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Using exogenous enrolment-based assignments to high school athletic associations, I analyse peer effects in single-sex cross-country running competitions. I find evidence of improvements after promotion to more competitive classifications for boys and the combined sample while detecting evidence of improvement for girls after relegation. Boys in the top quartile and girls in the second lowest quartile demonstrate the largest improvements after being promoted to a higher classification. Two-stage least-squares estimates provide some confirmation of the mechanism through which classification changes impact performance, but identification is complicated by the heterogeneous responses by quartile. Rather than attributing findings to heterogeneous behaviour, the disparity can plausibly be explained by rational responses to heterogeneity in the payoff structure as determined by larger college scholarship opportunities for girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vladimir Bazarov (1874–1939) tried to construct a monistic theory of cycles and crises on the basis of energy. His analysis of energy principles leads him, in a second step, to put the emphasis on productive forces and labour productivity, whose behaviour plays a determining role in the manifestation of both the cycle and the crisis. Finally, in empirical and statistical terms, the dynamics of labour productivity and of most of the economic series in Bazarov's model are considered to be the result of a moving stochastic equilibrium (different from the purely mechanic dynamic equilibrium). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of higher education graduates, labour productivity, and public expenditure on the wage share of GDP in Romania in the 42 Romanian NUTS 3 regions in the 2014-2021 period using a dynamic panel data model. The wage share, calculated as employee compensation divided by GDP, serves as a proxy for income inequality, though it does not reveal individual wage distribution. However, the impact on income inequality remains unclear. Increased public spending, particularly on social programmes, translates to a lower wage share indicating reduced income inequality in Romania's specific case. The relation between labour productivity and wage share is not significant because of the public sector wage policies that prioritize catching up to private sector wages or inflation, rather than reflecting actual productivity gains. By strategically investing in education, reforming the public sector, and fostering a productive business environment, Romania can leverage its educated workforce and public spending to achieve a more equitable and prosperous future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have proposed agroecology as a promising method for promoting sustainable and socially just agricultural production systems. However, the extent to which agroecological practices will generate the yields required to ensure sufficient food globally remains unclear. This notion is particularly true in the context of Africa, where agricultural productivity is low but levels of hunger and malnutrition are high. To address this knowledge gap, this article undertakes a systematic review of empirical studies to assess the overall status of agroecology-related research in Africa. Using descriptive and meta-analytical methods, we evaluate empirical evidence on the effect of agroecological practices on land and labour productivity. Our analysis of 501 peer-reviewed articles reveals that the body of agroecology-related literature in Africa has been growing in the past 10 years from approximately 10 to more than 70 studies per annum before and after 2014, respectively, with a strong focus on East Africa, particularly Kenya. The majority of the reviewed studies relate to but do not mention agroecology in the title or abstract. Thus, solely relying on studies that use the term may introduce bias and overlook valuable research contributions to the field. The meta-analysis could identify 39 agronomic studies with 392 observations in which agroecological practices were compared to monocrop systems (defined as plots where similar plants grow alongside each other simultaneously and sequentially from one season to the next) with or without inputs as the control groups. The meta-analysis indicates that agroecological practices are associated with a positive and significant difference in land productivity, compared to that for monocrop systems especially so when monocrops are grown without inputs. However, the size and direction of yield differs by practice, crop, climatic factor, soil property and type of control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper undertakes a rigorous examination of the convergence patterns of labour productivity at the regional and sectoral levels across Czech regions. In addition to conventional tests for β- and σ-convergence, we apply approach so as to model non-linearly and to allow for the various heterogeneity and transitional dynamics across regions. Our results reveal no evidence of convergence across the Czech Republic; rather, we discover widespread evidence of divergence supporting the existence of convergence clubs across regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents evidence of the impact of AI investment on firm growth and how the relationship is sensitive to labour market conditions. Using the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation on 1950 unique American firms over 1996–2016, we show that a 10% increase in AI investment leads to an increase in firm growth by 0.04%. However, this result is highly sensitive to labour market conditions, as labour productivity can positively impact firm growth, but labour cost and labour share negatively influence firm growth. These results offer original insights into an essential channel via which investment in AI may mediate firm growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies income shifting by European multinational enterprises as a potential source of mismeasurement in aggregate statistics, with a focus on labour productivity. We use firm level data to implement different types of formulary apportionments and to reattribute earnings among entities of multinational groups operating across the European Union (EU). The results suggest that income shifting affects the measurement of the output-per-worker in the corporate sector. Bottom-up approaches grounded in representative microdata can improve its computation.

