Employment, turnover and career progress

The severe economic downturn that followed the Global Financial Crisis of 2007 was accompanied by major fluctuations in the labour market. During the Great Recession the rate of job destruction was such that, by 2013, active population was at levels of 1999; employment levels were at an historical minimum; and the unemployment rate soared to 17,5%. This chapter inspects the dynamics behind the aggregate fl uctuations in the labour market and studies the determinants of mobility within (promotions) and between fi rms, and whether these have changed during crisis, using Portuguese (LEED) data. During crisis women became more likely to make between- rm moves with short gaps of unemployment and less likely to find a new job after a long gap or to make a job-to-non-employment transition. More educated workers are less likely to experience between fi rm job mobility, both before and during crisis, and became less likely to make job-to-non-employment transitions during crisis. Young workers are the group that most suffered from crisis: they became less likely to make job-to-job transitions and their hazard of experiencing a transition into unemployment shoot up.

The economic assessment of health benefits of active transport

Purpose:This chapter addresses the economic assessment of health benefits of active transport and presents most recent valuation studies with an overview of progresses made towards the inclusion of health benefits in the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of active transport. Methodology/approach: It is built upon the contracted study for the World Health Organization (WHO) on the economic appraisal of health benefits of walking and cycling investments at the city of Viana do Castelo, the former pilot study in Portugal for evaluating the health benefits of non-motorized transport using the WHO Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT). The relative risk values adopted in the HEAT for walking refer to adult population of the age group 20â 74 years and the assessment focus in on average physical activity/regular behaviour of groups of pedestrians and all-cause mortality health impacts. During the case study, it was developed and implemented a mobility survey which aimed to collect behavioural data before and after a street intervention in the historic centre. Findings: Most recent appraisal guidance of walking and cycling and health impact modelling studies reviewed confirm that further research is expected before a more comprehensive appraisal procedure can be adopted in Europe, able to integrate physical activity effects along with other health risks such as those related to road traffic injuries and exposure to air pollution. Social implications: The health benefits assessment of walking investments helped local decision-makers to progress towards sustainable mobility options in the city. Making the population aware of the potential health benefits of regular walking can encourage more people to uptake active transport as part of their daily activities. Originality/value: This study provides a useful review of the health benefits of active transport with a comprehensive analysis of valuation studies, presenting value-added information. It then reports a former assessment of the health effects of active transport in the Portuguese context (case study) using the state-of-the-art economic analysis tool (HEAT) of the World Health Organization which is believed to contribute to a paradigm shift in the transport policy and appraisal practice given the need of shaping future cities (and their citizens) for health through more investments in active transport.