Hit Hard but Recover Slowly: The Asymmetric Effects of Social Distancing Policies on the US Labor Market

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 666-696
Author(s):  
Shujie Peng ◽  
◽  
Jingjing Ye ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Asymmetric Effect ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Us ◽  
State Employment ◽  
Employment Rates ◽  
Wage Earners

This study employs a difference-in-differences approach to examine the US labor market response to two widely used social distancing policies, stay-at-home (SAH) order and non-essential business closure, with special attention paid to the asymmetric effect of the policies’ imposition and lifting. Exploiting the variation across states and time, we find that state employment rates declined by 4.3% and 1.9% for the two policies respectively, within one month of the enaction of social distancing policies, but the recovery was slower after the policies were removed. We also highlight that the low-income group suffered the highest employment rate drop from the SAH enaction while presenting the mildest rebound. Self-employed workers were more affected by the policy impositions but recovered slightly faster than wage earners. Our results suggest persistent efforts must be made after the pandemic, especially for more vulnerable groups in the labor market.

scholarly journals The Influence of Information Acceptance on Information Use Performance in the Case of Vulnerable Classes

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 474
Author(s):  
Soonduck Yoo ◽  
Jong-Sun Park
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Information Use ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Lower Grade ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
The Disabled ◽  
Information Acceptance

This study analyzed the effect of information acceptance on the information use performance for the vulnerable groups. The sample group was classified into general public group and vulnerable groups residing in Korea, and the vulnerable groups were divided into the disabled, the low - income group, the elderly group and the farmers. The characteristics of the vulnerable groups were selected by the competence level, use motive, and use attitudes and the correlation between each factor and use utilization was analyzed. In all groups, the use motive and the use attitude showed a strong positive correlation with the use performance of .682. In particular, the information use attitude and the information use performance were closely related. The correlation between the use attitude and use performance of the vulnerable groups were investigated in the order of lower grade (.695), farmers & fishermen (.688), elderly (.674), and disabled (.672). In conclusion, this study shows that if use attitude is high, use performance is high. Therefore, in order to expand the acceptance of information on vulnerable groups, various programs that can increase the use attitude of information should be introduced. Through this, it was found that the vulnera-ble groups could induce the use attitude of information and the satisfaction of the use performance, and ultimately the digital information divide could be reduced by improving the information acceptance of the vulnerable groups. This study has limitations in securing various contents of inquiry based on questionnaire survey. It is necessary to analyze various factors besides factors selected as environmental fac-tors of information acceptance as characteristics of vulnerable groups.

scholarly journals Explaining the Decline in the US Employment-to-Population Ratio: A Review of the Evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine G. Abraham ◽  
Melissa S. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Labor Demand ◽  
Import Competition ◽  
Employment Rate ◽  
Occupational Licensing ◽  
The Us ◽  
Real Value ◽  
Employment Rates ◽  
Population Ratio

This paper first documents trends in employment rates and then reviews what is known about the various factors that have been proposed to explain the decline in the overall employment-to-population ratio between 1999 and 2018. Population aging has had a large effect on the overall employment rate over this period, but within-age-group declines in employment among young- and prime-age adults also have played a central role. Among the factors with effects that we can quantify based on existing evidence, labor demand factors, in particular increased import competition from China and the penetration of robots into the labor market, are the most important drivers of observed within-group declines in employment. Labor supply factors, most notably increased participation in disability insurance programs, have played a less important but not inconsequential role. Increases in the real value of state minimum wages and in the share of individuals with prison records also have contributed modestly to the decline in the aggregate employment rate. In addition to the factors whose effects we roughly quantify, we identify a set of potentially important factors about which the evidence does not yet allow us to draw clear conclusions. These include the challenges associated with arranging child care, improvements in leisure technology, changing social norms, increased use of opioids, the growth in occupational licensing, and declining labor market fluidity. Our evidence-driven ranking of factors should be useful for guiding future discussions about the sources of decline in the aggregate employment-to-population ratio and consequently the likely efficacy of alternative policy approaches to increasing employment rates. (JEL E24, J64)

scholarly journals Is There Less Labor Market Exclusion of People With Ill Health in “Flexicurity” Countries? Comparative Evidence From Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 476-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Heggebø ◽  
Veerle Buffel
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Poor Health Status ◽  
Employment Rates ◽  
Full Time Employment ◽  
Cross National

Higher employment rates among vulnerable groups is an important policy goal; it is therefore vital to examine which social policies, or mix of policies, are best able to incorporate vulnerable groups – such as people with ill health – into the labor market. We examine whether 2 “flexicurity” countries, Denmark and the Netherlands, have less labor market exclusion among people with ill health compared to the neighboring countries of Norway and Belgium. We analyze the 2 country pairs of Denmark–Norway and the Netherlands–Belgium using OLS regressions and propensity score kernel matching of EU-SILC panel data (2010–2013). Both unemployment and disability likelihood is remarkably similar for people with ill health across the 4 countries, despite considerable social policy differences. There are 3 possible explanations for the observed cross-national similarity. First, different social policy combinations could lead toward the same employment outcomes for people with ill health. Second, most policy instruments are located on the supply side, and demand side reasons for the observed “employment penalty” (e.g., employer skepticism/discrimination) are often neglected. Third, it is too demanding to hold (full-time) employment for a sizeable proportion of those who have poor health status.

scholarly journals Tackling Youth Unemployment: Evidence From a Labor Market Experiment in Uganda

Econometrica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 2369-2414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Livia Alfonsi ◽  
Oriana Bandiera ◽  
Vittorio Bassi ◽  
Robin Burgess ◽  
Imran Rasul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Market Outcomes ◽  
Job Offers ◽  
Market Experiment ◽  
Employment Rates

We design a labor market experiment to compare demand‐ and supply‐side policies to tackle youth unemployment, a key issue in low‐income countries. The experiment tracks 1700 workers and 1500 firms over four years to compare the effect of offering workers either vocational training (VT) or firm‐provided training (FT) for six months in a common setting where youth unemployment is above 60%. Relative to control workers, we find that, averaged over three post‐intervention years, FT and VT workers: (i) enjoy large and similar upticks in sector‐specific skills, (ii) significantly improve their employment rates, and (iii) experience marked improvements in an index of labor market outcomes. These averages, however, mask differences in dynamics: FT gains materialize quickly but fade over time, while VT gains emerge slowly but are long‐lasting, leading VT worker employment and earning profiles to rise above those of FT workers. Estimating a job ladder model of worker search reveals the key reason for this: VT workers receive significantly higher rates of job offers when unemployed, thus hastening their movement back into work. This likely stems from the fact that the skills of VT workers are certified and therefore can be demonstrated to potential employers. Tackling youth unemployment by skilling youth using vocational training pre‐labor market entry therefore appears to be more effective than incentivizing firms through wage subsidies to hire and train young labor market entrants.

A descriptive study of the prevalence of psychological distress and mental disorders in the Canadian population: comparison between low-income and non-low-income populations

2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Caron ◽  
A. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Canadian Community Health Survey ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
High Psychological Distress

Objective This descriptive study compares rates of high psychological distress and mental disorders between low-income and non-low-income populations in Canada. Methods Data were collected through the Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health and Well-being (CCHS 1.2), which surveyed 36 984 Canadians aged 15 or over; 17.9% (n = 6620) was classified within the low-income population using the Low Income Measure. The K-10 was used to measure psychological distress and the CIDI for assessing mental disorders. Results One out of 5 Canadians reported high psychological distress, and 1 out of 10 reported at least one of the five mental disorders surveyed or substance abuse. Women, single, separated or divorced respondents, non-immigrants and Aboriginal Canadians were more likely to report suffering from psychological distress or from mental disorders and substance abuse. Rates of reported psychological distress and of mental disorders and substance abuse were much higher in low-income populations, and these differences were statistically consistent in most of the sociodemographic strata. Conclusion This study helps determine the vulnerable groups in mental health for which prevention and promotion programs could be designed.

Precarious Work and Young Workers in the United States

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arne L. Kalleberg
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
The United States ◽  
Young Workers ◽  
Severe Problem ◽  
Precarious Work ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
The Us ◽  
Training Opportunities ◽  
And Training

This chapter discusses how the growth of precarious work and the polarization of the US labor market have produced major problems for the employment experiences of young workers. A prominent indicator of young workers’ difficulties in the labor market has been the sharp increase in their unemployment rates since the Great Recession. Another, equally if not more severe, problem faced by young workers today is the relatively low quality of the jobs that they were able to get. Other problems include the exclusion of young workers from the labor market and from education and training opportunities; the inability to find jobs that utilize their education, training, and skills; and the inability to obtain jobs that provide them with an opportunity to get a foothold in a career that would lead to progressively better jobs and thus be able to construct career narratives.

