On the Social Aspects of Unemployment: The Case of Life Satisfaction

Unemployment is related to economic, political and social aspects. One of the least analysed social aspects is the relationship between unemployment and the (individual) perceived levels of well-being, such as life satisfaction or happiness. This chapter complements previous work on the subject, using a panel-data econometrics methodology to analyze the relationship between unemployment and life satisfaction in a wide range of countries worldwide. The results confirm that unemployment has a negative effect, statistically significant, on life satisfaction, either for men or for women.

On the Economic Aspects of Unemployment: The Case of Consumer Confidence

Unemployment is related to economic, political and social aspects. One of the least analysed economic aspects is the relationship of unemployment to the level of confidence that characterizes some macroeconomic relevant agents, such as consumers or investors. Expanding previous work on this matter, this chapter considers a fuzzy logic methodology in order to uncover the relationship that exists between the unemployment rate and the consumer confidence level for a large group of European Union countries, in the period 1995-2015. It is concluded that this relationship is stronger than apparently it looks, especially in certain countries. This result should therefore be used as an extra argument in making economic decisions leading to the diminishment of unemployment, which will boost economic confidence.

On the Political Aspects of Unemployment: The Case of Election Results

Unemployment is related to economic, political and social aspects. One of the least analysed political aspects is the relationship that, from a partisan or ideological perspective, should exist between the election results and the aging level of the voters, which is to be reflected in different electoral costs of unemployment. This chapter updates previous work on the subject, using a spatial econometrics methodology to estimate the relationship between the levels of aging and the election results that were obtained in the most recent elections that took place in Portugal, i.e. the October 2015 legislative elections. The results confirm the hypothesis that the level of unemployment involves a higher (resp. lower) electoral cost the less (resp. more) aged is the electorate.

O serviço de referência nas bibliotecas públicas em Portugal: modelo de desenvolvimento

O Serviço de Referência (SR), incorporando na sua organização, funcionamento e comunicação com o utilizador um conjunto de potencialidades proporcionadas pela tecnologia, assume um papel fundamental na luta contra a desigualdade e o analfabetismo digital, no fomento da literacia da informação e na criação de conhecimento. A percepção do valor e das fragilidades do SR nas bibliotecas públicas em Portugal levanta a questão sobre como contribuir para o seu desenvolvimento. A presente investigação, visando a construção de alicerces numa perspectiva de evolução, parte da análise de documentos orientadores internacionais da RUSA/ALA (Reference and User Services Association / American Library Association) e da IFLA (International Federation of Library Association) e da observação de características estruturais da Rede Nacional de Biblioteca Públicas (RNBP), para a concepção de soluções de desenvolvimento do SR a aplicar a esta realidade concreta. Seguindo um paradigma compreensivo indutivo, com uma orientação baseada na Grounded Theory, esta pesquisa privilegia o contexto da descoberta e a construção de uma teoria. No plano empírico cumpre uma complementaridade de técnicas qualitativas e quantitativas, com recurso a uma triangulação metodológica. O campo de análise abrange a totalidade das bibliotecas públicas portuguesas integradas na RNBP em Portugal. Visando aspectos funcionais e materiais, são analisados dados preexistentes e aplicadas técnicas de observação directa e inquérito por questionário. Visando aspectos sociais, são efectuadas seis entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os resultados apontam para uma situação de estagnação das bibliotecas da RNBP e para um funcionamento não estruturado e informal do SR, na maioria dos casos em que se verifica a sua disponibilização. Fundamentada a necessidade de evolução, e do investimento que nele possa ser feito, é construído um modelo, seguindo uma estratégia por níveis, flexíveis e adaptáveis às necessidades e aos recursos de cada biblioteca, que visa o desenvolvimento incremental e congruente daquele serviço; Abstract: The Reference Service in public libraries in Portugal. Development model from international guidelines. Incorporating in its organization, procedures and communication with the users a set of tools brought by technology, Reference Service (RS) plays a key role in the struggle against inequality and digital illiteracy, promoting information literacy and creating knowledge. The perception of the value of RS and the weaknesses in public libraries in Portugal raise the question on how to contribute to its development. In order to build RS foundations on an evolutionary perspective, this research analyzes RUSA / ALA (Reference and User Services Association / American Library Association) and IFLA (International Federation of Library Association) international guidelines and the structural characteristics of the Portuguese National Public Library Network (RNBP), with the objective of creating a solution for the development of that service to be applied to this reality. Following an inductive comprehensive paradigm, with an orientation based on Grounded Theory, this research focuses on the context of discovery and the construction of a theory. Empirically it fulfils complementary qualitative and quantitative techniques, using a methodological triangulation. The field of analysis covers Portuguese public libraries integrating the RNBP. Aiming at functional and material aspects, direct observation techniques and a survey by questionnaire are applied. Targeting social aspects, six semistructured interviews are carried out. The results point to a situation of stagnation in the RNBP as well as the unstructured and informal performance of the SR, which justifies the need for evolution and investment. A model is constructed, following a strategy based on levels, flexible and adaptable to the needs and resources of each library, with the perspective of an incremental and consistent development of this service.