Documents found
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2791.More information
AbstractAfter fifty years of catching up to the U. S. level of productivity, since 1995 Europe has been falling behind. The growth rate in output per hour over 1995-2003 in Europe was just half that in the United States, and this annual growth shortfall caused the level of European productivity to fall back from 94 percent of the U. S. level to 85 percent. Fully one-fifth of the European catch-up (from 44 to 94 percent) over the previous half-century has been lost over the period since 1995.Disaggregated studies of industrial sectors suggest that the main difference between Europe and the U. S. is in ICT-using industries like wholesale and retail trade and in securities trading. The contrast in retailing calls attention to regulatory barriers and land-use regulations in Europe that inhibit the development of the ‘big box' retailing formats that have created many of the productivity gains in the U. S. For many decades, the U. S. and Europe have gone in opposite directions in the public policies relevant for metropolitan growth. The U. S. has promoted highly dispersed low-density metropolitan areas through its policies of building intra-urban highways, starving public transit, providing tax subsidies to home ownership, and allowing local governments to maintain low density by maintaining minimum residential lot sizes. Europeans have chosen different policies that encourage high-density residential living and retail precincts in the central city while inhibiting the exploitation of ‘greenfield' suburban and exurban sites suitable for modern ‘big box' retail developments.The middle part of the paper draws on recent writing by Phelps: economic dynamism is promoted by policies that promote competition and flexible equity finance and is retarded by corporatist institutions designed to protect incumbent producers and inhibit new entry. European cultural attributes inhibit the development of ambition and independence by teenagers and young adults, in contrast to their encouragement in the U. S. While competition, corporatism, and culture may help to explain the differing transatlantic evolution of productivity growth, they reveal institutional flaws in both continents that are inbred and likely to persist. The final section of the paper identifies the roots of the favorable environment for innovation in the U.S. compared to Europe. Elements include an openly competitive system of private and public universities, government subsidies to universities through peer-reviewed research grants rather than unconditional subsidies for free undergraduate tuition, the world dominance of U.S. business schools and management consulting firms, strong U.S. patent protection, a flexible financial infrastructure making available venture capital finance to promising innovations, the benefits of a common language and free internal migration, and a welcoming environment for highly-skilled immigrants.
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2792.More information
For several years now, the librarians at Université de Moncton have been teaching the Information Literacy / Library Research component as part of a mandatory introductory course offered to all first-year students in several faculties. As part of a study conducted in collaboration with the CompeTI.CA Partnership Network in 2016-2019, we collected and analyzed the perceptions of students participating in the course, as well as the observations and recommendations of librarians teaching it.Using a qualitative and inductive grounded theory methodology adopted by the Network and based on an inclusive and collaborative approach has allowed us to generate research data and practical recommendations. The conclusions derive from the analysis of the data collected, rather than from predetermined theories. Results suggest that this model of teaching information literacy as part of a course and its learning objectives seems to benefit students and contribute to their academic success. Optimization of the pedagogical structure of the course, placement tests, as well as the importance of a gradual and adapted approach to developing the information literacy skills are some of recommendations that emerge from this study.By publishing this article, we wish to make a modest contribution to the French-language scientific literature about the acquisition of information literacy skills by first-year university students, as well as the role of academic librarians in the teaching mission of post-secondary institutions.
Keywords: academic librarians, bibliothécaires universitaires, digital literacy, compétences informationnelles, information literacy skills, enseignement au premier cycle, surveys, littératie numérique, undergraduate teaching, questionnaire étudiant
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2793.More information
Introduction: Since its appearance in China at the end of 2019, the sanitary response to COVID-19 infection has disrupted the delivery of primary healthcare services, including those related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the Democratic Republic of Congo, anti-COVID-19 measures (containment) effect on the use of HIV preventive and care services for people living with HIV (PLHIV) remains poorly described to date.Objective: Compare and understand the effect of anti-COVID measures on the use of HIV prevention and care services for PLHIV in Outpatient treatment centers from Bukavu before (October 2019 to February 2020) and during (March to July 2020) anti-COVID measures.Methods: Multisite mixed study with an explanatory sequential design carried out in Bukavu between July and September 2021. Quantitative phase is observational, descriptive, retrospective and based on programmatic data from Outpatient treatment centers (OTC). Qualitative phase, guided by quantitative results, is based on 31 semi-structured interviews with caregivers and PLHIV.Results: Compared to the pre-COVID-19 period, anti-COVID-19 measures resulted in an 11-20% decrease in HIV preventive and PLHIV’s care services. They also led to stock outs of antiretrovirals and HIV tests, HIV services reorganization, some caregiver’s contamination with COVID-19 and death of others, and a drop in HIV services use.Discussion and conclusion: In Bukavu, anti-COVID-19 measures have had a negative impact on the care of at-risk, HIV-infected people. They have hampered progress towards the objectives of 95% of people tested for HIV, 95% of PLHIV on treatment and 95% of PLHIV with a suppressed viral load.
