In this paper we develop a coherent framework that integrates both traditional measures of b-convergence and s-convergence within a study of cross-country income dynamics. To do this we exploit the close links that exist between studies of income convergence and studies analysing the...

A number of researchers and policy makers have recently argued that the most effective way of dealing with long-run disadvantage and the intergenerational transmission of poverty is through early childhood intervention and in particular policies aimed at supporting the family in early childhood...

In this paper we consider the usefulness of alternative measures of convergence in an equality of opportunity framework. In particular we use established results from the public finance and mobility literature to show that a form of β-convergence is both a necessary and sufficient condition for...

This paper examines the extent to which patterns of human capital convergence can account for observed patterns of income inequality between countries. The author decomposes national income into three components: one due to education levels, one reflecting the return to education, and a residual...

In April 2000 the Irish government introduced a national minimum wage of IR£4.40 (&U20AC;5.58) an hour. We use data from a specifically designed survey of firms to estimate the employment effects of this change. Employment growth among firms with low-wage workers prior to the legislation was no...

The National Minimum Wage was introduced in Ireland in April 2000. This study is based on a survey carried out in late 2000/early 2001, commissioned by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which re-interviewed firms which had been surveyed before the introduction of the minimum...

In April 2000 the Irish government introduced a national minimum wage of £4.40 an hour. This paper uses data from a specially designed panel survey of firms to estimate the labour market effects of this change. Initial results show that employment growth among firms with low wage workers prior...

We develop an integrated framework for studying income convergence that incorporates traditional measures of &bgr;-convergence and &sgr;-convergence. These concepts are formally linked by a measure of re-ranking (or leapfrogging). Our proposed measure of &bgr;-convergence allows for nonlinearities in the...

This paper examines the Restart program which consists of an interview of the long term unemployed to counsel them on effective job search. We estimate the elasticities of the reservation wage with respect to the benefit level and the arrival late rate of offers using nonparametric methods based...

This paper analyses economists' support for the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, by examining the characteristics of almost 1000 economists who signed open letters either supporting or opposing the Bill prior to a Senate debate on the legislation. In contrast to previous work, which found that...