805 research outputs found

    THE OMC IN THE EUROPEAN EMPLOYMENT POLICY: BRINGING SOCIALISATION IN

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    This paper argues in favour of a more thorough analysis of a specific set of dynamics taking place in the Open Method of Coordination (OMC), the latter being conceived as an informal organizational framework aimed at mutual learning (de Burca and Zeitlin, 2003) and policy change (Dolowitz and Marsh, 2000; Radaelli, 2000). The aim of this paper is to uncover the missing link between these two elements, which has hitherto been black-boxed by the literature. Theoretical tools from International Relations (IR) theories (i.e. constructivist institutionalism) are borrowed in order to circumvent such a fallacy. The premises are the same as the ones hitherto employed by scholars studying the OMC (e.g. Jacobsson, 2004): can norms and values assume a binding character even outside the ‘territorially bounded democratic government’ (Héritier and Lehmkuhl, 2008) and thus leading to policy change? If so, how does this phenomenon take place? Nevertheless, the approach is different, in that it builds on two closely interrelated factors: the concept of socialisation with its micro-processes (Johnston, 2001; Johnston, 2008) and the institutional characteristics of social environments (Rogowski, 1999). Accordingly, this paper will address the question: is the OMC in European employment policy a social environment conducive of socialisation?Open Method of Coordination, mode of governance, policy learning, socialisation Romania

    Relatedness, Coherence, and Coherence Dynamics Empirical Evidence from Italian Manufacturing

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    This paper investigates the determinants of coherence and coherence change using a sample of Italian leading firms in the period 1993-1996. Following a methodology developed by Teece et al (1994), the observed diversification patterns of our sample firms provide the information required to construct an index of relatedness between pair of sectors, which is in turn used to obtain a measure of firm’s coherence. The econometric analysis highlights that relatedness is higher when sectors share similar technological and marketing characteristics, and when they are positioned at different stages of the productive chain. Analogously, coherence is higher for firms active in industries characterised by similar R&D intensities and exploiting vertical integration links. Firms which enter the group of top 5 leaders are more coherent than the average. From a dynamic perspective, we find that coherence increases for firms with main activities in sectors which are expected to be more affected from EU integration. Finally, the results show that a deepening of vertical integration strategies is good for coherence change, while an increase of diversification brings a reduction in coherence.relatedness, coherence, diversification

    Export Premia and Sub-Contracting Discount. Passive Strategies and performance in Domestic and Foreign Markets

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    This paper contributes to the literature on firms’ productivity and exporting decisions by analysing the role played by organizational choice aspects. Rather than setting up a vertically integrated structure, manufacturers may act as subcontractors in both domestic and foreign markets, and produce to satisfy the requirements of other firms. A very simple model is presented where the most productive firms self-select into exporting, while the least productive ones work as sub-contractors serving the domestic market only. These predictions are tested using a sample of Italian firms observed in the 1998-2003 period. The results of our estimates highlight a ranking of firms consistent with a priori expectations, and provide a clear indication that passive exporters (i.e. using sub-contracting in foreign markets)display lower TFP values as compared to direct exporters. Moreover, only the latter category exhibits higher pre-entry productivity levels and growth rates as well as higher post-entry TFP growth rates. Such findings are consistent with both the self-selection hypothesis and the learning by exporting explanation.Export Premia, Sub-contracting Discount, Total Factor Productivity, Firm Heterogeneity

    Firm Diversification in the European Union: New Insights on Return to Core Business and Relatedness

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    According to ex-ante expectations, one effect of the increased competitive pressure within the Single Market was to drive firms to reduce diversification and refocus on their core business. This paper addresses two main questions: the extent and the purpose of multi-product strategies. Using a large database of 223 leading manufacturing firms in the EU, we document whether EU leaders reduced diversification over the decade 1987-1997. We then investigate if firms have de-diversified by re-focussing around a core of related activities, testing for alternative measures of "core" and "relatedness". Our results confirm that firms readjusted corporate structures around one (or more) core(s) of related activities.Firm diversification, European integration, Return to Core

    Mother-young recognition in an ungulate hider species: A unidirectional process

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    This version is the final, definitive version of this article. Mother‐Young Recognition in an Ungulate Hider Species: A Unidirectional Process. Marco V. G. Torriani, Elisabetta Vannoni, and Alan G. McElligott The American Naturalist , Vol. 168, No. 3 (September 2006), pp. 412-420 Published by: The University of Chicago Press for The American Society of Naturalists Article DOI: 10.1086/50697

    The influence of Free-Trade on the environmental effects of transportation. Scale-, Technique- and Composition-Effects

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    The changeover from a situation of Autarky to a situation of Free- Trade alters the trade and production patterns of the participating countries which in turn affects the transportation-sector. The amount of transported goods and the directions of the good-flows change. Profit-oriented shipping companies can and do respond to these changes by selecting adequate means and modes of transport for different routes and by building-up or restructuring a transportation-network. These changes affect the corresponding level of pollution from transport. We distinguish a scale effect which evolves from a higher frequency of transportation movements with an unchanged infrastructure of transportation, a technique effect which results by increasing the load per movement and a less than proportional increase in pollution per distanceunit and a composition effect which reflects an increase load per movement and a constant or decreasing pollution per distance-unit. Adding up all three effects could eventually lead to a lower pollution level in a situation with Free-Trade than with Autarky

    Increasing Market Interconnection: An analysis of the Italian Electricity Spot Market

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    In this paper we estimate the benefits resulting from interconnecting the Italian electricity spot market. The market is currently divided into two geographic zones – North and South – with limited interzonal transmission capacity that often induces congestion, and hence potential inefficiency. By simulating a fully interconnected market, we predict that the total spot market expenditure would reduce substantially. Moreover, since savings do not increase linearly with the size of new transmission capacity, even a slight increment to transmission capacity is found to bring substantial benefits to end users. Finally, our analysis shows that the (partly State owned) dominant firm in the market is not maximizing short-term profits.Transmission constraints, zonal pricing, congestion, electricity industry

    Hospital Industry Restructuring and Input Substitutability: Evidence from a Sample of Italian Hospitals

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    In this paper we investigate the economic rationality of the bed downsizing process characterising the hospital industry worldwide in the last decades, providing new evidence on the factor substitutability in the production of hospital services. We consider a sample of Italian regional producers and – differently from other studies – estimate a general cost function model, namely the Generalised Composite, firstly introduced by Pulley & Braunstein (1992). Alternative cost function specifications (included Translog) are estimated jointly with their associated input cost-share equations. For all models we derive Allen, Morishima and Shadow elasticities of substitution between input pairs, obtaining a fairly consistent picture across all specifications and elasticity concepts. More precisely, our results suggest a very limited degree of substitutability between factors in the production of hospital services (in particular, between beds and medical staff). These findings, consistent with previous evidence in the literature, suggest that a restructuring policy of the hospital industry which is confined to limiting the number of beds could not be a viable strategy for controlling the increase in public health care expenditure.Public health care expenditure, Hospital industry downsizing, Input substitutability
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