The contrast between the common sense messages and humanitarian aspirations of the Compact on the one hand, and certain influential proposals for EU asylum policy on the other, points to a deeper ...problem with the EU asylum system.
We use a double-calibrated general equilibrium model to decompose the growth of the high-skilled wage premium in the UK from 1979 to 2000 into a range of potential contributory factors. This ...structural approach ensures that the model used is consistent with both price and quantity data simultaneously, and allows us to investigate a wide range of plausible parameter values. We find that the small observed rise in the skill premium is the net outcome of a set of opposing effects, some of which are large. In particular, the negative effect on the skill premium from the rising supply of skilled labour is mostly offset by the factor bias of technical change in favour of skilled labour. To this extent our work supports previous labour-market based studies, but is novel in showing that these are consistent with trade price and volume changes in a general equilibrium framework. If we assume a production technology dominated by capital-skill complementarity, the fall in capital prices (positive effect on the skill premium) and the sector bias of technical change in favour of unskilled-labour-intensive sectors (negative effect) also become quantitatively important. The impact of international trade and consumer preferences on the skill premium is mostly positive, and while not large compared to the role of factor bias, it is still significant as a proportion of to the net change in the wage premium. We conclude that a structural model such as ours provides robust insights into the processes that drive the skill premium. At the same time, while we treat the rise in the supply of skilled labour as exogenous, future research might usefully aim to endogenize skill acquisition decisions and labour market policies with a more fully dynamic modelling technique.
In the 2004 Eastern enlargement, free movement in the EU for citizens of the new member states applied only from the date of accession - or even later in those 'old' member states that used long ...transition periods. However, refugees from Ukraine now live and work freely throughout the EU and many Moldovans hold Romanian passports. With free movement, there would be little extra impact on labour markets; people's legal status would be secured (current protection for Ukrainians runs out in 2025); and EU accession would become an even stronger institutional anchor for the ongoing systemic transformation of both countries.
Migrant remittances, particularly when transferred through the banking system, may contribute to financial development in migrants' home countries. We analyse the determinants of the choice of ...transfer channel (formal services versus informal operators or personal transfers) by Moldovan migrants in 2006. We estimate a multinomial logit model from household survey data. Our explanatory variables include socio‐economic characteristics of the migrant and other household members, the pattern of migration (destination country, legal status, duration), and financial information (average amount and frequency of payments). Key reasons not to use a formal transfer channel are a migrant's emphasis on low transfer cost (rather than speed, convenience or security), irregular legal status in the host country, and short migration spells. Our findings demonstrate that migrants' transnational capacities and activities in their entirety bear upon the choice of transfer channel; any policy interventions to promote the use of formal channels should reflect this.
Recent evidence suggests that regional economic integration provides an important stimulus not only to trade, but also to FDI. In contrast, the available theory on FDI does not yet provide ...empirically testable propositions on the effects of concurrent trade and investment liberalisation. Moreover, given the limits of simulation models, which rely heavily upon parameter choice, in assessing the impact of such liberalisation, there is a need for empirical analysis to identify the principal features of FDI. This paper uses a 'gravity model' approach to assess the impact of the deepening integration between the EU and the CEECs on FDI flows in terms of three key issues. First, we provide systematic estimates of the expected long-term level of FDI in the CEECs. Second, we investigate whether FDI in the CEECs, on the one hand, and source country exports and imports, on the other hand, are complements or substitutes. Finally, we enquire whether an increase in the attractiveness of the CEECs to foreign investors has affected the magnitude of FDI going to other European countries. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
The authors call on G20 leaders to extend more predictable and substantial support to low-and-middle-income countries that host refugees, in recognition of the global public good that these countries ...provide. Together with other high-income countries, G20 countries should fully cover the cost of providing for the basic and social needs of refugees. They should also help to expand public services and infrastructure for refugees as well as resident populations. Such international support for the economic integration and social inclusion of refugees will be most effective if host countries grant refugees a firm legal status with access to employment and entrepreneurship.
Do the sovereign wealth funds of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan promote the sustainable use of government oil revenues? We review the operational rules and performance of the two funds and compare them to ...Norway's Government Pension Fund – Global. The key challenges are to stabilize government expenditures despite volatile resource prices, build up a capital stock to draw on after the resource is depleted, and to save and spend resource revenues transparently. We conclude that the institutional framework of a resource fund may indeed enhance transparency and public scrutiny, limit discretionary control, and sustain public support for long-term savings of resource revenues.
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Freeze-drying methodology requires an in-depth understanding and characterization for optimal processing of biopharmaceuticals. Particularly the primary drying phase, the longest and ...most expensive stage of the process, is of interest for optimization. The currently used process analytical technology (PAT) tools give highly valuable insights but come with limitations. Our study describes, for the first time, the application of a heat flux sensor (HFS) to build a primary drying design space and predict the process evolution. First, the heat transfer coefficient (Kv) generated by HFS and by the most accurate, but time-consuming and invasive, gravimetric method were compared. Second, the applicability to generate a design space was tested and verified. Obtained results revealed a good agreement of the values generated from this new and fast HFS compared to the gravimetric determination. Additionally, residual moisture assessed by Karl-Fischer titration and frequency modulated spectroscopy (FMS) support the quality of the obtained predictions. Thus, the HFS approach can substantially accelerate evaluation, development and transfer of a freeze-drying cycle.
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In this work, the recombinant spider silk protein eADF4(C16) was used to fabricate particles in the submicron range using a micromixing method. Furthermore, particles in the ...micrometer range were produced using an ultrasonic atomizer system. Both particle species were manufactured by an all-aqueous process. The submicroparticles were 332nm in average diameter, whereas 6.70μm was the median size of the microparticles. Both particle groups showed a spherical shape and exhibited high β-sheet content in secondary structure. Submicro- and microparticles were subsequently steam sterilized and investigated with respect to particle size, secondary structure and thermal stability. Sterilization temperature and time were increased to assess the thermal stability of eADF4(C16) particles. Actually, particles remained stable and their properties did not change even after autoclaving at 134°C. Both, the untreated and the autoclaved submicroparticles showed no overt cytotoxicity on human dermal fibroblasts after incubation for 72h. The eADF4(C16) particles were already loaded with proteins and small molecules in previous studies. With that, we can provide a highly promising parenteral drug delivery system based on a defined polypeptide carrier, manufactured with an all-aqueous process and being fully sterilizable.
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