Giovanni Guidetti

Complementarity in Training Practices: Methodological Notes and Empirical Evidence for a Local Economic System in Emilia Romagna

The paper develops a conceptual framework aimed at analysing the profitability to finance general training, grounding on the notion of complementarity among productive factors. First, we show that a simple application of theoretical analysis based on the lattice theory and the notion of supermodularity can provide a suitable framework to study complementarity relationships characterizing productive factors. Secondly, we discuss empirical evidence on complementarity between general and specific training with respect to firm productivity, exploiting a detailed and specifically constructed survey based dataset. Complementarity between training forms is thus tested in a discrete framework. We show that complementarity holds for most specifications, though the outcome might be dependant on other firm-related features and strategies. The multivariate analysis also shows, on the same model framework, that R&D and training expenditures are emerging as main explanatory drivers for productivity. Our results on training complementarity and productivity drivers indicates that complementarity related to training forms matters, but also that the mere training adoption is probably not sufficient: the level of training provided is positively correlated with firm productivity.

Teoria della segmentazione e dei mercati interni del lavoro. Attualità, limiti ed evoluzioni dell'analisi istituzionalista

The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, it is aimed at surveying the institutionalist literature on the analysis of internal labour market and labour market segmentation. Secondly, this paper develops some insights about future research stemming from the idea that internal labour market, as conceived in the seminal contributions by Kerr (1955) and Doeringer-Piore (1971), have to be specified anew, if one wants to take into account recent structural changes occurred in these last years. The institutionalist approach about internal labour market and labour market segmentation was mainly developed in the 70s and the 80s. After that period the institutionalist literature has produced few relevant results, especially as far as theoretical analysis is concerned. This paper claims that these analytical tools need some radical innovations. First of all, the role of internal labour market in the creation and development of knowledge has to be taken into account. In addition, future research has to analyse in depth the relationship between internal labour markets and the institutional framework. This is an extremely important research topic, if one wants to understand how the institutions affect the organizational pattern of firms.

Approaching an investigation of multi-dimensional inequality through the lenses of variety in models of capitalism

After a synthetic presentation of the state of poverty and inequality in the world and the contradictions incurred by economic theory in this field after decades of globalization and in the midst of a persisting global crisis, in paragraphs 2. and 3. we outline the rational for our theoretical analysis, underlining two main aspects. First of all, in paragraph 2. we recall the reasons which makes inequality a multidimensional phenomenon, while in paragraph 3. we explore the reasons why the models of capitalism theory is relevant for studying multidimensional inequality. These paragraphs emphasise that inequality is a multidimensional and cumulative phenomenon and it should not be conceived only as the result of the processes of personal and functional distribution of income and wealth, which even by themselves are intrinsically multidimensional. The basic idea is that institutions, the cobweb of relations among them and their interaction with the economic structure define the model of capitalism which characterises a specific country and this, in turn, affects the level and the dynamics of inequality. This approach is consistent with the sociological approach by Rehbein and Souza (2014), based on the analytical framework developed by Pierre Bourdieu. In paragraph 4. we outline the rational for our empirical analysis, applying the notion of institutional complementarity and examining the relationship between institutional complementarity, models of capitalism and inequality. Besides, refining Amable’s analysis (2003), we provide empirical evidence on the relationship between inequality in income distribution and models of capitalism. Additionally, basing on cluster analysis, we identify six different models of capitalism in a sample of OECD countries, provide preliminary evidence on the different level of inequality which characterises each model and suggest that no evidence supports of the idea that a single model of capitalism is taking shape in this sphere in EU. In paragraph 5. we give some hints about issues in search for a new interpretation capable to fasten together the process of increasing inequality, the notion of symbolic violence and the models of capitalism theory. In the last paragraph we focus on conclusions useful for carrying on our research agenda.