Globalisation and Labour Markets.

In this thesis how labour markets are affected by globalisation is examined. The thesis takes the form of three chapters. The first chapter looks at the state of trade unions in Europe and how they have been affected by globalisation; the second chapter is theoretical in nature and shows how the increasing size of trade blocs and lower transport costs can help to explain the decline in trade union density; and the third chapter looks at how the ability of firms to locate production in more than one country can affect wages and unemployment. The first chapter describes trends related to trade unions in Europe, before examining how globalisation can affect trade unions and how trade unions may respond. Since the 1980s there has been a general decline in trade union density and strike activity. At the same time there has been an increase in globalisation. Although common explanations have been put forward for the decline of trade union density across European countries, no cointegration has been found between trends in trade union density. Despite declines in trade union density, unions have continued to be successful in gaining wage premia for their members. The increase in globalisation has been associated with an increase in the elasticity of demand for labour. This affects the employment/wage trade o_ faced by trade unions. There is also some evidence that multinationals can use their cross-border bargaining power to reduce wages. Unions have reacted to globalisation by cooperating internationally, but any progress towards cross border collective bargaining has been at best slow. A simple model is presented in the chapter in order to anticipate the issues discussed in chapters two and three. The model suggests that unions will be more likely to cooperate internationally if they are substitutes in production and if the reservation wage is low. The second chapter looks at how multinational enterprises (MNEs) can affect wages and unemployment. While the increase in international firm mobility has been well documented, its effects on macroeconomic aggregates and in the labour market are still controversial. MNEs benefit from an international outside option during wage bargaining, leading to a decrease in average wages. However, a strategic incentive to hire extra workers in a foreign (home) plant in order to reduce wages in the home (foreign) plant has an indirect positive effect on wages due to spillovers resulting from an increased demand for labour. In a framework of frictional unemployment, permitting MNEs leads to a decrease in unemployment. Abstracting from transport and plant fixed costs, MNEs lead to higher wages. However, including transport and plant costs generally leads to lower wages, though the effects are small. The strategic hiring effect is important in mitigating the fall in wages. Finally, in the third chapter a model is presented which shows how increased product market competition due to an increase in the size of trade blocs and a lower cost of transporting goods internationally can lead to a decline in trade union density. Increasing international product market competition harms unionised workers more than workers who bargain wages individually. This is as union wages are a function of average revenue but individually bargained wages are a function of marginal revenue. Increasing competition narrows the gap between average and marginal revenue. This lowers the incentive to be a member of a trade union, which leads to a fall in trade union density. Globalisation can lead to falling union density despite a stable union wage premium and increasing union wages.International economic integration; International trade; Labor market;International economic integration -- Europe; International trade -- Europe; Labor market -- European Union countries; Globalization -- Europe;

Year-class formation in Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) estimated from spawning-date distributions of juveniles in San Francisco Bay, California

Inter and intra-annual variation in year-class strength was analyzed for San Francisco Bay Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) by using otoliths of juveniles. Juvenile herring were collected from March through June in 1999 and 2000 and otoliths from subsamples of these collections were aged by daily otolith increment analysis. The composition of the year classes in 1999 and 2000 were determined by back-calculating the birth date distribution for surviving juvenile herring. In 2000, 729% more juveniles were captured than in 1999, even though an estimated 12% fewer eggs were spawned in 2000. Spawning-date distributions show that survival for the 2000 year class was exceptionally good for a short (approximately 1 month) period of spawning, resulting in a large abundance of juvenile recruits. Analysis of age at size shows that growth rate increased significantly as the spawning season progressed both in 1999 and 2000. However, only in 2000 were the bulk of surviving juveniles a product of the fast growth period. In the two years examined, year-class strength was not predicted by the estimated number of eggs spawned, but rather appeared to depend on survival of eggs or larvae (or both) through the juvenile stage. Fast growth through the larval stage may have little effect on year-class strength if mortality during the egg stage is high and few larvae are available

Internal iamin structures within G1 nuclei of human dermal fibroblasts

The nuclear lamina is a mesh-like network of fibres subjacent to the inner nuclear membrane that is believed to be involved in the specific spatial reorganisation of chromatin after mitosis. To determine how the lamina might be involved in chromatin reorganisation, we have performed indirect immunofluorescence studies on quiescent and proliferating human dermal fibroblasts (HDF). Two monoclonal antibodies recognising human lamins A and C and three different fixation methods were employed. In indirect immunofluorescence studies, cultures of quiescent cells displayed a uniform perinuclear distribution of the antibodies. In proliferating cultures two distinct populations of cells were observed: one population displayed a typical perinuclear antibody distribution, while the second population displayed an unusual pattern consisting of a series of spots and fibres within the nucleus. By inducing cell-cycle synchrony in cultures we were able to determine that the unusual internal distribution of the lamin antibodies was restricted to cells in G1. Optical sectioning and 3-D reconstruction of the lamina structures in G1 nuclei was performed with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). This revealed that the internal lamin structures consisted of small foci and fibres proliferating throughout the nucleus. These structures were shown to be closely associated with areas of condensed chromatin but not nuclear membrane. As cells progress towards S phase the internal lamin foci disappear

Challenging Our Assumptions: Playwrights and the Drama Curriculum

With drama taught in a growing number of Canadian schools, the drama curriculum requires refinement. In particular, the playwriting component lacks an authoritative rationale. My research highlights 145 Canadian playwrights’ views, some of which directly challenge assumptions in official curriculum documents and resource texts. Playwrights disagree with the use of teacher-assigned plots and fragmentary writing assignments. They also refute the widespread assumption that student writing may be graded after a first draft; playwrights consider revision an essential aspect of the writing experience and advise students to nurture a project through several revisions. They further hold that an opportunity for the writer to see her/his work performed is an essential element in the development of a student-written play. Comme de plus en plus de cours de théâtre sont dispensés dans les écoles canadiennes, il y lieu de raffiner le programme qui y a trait. Le volet dramaturgie, en particulier, manque de fondements théoriques qui feraient autorité. Dans cet article, l’auteur fait état des opinions de 145 dramaturges canadiens, dont certaines s’opposent directement aux hypothèses sur lesquelles reposent des programmes d’étude et des textes-ressources. Les dramaturges sont en désaccord avec l’utilisation d’intrigues données par l’enseignant et de travaux de rédaction fragmentaires. Ils réfutent en outre l’hypothèse très répandue selon laquelle les textes des élèves peuvent être évalués après un premier jet; les drama- turges considèrent en effet que la révision est une facette essentielle de la rédaction et conseillent aux élèves de remettre leur ouvrage sur le métier plusieurs fois. Ils soutiennent également qu’un élément essentiel du développement d’une pièce composée par un élève consiste en la chance de voir son oeuvre représentée.