Working-time reduction and employment: experiences in Europe and economic policy recommendations

The paper seeks to evaluate the evidence on the employment effectsof the collective working-time reductions in Europe over thepast 20 years. While theoretical analyses produce contradictoryassessments, most empirical studies show positive employmenteffects but take insufficient account of these conditions underwhich the reductions in working time were implemented. Theseconditions for the success of collective working-time reductionsinclude an active training policy designed to minimise skillshortages in the labour market, the modernisation of work organisation,wage increases in conjunction with productivity gains and amore equal income distribution.     

寻计残疾人家庭脱贫与小康建设———基于中残联抽样调查数据的实证研究

文章借助世界银行的家庭贫困脆弱性定义和家庭消费理论,使用2007-2012年残疾人联合会抽样调查数据,对7266个家庭户混合横截面数据进行了消费模型估计和贫困脆弱性计算,并对2010年国务院“两个建设”政策进行了效果评价。研究发现,该项政策实施后,残疾人家庭贫困脆弱性整体上明显降低。智力残疾、教育水平低、生活在西部地区以及农村的残疾人所在家庭贫困脆弱性较高,这种特性决定了政府在制定和贯彻残疾人扶持政策过程中应分类规划、区别对待。     

纺织企业节能减排技术创新的困境及对策研究——以宁波为例

通过对宁波纺织企业节能减排技术创新中面一临问题的调查分析,提出了促进宁波纺织企业节能减排技术创新水平的对策：实施财税激励政策以降低企业节能减排技术创新成本;促成纺织企业联盟以增强中小企业节能减排技术创新能力;建立政府干预与市场运作相结合的节能减排技术服务平台。     

Gender, poverty and deprivation: Evidence from the Republic of Guinea

The article examines the relationship between gender and consumption poverty and between gender and deprivation in the Republic of Guinea. National household survey data reveal that women are not more likely than men to be consumption poor or to suffer greater consumption poverty. Participatory Poverty Assessment data from the village of Kamatiguia reveal that women are “worse off” than men when deprivation includes, inter alia, excessive work load and reduced decision-making authority. When consumption poverty poorly correlates with other dimensions of deprivation, it should not be the sole guide for equity-based policy intervention.     

Social Security, Poverty and Economic Transition: An Analysis for Bulgaria 1992–96

The paper addresses the issues of poverty and social security in a transitional environment on the basis of recent economic developments in Bulgaria. Special emphasis is placed on the need for a new type of social safety net stemming from the radical changes in the political and economic system. The evolution of the social security system in Bulgaria during the transition is analysed focusing on such elements as the pension system, unemployment benefits, child allowances, etc. The empirical analysis is based on extensive use of data from the Bulgarian Household Budget Surveys during the period 1992–1996. Poverty in Bulgaria is measured using different poverty measurements and some quantitative results showing the changing dimensions of poverty in the transition period are presented and discussed in the paper.EES or e-mail at Corresponding author. E-mail: