The gender wage gap and wage arrears in Russia: Evidence from the RLMS

This paper re-examines the gender wage gap in Russia between 1994 and 1998 taking into account the pervasiveness of Russias non-payment institutions. Using censored regression techniques we investigate wage discrimination at different sections of the income distribution and for various important sub-groups. We find that the wage gap is distributed unevenly. Most notably, women at the lower end of the income distribution suffer the highest degree of discrimination. However, we find that wage arrears and payment in-kind attenuated wage discrimination, particularly amongst the lowest paid workers, suggesting that Russian enterprise managers assigned importance to equity considerations when allocating these forms of non-payment.All correspondence to Carmen A Li. We are grateful for the helpful comments and suggestions of Vanessa Fry, Amanda Gosling, Tim Hatton, Alastair McAuley and two anonymous referees. The usual disclaimer applies. Responsible editor: Junsen Zhang.     

The gender longevity gap: explaining the difference between singles and couples

This paper studies the respective gender longevity gap in favour of women among singles, utilitarian and altruistic couples. The following hypotheses are derived: (1) the gender longevity gap is smaller within couples than among singles; (2) marriage increases longevity of men but decreases longevity of women; and (3) the gender longevity gap decreases with an increase in wealth. The hypotheses are tested using a complete data set of the Swiss deceased at the age 65+ in 2001 and 2002, with information on the individuals’ age at death and their average earnings over the life cycle.     

The elasticity of labor demand and the minimum wage

We show that, contrary to widespread belief, low-pay workers do not generally prefer that the minimum wage rate be increased until the labor demand is unitary elastic. Rather, there exists a critical value of elasticity of labor demand so that increases in the minimum wage rate make low-pay workers better off for higher elasticities, but worse off for lower elasticities. This critical value decreases with unemployment benefits and increases with workers’ risk aversion. We also show that in some countries the benefits for long-term unemployed are so low that workers would probably prefer that the minimum wage rate be decreased. I thank the anonymous referees for helpful suggestions.     

Sibling rivalry and the gender gap: evidence from child health outcomes in Ghana

When capital and labor markets are imperfect, choice sets narrow, and parents must choose how to ration available funds and time between their children. One consequence is that children become rivals for household resources. In economies with pro-male bias, such rivalries can yield gains to having relatively more sisters than brothers. Using a rich household survey from Ghana, we find that on average if children had all sisters (and no brothers) they would do roughly 25-40% better on measured health indicators than if they had all brothers (and no sisters). The effects are as large as typical quantity-quality trade-offs, and they do not differ significantly by gender. Received: 22 May 1996 / Accepted: 13 July 1998     

The relationship between leisure and life satisfaction: application of activity and need theory

The purpose of this study was to better understand the complex relationship between leisure and life satisfaction. Components of two distinct, but potentially integrative, theoretical frameworks (i.e., activity theory and need theory) predicting the relationship between leisure and life satisfaction were tested with a sample of residents from a Midwestern community (n = 633). Findings provided support for both theoretical perspectives, but stronger relationships were found between satisfied needs than with participated activities. In spite of these findings, the various inconsistencies within the two theoretical frameworks suggest that future research is needed.     

Quality of life as a mediator of leisure activity and perceived health among older women

Despite consistent evidence to suggest that participating in leisure is associated with perceived health status among older adults, there have been few attempts to determine the possible underlying mechanisms in this relationship, including the role of quality of life (QoL). This study examined the role of perceived quality of life in the relationship between leisure and perceived health in older women. Correlations, regression, and mediation analysis were conducted on data from the Woman’s College Alumnae Women’s Health Study. Results indicate that QoL partially mediates the relationship between leisure and perceived health in older women. Findings further establish the link between leisure and perceived health with QoL playing an important role in the relationship.     

Measuring the value of statistical life: estimating compensating wage differentials among workers in India

Policy makers confronted with the need to introduce health and safety regulations often wonder how to value the benefits of these regulations. One way that a monetary value could be placed on reductions in health risks, including risk of death, is through understanding how people are compensated for the different risks they take. While there is an extensive literature on VSL and compensating wage differentials for the developed countries, few such studies exist when it comes to developing countries. Our study is an attempt at obtaining estimates of VSL that reflects Indian risk preferences. Based on a survey of 550 workers in Chennai and 535 workers in Mumbai, we find the value of a statistical life in India to be approximately Rs. 15 million. The value of statistical injury ranges from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 9,000. Policy makers interested in programs to decrease environmental and health risks could use these numbers as one bench-mark against which costs can be assessed.

Imperfect goods and labor markets, and the union wage gap

Existing theoretical literature fails to explain satisfactorily the differences between the pay of workers who are covered by collective agreements and others who are not. This study aims at providing a model framework that is amenable to an analysis of this issue. Our general-equilibrium approach integrates a dual labor market and a two-sector product market. The results suggest that the so-called “union wage gap” is largely determined by the degree of centralization of the bargains and, to a somewhat lesser extent, by the expenditure share of the unionized sector's goods.

不同地域女性自杀死亡率差异的经济原因分析——基于城乡差距的视角

自杀是一个值得重视和研究的特殊社会问题,中国自杀现象的基本特征：女性高于男性,农村高于城市。本文基于我国城乡差异的视角,分析我国社会转型时期城乡女性自杀死亡率差异的经济原因。最后从缩小城乡差距,改善农村妇女经济地位的角度提出相应的预防措施。     

教育投入与社会保障对城乡收入差距的联合影响

当前城乡收入差距扩大化趋势引起广泛关注。文章使用世代交叠模型研究公共教育和社会保障对收入分配的作用机制,在此基础上分析公共教育和社会保障对城乡收入差距的影响。研究发现,公共教育通过作用于教育投资、社会保障通过作用于有效家庭时间共同影响人力资本积累从而影响收入。一方面,数值模拟结果显示公共教育和社会保障的增加能够显著地增加收入;另一方面,结合中国城乡实际的实证研究结果显示,本应该起到调节和缩小城乡收入差距的公共教育和社会保障制度,并没有发挥其收入再分配的功能,反而形成了"逆向调节"的负效应,扩大了城乡收入差距,对此,文章通过理论与实证得出,缩小我国城乡人均教育投资和社会保障税率差距对缩小城乡收入差距具有重要的现实意义。     

人口地理与公共品供给效率——以四川省135个县(市)为例

利用四川省135个县(市)的数据,分析人口、地理因素对县(市)公共品供给效率的影响。研究发现,2008年135个县(市)平均公共品供给效率为0.672,整体水平还有待进一步提高;县(市)辖区人口密度的提高、所辖乡镇数量的增加有助于供给效率提高;复杂的地理环境增加了公共品提供成本,降低了供给效率;乡镇辖区面积扩大及人口增加有助于供给效率的提高。研究对提高地方公共品供给效率,完善地方政府及财政层级改革颇具参考价值和意义。     

民族地区农村公共产品供给与农村劳动力转移研究——以新疆为例

农村公共产品供给是影响农村劳动力就业、收入与转移的重要原因。新疆农村劳动力结构中少数民族居多且聚居。主要从事第一产业,剩余劳动力规模巨大。新疆农村劳动力收入水平普遍偏低,仅能维持基本生存,基本无法保障其发展权实现。新疆城乡居民收入差距不断扩大,2007年基尼系数则达到0．4604,突破了公认的警戒线。由于少数民族农村劳动力的素质低。其转移仍较为困难。本文从农村基础设施建设不足、教育投入不足等角度分析了农村公共产品供给不足对农村劳动力就业、收入与转移的制约。并提出了改善上述状况的若干思考。     

江苏省民办养老机构发展现状、困境及出路

近些年来,民办养老机构逐步兴起,并在几年间取得了较快发展,但在其发展过程中却面临诸多问题。文章在对苏南、苏中、苏北进行了对比调查的基础上对目前江苏省民办养老机构的政策支持、机构数量及规模、设施及人员配备和服务内容等进行了描述,分析当前养老机构面临的政策支持不足、供需存在矛盾以及专业人才供给不足等问题,并结合江苏省民办养老机构的发展状况,提出苏中、苏北地区应首先加大政策落实力度,苏南地区应针对民办养老机构发展过程中存在的问题进行政策上的＂各个击破＂,同时建议民办养老机构加强创新服务理念,在管理体制、服务内容、人才使用、硬件设施等方面增强自身竞争力。     

杭州市老年人口休闲状况调查与分析——基于一个小样本的分析

改善老年人口的休闲状况是提高他们生活水平的重要方面,完善老年人口群体的休闲设施也是丰富“住在杭州”内涵的内在要求。本文通过抽样调查,了解到杭州老年人口注重提高休闲生活质量,且休闲种类多样化,并已经向现代转变,但休闲形态仍属于传统型。本文提出了要立足未来老年人的需求,有效服务于老年人口群体和积极开发“银色资源”,必须加快社区建设。     

家庭子女数量和性别结构对老年人休闲生活影响的研究

中国老龄化进程与少子化伴行,家庭子女状况对老年人休闲生活有重要意义。使用2010年中国社会综合调查（ CGSS ）数据,分析是否有孩子、孩子数量、孩子性别对老年人休闲生活的影响。结果发现：孩子越多,老年人休闲生活的频率越低;儿子对老年人休闲生活以负向影响为主,且1个儿子的强度最大;女儿对老年人休闲生活以正向影响为主,且1个女儿的强度最大。重视家庭子女对老年人休闲生活的影响,对提高老年人休闲生活频率、推进健康老龄化意义重大。     

中国社区安老服务的需求和供给研究

根据中国老人健康长寿追踪调查2005年数据,描述和分析了我国社区安老服务的需求和供给情况。结果发现由于受健康状况和家庭功能弱化等因素的影响,老人对社区安老服务有强烈的需求;但是,受文化、制度和经济条件的限制,我国社区安老服务的供给还远远不能满足老人的需求。因此,大力发展社区安老服务是一项重要而紧迫的任务。     

老年人再教育必须为国家和社会服务

本文从中国当代老年人的知识结构的不合理 ,以及中国老年人教育本身所存在的不足 ,简要论述当前一些社会现象———气功热的负面宣传和宗教、类宗教的盲目信仰的产生过程和表现形式以及对社会的不良影响 ,进而对社会老年教育重新提出要求     

养老金正常调整机制与养老负担关系分析

我国自建立城镇职工社会养老保险制度之初就提出要对养老金进行正常调整,但在近20年的实际操作过程中,仍未建立起统一、稳定、科学的调整机制。本文首先分析了在人口老龄化的背景下,养老金调整机制与养老负担之间的定量关系,根据现收现付制度的运行机理和经济增长原理分别推导出两种不同养老金调整机制下维持养老负担不变的临界条件,以我国人口老龄化趋势预测为基础对临界条件进行实证检验后得出结论,即在保持养老负担不变的前提下,不同的养老金调整机制对于经济增长率和工资增长率具有不同要求。文章为我国养老金调整机制的完善提供一定的依据。     

The allocation of time to social and leisure activities as social indicators for the integration of aged ethnic minorities

One way in which a better understanding of social indicators to be employed in assessing the degree of social integration of aged ethnic minorities is to determine their time-use patterns for various daily activities. This paper reports on a research project undertaken in a planned community of La Villeneuve, France, which examines (a) the social context in which various activities took place, and (b) the duration and frequency of the activities. This was achieved through the combined techniques of time-budget analysis, social network mapping, and participant observations. Our data provides another dimension appropriate for social indicators research.     

大城市公共交通设施布局与人口空间分布关系的探讨——以上海为例

城市的不同区位,单位面积所分布的路长、设立的公交站点数差别很大,故路网密度与公交站点密度是体现公交设施空间分布差异性的重要指标。而道路、站点与人口的空间分布又存在着紧密的联系,本文将在分析上海公交设施设置与人口分布特征的基础上,运用人均路长、人均站点数据揭示两者关系,并最终建立相关模型。