COVID-19 impact on job losses in Portugal: who are the hardest-hit?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Sofia Lopes ◽  
Pedro Carreira

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic caused job losses to rise dramatically. Herein, the purpose of the article is to identify which personal and job characteristics make individuals more vulnerable or more resilient to COVID-19 unemployment in Portugal and thus to help policymakers, organizations and individuals themselves, in creating mechanisms to avoid unemployment within this new context.Design/methodology/approach Using extensive personal and job-related data on the complete population of newly unemployed in Portugal over several months after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, a logit model is estimated to identify the characteristics that make workers more resilient or more vulnerable to COVID-19 unemployment, in comparison with the pre-crisis period.Findings The COVID-19 crisis is shown to be disruptive by changing the unemployment structure, increasing socioeconomic inequalities and weakening traditional mechanisms of employment protection. Additionally, the authors identify a higher vulnerability of low-skilled individuals and of those in occupations with low working-from-home feasibility and/or from non-essential sectors (particularly tourism).Practical implications Policy indications are given aiming to protect the most vulnerable individuals, sectors and regions in Portugal, in this new and unprecedented context.Originality/value A seven-month period following the emergence of the pandemic is considered, which allows investigating both the immediate and the medium-term effects of the COVID-19 crisis on job losses. Additionally, by matching data from three different sources, an extensive set of multilevel variables is considered, some of them new in the literature.

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-339
Author(s):  
Weizhuo Wang ◽  
Christopher Gan ◽  
Zhiyou Chang ◽  
David A. Cohen ◽  
Zhaohua Li

Purpose This paper aims to develop and estimate a logit model of whether homeownership could be promoted by participation in and use of the Housing Provident Fund (HPF) program, with a focus on factors that influence the use of HPF loans. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops and estimates a logit model of whether homeownership could be promoted by participation in and use of the HPF program, with a focus on factors that influence the use of HPF loans. Findings The results show that coefficients of marital status, educational level, age, duration of employment and employer are significantly related to the use of HPF loan for homeownership. Research limitations/implications Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Practical implications The research findings provide a better understanding of homeowners’ characteristics. Originality/value To manage the HPF program effectively, it is important for government to have a better understanding of the underlying demand for homeownership, especially with respect to the different demographic variables and accessibility to HPF loans and the HPF.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-544
Author(s):  
Li Li ◽  
Mary Ma ◽  
Victor Song

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of audit client importance on future bank risk and systemic risk in US-listed commercial banks. Design/methodology/approach The authors use archival research method. Findings The authors mainly find that client importance is negatively related with future bank-specific crash risk and distress risk, and also with sector-wide systemic crash risk and systemic distress risk in the future. The authors also report some evidence that these relations become more pronounced during the crisis period than during the non-crisis period. Moreover, the effect of client importance on systemic risk is found to strengthen in banks audited by Big-N auditors, by auditors without clients who restate earnings, and by auditors with more industry expertise. Research limitations/implications These findings contribute to the auditing and systemic risk literature. Practical implications This study has implications for regulating the banking industry. Originality/value This study provides original evidence on how client importance affects bank-specific risk and systemic risk of the banking industry.


2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 10-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuti Saxena

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to appreciate the futuristic trends of Big and Open Linked Data (BOLD). While designating the ongoing progress of BOLD as BOLD 0.0, the paper also identifies the trajectory of BOLD 0.0 as BOLD 1.0, BOLD 2.0 and BOLD 3.0 in terms of the complexity and management of data sets from different sources. Design/methodology/approach This is a viewpoint and the ideas presented here are personal. Findings The trajectory of BOLD shall witness ever-growing challenges as the nature and scope of data sets grow complicated. The paper posits that by the time BOLD would attain its maturity, there would be a need for newer technologies and data architecture platforms which are relatively affordable and available as “Open Source”, if possible. Research limitations/implications Being exploratory in approach, this viewpoint presents a futuristic trend, which may or may not be valid. Nevertheless, there are significant practical implications for the academicians and practitioners to appreciate the likely challenges in the coming times for ensuring the sustainability of BOLD. Originality/value While there are a number of studies on BOLD, there are no studies which seek to propose the possible trends in BOLD’s progress. This paper seeks to plug this gap.


