Work hardening: Outdated fad or effective intervention?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this outcome measurement study was to determine the effectiveness of a work hardening program as measured by the participants' work status at three months after program completion. Predictors of successful return to work were explored. STUDY DESIGN: The sequential case series design was employed, and data were gathered at three points: the initial work hardening assessment, the discharge assessment, and three months post-discharge from the work hardening program. Seventy-nine participants were included. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent (82%) of the clients who completed a work hardening program reported that they were working in some capacity three months after program completion. They listed their employment status in 5 sub-categories. Significant predictors of employment included "single" marital status, lower perceived disability scores at program entry, reduction in reported pain during program duration, and funding source. CONCLUSION: Work hardening remains an effective treatment strategy which promotes successful return to the workplace. Ongoing analyses of these programs is imperative.     

Firm outsourcing decisions: evidence from U.S. foreign trade zones

This article examines the operations of firms located in U.S. foreign trade subzones to study the responsiveness of outsourcing to international cost changes. I find that firms reduce their reliance on foreign inputs when dollar depreciation increases the relative price of imported inputs. The effect is pervasive across industries and is economically significant. In addition, firms that rely more heavily on imported intermediate inputs reduce their overall shipments when dollar depreciation elevates their imported, input costs. However, the magnitude of the shipments effect is economically small, suggesting that firms respond to exchange rate movements by adjusting their operations on other dimensions.