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Thesis advisor: Michael Grubb / Thesis advisor: Charles Murry / This dissertation consists of two self-contained papers that explore the Industrial Organization of the UK television broadcasting market and broadband procurement by US K-12 schools Chapter 1: Welfare Effects of Competition in the UK Television Broadcasting Market In this chapter, I study the consumer welfare effects of a regulation that ended the exclusivity of telecast rights of live English Premier League games and induced entry into the UK television broadcasting market. Historically rights were owned by a single broadcaster. The regulation divided the games into mutually exclusive bundles and stipulated that a single broadcaster cannot own rights to all of them. This resulted in a new channel entering the market and showing some games. I estimate a model of household viewing preferences, channel subscription demand, and pricing using proprietary viewing and subscription choice data. Simulations show a 6.4\% (\pounds 10m per season) decline in consumer surplus driven by the higher prices consumers had to pay to view all the live games. This offset increased surplus from new content on the entrant channel. I propose an alternate regulation that breaks the exclusivity of games telecast on a channel and show that the estimated surplus could have been 29\% higher. Chapter 2: Bundling Demand in K-12 Broadband Procurement In this chapter coauthored with Gaurab Aryal, Charles Murry and Pallavi Pal, we evaluate the effects of bundling demand for broadband internet by K-12 schools. In 2014, New Jersey switched from decentralized procurements to a new procurement system that bundled schools into four regional groups. Using an event study approach, we find that, on average, prices for participants decreased by one-third, and broadband speed purchased increased sixfold. We bound the change in school expenditures due to the program and find that participants saved at least as much as their total ``E-rate" subsidy from the federal government. Under weak assumptions on demand, we show that participating schools experienced large welfare gains. Using an informal model and simulations, we analyze the main mechanisms that could lead to lower prices in the regional auctions. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2024. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics.

Fungos da espécie Trichoderma harzianum são estudados como agentes de controle biológico de fitopatógenos que habitam o solo, sendo sua estratégia um processo complexo que pode ocorrer por diferentes mecanismos ou uma combinação deles, incluindo micoparasitismo. Neste trabalho, foram analisadas consequências da deleção do gene que codifica a proteína Epl-1, descrita como elicitora de resistência em plantas nos processos de: modulação da expressão de genes envolvidos no processo de micoparasitismo de T. harzianum contra o fungo fitopatogênico Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; estabelecimento do processo de micoparasitismo; interação entre T. harzianum e plantas de feijão comum. Os resultados mostram que a deleção do gene epl-1 alterou a modulação da expressão de todos os genes relacionados ao processo de micoparasitismo analisados. Além disso, Epl-1 apresentou um papel no processo de modulação de expressão desses genes em T. harzianum, no reconhecimento da própria parede celular e da parede de diferentes hospedeiros, na interação com fitopatógenos hospedeiros, no processo de formação de estruturas de micoparasitismo, bem como na indução de resistência local e sistêmica em plantas de feijão comum / Fungal species Trichoderma harzianum, are studied as soilborne plant pathogens biological control agent and its strategy is a complex process, which can occur by different mechanisms or a combination thereof, including mycoparasitism. In this work, the consequences of epl-1 gene deletion, which encoding for Epl-1 protein, described as plants resistance elicitor, were analyzed on: modulation of gene expression involved in T. harzianum mycoparasitism process against phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; mycoparasitism establishment process and T. harzianum interaction with bean plants. The results showed that epl-1 encoding gene deletion altered the expression modulation of all analyzed genes related to mycoparasitism process. Furthermore, Epl-1 presented a role in modulating expression of these genes in the process of self and host cell wall recognition; the interaction with host plant pathogens in formation of mycoparasitism structures as well as local and systemic resistance in beans plants

