"Most European countries have experienced labour market reforms at varying times leading to extended working life and a postponement of retirement age. This book provides a gender perspective on the impact of extended working life on the different dimensions of well-being, the factors which can limit extended working life, and the working conditions of older workers. It will be of interest to all scholars and students of social policy, sociology, gender studies and labour studies more broadly"--
Demographic change and economic liberalization are reshaping European states in a number of profound ways. In particular, an ageing population and shifts in the labour market are bringing new challenges to the nation states welfare systems. This unique volume of essays seeks to analyze these changes within the wider historical and geographical context whilst also considering the impact of gender.
Background: The Great Recession has caused worldwide tangible costs in terms of cuts in employment and income, which have been widely recognised also as major social determinants of mental health. Italy has not been spared from the financial crisis with severe societal and mental health consequences. In addition, a strong earthquake hit the province of Modena, Italy, in 2012, that is, amid the crisis. Aims: In this study, we explored and investigated the possible additional impact of concurrent events such as economic crisis and a natural disaster. Methods: Our analysis elaborated data from two local surveys, ICESmo2 (2006) and ICESmo3 (2012), and a national survey carried out in 2013 by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT)). A regression model was adopted to distinguish the effect of the crisis and the earthquake. Results: Our analysis confirmed the negative effect of the economic crisis on psychological wellbeing, but within the province of Modena such an effect resulted as even stronger compared with the rest of Italy, particularly within those areas struck by the earthquake. Conclusion: Being hit by a combination of two major negative events might have a significantly increased negative effect on psychological health. The higher repercussion observed is not only attributable to the occurrence of a natural disaster but can be reasonably related to the additional effect of unemployment on psychological dimensions.
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the change in the Italian and Spanish wage polarization degree in a time of economic crisis, taking into account the factors affecting labor force heterogeneity. Gender differences in the evolution of social fractures are considered by carrying out the analysis separately for males and females.Design/methodology/approachThe approach by Palacios-Gonzánlez and García-Fernández (2012) on polarization is applied to the microdata provided by the EU Living Conditions Surveys (2007, 2010 and 2012). According to Palacios-Gonzánlez and García-Fernández's approach, polarization is generated by two tendencies that contribute to the generation of social tension: the homogeneity or cohesion within group and the heterogeneity between groups. The following labor force characteristics are considered: gender, level of education, type of contract, occupational status and job status.FindingsThe results for Italy reveal a higher increase of polarization for women than for men from the perspective of the type of contract. In Spain, the wage polarization of women also increases more intensively compared to men from the perspectives of level of education, job status and occupational status, while in Italy the reduction of the wage polarization index by level of education can be related, above all, to an increase in overqualification of women.Originality/valueWhile the empirical literature on polarization has made considerable investigation into employment and job polarization, this paper explores the rather less explored matter of wage polarization. Furthermore, particular attention is paid to the impact on polarization of the Great Recession.
RésuméEn s'appuyant sur des données d'Eurostat de 2007, 2010 et 2012, les auteures étudient les effets de la crise de 2008 sur la situation des travailleurs hommes et femmes en Italie, en Irlande et au Portugal, en s'intéressant plus particulièrement aux nouvelles dynamiques du marché du travail, aux profils d'emploi au sein des ménages et aux revenus. La réduction des écarts entre les hommes et les femmes en matière d'emploi, de chômage et de travail précaire révèle moins une progression vers l'égalité des sexes qu'une détérioration de la situation des hommes, aux dépens du niveau de vie des ménages.
ResumenCon datos de Eurostat de 2007, 2010 y 2012, se examinan los efectos de la crisis de 2008 en Irlanda, Italia y Portugal respecto de las pautas de empleo de mujeres y hombres y su repercusión en los modelos de sostén familiar y los ingresos de los hogares. Las brechas de empleo, desempleo y empleo precario se reducen sin avance hacia la igualdad, por la mayor vulnerabilidad de los hombres en el mercado laboral. Crece el riesgo de pobreza (sobre todo en hogares donde la mujer es el sostén, en aumento), riesgo que podría afectar desigualmente a los miembros del hogar, dependiendo del régimen patrimonial.
AbstractUsing Eurostat data for 2007, 2010 and 2012, the authors examine the effects of the 2008 crisis on the situation of male and female workers in Italy, Ireland and Portugal, with particular attention to changing labour market dynamics, (intra‐household) employment patterns, and incomes. The gender gaps in employment, unemployment and precarious employment are narrowing, but this trend cannot be interpreted as progress toward gender equality: it is driven by men's increasingly vulnerable position resulting from the generalized deterioration of labour market conditions, including the growth of precarious and/or low‐paid employment, unemployment and poverty to the detriment of household living standards.
"Most European countries have experienced labour market reforms at varying times leading to extended working life and a postponement of retirement age. This book provides a gender perspective on the impact of extended working life on the different dimensions of well-being, the factors which can limit extended working life, and the working conditions of older workers. It will be of interest to all scholars and students of social policy, sociology, gender studies and labour studies more broadly"--
