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Themes

Themes

The research of CeLMR is based around several different overarching themes.

Education, Skills and Labour Mobility

The economic importance of human capital, and in particular education, has long been recognised by economists and policy makers. This programme of research focuses on the effects of education on labour market outcomes, the issue of occupational and spatial mobility, educational mismatch and the impact of immigration on economic variables.

Selected Key Publications:

  • S. Malik and Benedikt Mihm, "Parental religiosity and human capital development: A field study in Pakistan". Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 197, May 2022: 519-560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2022.03.015
  • Harminder Battu and Keith Bender, “Educational mismatch in developing countries: A review of the existing evidence,” The Economics of Education, ed by S. Bradley and C. Green, Academic Press, 2020: 269-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815391-8.00020-3
  • Alexandros Zangelidis, "Occupational and industry specificity of human capital in the British labour market". Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 55(4), 2018: 420-443. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9485.2008.00460.x
  • Keith Bender and K. Roche, “Educational mismatch and the earnings distribution,” Southern Economic Journal, 85, 2018: 441-56.  https://doi.org/10.1002/soej.12282
  • G. A. Panos, K. Pouliakas and Alexandros Zangelidis, "Multiple job holding, skill diversification, and mobility". Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 53(2), 2014: 223-272. https://doi.org/10.1111/irel.12055
  • C. Monchuk, M. Kilkenny and Euan Phimister, “Rural homeownership and labour mobility in the United States,” Regional Studies, 48, 2014: 350-62.  https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2012.661850
  • Ioannis Theodossiou and Alexandros Zangelidis, “Should I stay or should I go? The effect of gender, education and unemployment on labour market transitions,” Labour Economics, 16, 2009: 566-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2009.01.006
  • Keith Bender and J. Heywood, “The Job Satisfaction of the Highly Educated:  The Role of Gender, Academic Tenure, and Comparison Income,” Scottish Journal of Political Economy, 53, 2006: 253-79. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9485.2006.00379.x

Inequality in the Labour Market

One of the most important developments in the labour markets, both in Europe and elsewhere, has been a pronounced increase in labour market flexibility and the level of earnings inequality with profound socio-economic implications. This programme of research investigates various labour market themes including wage determination, low pay, poverty and debt, unemployment and labour market discrimination.

Selected Key Publications:

Health and Work

This research programme focuses on the impact of socio-economic and occupational conditions on individuals’ health and health inequalities, the impact of labour market and macroeconomic conditions on job satisfaction, quality of life and well-being and issues related to health and safety at work.  This theme further aims at maintaining and enhancing the research links and synergies between CeLMR and the Health Economics Research Unit (HERU: www.abdn.ac.uk/heru/).

Selected Key Publications:

  • S. Malik, Benedikt Mihm and A. von Suchodoletz, "COVID-19 lockdowns and children's health and well-being". Journal of Economic Psychology, 93, December 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2022.102549
  • D. Kopasker, Catia Montagna and Keith Bender, “Economic insecurity: A socioeconomic determinant of mental health,” SSM – Population Health, 6, 2018: 184-94.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2018.09.006
  • Yu Aoki and L. Santiago, “Speak better, do better? Education and health of migrants in the UK,” Labour Economics, 52, 2018: 1-17.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2018.03.003
  • Yu Aoki, “Donating time to charity:  Working for nothing?” Oxford Economic Papers, 69, 2017: 97-117. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpw048
  • Daniels  K. Cheyne, A. Beesely, N. and Varuni Wimalasiri, "Safety Climate and increased risk: The role of deadlines in design work", Human Relations, 69(5), 2016: 1185-1207. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0018726715612900?journalCode=huma
  • H. Dickey, D. Ikenwilo, P. Norwood, V. Watson and Alexandros Zangelidis, “ ‘Doctor my eyes’: A natural experiment on the demand for eye care services,” Social Science & Medicine, 150, 2016: 117-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.12.037
  • D. Cooper, W. David McCausland and Ioannis Theodossiou, “Is unemployment and low income harmful to health? Evidence from Britain,” Review of Social Economy, 73, 2015: 34-60.  https://doi.org/10.1080/00346764.2014.986969
  • Keith Bender and Ioannis Theodossiou, “The unintended consequences of the rat race: The detrimental effects of performance pay on health,” Oxford Economic Papers, 66, 2014: 824-47.  https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpt032
  • Daniels K., Beesley N.J., Varuni Wimalasiri and Cheyne A.J.T. "Problem solving and well-being: Exploring the instrumental role of job control and social support" Journal of Management, 39, 2013: 1016-1043. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0149206311430262?journalCode=joma
  • Daniels K.J., Glover J., Beesley N., Varuni Wimalasiri, Cohen L.M , Cheyne A. and Hislop D. "Utilizing job resources: Qualitative evidence of the the role of job control and social support in problem solving". Work and Stress, 27(2), 2013: 200-221 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02678373.2013.792471
  • Daniels K., Varuni Wimalasiri, Beesley N., and Cheyne A, "Affective Well-Being and Within-Day Beliefs about Job Demands’ Influence on Work Performance: An Experience Sampling Study". Journal of Organizational and Occupational Psychology. 85(4), 2012 :66-674. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.2012.02062.x
  • Daniels K.J., Varuni Wimalasiri, Cheyne A.J.T. and Story V. "Linking the demands-control-support model to innovation: The moderating role of personal initiative on the generation and implementation of ideas", Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 84(3), 2011 pp.581-598. https://doi.org/10.1348/096317910X494269
  • Ioannis Theodossiou and Alexandros Zangelidis, "The social gradient in health: The effect of absolute income and subjective social status assessment on the individual's health in Europe. Economics & Human Biology", 7(2), 2009: 229-237. https://doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2009.05.001
  • Daniels K, Beesley N., Cheyne A.J.T and Varuni Wimalasiri, "Coping with demands – it’s what you do with control and support that counts: An experience-sampling study of affect and cognitive functioning",  Human Relations, 61 (6), 2008: 845-874. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726708093543
  • John Skåtun, “Take some days off, why don’t you? Endogenous sick leave and pay,” Journal of Health Economics, 22, 2003: 379-402.  https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-6296(02)00102-9
  • Ioannis Theodossiou, “The effects of low pay and unemployment on psychological well-being: A logistic regression approach,” Journal of Health Economics, 17, 1998: 85-104.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-6296(97)00018-0

