Search results for "Productivity."
showing 10 items of 557 documents
Are you a Good Employee or Simply a Good Guy? Infl?uence Costs and Contract Design.
2012
We develop a principal-agent model with a moral hazard problem in which the principal has access to a hard signal (the level of output) and a soft signal (the supervision signal) about the agent?s level of effort. We show that the agent?'s ability to manipulate the soft signal increases the cost of implementing the effcient equilibrium, leading to wage compression when the infl?uence cost is privately incurred by the agent. When manipulation activities negatively affect the agent?s productivity through the level of output, the design of infl?uence-free contracts that deter manipulation may lead to high-powered incentives. This result implies that high-productivity workers face incentive sch…
On international spillovers
2012
Abstract This study investigates the role of international spillovers in generating productivity gains for a panel of 24 OECD countries during the period between 1971 and 2004. We use recent techniques developed in a common factor framework to characterize the global interdependence implied by international spillovers and the diffusion mechanisms involved. Consistently with some recent studies in this field, the evidence suggests that there are substantial cross-country spillovers mainly related to R&D and human capital variables, which contribute significantly to productivity.
Cambio climático y sustentabilidad económica y social: implicaciones sobre el bienestar social
2008
This article puts forward an explanation of climate change within the context of global change. Climate change can be seen as the spearhead; as a manifestation of the increasing unsustainability of planet Earth. We consider some of the effects of this change, examining its uneven impact on developed and under-developed countries. We then put forward various proposals of how to deal with climate change, highlighting Socolow’s theory in particular. Lastly, we move on to the debate raised by climate change, its impact and possible strategic steps to remedy the situation within the context of environmental sustainability. This will probably lead to a new economic, social and environmental parad…
High-involvement management practices and the productivity of firms: Detecting industry heterogeneity
2020
The aim of this article is to clarify the links between high-involvement management (HIM) practices, productivity and branches of industry. The data combine a representative survey (N = 787) of private-sector firms in Finland and register-based firm-level data on sales per employee in the year following the survey. The authors analysed the data using mixture regression and identified two clusters in the association between HIM and productivity. In one cluster, high-involvement management and productivity were positively associated, while in the other cluster, the association was negative. The association between the intensity of HIM utilisation and productivity is not always additive; the b…
A SOLUTION TO THE DILEMMA BETWEEN R&D EXPANSION AND THE PRODUCTIVITY DECLINE: LESSONS FROM THE R&D MODELS IN AMAZON AND FINLAND
2019
As a consequence of the two-faced nature of information and communication technology (ICT), a majority of ICT leaders have been confronting the critical problem of a dilemma between R&D expansion and productivity decline in the digital economy. However, Amazon has been able to accomplish a skyrocketing increase in R&D and market capitalization. Finland has also accomplished balanced advancement not only of welfare but also economic resurgence. This paper attempted to elucidate the miracle of two ICT leaders. By means of a comparative empirical analysis of respective development trajectories, the sources of their success were analyzed thereby the comparative advantage and disadvantag…
A cultural comparison of mindfulness and student performance: Evidence from university students in five countries
2021
Societal and cultural norms are important in shaping how individuals live, study, and work. Of particular interest in recent research is the role of mindfulness, defined as the ability to focus on the present moment, and how it can impact cognitive function and productivity. This study examines the relationship between scholastic achievement and mindfulness among university students in China, Finland, Germany, South Africa, and the United States. Comparisons between countries with respect to self-reported measures of mindfulness, test anxiety levels, and phone usage are analyzed. These measures are used to determine whether mindfulness affects student performance in introductory economics c…
Evaluation of ergonomics and efficacy of instruments in dentistry
2013
Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the ergonomics and efficacy of five instruments used in dentistry for scaling and root planing. Methods: This experimental study with a comparative cross-sectional design was carried out during a simulated scaling and root planing task. Seven female dentists and one dental hygienist aged 26–58 years participated. Five instruments were evaluated in a subjective analysis of usability and musculoskeletal strain and with measurements of muscular activity, postures of the upper limbs, and work productivity. Results: The instruments with the thickest (diameter of 12–14 mm) silicon handles caused the lowest perceived strain in both the fingers/palm and the thumb. Wor…
THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS ON THE ROMANIAN LABOR MARKET - A REGIONAL ANALYSIS
2012
The global financial recession reconfigured the economical structures of many countries and in this context the labor markets all around the world faced major salary cuts and job losses. The Romanian economy wasn`t an exception, and for a better understanding of its labor structures we have analyzed the interactions between some of the most representative and measurable indicators using a regional econometric model. The results show that the dynamics of the labor market changed once the economic crisis was installed and are still continuing to modify since the magnitude of this global phenomena was very powerful.
The Role of Capital Accumulation in the Evolution of Total Factor Productivity in Spain
2017
GDP growth in Spain was strong for much of the last half century, whereas the country’s productivity performance during these years has been mediocre. The reasons for this situation have frequently been analysed with the focus on labour productivity. But, as this article highlights, the evolution of capital productivity should also be taken into account when looking for explanations for poor productivity performance. This article analyses the sources of growth in the Spanish economy, in comparison with major economies, and takes into account the effects that the improvements in the measurement of inputs (labour and capital) have on TFP estimates. Once problems are identified and the role pl…
Optimal Solutions for the Use of Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Lands
2021
The use of sewage sludge in agriculture decreases the pressure on landfills. In Romania, massive investments have been made in wastewater treatment stations, which have resulted in the accumulation of important quantities of sewage sludge. The presence of these sewage sludges coincides with large areas of degraded agricultural land. The aim of the present article is to identify the best technological combinations meant to solve these problems simultaneously. Adapting the quality and parameters of the sludge to the specificity of the land solves the possible compatibility problems, thus reducing the impact on the environment. The physico-chemical characteristics of the fermented sludge were …