Commentary. Reforming teachers' pay: incentive payments, collegiate ethos and UK policy

We examine the economic rationale for the expansion of incentivepay for school-teachers in England and Wales. While incentivepay usually improves performance in terms of targeted output,research also suggests that dysfunctional behaviour is likely,particularly in occupations with multiple goals such as teaching.We develop an economic analysis of the ‘threat to collegiateethos’ argument of those opposing increased use of incentivepay. This analysis suggests that the presence of asymmetricinformation, externalities and teamwork effects can providea rationale for encouraging professional motivation.     

Recent declines in fertility in less developed countries,and what ‘population planners’ may learn from them

Significant and rapid fertility declines have occurred in many countries in the poor world over the past decade; many of these were unanticipated by demographers. Despite advances in statistical technique and demographic theory, little is yet known about the demographic rhythms of life in poor countries, or of the social forces behind them. Fertility decline, however, appears to have much to do with changes, economic and otherwise, within the family structure. The impact of ‘family planning’ programmes on fertility decline appears to have been exaggerated. ‘Population planners’ should be sensitive to the fact that a decline in fertility does not necessarily mean that an improvement in the standard of living has occurred, and they should not assume that reducing fertility automatically increases either the quality of life or the prospects for ‘development’.     

Working in steel: steelworkers’ attitudes to change 40 years on

In workplace studies, there are few examples of researchers returning to previously studied sites. A recent study in the steel industry included an attitude survey at a plant previously studied in the 1950s. Despite massive changes at the plant, various important similarities are evident in the two studies. In part, these are seen to reflect the continuing influence of occupational identities and structures on steelworkers’ attitudes.