Fungos da espécie Trichoderma harzianum são estudados como agentes de controle biológico de fitopatógenos que habitam o solo, sendo sua estratégia um processo complexo que pode ocorrer por diferentes mecanismos ou uma combinação deles, incluindo micoparasitismo. Neste trabalho, foram analisadas consequências da deleção do gene que codifica a proteína Epl-1, descrita como elicitora de resistência em plantas nos processos de: modulação da expressão de genes envolvidos no processo de micoparasitismo de T. harzianum contra o fungo fitopatogênico Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; estabelecimento do processo de micoparasitismo; interação entre T. harzianum e plantas de feijão comum. Os resultados mostram que a deleção do gene epl-1 alterou a modulação da expressão de todos os genes relacionados ao processo de micoparasitismo analisados. Além disso, Epl-1 apresentou um papel no processo de modulação de expressão desses genes em T. harzianum, no reconhecimento da própria parede celular e da parede de diferentes hospedeiros, na interação com fitopatógenos hospedeiros, no processo de formação de estruturas de micoparasitismo, bem como na indução de resistência local e sistêmica em plantas de feijão comum / Fungal species Trichoderma harzianum, are studied as soilborne plant pathogens biological control agent and its strategy is a complex process, which can occur by different mechanisms or a combination thereof, including mycoparasitism. In this work, the consequences of epl-1 gene deletion, which encoding for Epl-1 protein, described as plants resistance elicitor, were analyzed on: modulation of gene expression involved in T. harzianum mycoparasitism process against phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; mycoparasitism establishment process and T. harzianum interaction with bean plants. The results showed that epl-1 encoding gene deletion altered the expression modulation of all analyzed genes related to mycoparasitism process. Furthermore, Epl-1 presented a role in modulating expression of these genes in the process of self and host cell wall recognition; the interaction with host plant pathogens in formation of mycoparasitism structures as well as local and systemic resistance in beans plants

We examine how speed of automation is affected by different employment protection regimes - one with lenient and one with stringent regulation. To assess we examine how occupations shares in the UK, US, Germany and Spain has changed from 1991-2013. According to our estimates, we find that the speed, of which high-risk occupations shrink over time, slows down in countries with a stringent EPL, Germany and Spain, regime relative to lenient EPL levels, the UK and US.

This thesis serves as an examination of the relationship between players’ salaries and teams’ revenues for the American Major League Soccer and English Premier League. Historically, the salary cap imposed on teams playing in Major League Soccer has been heavily criticized of holding the league back. Comparisons have been made to leagues such as the English Premier League which assert that the limitation keeping Major League Soccer from attaining similar success is the presence of the salary cap. Data was gathered from the twenty teams in Major League Soccer and the twenty teams in the English Premier League for each of two seasons, those played in 2015 and 2016. A regression analysis was performed with a binary dummy variable which served to indicate the presence of a salary cap. At an α of .05, the presence of a salary cap was found to be statistically significantly related to the revenues earned by teams. Additionally, at an α of .05, there was strong evidence to indicate a relationship between total paid salaries and total revenues earned by teams. This study serves to show one viable path by which financially underperforming teams can begin to increase their revenue streams.

Syfte med denna studie är att undersöka hur arbetsmarknadsinstitutioner som arbetsmarknadsregleringar och fackföreningar påverkar prekariatets storlek i 25 europeiska länder. Min teoretiska utgångspunkt är den nystrukturalistiska ansatsen som utgår från att makrostrukturella processer omformar arbetsmarknaden genom att skapa ekonomiska och politiska villkor som i sin tur utgör en grund för prekära anställningsformer. Jag har valt att undersöka arbetsmarknadsregleringar och fackföreningars roll för framväxten av de prekära jobben. I uppsatsen används data från European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) 2010 genomförd av European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EFILWC). Jag har genomfört linjära regressionsanalyser på både individ- och landsnivå. Mina resultat visar att det varken finns samband mellan anställningsskyddets strikthet mätt med OECD:s EPL-index, eller mellan kollektivavtalstäckning och storleken på prekariatet i olika länder. Samtidigt har det påvisats ett starkt negativt samband mellan organisationsgraden i fackföreningar och procent prekära bland de anställda. Ett negativt samband mellan organisationsgrad och den relativa storleken på prekariatet gäller även för flera demografiska grupper som är särskilt utsatta för prekära anställningar såsom kvinnor, äldre och lågutbildade. Mina resultat ger stöd åt teoretiska antaganden om att starka fackföreningar kan motverka prekära jobb. Samtidigt visar resultaten på behovet av vidare studier med tidsseriedata för att utesluta risken för omvänd kausalitet. Dessutom finns det ett stort område för studier av andra makrofaktorer som bidrar till framväxten av prekära jobb.

