Salary-Setting Mechanisms Across the EU

Eurofound has a considerable body of research findings looking at how salary levels are set in EU Member States. This report looks at the mechanisms used to determine statutory minimum wages, the use of variable pay schemes in companies in the EU, and national systems of supplementary pay. The analysis finds that variable pay usually represents a fairly significant percentage of total salary levels, ranging from 5% to 11% in most of the countries where information is available. This ad hoc report was drawn up in response to a request from the Bulgarian EU Presidency to provide information on current debates in the country

On the efficiency of Gini's mean difference

18 pages, 3 figures, 8 tables Acknowledgments We are indebted to Herold Dehling for introducing us to the theory of U-statistics, to Roland Fried for introducing us to robust statistics, and to Alexander Dürre, who has demonstrated the benefit of complex analysis for solving statistical problems. Both authors were supported in part by the Collaborative Research Centre 823 Statistical modelling of nonlinear dynamic processes.Peer reviewedPreprin

Environmental Health in Southern Nevada

There are a multitude of environmental factors that influence public health. The purpose of this manuscript is to evaluate the Southern Nevada community with respect to environmental conditions and health, including both positive and negative traits, and develop realistic goals and strategies aimed at improving these conditions. Southern Nevada is located in one of the most arid regions of North America. Since annual rainfall averages less than four inches per year, Southern Nevada depends upon the Colorado River for its water supply. It is predicted that water flow to the area will decrease by 5% to 20% by 2050. As a result, efforts to reduce consumptive water use (use of water that is permanently withdrawn and not returned to the source) were employed and have been effective at reducing consumptive water use by 21 billion gallons annually. Access to quality water is a fundamental determinant of health, and the water quality of Southern Nevada continues to meet safe drinking water standards set by the EPA. Air quality is another important determinant of population health and sustainability. Between 2009 and 2011, the region had 36 days in which the ozone levels were considered dangerous and 2 days in which the particulate pollution (PM 2.5) were considered dangerous. The six Criteria Air Pollutants defined in the Clean Air Act, have declined consistently in the region since the mid 1990’s. Due to the increase in population and changing landscape, parts of Southern Nevada are considered urban heat islands, or urban areas with higher temperatures than rural areas. On average, the regions temperature has risen four degrees Fahrenheit in four decades. Based on the existing conditions, a number of goals and strategies aimed at promoting environmental health and sustainability were developed as part of the Southern Nevada Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (SNvRPSD); a single, integrated and consolidated plan that will promote and guide sustainable regional development in Southern Nevada over the next 20 years

Employment and Economic Development in Southern Nevada

Wealth influences a person’s health. People who are higher on the socioeconomic scale tend to have better health outcomes. To improve the health of a community, it is important to understand the employment opportunities of the people living in the community. Southern Nevada’s economy was hit hard between 2008 and 2012. Unemployment rates in the region exceeded national and peer regions between during this time period. Construction; leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation and utilities; and professional and business service sectors experienced the greatest job loss during the recession. The Education and Health Services sectors did not experience a decrease in the number of employees during the recession. With the economic recession, Clark County experienced a decrease in tourism; however, activity in this sector increased in 2011 compared to 2010. All occupational categories are projected to have positive growth between 2010 and 2020 with a combined growth projection of 11.4% during the decade. The region’s working age population has a lower level of educational attainment compared to peer regions. This might be because 38.2% of occupations require less than a high school diploma and 43.1% require a high school diploma or equivalent in the region. The Education and Health Services industry sector did not experience a decrease in the number of employees during the recession and healthcare is one of the segments projected to have significant growth in the next decade

Community Health Indicators in Southern Nevada

Community design and access to services are essential components of healthy and sustainable communities. The purpose of this manuscript is to evaluate Southern Nevada with respect to community design and access, including both positive and negative traits, and to suggest realistic changes that could be made to improve these conditions. The region’s network of parks and open space recreation areas is one of its strongest assets. Clark County enjoys over 42 million acres of federal and state lands which offer a large variety of recreational opportunities. The region has an extensive trail system, with a total of 179 miles of off road and multiuse trails, as well as over 300 miles of biking infrastructure. There are 39 recreational facilities and 24 libraries throughout the region. There are, however, fewer park acres per capita than the nationally recommended level and disparate access to those parks for low income census tracts. Southern Nevada has some significant issues related to food access, with 16 food deserts in Clark County and over 17% of the population, and 26.9% of children, experiencing food insecurity. There are a total of 289 grocery stores, supermarkets, and club stores, 593 convenience stores, and 1,089 fast food outlets (USDA ERS, 2012). Of all restaurants in Clark County, 59% are classified as fast food. In 2012 Nevada ranked second in the nation for violent crimes and Clark County ranked third within the state. Based on the existing conditions, a number of goals and strategies aimed at creating a healthy and sustainable community were developed as part of the Southern Nevada Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (SNvRPSD); a single, integrated and consolidated plan that will promote and guide sustainable regional development in Southern Nevada over the next 20 years

Education and Educational Attainment in Southern Nevada

Failure to complete high school has a direct impact on a person’s earning potential and quality of life. Higher levels of education are associated with better health. Because of this association, it is important for children and adults to have access to quality education. The percentage of adults who have successfully pursued higher education in Southern Nevada is lower than the peer Mountain West metropolitan areas and the national average. Nevada high school graduation rates are the lowest in the nation. High school graduation rates and dropout rates vary by race/ethnicity in the Clark County School District. High school graduation rates for the Class of 2010 were the lowest for Native American/Alaskan Native, Black and Hispanic students. The highest graduation rates were for Asian and White students. Clark County ranks last in per pupil spending in Nevada. Clark County School District experienced budget cuts due to the economic recession. Cuts have resulted in increased pupil/teacher ratios. Southern Nevada has nine public and private universities or colleges and six career and technical institutions to support adult higher education and career development