Development and analysis of a modular approach to payload specialist training

A modular training approach for Spacelab payload crews is described. Representative missions are defined for training requirements analysis, training hardware, and simulations. Training times are projected for each experiment of each representative flight. A parametric analysis of the various flights defines resource requirements for a modular training facility at different flight frequencies. The modular approach is believed to be more flexible, time saving, and economical than previous single high fidelity trainer concepts. Block diagrams of training programs are shown

Training and Union wages

This paper investigates whether unions, through imposing wage floors that lead to wage compression, increase on-the-job training. Our analysis focuses on Germany. Based on a model of unions and firm-financed training, we derive empirical implications regarding apprenticeship training intensity, layoffs, wage cuts, and wage compression in unionized and nonunionized firms. We test these implications using firm panel data matched with administrative employee data. We find support for the hypothesis that union recognition, via imposing minimum wages and wage compression, increases training in apprenticeship programs

Unbundling the Degree Effect in a Job Training Program for Disadvantaged Youth

Government-sponsored education and training programs have the goal to enhance participants' skills so as to become more employable, productive and dependable citizens and thus alleviate poverty and decrease public dependence. While most of the literature evaluating training programs concentrates on estimating their total average treatment effect, these programs offer a variety of services to participants. Estimating the effect of these components is of importance for the design and the evaluation of labor market programs. In this paper, we employ a recent nonparametric approach to estimate bounds on the "mechanism average treatment effect" to evaluate the causal effect of attaining a high school diploma, General Education Development or vocational certificate within a training program for disadvantaged youth 16-24 (Job Corps) relative to other services pffered, on two labor outcomes: employment probability and weekly earnings. We provide these estimates for different demographic groups by race, ethnicity, gender, and two age-risk groups (youth and young adults). Our analysis depicts a positive impact of a degree attainment within the training program on employment probability and weekly earnings for the majority of its participants which in general accounts for 55 - 63 percent of the effect of the program. The heterogeneity of the key demographic subgroups is documented in the relative importance of a degree attainment and of the other services provided in Job Corps.Causal Inference, Treatment Effects, Mechanism Average Effects, Nonparametric Bounds, Potential Outcomes, Principal Stratification, Training Programs, Job Corps, Active Labor Market Policies, Labor and Human Capital, Public Economics, C14, I20, J01,

Long-acting reversible contraception use among residents in obstetrics/gynecology training programs

Background: The objective of the study was to estimate the personal usage of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) among obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) residents in the United States and compare usage between programs with and without a Ryan Residency Training Program (Ryan Program), an educational program implemented to enhance resident training in family planning. Materials and methods: We performed a web-based, cross-sectional survey to explore contraceptive use among Ob/Gyn residents between November and December 2014. Thirty-two Ob/Gyn programs were invited to participate, and 24 programs (75%) agreed to participate. We divided respondents into two groups based on whether or not their program had a Ryan Program. We excluded male residents without a current female partner as well as residents who were currently pregnant or trying to conceive. We evaluated predictors of LARC use using bivariate analysis and multivariable Poisson regression. Results: Of the 638 residents surveyed, 384 (60.2%) responded to our survey and 351 were eligible for analysis. Of those analyzed, 49.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44.1%, 54.5%) reported current LARC use: 70.0% of residents in Ryan Programs compared to 26.8% in non-Ryan Programs (RRadj 2.14, 95% CI 1.63-2.80). Residents reporting a religious affiliation were less likely to use LARC than those who described themselves as non-religious (RRadj 0.76, 95% CI 0.64-0.92). Of residents reporting LARC use, 91% were using the levonorgestrel intrauterine device. Conclusion: LARC use in this population of women's health specialists is substantially higher than in the general population (49% vs. 12%). Ob/Gyn residents in programs affiliated with the Ryan Program were more likely to use LARC

Would active labor market policies help combat high U.S. unemployment?

Two years after the end of the 2007-09 recession, the unemployment rate in the United States remains above 9 percent - roughly double its pre-recession level. ; Nie and Struby analyze the cyclical and structural components of this elevated level of unemployment, active and passive labor market policies, and how the policies are utilized in the United States and 20 Organization for Economic Cooperation Development countries. ; The analysis finds that two active programs can be particularly effective: training programs that equip unemployed workers with skills that are in demand and job-search assistance that matches unemployed workers with employers. These findings - together with evidence that the U.S. labor market currently suffers from a certain amount of structural unemployment - suggest that the United States could benefit from more training programs and job-search assistance.

Measuring the Impacts of Improving Research Capacity: The Case of Training in Wheat Disease Resistance

It is notoriously difficult to assess the economic value of research aimed at improving research capacity, particularly in enhancing human capital. In this paper, a framework is developed and an analysis is undertaken of the value of training for scientists in wheat rust resistance in India. The value of the training is assessed through marginal analysis of the improvement in the level of disease resistence flowing from the increased capacity. On that basis, the value of programs to build human capacity through training or further education can be estimated. While such estimates need to be highly qualified, they provide a basis for quantifying the value of R&D capacity building.capacity building, training, economic, rust, wheat, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Six Districts Begin the Principal Pipeline Initiative

This first report of an ongoing evaluation of The Wallace Foundation's Principal Pipeline Initiative describes the six participating school districts' plans and activities during the first year of their grants. The evaluation, conducted by Policy Studies Associates and the RAND Corporation, isintended to inform policy makers and practitioners about the process of carrying out new policies and practices for school leadership and about the results of investments in the Principal Pipeline Initiative. This report is based on collection and analysis of qualitative data, including the districts' proposals, work plans, and progress reports and semi-structured interviews in spring 2012 with 91 administrators employed by districts and their partner institutions. Leaders in all districts report wanting to enlarge their pools of strong applicants for principal positions and to identify and cultivate leadership talent as early as possible in educators' careers.Districts are actively working on allrequired pipeline components: (1) with stakeholder participation, they have developed standards and identified competencies for principals, which they plan to use to guide principal training, hiring, evaluation, and support; (2) they are initiating or strengthening partnerships with university training programs; (3) for hiring, they have standard performance tasks and are developing systems to capture data on candidates' experience; (4) they have diagnostic evaluation tools and are working to build the capacity of principals' supervisors and mentors to support principals' skill development. In addition, all are also bolstering district-run training programs for graduates of university training programs who aspire to become principals

Active labour market policies and job tenure

In this paper, we study the effect of subsidised on-the-job training, training for the unemployed and pure wage subsidies on the probability of leaving an employer. We base the analysis on a sample of unemployed workers who have been hired during the 1991-92 period. Since individuals benefiting from the policy were over represented in the sample, we face an endogenous sampling problem apart from the well known selectivity problem in evaluation analysis. The analysis deals with these two issues simultaneously. We find that each of the labour market policies increases the length of job tenure. Yet, in line with the literature (Lalonde 1986, Fraker and Maynard 1987), the magnitude and the significance of this effect depend crucially on the parametric assumptions in the model. Nevertheless, one robust conclusion is that subsidised on-the-job training schemes significantly decrease the incidence of job termination. We claim that this result supports Stevens' (1994, 1996) hypothesis of transferable training and consequently of the underprovision of training by the market. Training programs for the unemployed and pure wage subsidies only have an important positive but non significant effect on job tenure. We argue that the stated effect of training programs provides weak support for human capital theories as opposed to matching theories in the explanation of job turnover.

An Evaluation of the Swedish Active Labor Market Policy: New and Received Wisdom

About 3% of GNP is spent on government labor market programs in Sweden, compared to 2% in Germany and less than 0.5% in the U.S. In Sweden these programs include extensive job training, public sector relief work, recruitment subsidies, youth programs, mobility bonuses, and unemployment benefits. Using county-level data, we provide new evidence that public relief workers displace other workers, especially in the construction sector. Our review of the previous literature suggests that job training programs have small effects on wages and re-employment in Sweden, but precise inferences are difficult because of small sample sizes. We also investigate alternative reasons for the stability of the Beveridge Curve in Sweden, and compare regional evolutions of employment and unemployment in Sweden and the U.S. Lastly, we present cross-country analysis for 1993 which, contrary to studies that use earlier data, shows that the extent of a country's active labor market programs is positively associated with the national unemployment rate.

Active labor market programs: a review of the evidence from evaluations

The study reports evidence based on recent evaluation of active labor market programs, in developed countries, as well as on developing, and transition economies. While a number of unresolved technical issues, and a variety of data problems in specific surveys, and administrative information, tend to affect reliability for guiding public policy, some generalizations about active labor programs can be made. These programs reveal that public works programs can help disadvantaged groups, providing poverty/safety nets, but are ineffective instruments, in the pursue of permanent employment, whereas, job search assistance has positive impacts, and is cost-effective, although this assistance does not seem to improve employment, nor wages. In addition, training for long-term unemployed, may be helpful under an improving economy, but cost-effectiveness is usually disappointing, and, retraining has proven to be more expensive, and ineffective than job search assistance. Likewise, youth training provides no positive impact on employment prospects, and cannot be a substitute to education systems failures. Micro-enterprise development, and wage subsidy programs are usually associated with displacement effects, unlikely to have positive impacts. Modest programs, sound impact evaluation techniques, and cost-effectiveness are strongly recommended.Environmental Economics&Policies,Poverty Impact Evaluation,ICT Policy and Strategies,Labor Standards,Poverty Monitoring&Analysis