This diploma thesis considers a model of flexicurity, which currently represents a key strategy of European employment policy. "The Danish miracle", as it is sometimes called, combines two at first sight contradictory trends - the high flexibility of the labor market and adequate security for workers. However, application of the model to the European labor markets seems to be problematic for several reasons. Several potential barriers to the effective implementation of flexicurity are being discussed in the paper. The most serious seems to be the insufficient and ambiguous definition of the model. This means that different actors understand the nature of the model differently and accept it with different expectations. Flexicurity also ignores the heterogeneity of each labor market. The argument that flexicurity represents a win-win situation for all citizens seems untrustworthy and unrealistic. The paper further argues that the model is connected with the place of origin because of the importance of informal institutions such as advanced social dialogue and public-spiritedness. Finally, it is necessary to take into consideration the enormous financial demands of the model due to the emphasis on a generous social system.

Une solution pour réduire la consommation de Si de haute pureté dans les cellules solaires à base de Si cristallin est de faire croître une couche active mince de haute qualité sur un substrat à faible coût. L'Epitaxie en Phase Liquide (EPL) est l'une des techniques les plus appropriées, car la croissance est réalisée dans des conditions proches de l'équilibre. On s'intéresse plus particulièrement au développement et l'optimisation d'une technique de croissance stationnaire et isotherme basée sur l'évaporation du solvant : l'Epitaxie en Phase Liquide par Evaporation d'un Solvant métallique (EPLES). Les principaux critères concernant le choix du solvant, de l'atmosphère de croissance et du creuset sont d'abord présentés et permettent de concevoir une première configuration d'étude. Un modèle analytique est ensuite développé pour comprendre les mécanismes mis en œuvre et étudier la cinétique d'évaporation du solvant et de croissance. Les différentes étapes du procédé de croissance dans le cas de l'EPLES de Si sont examinées et mettent en évidence un certain nombre de difficultés technologiques liées à cette technique : contrôle de la convection dans le bain, réactivité du bain Si-M avec le creuset, transport par différence de température et dépôt pendant la phase de refroidissement. Des solutions techniques sont proposées et mise en place pour contourner les difficultés rencontrées. Des couches épitaxiées de Si uniformes comprises entre 20 et 40 µm sont alors obtenues par EPLES avec des bains Sn-Si et In-Si sur substrat Si monocristallin entre 900 et 1200°C sous vide secondaire. Les vitesses de croissance expérimentales atteintes sont comprises entre 10 et 20 µm/h et sont conformes aux prédictions du modèle cinétique. La qualité structurale obtenue est comparable à celle des couches obtenues par EPL. Des couches de type P, avec un bain dopé In et In(Ga) sont obtenues avec une concentration en dopants proches de 1017 at.cm3 compatible avec une application PV. Enfin le potentiel de l'application de cette technique est évalué en basant la discussion sur la réalisation d'une couche de Si obtenue par EPLES sur substrat multicristallin avec un bain In-Si. / Crystalline Si thin films on low-cost substrates are expected to be alternatives to bulk Si materials for PV applications. Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) is one of the most suitable techniques for the growth of high quality Si layers since LPE is performed under almost equilibrium conditions. We investigated a growth technology which allows growing Si epitaxial thin films in steady temperature conditions through the control of solvent evaporation from a metallic melt saturated with silicon: Liquid Phase Epitaxy by Solvent Evaporation (LPESE). We studied the main requirements regarding selection of solvent, crucible and growth ambient, and a first experimental set up is designed. An analytical model is described and discussed, aiming to predict solvent evaporation and Si crystallization rate. Growth experiments are implemented with a vertical dipping system. Growth procedure is presented and the influence, on Si growth, of melt convection, temperature gradient in the melt