Marc Van Audenrode

Unemployment insurance take-up rates in Canada: facts, determinants, and implications

This paper examines the curious group of unemployed person who are eligible for unemployment insurance benefits but do not receive them. The characteristics of the group are illustrated and factors linked to the decision to take up benefits are identified. A measure is provided for the sensitivity of estimated unemployment insurance disincentive effects to the existence of eligible nonclaimants. The results of the paper suggest that detailed modeling of the decision to receive unemployment insurance benefits is needed if empirical work is to serve as a reliable guide for unemployment insurance policy reform.

The relative dosing of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa in chronic kidney disease

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to review and analyze current research to evaluate the dose ratio of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to identify determinants of the variation in epoetin alfa: darbepoetin alfa dose ratios across studies. Methods: A systematic review of the literature for comparative switch and non-switch studies of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa treatments in CKD for the period 2000–2005 was performed. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the information. Data on the study design and outcomes were collected for each selected study. The dose ratio from epoetin alfa to darbepoetin alfa was calculated for each study, and the results were reported stratified by study characteristics. To control for differences in study design and characteristics that could explain the variability in the relative dosages of the two agents across studies, multivariate regression analysis was conducted. Based on these results, a dose conversion ratio for Canada was estimated. Results: A total of 21 studies involving 16 378 patients exposed to epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa in CKD were identified. Univariate analysis of the dose ratios indicated a mean dose ratio of 217:1 (IU of epoetin alfa:µg of darbepoetin alfa). Results from the multivariate analysis demonstrated that the study design (i.e., switch study versus straight comparison studies) and geographical coverage (i.e., United States) affected the results. Based on the multivariate analysis, the dose conversion ratio between epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa for Canada was 169:1. Conclusions: Despite limitations associated with switching studies and the limited total number of studies available, this systematic review based on aggregated results provides further evidence to the clinical community that the dose conversion ratio for epoetin alfa:darbepoetin alfa in CKD patients in Canada is approximately 169:1. At that ratio, treatment with epoetin alfa is 11–18% cheaper than treatment with darbepoetin alfa in Canada.

Job displacement, wages, and unemployment duration in Canada

Abstract Using Canadian data, this paper replicates Addison and Portugals (1989) study of the relation between unemployment duration and the wage losses of displaced workers in the U.S. We use the Canadian survey of displaced workers, which is almost identical in its design to the one used by Addison and Portugal for the U.S. We show that, unlike in the U.S., no significant and consistent effect of unemployment duration on wage losses of displaced workers can be found in Canada, once the simultaneity bias and unobserved heterogeneity are correctly accounted for. As in the U.S. study, we show that displaced workers with high tenure loose most from displacement in Canada. This effect appears despite lower return to tenure in Canada.

Exploring the Links between Wage Inequality and Unemployment: A Comparison of Canada and the US

This paper examines the links between the unemployment rate gap and wage inequality in the US and Canada. Survey data for displaced workers from the early 1980s are compared for the two countries to examine differenes in wages obtained after displacement. We look at all workers and subgroups of the population and compare entire wage distributions between the countries. While we find a tighter wage-change distribution in Canada, our results do not indicate that this is primarily due to more generous unemployment insurance in Canada. Unemployment insurance does, however, improve wage outcomes for the long-term unemployed in Canada

Cost observation, auditing and limited liability☆

Abstract In this paper we consider the effect of limited liability for agents in a principal-agent framework with imperfect auditing. We show that limited liability annihilates the incentive effects of auditing by preventing the principal from giving a negative rent to the bad type when an audit mistake occurs: if you cannot convict an innocent, do not audit.