different researchers of the project will explain the last advances obtained in the project, presenting the microscopes, how light emission is produced, and the detection principles and simulations

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The main concerns of European anaesthesiology postgraduate trainees: A European survey

This is the first study intended to identify the European anaesthesiology trainees' main concerns, to initiate a process of improvement of the training in anaesthesiology by the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA). The authors developed an electronic survey which addressed seven different concerns: autonomy transition, technical skills, exchange programs, residency costs, residency workload, employment prospects and educational contents/preparation for the European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EDAIC). The survey was disseminated by email to all anaesthesiology trainees registered in ESA and all European National Societies were asked to distribute the survey to their graduating trainees. 665 trainees initiated the survey with a completion rate of 54.6%. The trainees' main concerns were in descending order: educational contents, residency costs, employment prospects, residency workload, exchange programs, technical skills and autonomy transition. This report analyzes the three main concerns in more detail. 68% of respondents were unaware of the existence of the ESA e-learning platform. Other means to improve the preparation for the EDAIC such as a multiple-choice questions book should be developed. The main reason for not becoming an ESA Trainee member was the associated cost and 68% of respondents gave up activities or opportunities during their residency due to economic constraints; 56% of respondents considered emigrating for economic reasons and 28% elected Northern/Central Europe. The results of the present survey may provide additional background information for the development of specific improvements in strategies for training in anaesthesiology. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Molecular Classification of Neuroendocrine Tumors of the Thymus

INTRODUCTION: The WHO classification of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) is also used to classify thymic NETs (TNETs) into typical and atypical carcinoid (TC and AC), large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), and small cell carcinoma (SCC), but little is known about the usability of alternative classification systems. METHODS: One hundred seven TNET (22 TC, 51 AC, 28 LCNEC, and 6 SCC) from 103 patients were classified according to the WHO, the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, and a grading-related PNET classification. Low coverage whole-genome sequencing and immunohistochemical studies were performed in 63 cases. A copy number instability (CNI) score was applied to compare tumors. Eleven LCNEC were further analyzed using targeted next-generation sequencing. Morphologic classifications were tested against molecular features. RESULTS: Whole-genome sequencing data fell into three clusters: CNIlow, CNIint, and CNIhigh. CNIlow and CNIint comprised not only TC and AC, but also six LCNECs. CNIhigh contained all SCC and nine LCNEC, but also three AC. No morphologic classification was able to predict the CNI cluster. Cases where primary tumors and metastases were available showed progression from low-grade to higher-grade histologies. Analysis of LCNEC revealed a subgroup of intermediate NET G3 tumors that differed from LCNEC by carcinoid morphology, expression of chromogranin, and negativity for enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2). CONCLUSIONS: TNETs fall into three molecular subgroups that are not reflected by the current WHO classification. Given the large overlap between TC and AC on the one hand, and AC and LCNEC on the other, we propose a morphomolecular grading system, Thy-NET G1-G3, instead of histologic classification for patient stratification and prognostication. peerReviewe

Prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind, multi-center, multinational study on the safety and efficacy of 6% Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) sOlution versus an Electrolyte solutioN In patients undergoing eleCtive abdominal Surgery:study protocol for the PHOENICS study

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions are used for volume therapy to treat hypovolemia due to acute blood loss and to maintain hemodynamic stability. This study was requested by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to provide more evidence on the long-term safety and efficacy of HES solutions in the perioperative setting. METHODS: PHOENICS is a randomized, controlled, double-blind, multi-center, multinational phase IV (IIIb) study with two parallel groups to investigate non-inferiority regarding the safety of a 6% HES 130 solution (Volulyte 6%, Fresenius Kabi, Germany) compared with a crystalloid solution (Ionolyte, Fresenius Kabi, Germany) for infusion in patients with acute blood loss during elective abdominal surgery. A total of 2280 eligible patients (male and female patients willing to participate, with expected blood loss ≥ 500 ml, aged > 40 and ≤ 85 years, and ASA Physical status II–III) are randomly assigned to receive either HES or crystalloid solution for the treatment of hypovolemia due to surgery-induced acute blood loss in hospitals in up to 11 European countries. The dosing of investigational products (IP) is individualized to patients’ volume needs and guided by a volume algorithm. Patients are treated with IP for maximally 24 h or until the maximum daily dose of 30 ml/kg body weight is reached. The primary endpoint is the treatment group mean difference in the change from the pre-operative baseline value in cystatin-C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), to the eGFR value calculated from the highest cystatin-C level measured during post-operative days 1-3. Further safety and efficacy parameters include, e.g., combined mortality/major post-operative complications until day 90, renal function, coagulation, inflammation, hemodynamic variables, hospital length of stay, major post-operative complications, and 28-day, 90-day, and 1-year mortality. DISCUSSION: The study will provide important information on the long-term safety and efficacy of HES 130/0.4 when administered according to the approved European product information. The results will be relevant for volume therapy of surgical patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT 2016-002162-30. ClinicalTrials.govNCT0327854