Wage Determination and Employment

This research programme focuses on how systems of wage setting, employment determination and the resulting wage structures affect economic performance. They constitute the incentive mechanism encouraging production and the vehicle whereby the benefits from work are distributed. Trade unions play a significant role in this process. In the public sector, in which much of the work already undertaken has been focused, the absence of market forces and the intervention of the state and its various agencies act to produce quite difference wage outcomes from those observed in the private sector.

Selected Key Publications:

  • W. David McCausland, F. Summerfield and Ioannis Theodossiou, “The Effect of industry-level aggregate demand on earnings: Evidence from the US,” Journal of Labor Research, 41, 2020: 102-127.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12122-020-09299-z
  • H. Molana and Catia Montagna, “Competitive selection, trade, and employment: The strategic use of subsidies,” Review of International Economics, 26, 2018: 1154-77.  https://doi.org/10.1111/roie.12354
  • H. Görg, P. Henze, V. Jienwatcharamongkhol, D. Kopasker, H. Molana, Catia Montagna, and F. Sjöholm, “Firm size distribution and employment fluctuations: Theory and evidence,” Research in Economics, 71, 2017: 690-703.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rie.2017.09.002
  • John Skåtun, “Taxation, risk aversion, and the wage gaps in tournaments,” Oxford Economic Papers, 69, 2017: 834-45.  https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpw052
  • Alexandros Zangelidis, “Seniority profiles in unionised workplaces: Do unions still have the edge?” Oxford Bulletin of Economics & Statistics, 70, 2008: 327-46.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0084.2007.00495.x
  • Keith Bender, “Examining equality between public and private sector wage distributions,” Economic Inquiry, 41, 2003:  62-79. https://doi.org/10.1093/ei/41.1.62

Macroeconomic Policy, Globalisation and Labour Market Outcomes

With a key emphasis on labour market issues, this research theme addresses the role of macroeconomic policies on labour markets and their implications for wage determination, unemployment and the working experience of the workforce as well as income distribution and poverty.  A key subtheme is the challenges that global developments pose on the ability of countries to implement independent labour market and redistributive policies and to study the impact of these policies in determining labour market outcomes and productivity with a focus on globalisation. Results often challenge conventional wisdom on the implications of government macroeconomic policies for the sustainability of welfare state institutions and labour market regulations. 

