CELSI at the Bratislava Economic Meeting 2010

Empirical study on the barriers of Roma integration and other groups with a high risk of social exclusion on the labour market was the main topic of the contribution of Martin Kahanec at the Bratislava Economic Meeting 2010 (BEM). CELSI presented itself together with other nine institutions such as Central European University (CEU) or CERGE-EI of Charles University Prague. The case study aimed mainly at education and inter-generation transfer of human capital from parents to children. The empirical model using the data from countries of former Yugoslavia showed that the relationship between achieved education of parents and children is more significant for Roma than for the non-Roma population. This suggests that policies leading to education of Roma, children and adults as well, could have strong positive effect on the Roma population. Although with the same mechanism this relationship could work as a trap from which the Roma children could not get out easily.

Along the conference appearance, Martin Kahanec also gave interviews for Slovak TV stations Markíza ans TA3."As far as Roma integration is concerned I consider as a significant aspect not only the motivation factor operating through differences in income if the respective person works or does not work, but also factors which allow the socially excluded groups actively participate in the labour market. This concerns mainly ensuring equal opportunity when acquiring/losing work, but also when climbing the career ladder. It also concerns the areas of education, health conditions and housing situation of Roma".

The interview for TA3 concerned the flexibility of Labour Code where Martin Kahanec considers as crucial creation of new work places by companies, which are allowed to work effectively by the Labour Code. "This is important also for abolishing barriers when taking up employment from the point of view of the employee."

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New journal article by Marta Kahancová

How can we understand similarities and differences between work practices in multinational companies’ (MNCs) subsidiaries in different host country conditions? The paper addresses this question by studying selected soft work practices, namely work systems and fringe benefits, in a Dutch MNC and its subsidiaries in Western and in Central Eastern Europe. Acknowledging institutional variation across the studied host countries, the paper explores how the MNC’s economic interest and company values interact with host-country institutions in shaping subsidiary work practices.. It is argued that the MNC’s rational behaviour is contextualized in local socio-institutional conditions, as well as it is informed by company values. Interaction between the profit interest, values and institutions yields subsidiary work practices that are neither fully standardized across the subsidiaries, nor extensively adapted to local work standards. Instead, soft work practices are embedded in, but only selectively adapted to, host-country standards.

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CELSI as the WageIndicator project national partner for the Czech and Slovak republic organized on January 9th and 10th 2010 a workshop on salarycheckers’ calculations for all WageIndicator project participating countries.

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Marta Kahancová, PhD received the award of the Dutch sociology association for the best dissertation defended in the years 2007-2008. The jury acknowledged the title “Making the Most of Diversity. Social Interaction and Employment Practices in a Multinational Firm” as an exemplary multidisciplinary study that is at the same time scientifically and societally relevant.

 

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Irish media keen on M. Kahanec's new book on EU enlargement.

The Irish Independent: Early opening won Ireland best immigrants

The Irish Times: States which restrict migrant workers lose out, claims study

Radio RTÉ: Dr. Zimmerman cited M. Kahanec's new book

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M. Kahanec's book on EU enlargement launched in Berlin, Brussels, Washington, Stockholm, Dublin, Riga, Beijing, London and Warsaw.

M. Kahanec's new book launched in Riga with attendance of former prime minister, minister of Latvia Andris Bērziņš and Minister of Education and Science Tatjana Koke.

M. Kahanec becomes a country expert for the GINI project funded by the European Commission

Foto: lu.lv

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CELSI joined project of the Leeds Fund, as a part of the World University Network, about restructuring, redundancy and sustainable employment in the context of the current economic crisis. >> Read more

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Marta Kahancová, PhD and M. E. Kaminska presented new study on post-enlargement migration and creating opportunities for trade unions in CEE at EQUALSOC workshop "The Demise of Collective Organization in Europe: The Decline in Union Membership and its Consequences” in Amsterdam.

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WageIndicator launched in the Slovak Republic as MôjPlat.sk

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WageIndicator launched in the Czech Republic as MůjPlat.cz

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Oxford Handbook featuring a chapter of M. Kahanec launched

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Discussion paper by M. Kahancova: Multinationals in Postsocialist Host Countries

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Journal publication by M. Kahanec: Negative attitudes discourage best immigrants

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Palgrave to publish M. Kahancová's book on Employment Practices

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Professional portrait of M. Kahanec in Hospodárske noviny daily

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