The effect of local labour market conditions on the decision to migrate among UK graduates

Using Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) "first destinations " data we model two key aspects of individual?s higher education experience. First, we explore where UK university entrants choose to study and what factors influence the decision to migrate to another region to study. We are particularly interested in looking at how socio-economic background influences institutional choice for North East residents. The HESA data includes postcode information for the individual?s residence immediately prior to entering HE. Having full postcodes enables us to "super-profile" the individuals, which allows us to make inferences about their backgrounds, including the conditions in their local labour market. Second, we explore the subsequent post-graduation transition into work, looking at how regional mobility influences occupational outcomes. In particular, we are interested in determining the extent to which the "best" graduates are geographically mobile. The inclusion of full postcode data in the HESA data also allows us to look at the exogonous effects of local unemployment rates in the location where the individual studied and also in the location where the individual resides, to determine how this effects the migration decision. Econometric modelling in this context uses the "Mover-Stayer" model with our exogonous data aiding formal identification via exclusion restrictions. After modelling the migration decision, we estimate the economic returns to migration. Using longitundinal data on a sample of approximately 15,000 UK graduates from 1985 and 1990, we estimate earnings equations with the inclusion of a range of mobility questions included as regressors. In particular, we are interested in determining the importance of an early move on one?s future earnings. These are particularly important questions for the UK, where graduate opportunities differ considerably from region to region. One of the principal benefits of increased participation in higher education is a more skilled labour market. However, the distribution of these skills is not equal across regions and one of the principal reasons for this is a lack of opportunity to put these skills to use. Furthermore, our results will have increasing relevance to the higher education system as a whole since it is anticipated that changes in the fees system will cause a large increase in the propensity to go to one?s local university.

How are population-based funding formulae for healthcare composed?

Population-based funding formulae act as an important means of promoting equitable health funding structures. To evaluate how policy makers in different jurisdictions construct health funding formulae and build an understanding of contextual influences underpinning formula construction we carried out a comparative analysis of key components of funding formulae across seven high-income and predominantly publically financed health systems: New Zealand, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, the state of New South Wales in Australia, the Canadian province of Ontario, and the city of Stockholm, Sweden.Methods Core components from each formula were summarised and key similarities and differences evaluated from a compositional perspective. We categorised approaches to constructing funding formulae under three main themes: identifying factors which predict differential need amongst populations; adjusting for cost factors outside of needs factors; and engaging in normative correction of allocations for ‘unmet’ need. Results We found significant congruence in the factors used to guide need and cost adjustments. However, there is considerable variation in interpretation and implementation of these factors. Conclusion Despite broadly similar frameworks, there are distinct differences in the composition of the formulae across the seven health systems. Ultimately, the development of funding formulae is a dynamic process, subject to availability of data reflecting health needs, the influence of wider socio-political objectives and health system determinants

The effect of local labour market conditions on the decision to migrate among UK graduates

Using Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) "first destinations " data we model two key aspects of individual?s higher education experience. First, we explore where UK university entrants choose to study and what factors influence the decision to migrate to another region to study. We are particularly interested in looking at how socio-economic background influences institutional choice for North East residents. The HESA data includes postcode information for the individual?s residence immediately prior to entering HE. Having full postcodes enables us to "super-profile" the individuals, which allows us to make inferences about their backgrounds, including the conditions in their local labour market. Second, we explore the subsequent post-graduation transition into work, looking at how regional mobility influences occupational outcomes. In particular, we are interested in determining the extent to which the "best" graduates are geographically mobile. The inclusion of full postcode data in the HESA data also allows us to look at the exogonous effects of local unemployment rates in the location where the individual studied and also in the location where the individual resides, to determine how this effects the migration decision. Econometric modelling in this context uses the "Mover-Stayer" model with our exogonous data aiding formal identification via exclusion restrictions. After modelling the migration decision, we estimate the economic returns to migration. Using longitundinal data on a sample of approximately 15,000 UK graduates from 1985 and 1990, we estimate earnings equations with the inclusion of a range of mobility questions included as regressors. In particular, we are interested in determining the importance of an early move on one?s future earnings. These are particularly important questions for the UK, where graduate opportunities differ considerably from region to region. One of the principal benefits of increased participation in higher education is a more skilled labour market. However, the distribution of these skills is not equal across regions and one of the principal reasons for this is a lack of opportunity to put these skills to use. Furthermore, our results will have increasing relevance to the higher education system as a whole since it is anticipated that changes in the fees system will cause a large increase in the propensity to go to one?s local university

Playoff Uncertainty, Match Uncertainty and Attendance at Australian National Rugby League Matches

This paper develops a new simulation-based measure of playoff uncertainty and investigates its contribution to modelling match attendance compared to other variants of playoff uncertainty in the existing literature. A model of match attendance that incorporates match uncertainty, playoff uncertainty, past home-team performance and other relevant control variables is fitted to Australian National Rugby League data for seasons 2004-2008 using fixed effects estimation. The results suggest that playoff uncertainty and home-team success are more important determinants of match attendance than match uncertainty. Alternative measures of playoff uncertainty based on points behind the leader, although more ad hoc, also appear able to capture the effects of playoff uncertainty.playoff uncertainty, match uncertainty, sports league attendance, Australian National Rugby League, fixed effects estimation

Hand sanitisers for reducing illness absences in primary school children in New Zealand: a cluster randomised controlled trial study protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>New Zealand has relatively high rates of morbidity and mortality from infectious disease compared with other OECD countries, with infectious disease being more prevalent in children compared with others in the population. Consequences of infectious disease in children may have significant economic and social impact beyond the direct effects of the disease on the health of the child; including absence from school, transmission of infectious disease to other pupils, staff, and family members, and time off work for parents/guardians. Reduction of the transmission of infectious disease between children at schools could be an effective way of reducing the community incidence of infectious disease. Alcohol based no-rinse hand sanitisers provide an alternative hand cleaning technology, for which there is some evidence that they may be effective in achieving this. However, very few studies have investigated the effectiveness of hand sanitisers, and importantly, the potential wider economic implications of this intervention have not been established.</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>The primary objective of this trial is to establish if the provision of hand sanitisers in primary schools in the South Island of New Zealand, in addition to an education session on hand hygiene, reduces the incidence rate of absence episodes due to illness in children. In addition, the trial will establish the cost-effectiveness and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the intervention in this setting.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>A cluster randomised controlled trial will be undertaken to establish the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of hand sanitisers. Sixty-eight primary schools will be recruited from three regions in the South Island of New Zealand. The schools will be randomised, within region, to receive hand sanitisers and an education session on hand hygiene, or an education session on hand hygiene alone. Fifty pupils from each school in years 1 to 6 (generally aged from 5 to 11 years) will be randomly selected for detailed follow-up about their illness absences, providing a total of 3400 pupils. In addition, absence information will be collected on all children from the school rolls. Investigators not involved in the running of the trial, outcome assessors, and the statistician will be blinded to the group allocation until the analysis is completed.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ACTRN12609000478213</p

Apprenticeship, Vocational Training and Early Labor Market Outcomes - In East and West Germany

We study the returns to apprenticeship and vocational training for three early labor market outcomes all measured at age 25 for East and West German youths: non-employment (i.e., unemployment or out of the labor force), permanent fulltime employment, and wages. We find strong positive effects of apprenticeship and vocational training. There are no significant differences for different types of vocational training, minor differences between East and West Germany and males and females, and no significant changes in the returns over time. Instrumental variable estimations confirm the regression results. The positive returns hold up even in poor labor market situations

How Job Changes Affect People's Lives Evidence from Subjective Well-Being Data

For representative German panel data, we document that voluntary job switching is associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, though only for some time, whereas forced job changes do not affect life satisfaction clearly. Using plant closures as an exogenous trigger of switching to a new employer, we find that job mobility turns out to be harmful for satisfaction with family life. By investigating people's lives beyond their workplaces, our study complements research on the well-being impact of labour mobility, suggesting some positive welfare effects of flexible labour markets, but also a previously undocumented potential for negative implications

The Role of International Medical Graduates in the Provision of Physician Services in Atlantic Canada

The growing shortage of physicians in Canada is the result of a number of factors. These include changes in policy, an aging population and a group of practicing physicians nearing retirement. Canada has always recruited International Medical Graduates. The problems faced by physicians immigrating to the Atlantic Provinces are discussed as well as policy alternatives which will assist in remedying the shortages. Areas for further research are identified