Author(s):  
Morten Kamp Andersen

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the question: human capital analytics (HR analytics) – are we there yet? It will seek to clarify what is meant by “being there yet” and it will argue that the most positive proponents for this field are way too optimistic about the current state and what impact it will have on HR in the short-to-medium term but that the long-term outlook remain positive for the field. Design/methodology/approach This is a viewpoint paper and the conclusions draw upon the author’s experience in the field. Findings It has been widely acknowledged that HR analytics is still a fairly immature field and has not yet reached its full potential. In this viewpoint, the author argues that the most positive proponents for this field are way too optimistic about the current state and what impact it will have on HR in the short-to-medium term but that the long-term outlook remains positive for the field. The author names four main reasons why HR analytics is still in its infancy: maturity, mindset, organization and competencies. Practical implications If these four aspects are addressed, the HR analytics function will be able to contribute much more to HR’s role as a value generator. Originality/value Focusing on these aspects will set HR analytics up for success and will lead to potentially large shareholder value creation.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Ribeiro-Navarrete ◽  
Daniel Palacios-Marqués ◽  
José María Martín Martín ◽  
José Manuel Guaita Martínez

PurposeThis study contributes to the limited literature on crowdlending by providing a data-driven analysis of the sector. A synthetic DP2 indicator is proposed to identify the leaders of the crowdlending market, the key factors behind their success and the medium-term competitive implications.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines 17 crowdlending platforms and eight performance indicators. The information provided by these indicators is aggregated using a synthetic indicator based on the P2 Distance (DP2) method.FindingsMintos, Evoestate, Peerberry, Bondster and Fellow Finance are the leading platforms. This method reveals the key variables in the identification of market leaders, namely year-on-year variation in the number of investors and year-on-year variation in lending per investor. The leaders in terms of lending volumes should not take their current situation for granted. Small and medium-sized platforms are pushing hard and may overtake the incumbents as market leaders.Practical implicationsFinancial intermediation through crowdlending is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional models. Changes in the sector are expected in the coming years due to the rise of platforms with a moderate amount of lending and solid year-on-year improvement. To become leaders and to attract both lenders and borrowers, platforms are encouraged to improve the information that they provide.Originality/valueThis paper offers the first analysis of market leadership in the crowdlending sector. It analyses the competitive market of the crowdlending sector based on its actors and key factors. These factors explain the differences in the market position of different platforms. Based on this analysis, the trends in this sector can be identified. This study is exploratory, so it offers empirical data that can be useful in the development of theories that apply to the sector.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-302
Author(s):  
Jorge Ramón D’Acosta Rivera ◽  
Rafael Ricardo Jacomossi ◽  
Alcides Barrichello ◽  
Rogerio Scabim Morano

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze patterns and trends of articles that present the use of structural equation modeling (SEM) and that were published in several Brazilian journals. In addition, this paper maps the institutions where the authors of the identified articles are affiliated, and discusses aspects of searching the articles in journals’ archives and other scientific databases. Design/methodology/approach The work used bibliometrics, which is one of the forms of evaluation and measurement of information flows in scientific knowledge, using mathematical and statistical methods. Findings The study showed an exponential growth in using SEM in several areas in recent years, with predominance in marketing. Most of the publications were produced by authors from institutions such as USP, FGV and UFRGS, but most authors published only one article using SEM. Almost all published articles used one of the three most common software, especially AMOS®. Surprisingly, many articles did not mention the software used, indicating methodological flaw. Practical implications Weaknesses were found regarding the search for articles in the different sources used, indicating that, for literature reviews, the research should be conducted in several databases in a complementary way and not alternatively. This fact becomes critical especially when expressions in languages other than Portuguese were used. This situation suggests an aggravating lack of visibility for the Brazilian scientific community since the articles are less likely to be found. Originality/value The paper shows that among the various techniques of multivariate data analysis used in the field of administration, SEM has gained prominence being operationalized using specific software.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 1288-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Coupe