Selected Key Publications:

  • H. Görg, C. Hornak, Catia Montagna, G. E. Onwordi, "Employment to output elasticities and reforms towards flexicurity: Evidence from OECD countries," Bulletin of Economic Research, September 2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/boer.12375
  • H. Molana, Catia Montagna and G. Onwordi, "De-Globalization, Welfare State Reforms and Labor Market Outcomes," IMF Economic Review, 69, December 2021: 624-655. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41308-021-00150-8
  • W. David McCausland, F. Summerfield and Ioannis Theodossiou, “The effect of industry-level aggregate demand on earnings: evidence from the US,”  Journal of Labor Research, 41, 2020: 102-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12122-020-09299-z
  • Catia Montagna, A. Pinto and N. Vlassis, “Welfare and trade effects of international environmental agreements,” Environmental and Resource Economics,76, 2020: 331-45.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-020-00428-x
  • Ioannis Theodossiou and Alexandros Zangelidis, “Inequality and participative democracy: A self‐reinforcing mechanism,” Review of Income and Wealth, 66, 2018: 74-93.  https://doi.org/10.1111/roiw.12401
  • F. Summerfield and Ioannis Theodossiou, “The effects of macroeconomic conditions at graduation on overeducation,” Economic Inquiry, 55, 2017:  1370-87.  https://doi.org/10.1111/ecin.12446
  • W. David McCausland and Ioannis Theodossiou, “The consequences of fiscal stimulus on public debt: A historical perspective,” Cambridge Journal of Economics, 40, 2016: 1103-16.  https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bev059 
  • I. Livanos and Alexandros Zangelidis, "Unemployment, Labor Market Flexibility, and Absenteeism: A Pan‐European Study". Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, 52(2), 2013: 492-515. https://doi.org/10.1111/irel.12021
  • G. Dewit, D. Leahy and Catia Montagna, “Employment protection flexibility and firms' strategic location decisions under uncertainty,” Economica, 80, 2013: 441–474. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecca.12006
  • A. Nocco and Catia Montagna “Unionisation, integration and selection,” Canadian Journal of Economics, 46, 2013: 23-45. https://doi.org/10.1111/caje.12005
  • D. Leahy and Catia Montagna, “Strategic investment and international outsourcing in unionised oligopoly,” Labour Economics, 19, 2012: 260-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2011.11.003.
  • H. Molana and Catia Montagna,“Aggregate Scale Economies, Market Integration and Optimal Welfare State Policy,” Journal of International Economics, 69, 2006: 321-340.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2005.06.012
  • D. Leahy and Catia Montagna, “Unionisation and Foreign Direct Investment: Challenging Conventional Wisdom?” Economic Journal, 110, 2000: 80-92. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0297.00522

Human Resources and Personnel Economics

One of the most applied areas of labour economics is how it influences human resource management and personnel policies for employers.  Central to this is how workers are contracted and motivated at work, how work is organised, the payment schemes used and voice in the workplace, just to name a few key areas.  This theme sheds light on key current aspects of the employment relationship such as ‘gig’ work and working from home.

Selected Key Publications:

  • Nicole Andelic, J. Allan, Keith Bender, D. Powell, S. Stoffel and Ioannis Theodossiou, “Employment contracts and stress: Experimental evidence,” Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 187, July 2021: 360-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.04.015
  • Keith Bender and Ioannis Theodossiou, “The unintended consequences of flexicurity: The health consequences of flexible employment,” Review of Income and Wealth, 64(4), Dec 2018: 777-99. https://doi.org/10.1111/roiw.12316
  • Shainaz Firfiray, C. Cruz, I. Neacsu and Luis Gomez-Mejia, "Is nepotism so bad for family firms? A socioemotional wealth approach," Human Resource Management Review, 28, 2018, 83-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2017.05.008
  • Shainaz Firfiray and Margarita Mayo, “The lure of work‐life benefits: Perceived person‐organization fit as a mechanism explaining job seeker attraction to organizations,” Human Resource Management, 56, 2017, 629-49. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21790
  • Keith Bender, J. Heywood and M. Kidd, “Claims of employment discrimination and worker voice,” Industrial Relations Journal, 48, 2017: 133-53.  https://doi.org/10.1111/irj.12172
  • T. Barmby, J. Sessions and Alexandros Zangelidis, “Looking after number two? Competition, cooperation and workplace interaction,” Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 131, 2016: 166-82.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2016.08.001
  • John Skåtun and Ioannis Theodossiou, “Personnel decisions, wage profiles and investment in firms,” British Journal of Industrial Relations, 49, 2011: 742-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8543.2011.00867.x
  • Ioannis Theodossiou and Alexandros Zangelidis (2009). "Career prospects and tenure–job satisfaction profiles: evidence from panel data". The Journal of Socio-Economics, 38(4), 2009: 648-657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2009.03.006
  • John Skåtun, “Divide the workers and conquer the surplus: Part-time workers and pay,” Economics Letters, 61, 1998: 235-42.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-1765(98)00170-0