The primary objective of this study was to forecast the labour productivity in Algeria's agricultural sector by the year 2030 using the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model. Quarterly data spanning from the first quarter of 1991 to the fourth quarter of 2021 were analyzed, identifying the SARIMA model (1, 1, 1) x (1, 1, 1, 4) as the most suitable for capturing seasonal variations and accurately fitting the historical data. The methodology utilized Python 3.11.5 for data processing and modelling, thus enabling a comprehensive analysis of the trends and patterns in Algerian agricultural labour productivity. The results obtained demonstrate robust and steady growth in the Algerian agricultural labour productivity attributable to advancements in farming techniques, technological innovations, and evolving market conditions. These findings highlight the critical role of accurate forecasting in effective policy-making and resource allocation. By providing insights into future productivity trends, the research supports the development of strategies aimed at enhancing the resilience and sustainability of the agricultural sector, particularly in the face of challenges posed by climate change and geopolitical tensions. The conclusion underscores the importance of leveraging predictive models such as SARIMA in informing agricultural policies and ensuring the long-term food security and economic stability in Algeria.

The purposes of the article are to study the content of labour productivity, generalise its main indicators, essence of constant trends manifested in the form of an economic law, disclose its forms of manifestation and ways to increase as well as to attract the attention of subjects of these processes to take regulatory measures. The object of the study is labour in the main link of the economy. The subject are political and economic, social and labour relations between participants of the production process regarding the increase in the labour productivity. Its methodological framework covers provisions explaining the nature of the continuity of labour processes based on the labour productivity. Its main sources are considered using the methods of scientific abstraction, comparison, logical, historical, causal, dialectical methods. Among the scientific results is the conclusion about the essence of the economic law of increasing productivity of social labour, about some properties of the forms of its manifestation, number of directions for accelerating the increase and continuity of the labour process. The scientific and practical significance of the article lies in the possible usefulness for the main link of the economy which corrects its own strategies and development programmes of authorities at various levels during the implementation of economic policy as well as of higher educational institutions of the country where economic theory and labour economics are taught.

Introduction. The existing principles of construction organization, based on early developments that do not take into account the current situation, to a large extent become an obstacle to the development of the construction industry. The current situation requires the introduction of new approaches in construction management, allowing to adapt to changing economic conditions, and contributing to a reduction in the duration of construction. The task of the study was to develop a project for the organization of work, which allows reducing the time for the construction of a monolithic floor from 14 to 6 working days. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the development of such combinations of various technological stages that made it possible to reduce the duration of construction without violating construction production technologies; to make decisions promptly in a specific situation and maintain full control over the consumption of building materials, possible losses and labour costs not aimed at fulfilling the main tasks, in order to improve the technical and economic indicators of construction.Materials and methods. Standard technological processes and regulatory documents were studied. It is revealed that the optimization of technological processes and the use of the principles of “lean construction” contributes to reducing labour costs and consumption of building materials, increasing productivity and improving quality; the development and implementation of technology depends on the final goal and task of the project, implies a sequence of decision-making.Results. In the course of the research, an algorithm for making specific decisions was developed. To achieve this goal, an analysis of the technology of monolithic housing construction was carried out, the moments that have a direct impact on increasing the duration of construction and possible losses were identified, and options for making changes that contribute to solving these problems were proposed.Conclusions. The proposed work organization system may have great potential in the future, despite its simplicity. The developed technical and technological solutions aimed at a lean attitude in production and organization of construction will greatly contribute to improving the competitiveness of construction companies, reducing the cost of production by reducing direct costs, increasing productivity and improving product quality. The stages of further implementation will be built entirely on the justification and development of a lean construction management model, and steps to implement this system, determining the area of responsibility of each participant.

Our study investigates the impact of China's 2011 Social Insurance (SI) Law on the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) of micro and small businesses (MSBs). Using the difference-in-differences (DiD) model, we found that the SI Law's implementation resulted in a significant decline in TFP levels within MSBs owing to increased social security contributions. Mechanism analysis indicates that the incremental costs cannot be shifted onto employees through wage adjustments or workforce reduction and curb firms' capital investments, subsequently affecting capital intensity and overall business productivity. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis underscores that the SI Law's effects on TFP are most pronounced in MSBs within the manufacturing sector, characterized by financial constraints, or situated in provinces with high enforcement intensity and greater factor market distortions. Further analysis reveals that the SI Law reduces labour productivity levels among MSBs, with the majority of the impact directly stemming directly from the SI Law, while the remaining effect is mediated through capital-labour intensity and TFP, respectively. Our study contributes to the existing literature by offering new insights from MSBs in an emerging market context, and the findings offer significant policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agriculture and food industry faces many challenges, including a shortage of skilled and seasonal workers, low productivity, and a demographic shift towards an ageing agricultural population. The agricultural productivity and efficiency of Central and Eastern European countries, including Hungary, are relatively low compared to that of Western Europe. This study explores the complex landscape of agricultural employment in Hungary by analysing its situation and challenges that are in line with international standards. Using national- and company-level data, the study applies an analytical framework comprising descriptive statistics and a non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test to explore patterns and trends in the sector's performance. In Hungary, more than 70% of farm managers are over 45 years old. Furthermore, despite the increase in the number of people with an agricultural education, around 150,000 farms still rely on experience-based management. We identify statistically verifiable and notable differences in the investigated indicators (sales revenue in proportion to number of employees, wage efficiency, personnel expenses per capita, assets value per capita) according to the founding period (pre-1989, 1989-2004, post-2004). The study concludes by arguing for generational change, better agricultural education and emphasis on the concentration of skills and capital within families as a sustainable solution, thereby addressing the complex challenges of the agricultural labour market and creating flexibility in the sector by attracting younger and educated people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation intermediaries for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that correct innovation system failures prevail globally. They help SMEs improve productivity through diffusion, creation and intermediation of knowledge. Empirical studies in the UK and the US matched comprehensive data of clients of innovation intermediaries with census data, performed causal inference after controlling for unobserved heterogeneity and selection bias, and confirmed their positive effects. Taking an example of the world's largest innovation intermediaries for SMEs, Kohsetsushi, this study established unbalanced panel data (2017–2022) from online questionnaire surveys and assessed productivity effects of Kohsetsushi by estimating the difference-in-differences model combined with propensity score matching. The results confirmed the overall productivity effect of Kohsetsushi services and heterogeneous treatment effects in terms of firm size, industries and spillover channels. Research and policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education is instrumental in developing skills that determine the level of labour productivity in an economy. This study cross‐examines the effect of inclusive education on labour productivity growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). The methodology involves the instrumental variable two‐stage least square (IV‐2SLS) with data collected for 48 SSA countries spanning between the years 2000–2021. The following results are arrived at: (i) Inclusive education significantly boosts labour productivity across all income groups. (ii) Pre‐primary, secondary and tertiary education significantly affect labour productivity more than primary education with the impact less evident in middle‐income countries. (iii) The impact of secondary and primary educational enrolments on labour productivity is greater in African countries that follow the French civil system compared to those under British common‐law jurisdiction. Based on the study findings, the following policy recommendations can be forwarded: SSA countries should design policies that improve the productive capacity of their workforce through the enhancement of inclusive education. In addition, more investments should be made in the educational sector to increase access to education and equitable opportunities for schooling for all, especially in Africa where the attainment rate has been relatively low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world has experienced rapid productivity growth in the last three decades, but has this growth reflected in wages? In theory, under certain conditions, workers earn their marginal product so that productivity growth feeds into wages on a one-to-one basis. Given the contradictory literature, this paper revisited the productivity–wage relationship in South Africa using an industry-level panel dataset comprising 74 industries observed between 1993 and 2023. Using several estimators, four main findings are observed. First, productivity is found to have grown faster than wages. Second, the observed productivity–wage divergence partly reflects the squeezing of workers for profits. Third, productivity growth mostly outpaced the wages of low-skilled workers, workers on short-term contracts, and informal workers. Fourth, productivity growth largely undermined take-home pay compared to fringe benefits. These results imply that although boosting productivity growth may be important, its achievement may not lead to broad-based wage gains in South Africa unless the government pursues policies that realign productivity and the pay of low-skilled workers, informal workers, and workers on short-term contracts. Such policies may include sector-based incentives for businesses that improve wage conditions, increased union support in high-growth industries, improved regulation of the informal sector, and vocational training for low-skilled workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erection of modularised shell structures with prestressed dry joints The exponential growth of concrete production in recent decades has led to a high raw material consumption and a large amount of CO2 emissions. To minimise the use of resources, material‐efficient structures such as shell structures, which are adapted to the distribution of forces, can be used as a basis. However, due to their curved geometry, these structures involve a complex construction process. Modular construction with industrially prefabricated concrete components can contribute to more efficient production and construction processes, combining the advantages of prefabrication with the benefits of material‐efficient load‐bearing structures. This article presents a concept for the modularisation of simply curved shell structures and demonstrates a method for the rapid erection of curved structures with prefabricated individual precast elements and prestressed dry joints. The feasibility is demonstrated by experimental investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of venture capital investments on the labour productivity of the European Union countries. Considering the fact that there is a lack of research on evaluating the effects of venture capital investments on labor productivity at the country level, the methodology designed in this article is used to assess heterogeneous impact of venture capital investments, which is determined by the innovative environment or financial development factors, on labour productivity in 25 EU countries. Panel data of 25 European Union countries were used for the regression analysis. The findings of the empirical study show that the volume of venture capital investments does not determine the growth of labour productivity in the analysed countries. Such results can be explained by the economic findings presented by other researchers. Some of the studies found that it is not venture capital investments that determine economic growth, innovation or technological development, but these economic phenomena increase venture capital investment. Based on statistical data, the greatest need for venture capital investments in Europe is in sectors that develop new technologies and in the information and communication technology sector. Therefore, the volume of venture capital investments in the analysed countries is too small at the macroeconomic level and their effect on labour productivity is manifested at the level of companies or specific sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article seeks to empirically reconcile two strands of research on the determinants of labour productivity growth: on one hand, the Kaldorian literature emphasises the role of autonomous demand; on the other hand, the Schumpeterian literature underscores the role of innovative investments. Specifically, we test two hypotheses. Firstly, we investigate whether demand shocks, private research intensity, and public R&D expenditure influence labour productivity when these variables are considered simultaneously. Secondly, we examine whether private research intensity is affected by demand shocks and public investments in innovation. We make use of a panel of 12 OECD countries spanning the period from 1986 to 2017. We combine the Local Projection approach with structural shocks estimated through Structural Vector Autoregressive modelling. Findings show a positive impact of government R&D investment, demand shocks, and private research intensity on labour productivity. Additionally, when examining the effects of demand shocks and innovative activities by the public sector on research intensity, the results affirm a positive impact of these variables, thus supporting the presence of the Schmooklerian demand-pull hypothesis. These results remain robust across various model specifications and different measures of labour productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history and output of industry is closely related to the concept of productivity. According to the analyses by economic historians, the successive industrial revolutions always generated a rapid increase in productivity. However, this growth was volatile until the next industrial revolution: peaks and valleys followed each other. From the end of the 2000s, industrial labour productivity in developed countries has been decreasing once again, despite the fact that a new technical and technological era started (industry 4.0). Statistical offices, economic research institutes and central banks pay special attention to changes in labour productivity and its measurement possibilities, with particular regard to the effects of changes in the economic structure. The authors focus in present study on industrial productivity in the appropriate areas, complemented by the aspect of labour productivity. In the course of the short- and long-term analyses of the topic, the authors examine the methods applied, the influencing factors, the connection with the sustainability of the economic output, and analyse domestic experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labour costs are a fundamental component of production expenses, significantly impacting both the quantity and quality of output. This study explores the determinants of labour costs within EU member states that have implemented minimum wage policies over the past two decades. The research technique includes a comprehensive panel analysis of EU member states to identify significant variables influencing labour costs, as well as cluster analysis to discover underlying patterns across the nations under examination. Our findings reveal that higher minimum wage levels, higher employment rates, increased labour productivity, and greater trade openness are positively correlated with higher labour costs. Specifically, increases in these variables lead to higher wages and a broader tax base, while greater trade openness results in elevated labour costs due to expanded market opportunities. Conversely, gross fixed capital formation negatively affects labour costs, as investments in production assets tend to reduce labour requirements or hours worked. The cluster analysis led to the identification of three distinct groups. The first cluster consists of well-developed economies with modest labour cost increases and average minimum wages. The second cluster includes countries with substantial labour cost increases, low minimum wages, and significant productivity gains. The third cluster features nations with high minimum wages and high employment rates. This paper contributes to the field by highlighting the complex interplay between labour costs and economic factors, offering insights for decision-makers to tailor macroeconomic and company-level strategies to specific local conditions. The findings emphasise the importance of balancing wage policies with sustainable economic development to enhance competitiveness while ensuring fair labour conditions.