and Si-M reactivity with the material crucible are discussed. Solutions are proposed to improve and optimise the growth conditions. Experimentally, Si thin films were grown from Sn-Si and In-Si solution at temperatures between 900 and 1200°C under high vacuum. We are able to achieve epitaxial layers of several micrometers thickness (20-40µm). The predicted solvent evaporation rate and Si growth rate are in agreement with the experimental measurements. Regarding the structural quality, it is comparable to the crystal quality of layers grown by LPE. With In and In(Ga) melts, we can obtain P-type epitaxial layers with doping level in the range 1017 at.cm3, which is of great interest for the fabrication of solar cells. Finally, the growth of Si thin films on multicrystalline Si substrates by LPESE is discussed to assess the potential application of this technique.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <p><p>This thesis aims to give a contribution to the academic debate on three specific issues related to institutions and heterogeneity in the labour market. In the first part it analyses the effect of employment protection legislation on worker flows, i.e. the rate of worker reallocation, in OECD countries. The second part revisits the debate on minimum wages in Europe bringing new evidence on systems without a statutory minimum wage and comparing them with countries with a statutory one. The third part delves in a relatively newer debate, about the pros and cons of workforce diversity for firms, bringing some evidence on the effect of diversity on firm productivity and wages in Belgium and France.<p><p>Chapter 1 exploits a unique dataset including cross-country comparable hiring and separation rates by type of transition for 24 OECD countries, 23 business-sector industries and 13 years to study the effect of dismissal regulations on different types of gross worker flows, defined as one-year transitions. Chapter 1 uses both a difference-in-difference approach – in which the impact of regulations is identified by exploiting likely cross-industry differences in their impact – and standard time-series analysis – in which the effect of regulations is identified through regulatory changes over time. Findings suggest that the more restrictive the regulation, the smaller is the rate of within-industry job-to-job transitions, in particular towards permanent jobs. By contrast, it finds no significant effect as regards separations involving an industry change or leading to non-employment. The extent of reinstatement in the case of unfair dismissal appears to be the most important regulatory determinant of gross worker flows. The chapter also present a large battery of robustness checks that suggest that our findings are robust.<p><p>The second part brings new evidence to the debate on minimum wages in Europe by collecting data on systems without a statutory minimum wage and comparing them with countries with a statutory one. Since the mid-2000s, academics, trade unionists and policymakers have been involved in controversial debates about the need for a harmonised European minimum wage policy. <p><p>Chapter 2 provides a description of minimum wage systems in Europe.<p><p>Chapter 3 explores the link between different institutional features of minimum wage systems and the minimum wage bite. It notably addresses the striking absence of studies on sectoral-level minima and exploit unique data covering 17 European countries and information from more than 1,100 collective bargaining agreements. Results provide evidence for a neglected trade-off: systems with bargained sectoral-level minima are associated with higher Kaitz indices than systems with statutory floors, but also with more individuals actually paid below prevailing minima. Higher collective bargaining coverage can to some extent reduce this trade-off between high wage floors and non-compliance or non-coverage. <p>Chapter 4 builds on the previous ones and explores how the diversity of minimum wage systems affects earnings inequalities within European countries. Empirical results confirm the intuition of many practitioners that the combination of sectoral minima and high collective bargaining coverage can be regarded as a functional equivalent of a binding statutory minimum wage, at least for earnings inequalities. Regression results suggest indeed that both a national statutory minimum and, in countries with sectoral minima, higher collective bargaining coverage is significantly associated with lower levels of (overall and inter-industry) wage inequalities and a smaller fraction of workers paid below prevailing minima. Several robustness checks confirm these findings.