scholarly journals Global trends in medical education accreditation

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Bedoll ◽  
Marta van Zanten ◽  
Danette McKinley
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Medical Schools ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
The World ◽  
Google Search

Abstract Background Accreditation systems in medical education aim to assure various stakeholders that graduates are ready to further their training or begin practice. The purpose of this paper is to explore the current state of medical education accreditation around the world and describe the incidence and variability of these accreditation agencies worldwide. This paper explores trends in agency age, organization, and scope according to both World Bank region and income group. Methods To find information on accreditation agencies, we searched multiple online accreditation and quality assurance databases as well as the University of Michigan Online Library and the Google search engine. All included agencies were recorded on a spreadsheet along with date of formation or first accreditation activity, name changes, scope, level of government independence, accessibility and type of accreditation standards, and status of WFME recognition. Comparisons by country region and income classification were made based on the World Bank’s lists for fiscal year 2021. Results As of August 2020, there were 3,323 operating medical schools located in 186 countries or territories listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Ninety-two (49%) of these countries currently have access to undergraduate accreditation that uses medical-specific standards. Sixty-four percent (n = 38) of high-income countries have medical-specific accreditation available to their medical schools, compared to only 20% (n = 6) of low-income countries. The majority of World Bank regions experienced the greatest increase in medical education accreditation agency establishment since the year 2000. Conclusions Most smaller countries in Europe, South America, and the Pacific only have access to general undergraduate accreditation, and many countries in Africa have no accreditation available. In countries where medical education accreditation exists, the scope and organization of the agencies varies considerably. Regional cooperation and international agencies seem to be a growing trend. The data described in our study can serve as an important resource for further investigations on the effectiveness of accreditation activities worldwide. Our research also highlights regions and countries that may need focused accreditation development support.

scholarly journals The Impact of Urban Recreation Environment on Residents’ Happiness—Based on a Case Study in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5549
Author(s):  
Lei Kang ◽  
Zhaoping Yang ◽  
Fang Han
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Objective Evaluation ◽  
Income Group ◽  
High Income Group ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Indirect Impact ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urban Recreation

Rapid urbanization promotes the expansion of urban tourism and recreation functions, but it also brings many problems, which affect residents’ happiness. Previous studies have emphasized the direct impact of urban recreation environment on happiness, and few have explored the indirect impact of urban recreation environment on happiness through subjective evaluation. Based on the survey data of nearly 10,000 permanent residents in 40 key tourism cities in China, this paper establishes a theoretical framework of the direct and indirect impact of urban recreation environment on happiness. The objective evaluation of natural recreation environment and sociocultural recreation environment has an important influence on happiness, but the influence of natural recreation environment is greater than that of sociocultural recreation environment. Individual subjective satisfaction with urban recreation environment mediates the relationship between urban objective environment and happiness. Urban parks have a positive effect on happiness, while tourist attractions have a negative effect. The influence of urban location on happiness is nonlinear. The high-income group is more sensitive to the recreation environment, while the low-income group is less sensitive to the recreation environment. These findings provide insights for further improving citizens’ quality of life and designing urban construction in developing countries under the conditions of rapid urbanization.

scholarly journals Robust estimation of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in US counties

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanmo Li ◽  
Mengyang Gu
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Infectious Period ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Us ◽  
Local Officials ◽  
Us Counties

AbstractThe COVID-19 outbreak is asynchronous in US counties. Mitigating the COVID-19 transmission requires not only the state and federal level order of protective measures such as social distancing and testing, but also public awareness of time-dependent risk and reactions at county and community levels. We propose a robust approach to estimate the heterogeneous progression of SARS-CoV-2 at all US counties having no less than 2 COVID-19 associated deaths, and we use the daily probability of contracting (PoC) SARS-CoV-2 for a susceptible individual to quantify the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a community. We found that shortening by $$5\%$$ 5 % of the infectious period of SARS-CoV-2 can reduce around $$39\%$$ 39 % (or 78 K, $$95\%$$ 95 % CI: [66 K , 89 K ]) of the COVID-19 associated deaths in the US as of 20 September 2020. Our findings also indicate that reducing infection and deaths by a shortened infectious period is more pronounced for areas with the effective reproduction number close to 1, suggesting that testing should be used along with other mitigation measures, such as social distancing and facial mask-wearing, to reduce the transmission rate. Our deliverable includes a dynamic county-level map for local officials to determine optimal policy responses and for the public to better understand the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 on each day.

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