In this era, technological advances benefit many aspects of work, including Human Resources Management (HRM). Implementing E-HRM helps organizations improve efficiency, reduce paper waste, and support sustainability principles. The study aims to examine the impact of E-HRM on Sustainability Performance, mediated by Labour Productivity and moderated by Organizational Agility. The research was conducted on MSMEs in Batam City, using a purposive sampling technique to obtain primary data from 200 respondents by distributing G-From questionnaires. The quantitative analysis method used is SmartPLS software. The research results of the hypothesis that shows a direct and significant positive effect on Sustainability Performance is Labor Productivity. Meanwhile, E-HRM implementation has a positive, not significant, effect on Sustainability Performance but has a positive, significant impact on Labour Productivity. The proven indirect research hypothesis is the relationship between E-HRM implementation and Sustainability Performance mediated by Labor Productivity. The theory that E-HRM implementation significantly positively affects Labour Productivity through moderation of organizational agility has yet to be proven. This research is expected to cover a broader range of research and can be used as a reference for other studies.

Improving labor productivity and per capita income are top priorities in Vietnam’s economic policy for the next decade. This study aims to explore the heterogeneous impacts of digital transformation, human capital, and trade openness on income and labor productivity in the Vietnamese economy from 1990 to 2018. The empirical results, obtained through the quantile regression method and Bayesian inference, unequivocally demonstrate that digital transformation and trade openness significantly promote labor productivity and income improvement. Moreover, the increase in human capital unequivocally enhances income and supports the rise in labor productivity. The Granger causality test reveals a uni-directional causality running from digital transformation to income and no causal relationship between digital transformation and labor productivity. Based on these findings, we recommend that the government and businesses should invest in and develop the Internet of Things (IoT), telecommunications, and network security infrastructure. These fundamental elements affect how well and successfully the digital transformation goes. Additionally, raising the caliber of the workforce ought to be taken into account.

Introduction. The attempt to solve the problem of labour productivity determination is made, the method of increasing it is considered. The representation of labour productivity in the form of a complex system, formed on the basis of the provisions of system engineering in construction, makes it possible to create a decomposition of its components in the form of factors and parameters influencing them.Materials and methods. Labour productivity as a complex construction system with a large number of subsystems forming it is considered. A mathematical model of labour productivity, formed from factors and parameters influencing them, makes it possible to determine the actual value of labour productivity.Results. The actual value of labour productivity is proposed to be compared with the normal value — the value that ensures the required labour productivity in construction, its individual type or even the production structure. The subsystems under study are taken as the main factors, each of them is taken as factors affecting labour productivity. Others can be added to them, for example, unification of design solutions or some other factors. Each of the listed factors is characterized by the parameters creating it. As well as the factors, the parameters creating them represent an open subsystem, the content of which is the subject of research. The result is the construction of a mathematical model of labour productivity.Conclusions. The solution of the direct problem — determination of the actual value of labour productivity based on the value of factors and the parameters influencing them can be carried out for comparison with the normal value of labour productivity and determination of the actual growth of labour productivity. The solution to the inverse problem is to achieve the target labour duration by assigning to the factors and parameters influencing them the values necessary to solve the task.

Labour costs are a fundamental component of production expenses, significantly impacting both the quantity and quality of output. This study explores the determinants of labour costs within EU member states that have implemented minimum wage policies over the past two decades. The research technique includes a comprehensive panel analysis of EU member states to identify significant variables influencing labour costs, as well as cluster analysis to discover underlying patterns across the nations under examination. Our findings reveal that higher minimum wage levels, higher employment rates, increased labour productivity, and greater trade openness are positively correlated with higher labour costs. Specifically, increases in these variables lead to higher wages and a broader tax base, while greater trade openness results in elevated labour costs due to expanded market opportunities. Conversely, gross fixed capital formation negatively affects labour costs, as investments in production assets tend to reduce labour requirements or hours worked. The cluster analysis led to the identification of three distinct groups. The first cluster consists of well-developed economies with modest labour cost increases and average minimum wages. The second cluster includes countries with substantial labour cost increases, low minimum wages, and significant productivity gains. The third cluster features nations with high minimum wages and high employment rates. This paper contributes to the field by highlighting the complex interplay between labour costs and economic factors, offering insights for decision-makers to tailor macroeconomic and company-level strategies to specific local conditions. The findings emphasise the importance of balancing wage policies with sustainable economic development to enhance competitiveness while ensuring fair labour conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses an enormous global challenge, particularly for human economic activities. Previous literature has paid limited attention to the impact of temperature change on domestic trade. To examine the nexus between temperature and domestic trade, we employ panel data from 285 Chinese cities from 2000 to 2021 and a spatial econometric model. First, we reveal significant spatial correlation between domestic trade between cities. More importantly, a city's domestic trade is found to be significantly influenced by temperature changes in neighbouring cities. Specifically, the significantly negative spillover effect of temperature changes on domestic trade is consistent with the significantly negative direct effect, suggesting an overall negative total effect. Temperature changes also have a cumulative impact on domestic trade. Labour productivity, population migration and meteorological disasters are the mechanisms through which temperature changes influence Chinese cities' domestic trade. Furthermore, the negative impact of temperature changes is more pronounced in the retail sector and in cities with low air–conditioning penetration. We provide city–level evidence of the relationship between climate change and economic activities from a new perspective of domestic trade, highlight the influential channels and confirm the role of temperature change in impeding the prosperity of domestic trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, Europe has experienced a significant slowdown in productivity, accompanied by rising regional inequalities. At the same time, the fragmentation of work and the rise of non-standard forms of employment have deeply reshaped labour markets. Through the analysis of an extensive database comprising data on regional labour markets and productivity trends, we investigate the relationship between non-standard work and labour productivity dynamics in European regions from 2004 to 2018. The findings highlight that increasing non-standard employment across regions is likely to negatively affect labour productivity growth. Moreover, to some extent, the spread of non-standard jobs, especially of permanent, yet involuntary, part-time positions, might contribute to the widening of regional disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assess the economic resilience of British subregions before, during and after the 2008 financial crisis. We apply our economic resilience scorecard to employment, output and productivity to assess the resilience dimensions of resistance, recovery and renewal. Our resulting scorecard ranks the South Eastern subregions and the Bristol/Bath region as having the highest economic resilience following the 2008 crisis, with Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire having the lowest. Further policy measures are discussed to build regional resilience in recovery from multiple crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, the European Union (EU) has made progress in reducing economic disparities between Member States. However, persistent differences in employment rates remain, prompting a concerted effort to foster economic development conducive to job creation. However, the previous research does not address the impact of labour productivity on the output-employment relationship. While they provide insights into the complex interplay between productivity, output, and employment, they do not comprehensively analyse how labour productivity affects the output-employment relationship. Using panel data from 27 EU countries and the UK over 2000-2022, we aim to evaluate whether economic growth led by increased productivity can enlarge employment when the complexity of interrelationships is specified in the model. While initial estimates using pooled OLS and 2SLS methods yield insignificant results, 3SLS estimates reveal a significant mediating effect of productivity on the output-employment nexus. The results imply that raising labour productivity can boost employment prospects during economic expansions. However, the mediating effect weakens during downturns, highlighting the need for multifaceted policy interventions. These findings provide crucial insights for policymakers navigating the complex and challenging dynamics of employment and economic growth in the EU context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on the