<p><p>The third part of the thesis does not study a labour market institution as such but the effect of workers diversity, a feature that might prompt some kind of regulations in the future but it is already strongly affecting firms which need to balance their public image and corporate social responsibility practices with internal organisation and profit maximisation.<p><p>Chapter 5 estimates the impact of workforce diversity on productivity, wages, and productivity–wage gaps (i.e. profits) using detailed Belgian linked employer–employee panel data and different econometric tools to solve for endogeneity and heterogeneity issues. Findings show that educational diversity is beneficial for firm productivity and wages while age diversity is harmful. While gender diversity is found to generate significant gains in high-tech/knowledge-intensive sectors, the opposite result is obtained in more traditional industries. Estimates neither vary substantially with firm size nor point to sizeable productivity–wage gaps except for age diversity.<p>Chapter 6 extends the analysis of workforce diversity to the French case using data from a comprehensive establishment-level survey (REPONSE) for 2011 matched with companies’ balance sheet data. Controlling for a wide set of workers’ and firms’ characteristics, findings suggest that, very much in line with previous studies, demographic diversity (age and gender) has a negative effect on productivity and wages while educational diversity has a positive effect. Contrary to some widespread beliefs, the chapter finds no differential effect according to manager characteristics (gender, age, tenure) but some heterogeneity according to the type of proprietary structures of the firms (family firms vs. firms quoted in the stock exchange vs. foreign owner vs. workers among shareholders).<p><p>RESUME<p>Cette thèse vise à apporter une contribution originale au débat académique sur trois questions spécifiques liées aux institutions et à l'hétérogénéité dans le marché du travail. Dans la première partie, la thèse analyse l'effet de la législation relative à la protection de l'emploi sur les flux de travailleurs (embauches, licenciements, démissions, changements d’emploi) dans les pays de l'OCDE. La deuxième partie contribue au débat sur le salaire minimum en Europe en apportant de nouvelles données sur les pays systèmes où les salaires sont fixés au niveau sectoriel en les comparant avec les pays où le salaire minimum est fixé au niveau national. La troisième partie aborde la question relativement récente du rôle de la diversité de la main-d'œuvre pour les entreprises, et estime l'effet de la diversité sur la productivité et les salaires en Belgique et en France.<p><p>La première partie (chapitre 1) analyse une base de données qui comprend les flux d’entrées (embauches) et de sorties (démissions et licenciements) du marché du travail pour 24 pays de l'OCDE et 23 industries sur une période de 13 ans pour étudier l'effet de la réglementation relative au licenciement sur les différents types de flux de travailleurs (mesurés en termes de transitions annuelles). Le chapitre utilise à la fois une approche en double différence - dans laquelle l'impact de la régulation est identifié par l'analyse des différents besoins de réallocation selon les industries (l’hôtellerie a un taux de réallocation beaucoup plus élevé que la chimie par exemple) à travers les pays– et d'analyse de séries temporelles - dans laquelle l'effet de la régulation est identifié par des changements réglementaires au cours du temps. Les résultats suggèrent qu’une régulation plus contraignante diminue le taux de réallocation au sein du même secteur et les transitions d'un emploi à un autre, en particulier vers des emplois permanents. En revanche, une régulation plus restrictive n’a pas d'effet significatif sur les séparations impliquant un changement de secteur ou une perte d’emploi. La possibilité de réintégration en cas de licenciement abusif semble être le déterminant le plus important des flux de travailleurs.