We use spline interpolation to approximate the subjective cumulative distribution function ofan economic agent over the future realization of a continuous (possibly censored) randomvariable. The method proposed exploits information collected using a small number ofprobability questions on...

Working within the 'distributional approach', this research offers evidence, based on empirical density estimates and modality tests, of past polarization in regional labour productivity in EU-15. Most importantly, it provides evidence on the related ergodic density which suggests that this...

The mild response of the German labor market to the worst global recession in post-warhistory appears as an economic miracle. In response to the crisis, Germany has shown to bea strong case of internal flexibility. We argue that important factors that have contributed tothis development include...

In Germany, the employment response to the post-2007 crisis has been muted compared toother industrialized countries. Despite a large drop in output, employment has hardlychanged. In this paper, we analyze the determinants of German firms’ labor demand duringthe crisis using a firm-level panel...

This paper examines the extent to which mothers that care for children where thefather is non-resident have an award or agreement for child support in place. Datafrom the Families and Children Study are used to explore not only whether mothershave an award or order but the type of award they...

Fifteen per cent of British babies are now born to parents who are neithercohabiting nor married. Little is known about non-residential fatherhood thatcommences with the birth of a child. Here, we use the Millennium Cohort Studyto examine a number of aspects of this form of fatherhood. Firstly,...

This paper analyses the work of the Nobel Prize winning economist ProfessorAmartya Sen from the perspective of human rights. It assesses the ways inwhich Sen’s research agenda has deepened and expanded human rightsdiscourse in the disciplines of ethics and economics, and examines how hiswork...

This paper is an attempt to assess the extent to which the behaviour of anindividual is the result of the constraints that he or she faces – factorsbeyond individual control - or the result of the exercise of his or herpreferences. The study concentrates on participation or non-participationin...

This paper asks which sub-groups of the population are affected by the payment of a small cash incentive to respond to a telephone survey. We find that an incentive improves response rates primarily amongst those individuals with the longest history of income support receipt. Importantly, these...

Clustering individuals or households on the basis of socio-economic variables has become awidespread practice in German social research over the past few decades. This paper is part ofa research project that explores results which may be obtained when time use patterns arechosen as the basis of...