sustainability of hospital care in The Netherlands from a labour market perspective. The continued increase in the demand for hospital care and the subsequent growth in the demand for hospital labour can cause permanent shortages of medical and nursing personnel, but can also affect labour conditions in other sectors of the economy. We analyse how the hospital sector put pressure on the labour market between 2000 and 2021 by applying a regression analysis to the share of hospital labour costs in the total economy on hospital production, wages and technical change. From the raw data, we observe a modest growth in hospital production over the whole research period. Strikingly, hospital wages underwent explosive growth compared to wages in other sectors of the economy in the same timeframe, seemingly disproving the hypothesis that hospital wages follow wages in other sectors. A worrisome result comes from the estimated Baumol parameter, which indicates that productivity growth in the hospital sector lagged significantly behind other sectors. This implies that the hospital sector, aside from developments in hospital care demand and hospital wages, is also causing a serious problem because of a low or negative productivity change. At this rate, we will stumble into the situation that the pressure of hospitals on the Dutch labour force will be doubled in the next decades. To avoid this situation, severe measures need to be taken, such as implementing incentives and sanctions to improve productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research delves into the effectiveness of Colombia's trade liberalisation process in boosting its exports at the industrial level. Based on an empirical workhorse approach to international trade, the gravity model, we evaluate the effect of trade openness on Colombian exports at the industrial level following the SITC4 categorisation. For this purpose, panel data on Colombian exports to all its trading partners between 2007 and 2020 were used. The results establish that Colombia's trade openness has boosted the exports of most of its industries, except for exports of the mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials group, which is a group of goods that represents the country's largest exports. Furthermore, the research also confirms the prominent impact of labour productivity in boosting Colombian exports of most product groups. Consequently, Colombian policymakers should support a re-composition of the Colombian export basket in order to take proper advantage of trade integration formulas, within a global energy transition framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labour productivity growth in the construction sector has been very weak in recent decades in most OECD countries. This paper addresses this issue based on a panel of 23 countries over the period 1995–2015. First, we use the Ackerberg, Caves, and Frazer (2015) method to propose a multifactor explanation for this lack of productivity growth: (i) average TFP growth is close to zero and even negative for most countries; (ii) average contributions to growth of capital and intermediate inputs are positive but weak, respectively of 0.05% and 0.90% per year, and much smaller than in the manufacturing sector over the same period (respectively of 0.40% and 3.10% per year). Then, we investigate whether reforms of regulations specific to the construction sector might boost productivity there. Using regulation indicators from the 'Doing Business Report', we find a negative impact of these regulations on TFP, but not on the intensities of capital and intermediate inputs. Our results suggest that reducing the construction sector regulations might bolster productivity: a switch to the lightest regulations would lead to a long-term TFP increase of 6% on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worsening joblessness in India is put forward here from the multiple and interconnected argumentative lens of formal-informal dichotomy by labour productivity differential, market size constraint, labour market flexibility, capital inflows, political constraint, corporate industrialization and welfare economic implications. In the process, the limitations of the classic developmental ideas of Kuznets, Lewis and Schumpeter are critiqued. Thereafter, an alternative policy framework is proposed to achieve economic development focused on employment, equity and environmental uplift. The paper shows how the massive unemployment problem can be managed in India's democratic set up by departing from conventional wisdom about industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the causes of structural change in Brazil, through the rise and the fall of the manufacturing industry, and the consequences for total factor productivity and manufacturing labour productivity, from 1947 to 2021. Our results show that the industrialization of the Brazilian productive structure is positively associated with expansions in infrastructure investments and with the pursuit of a competitive real exchange rate, that is, with policies oriented towards economic development. Our findings also indicate that such variables exert a direct influence on total factor productivity and manufacturing labour productivity and an indirect influence through their impacts on the Brazilian productive structure. Our conclusions suggest that an important cause of the Brazilian premature deindustrialization, and then of its poor performance in terms of total factor productivity and manufacturing labour productivity, is the adoption of policies not oriented towards economic development adopted since the neoliberal reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a detailed analysis of the position of agriculture among the bioeconomy sectors in the European Union and Romania, focusing on the recent period. It explores the National Competitiveness Strategy 2015-2020, which identified 10 economic sectors, including the 5 considered part of the bioeconomy. Using Eurostat statistical data and processing them through SPSS software, indicators such as minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation were calculated to highlight the evolution of this sector. In the EU, the bioeconomy generated around 17.2 