<p><p>La deuxième partie de la thèse (chapitres 2, 3 et 4) apporte un regard nouveau sur le débat sur les salaires minima en Europe, en particulier par la collecte de données sur les pays avec des minima sectoriels et la comparaison avec les pays avec un salaire fixé au niveau national. Le second chapitre fournit une description détaillée des différents systèmes de salaire minimum en vigueur en Europe. Le troisième chapitre étudie le lien entre les différentes caractéristiques institutionnelles des systèmes de salaire minimum et leur niveau par rapport au salaire médian. L’analyse pallie notamment l'absence frappante d'études sur les minima au niveau sectoriel en examinant des données couvrant 17 pays européens et plus de 1100 conventions collectives. Les résultats montrent un arbitrage jusqu’ici négligé: les systèmes avec des minima négociés au niveau sectoriel sont associés à un salaire minimum relativement plus élevé que les systèmes dotés de salaire minimum national, mais cela va de pair avec davantage de travailleurs rémunérés en dessous des minima en vigueur. Une meilleure couverture de la négociation collective peut, dans une certaine mesure, réduire cet arbitrage entre salaires minima relativement plus élevés et leur non-respect ou non-couverture. Le quatrième chapitre explore l’impact de la diversité des systèmes de salaire minimum sur l’inégalité salariale au sein des pays européens. Les résultats empiriques confirment l'intuition que la combinaison de minima sectoriels et de couverture élevée de la négociation collective peut être considérée comme l’équivalent fonctionnel d'un salaire minimum légal national. Les résultats suggèrent en effet que, dans les pays avec des minima sectoriels, une plus grande couverture de la négociation collective est associée à des niveaux inférieurs d’inégalités, globales et intersectorielles, et à une plus petite fraction des travailleurs rémunérés en dessous des minima en vigueur.<p><p>La troisième partie de la thèse (chapitres 5 et 6) n’étudie pas une institution du marché du travail en tant que telle, mais la diversité des travailleurs. Il s’agit d’un phénomène qui pourrait inspirer un certain type de régulation à l'avenir, mais qui affecte déjà fortement les entreprises qui ont besoin de trouver un équilibre entre leur image publique et la responsabilité sociale avec l'organisation des ressources humaines et la maximisation du profit. Le cinquième chapitre estime l'impact de la diversité de la main-d'œuvre sur la productivité, les salaires, et l’écart productivité-salaire. Pour ce faire, nous utilisons des données belges de panel appariées employeur-employé entre 1999 et 2006 et différents outils économétriques pour résoudre les questions d'endogénéité et d'hétérogénéité. Les résultats montrent que la diversité en termes d’années d'éducation est bénéfique pour la productivité et les salaires alors que la diversité d’âge est nuisible. Bien que la diversité de genre génère des gains importants dans les secteurs à forte intensité technologique ou de connaissance, le résultat inverse est obtenu dans les industries plus traditionnelles. Les résultats ne varient pas avec la taille des entreprises et ne mettent aucun écart important entre productivité et salaires en évidence à l'exception de la diversité d’âge. Le sixième chapitre étend l'analyse de la diversité de la main-d'œuvre au cas français. Nous utilisons les données de l’enquête REPONSE qui permettent, entre autres, une analyse approfondie, autour du thème des liens entre politiques de gestion du personnel, stratégies économiques et performances des entreprises. Tout en prenant en considération un large éventail de caractéristiques des travailleurs et des entreprises, les résultats suggèrent que la diversité démographique (âge et genre) a un effet négatif sur la productivité et les salaires tandis que la diversité d'éducation a un effet positif. Contrairement à une idée assez répandue, les caractéristiques des dirigeants (genre, âge, ancienneté) n’ont aucun effet sur la diversité. En revanche le type de structure de propriété des entreprises (entreprises familiales, entreprises cotées en bourse, propriétaire étranger ou participation des travailleurs dans l’actionnariat) implique une certaine hétérogénéité de l’effet de la diversité (firmes familiales plus favorable à la diversité de genre, firmes cotées en bourse plus favorable à la diversité d’éducation) / Doctorat en sciences économiques, Orientation économie / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished