Managerial mindset as the mechanism of the country-of-origin effect: evidence from Chinese multinational enterprises’ approach to employer associations

The country-of-origin effect (COE) on employment practices in multinational enterprises (MNEs) has become an important area of international human resource management research. However, research on the mechanisms of the COE, a fundamental and critical aspect of the country-of-origin phenomenon, is scant. This study seeks to empirically explore the mechanisms through which country-of-origin influences Chinese MNEs’ approach to host-country employer associations. Analysis of qualitative data from 13 Chinese MNEs revealed that country of origin affected the approach of Chinese MNEs to host-country employer associations in the form of transfer of managerial norms. It also revealed that it was the mindset of those home-country nationals who were key decision-makers at subsidiaries that enabled the COE in Chinese MNEs. This paper highlights the importance for future studies of international strategic human resources management to pay attention to micro-foundations of cross-border practice transfer and to incorporate analyses of managerial cognition in the investigation of MNEs’ management practices.     

Revisiting the labor supply effect of social security earnings test: New evidence from its elimination and reinstatement in Japan

We explore the labor supply effect of the social security earnings test in Japan on those aged 65–69 years through a combined examination of the elimination of the earnings test in 1985 and its reinstatement in 2002. We present evidence showing that the effects of changes in the earnings tests on the labor supply of the elderly are not symmetric, controlling for changes in the attributes of workers and firms. The repeal of the earnings test in 1985 did affect the earnings distribution of the elderly (especially for male), while its reinstatement in 2002 did not alter the earnings distribution.     

低碳城镇化对就业的促进作用及保障体系构建

增强人的生存和发展能力,促进人的全面发展是以人为核心的中国新型城镇化建设的终极目标,实现这个目标的前提就是要保障和实现充分就业。低碳城镇化是新型城镇化的重要内容和必由之路,低碳城镇化对就业的保障应该更具公平性并且按照就近原则来推进。文章认为,在低碳城镇化建设过程中,要促进就业增长和提升就业质量,必须优化产业布局、产业结构与发展模式,扩大就业空间;建立健全劳动力教育培训制度,培养适应低碳产业发展需求的劳动者,提高劳动者就业竞争力;推进城乡劳动力市场一体化建设,提高人力资源利用效率,增强社会就业公平性。     

技术进步对中国就业影响的实证研究

选取1978—2008年中国30个省市的面板数据,运用DEA方法测算中国的全要素生产率及其分解项:技术变化与技术效率,并使用ARDL模型实证分析技术效率和技术变化对就业的影响。研究发现:技术效率无论是长期还是短期都对就业具有显著的抑制效应,但在短期中,技术变化当期对就业没有显著影响;而滞后期技术变化的改善也会对就业人数的增加产生抑制效应,同时,在长期中,技术变化对就业有着显著的促进效应,可以带动就业量的增加。     

How to estimate market concentration given grouped data

A novel method is proposed of estimating market concentration for the census case in which firms are grouped into size classes and all that is known about the firms in each category is their number and aggregate size. The formula arises as a way of applying an alternative expression for the concentration ratio based upon the original and first moment size distributions of firms. The semi-parametric technique, which includes a method of interval as well as point estimation, is derived, applied and validated using actual and simulated data. It is anticipated that the estimator will be of use in competition analysis as well as in academic research.     

农民工就业信息服务工具的设计

就业信息服务工具按内容可分为实物工具、政策工具和方法工具。目前公共就业服务机构所提供的农民工就业信息服务在方法、流程和标准上都存在设计缺陷,难以满足农民工日益增长的求职需要。采取整合设计的思路,细化就业信息服务流程、强化就业信息服务评估,完善就业信息服务内容、规范就业信息服务标准,是提升农民工就业服务水平的必由之路。     

后金融危机时期高职生的就业对策

金融危机给高职生的就业带来了巨大压力。或可在分析我国后金融危机时期的就业形势的基础上，从高职生自身找制约高职生就业的主要因素，为此，高职院校应积极引导、帮助学生就业，而学生自身也应该调整心态，提高自身综合素质以积极应对。     

失地农民就业创业转型问题研究

城市化快速推进,导致失地农民数量不断增多。失地农民的就业创业、理财问题不仅关系到国家经济的可持续发展,也影响到社会的和谐与稳定。在这种形势下,如何提高农民创业就业能力、理财技能,创造就业机会,使这些农民"失地"不"失业",实现失地"农民"本质上向"新市民"的真正转变,已成为当务之急。同时,利用社会力量及时创办一些以失地农民创业指导、理财咨询辅导为主业,培训失地农民职业技能、让农民失地不失业为目标的短期培训咨询机构已势在必行。     

The use of flexible employment arrangements: some new evidence from Greek firms

The present study attempts an examination of the extent to which Greek firms use flexible employment arrangements, the kind of jobs in which they are used and the factors affecting their use. It concentrates on three types of flexible work: temporary workers, independent contractors and subcontractors. Drawing upon data from a sample of seventy-five companies, it identifies factors affecting: a) firm's decision to use flexible forms of work or not and b) the percentage of flexible workers used.

The main findings indicate that different types of flexible worker are used by the same firm for the accomplishment of different kinds of job and are affected by different factors. Training costs and monitoring problems appear to be the most influential factors explaining the use of temporary workers, while low frequency of specialized tasks is the main factor affecting the use of independent contractors and often the recourse to subcontractors. Results from the Greek national context would add to existing evidence on this important issue.     

关于菏泽市失业保险促进就业和稳定就业的调查与思考

为充分发挥失业保险在新形势下促进就业和稳定就业的作用,文章从实践的角度对菏泽市近两年失业保险促进就业和稳定就业的作用进行了调查研究分析,找出了目前存在的问题,并提出相应的意见和建议。