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether specific jobs characteristics, which experts have identified as being more automation proof, are associated with reduced job insecurity. Design/methodology/approach Data come from a recent survey providing information on sources of job insecurity as well as on detailed job characteristics. The analysis is based on various regression models. Findings People who have jobs that involve lots of personal interaction are less likely to be concerned about losing their job because of automation, or because of other reasons, and are more likely to think their job will exist 50 years from now. Having a creative job does not change these concerns. The share of respondents who fear losing their job to automation is fairly small, and those who do, typically fear other sources of job insecurity as much or even more. Practical implications Developing interpersonal skills is more likely to be an effective strategy for reducing job insecurity than developing creative skills. The findings further suggest that policies aimed at automation are unlikely to suffice for the elimination of worry over job loss, as many workers who fear automation at the same time feel there are other reasons that might lead to the loss of their job. Originality/value There are very few studies that link fear of losing one’s job to automation to a job’s characteristics. The survey used here is unique in the level of detail provided on job characteristics.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 36-38

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings This research paper concentrates on comparing startup acquisition trends concerning US and European companies, as well as the strategic plans founding entrepreneurs can make to maximise their chance of a profitable short to medium term exit from their startup. Acquiring companies find tech startups less than five years old to be desirable target for M&A purposes, and US companies are expanding the volume of their zealous M&A activity into Europe. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erose Sthapit ◽  
Peter Björk ◽  
Dafnis N. Coudounaris ◽  
Matthew J. Stone

Purpose This qualitative study aims to explore the activities that guests perform while staying in Airbnbs, emotions associated with these experiences and the components of memorable Airbnb experiences. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study of a qualitative nature was conducted using a self-administered open-ended questionnaire among tourists who had stayed in an Airbnb in the past three years. Data were collected using two different sources for triangulation purposes, referred to as Studies 1 and 2. Findings Many respondents reported conducting similar activities while at home and while staying in an Airbnb, supporting Burch’s (1969) spill-over theory. Travellers mostly recalled mundane activities, such as cooking. The results suggest that the spill-over effect is more prevalent in the Airbnb context than in other accommodation types, as one often travels from one’s own home to another’s home. Respondents associated their Airbnb experience with the positive emotion of joy. Respondents mentioned numerous reasons for having felt joy during their Airbnb experiences, such as sharing the trip with travel companions and spending time with friends. Practical implications Airbnb should clearly define host’s tasks and responsibilities, hosts should treat guests in a friendly manner, which includes resolving any problems they face in relation to the rental property. Originality/value This paper proposes a new conceptual framework for a memorable Airbnb experience, which comprises several components: socialising and bonding with friends and family members, location, the host’s hospitality, a homely feeling, home amenities and negative experiences (the poor condition of the room and a dishonest host).


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emie Famieza Zainudin ◽  
Hafiza Aishah Hashim

Purpose The main aim of this study is to analyse the financial ratio (i.e. financial leverage, profitability, asset composition, liquidity and capital turnover ratio) in detecting fraudulent financial reporting (FFR). Design/methodology/approach The logit model was used to identify firms that are related to FFR. The sample firms that engage in fraudulent reporting were obtained from the media centre of Bursa Malaysia. The firms were selected based on their contravention of the Listing Requirements of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. The data cover a period of seven years from 2007 to 2013. Findings The results suggest that financial leverage, asset composition, profitability and capital turnover were significant predictors of FFR. Practical implications The findings of this study may assist investors in making decision for their investments. Originality/value This study describes firms that breach the Listing Requirements of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad using the financial ratio.


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