million jobs and €664 billion in value added in 2020, with an increasing trend in value-added and a decreasing trend in jobs. Sectors with high potential, such as food, agriculture and wood products, have seen significant added value. Romania is presented as having a high potential to develop the bioeconomy, based on the diversity of natural resources. The bioeconomy has been found to have a significant presence in primary sectors such as agriculture and the food industry and can contribute to sustainable growth and job creation in the private sector. Agriculture is considered an important pillar of the bioeconomy ecosystem, by providing added value and creating employment opportunities. As of 2020, across the EU-27, the agriculture sector represented a high share of the value added in the bioeconomy, supporting the efforts to sustainable development and the efficient utilization of biological resources on European scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction sector plays a key role in economic development of a country, providing not only essential infrastructure, but also many jobs. In this context, the Romanian government has implemented in 2019 a series of fiscal measures aimed at stimulating growth and ensuring the financial sustainability of this crucial segment. The objective of this paper is to establish whether wage tax reductions for construction employees have contributed to economic growth, whether these tax incentives have provided the necessary support for the pursuit of the construction sector business during the Covid-19 pandemic and to what extent the managers of companies in this sector have been able to protect and even develop their business under these conditions. Macroeconomic analysis of the construction sector in Romania based on data provided by the National Institute of Statistics shows that these tax incentives have had a positive impact on the activity of construction companies. Annual increases in turnover, average number of employees and number of companies in the construction sector have occurred in each year of application of the tax facilities, although the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the pace of growth in 2020 and 2021. Even though many firms closed down or became insolvent due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the construction sector in Romania generated the highest share of Gross Value Added (GVA) compared to the rest of the European Union in 2022. The analysis carried out in the second part of this paper focused on the financial performance of five companies in the specialised construction sector (NACE code 4399) and showed significant increases in profitability and labour productivity in the period 2019-2022. The managers of these companies took full advantage of the tax facilities and managed to develop their business during this period, securing a stable position in the Romanian construction market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: This study aimed to assess labour productivity in the bioeconomy and the significance of this sector to the labour market in the member states of the European Union. Design/methodology/approach: The surveys were based on data retrieved from the EU Bioeconomy Monitoring System developed by the European Commission9s Joint Research Center for the years 2010-2020. The official classification of economic activity in Europe (NACE) was used. The analysis took into account the size and structure of employment, the percentage share of bioeconomy workers in the total workforce, and labour productivity. Findings: The study showed that in 2020 bioeconomy employed 16.5 million people in 27 EU member states, but in comparison to the year 2010, the rate of employment decreased by almost 14%. The agricultural and food sector, which from 2010 to 2020 employed 78.5% of bioeconomy workers, plays a predominant role in the market. Member states differ in the number and structure of bioeconomy workers, but also in labour productivity. Labour productivity leaders in the bioeconomy were Ireland, Belgium and Sweden, while the bio-based electricity sector was the most productive one. Agriculture achieved the lowest efficiency in utilising the labour factor, so countries with a high level of employment in agriculture also featured relatively low labour productivity in the bioeconomy. Practical and social implications: New conditions to which the European economy needs to adapt imply a need for the development and social acceptance of the bioeconomy. This also provides a rationale for further research taking into account new socio-economic conditions, including labour market conditions. Originality/value: The study fills the research gap in the assessment of the bioeconomy from the perspective of the labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of venture capital investments on the labour productivity of the European Union countries. Considering the fact that there is a lack of research on evaluating the effects of venture capital investments on labor productivity at the country level, the methodology designed in this article is used to assess heterogeneous impact of venture capital investments, which is determined by the innovative environment or financial development factors, on labour productivity in 25 EU countries. Panel data of 25 European Union countries were used for the regression analysis. The findings of the empirical study show that the volume of venture capital investments does not determine the growth of labour productivity in the analysed countries. Such results can be explained by the economic findings presented by other researchers. Some of the studies found that it is not venture capital investments that determine economic growth, innovation or technological development, but these economic phenomena increase venture capital investment. Based on statistical data, the greatest need for venture capital investments in Europe is in sectors that develop new technologies and in the information and communication technology sector. Therefore, the volume of venture capital investments in the analysed countries is too small at the macroeconomic level and their effect on labour productivity is manifested at the level of companies or specific sectors.