January 2019

19Jan

Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities

By Alain Bertaud An argument that operational urban planning can be improved by the application of the tools of urban economics to the design of regulations and infrastructure. Urban planning is a craft learned through practice. Planners make rapid decisions that have an immediate impact on the ground--the width of streets, the minimum size of land parcels, the heights of buildings. The language they use to describe their objectives is qualitative--"sustainable," "livable," "resilient"--often with no link to measurable outcomes. Urban economics,...

January 19, 2019
Books, Labor Market,
Read more...
19Jan

The Effect of Self-Employment on Income Inequality

By Stefan Schneck (Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn) It is well known that the self-employed are over-represented at the bottom as well as the top of the income distribution. This paper shifts the focus from the income situation of the self-employed to the distributive effects of a change in self-employment rates. With representative German data and unconditional quantile regression analysis we show that an increase in the proportion of self-employed individuals in the labor force increases income polarization by tearing...

January 19, 2019
Articles, Labor Market, Pension design, ,
Read more...
19Jan

Migration, Remittances and Brexit: European Labor Market Integration and Its Effects on Inequality and Convergence

By Pawel Langer (New York University) & Laszlo Tetenyi (New York University) The increase in migration from Eastern to Western Europe after their accession to the European Union (EU) in 2004 resulted in a large increase in remittances to New Member States (NMS) and were comparable in size to FDI or EU funds. This paper adds to the literature by analyzing the impact of remittances and migration jointly, rather than separately, on the integration of EU economies and their implications...

January 19, 2019
Articles, Labor Market, Savings, , , ,
Read more...
14Jan

The Vulnerability of Older Australians in Bankruptcy: Insights from an Empirical Study

By Lev Bromberg (The University of Melbourne), Ian Ramsay (Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne), Paul Ali (University of Melbourne - Law School; Centre for International Finance and Regulation)This article presents the results of the first empirical study focused on older Australians in bankruptcy. Our study — based on the examination of a large and unique dataset obtained by the authors from the bankruptcy regulator — provides a valuable insight into the severe financial challenges faced by many...

January 14, 2019
Aging, Articles, Labor Market, ,
Read more...
07Jan

Government Transfers, Work and Wellbeing: Evidence from the Russian Old-Age Pension

By Louise Grogan (University of Guelph - Department of Economics) & Fraser Summerfield (University of Aberdeen - Economics; CELMR; Rimini Center for Economic Analysis (RCEA)) This paper examines the impacts of a large and anticipated government transfer, the Russian old-age pension, on labor supply, home production and subjective wellbeing. The discontinuity in eligibility at pension age is exploited for inference. The 2006-2011 Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey is employed. Causal impacts differ across the sexes. Women reduce market work and appear...

January 7, 2019
Aging, Articles, Labor Market, Regulation, , ,
Read more...

December 2018

10Dec

The Future of Ageing in Europe: Making an Asset of Longevity

By Alan Walker This book provides the most comprehensive analysis available of the challenges created by Europe’s ageing population. Grounded in state-of-the-art scientific assessments by leading European researchers, the book is strongly policy focused. Indeed this book contains a detailed account of the policies required across a broad field, from economic sustainability and extending working lives, to healthy ageing, technological innovation, long term care and political citizenship, for the successful adaptation to the challenges of ageing in Europe and globally....

December 10, 2018
Aging, Books, Labor Market, ,
Read more...
10Dec

Human Movement Across Border: Key Ingredient Behind Thai Economy and the Future

By Akadet Chaichanavichakit (Waseda University, Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies) Over the past 50 years, immigration has become a strong force throughout the world. Economic opportunity is among one of the most important factors expediting migrant’s decision to move. The destination countries, which in general have relatively higher level of economic development, usually share the same characteristics of intense labor demands, aging population, and declining birth rate. Therefore, migrant workers have become an important, or even integral, part to...

December 10, 2018
Aging, Articles, Labor Market, , ,
Read more...
04Dec

Pension Reform and Return to Work Policies

By Maria Donovan Fitzpatrick For many people, working after beginning retirement benefit collection is a way to enhance financial security by increasing income. Existing research has shown that retirees are sensitive to the Social Security earnings test, which restricts the amount of earnings some beneficiaries can receive. However, little is known about the effects of other types of policies on post-retirement employment. Instead of restricting earnings, many public pension plans restrict the number of hours beneficiaries can work. I use...

December 4, 2018
Aging, Articles, Labor Market, Pension design, , ,
Read more...
04Dec

OECD Pensions Outlook 2018

The 2018 edition of the OECD Pensions Outlook examines how pension systems are adapting to improve retirement outcomes. It focuses on designing funded pensions and assesses how different pension arrangements can be combined taking into account various policy objectives and risks involved in saving for retirement. It looks at how countries can improve the design of financial incentives, and presents policy guidelines on aligning charges and costs of providing funded pensions. This edition also draws lessons from nationally significant investment...

December 4, 2018
Adequacy, Books, Corporate Governance, Labor Market, System Sustainability
Read more...
03Dec

Waiting on Retirement: Aging and Economic Insecurity in Low-Wage Work

By Mary Gatta America is witnessing a retirement crisis. As the labor market shifts to the gig economy and new strains restrict social security, the American Dream of secure retirement becomes further out of reach for up to half of the population. In Waiting on Retirement, Mary Gatta takes the case of restaurant workers to examine the experiences of low-wage workers who are middle-aged, aging, and past retirement age. She deftly explores the many factors shaping what it means to...

December 3, 2018
Aging, Books, Labor Market,
Read more...