Keywords: COVID-19, COVID-19, impact, impact, HIV services, services VIH, outpatient treatment centers, centres de traitement ambulatoire, Bukavu, Bukavu
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2794.More information
This article explores the dynamics of work within the platform economy, focusing on the experiences of young Uber and Uber Eats workers in Quebec. The authors examine how these workers perceive their job security, freedom of work, and the meaning they ascribe to their professional activity in a context dominated by algorithmic management. The article first highlights the distinction between rights associated with employee status and those associated with the status of an independent worker, the latter being characteristic of the platform economy. The analysis of interview data with 48 young Uber and Uber Eats workers operating in Quebec then leads to three findings. Firstly, young workers express a sense of job security linked to the flexibility and direct access to the job market that platforms provide, despite the absence of traditional social guarantees. Secondly, they highly value the freedom offered by this type of work, especially in terms of autonomy in organizing work and timetable flexibility. However, this freedom is qualified by the dependence on platform algorithms that manage task allocation. Thirdly, the analysis reveals that for these young people, work on the platforms represents a productive participation in society, contrasting with the perception of "empty or meaningless labour" often associated with traditional employment. This experience is perceived as more rewarding because it is directly linked to market demand. Although the platform economy has challenges, particularly in terms of social protection and job security, it nevertheless offers young workers valued opportunities for security, freedom, and meaning in their work.
Keywords: Plateformes numériques, organisation du travail, jeunes, conditions d'emploi, sens du travail
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2795.More information
This research examines the relationship between the perception of transformational leadership, the autonomous motivation of employees and their performance at work. More specifically, it explores the mediating effect of autonomous motivation, considered to be the most suitable form of motivation for the development of a sustainable performance (Gagné et Deci, 2005; Gagné et Forest, 2009; Roussel et Fall, 2021). The data come from a survey of 158 workers, drawn through a convenience sampling, of a Senegalese public hospital. The results, from a structural equations approach and the test of the indirect effects, reveal that the perception of transformational leadership has an effect on the autonomous motivation of the agents, and on their job performance. However, it does not directly affect the contextual performance of the agents. On the other hand, the autonomous motivation of agents exerts a total mediating effect between the perception of a transformational leadership and contextual performance. However, it exerts only a partial mediating effect between transformational leadership and performance in the task.
Keywords: Leadership transformationnel, motivation au travail, performance au travail, performance tâche, performance contextuelle
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2796.More information
This article investigates the role of Pedagogical Counsellors (CPs) in francophone higher education in Quebec, through a detailed lexicometric analysis of 172 job postings from 2022 to 2023. The study identifies essential competencies that institutions demand from CPs. The results demonstrate that CPs must master a diverse array of skills spanning educational, digital, organizational, interpersonal, and contextual realms. Key skills identified include digital integration, project management, communication, and an in-depth understanding of the institutional environment. The analysis emphasizes the critical need for CPs to be versatile and adaptable, equipped to handle resistance to change in a dynamically evolving educational landscape. This research considerably enhances our comprehension of the crucial role played by CPs, highlighting the importance of continuous professional development to adeptly navigate both present and future challenges in higher education. The findings advocate for increased recognition of the CP profession and propose strategic pathways for their professional development. Findings also accentuate the indispensable role of these educational professionals in shaping academic settings, reinforcing their position as pivotal figures in the educational framework.
Keywords: educational advisor, conseillère et conseiller pédagogique, enseignement supérieur, higher education, profession, profession, compétences professionnelles, professional skills, lexicométrie, lexicometry
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2798.More information
In the Sahelian region of Burkina Faso, the dominant livestock keeping system is the pastoral system characterized by a high dependence on natural resources. Currently, the traditional practices are not any more able to respond efficiently to the recurrent animal's feeding and watering problems. The range of herd mobility, the transhumance has become more important and the stays in the destination sites are becoming longer. This present work aims to make a baseline on the transhumance practices and its perspectives in the context of ongoing great mutation of livestock production system in the Sahel. Household surveys with 111 transhumant pastoralist, coupled with semi structured interview with 16 key informants were conducted. Results show that, transhumance is an animal production system in expansion in the Sahel. Herd mobility is mainly due to lack of forages and water resources (88%). Departure to, and return from transhumance as well as the time spent in transit zones and the distance travelled depend on the availability of pastures resources. The itinerary analyses showed a first group of transhumant having their destination toward Béli and Republic of Mali, and the second group move southward to Gourma region of Burkina Faso, and neighbouring countries such Ghana, Benin and Togo. The main constraints of transhumance are access to watering point (19.4 %), conflicts and animals rob (19.7 %), crops fields damage (41 %) and high taxes payment (21 %). Action to be taken for the future of transhumance, are creation of pastoral zones (47%), digging of pastoral wells (53%) and dam (52%); and establishment and maintenance of transhumance routes (21%). Based on the analyses of the constraints, propositions were formulated for adaptation and improvement of the production system in relation to the key issues and challenges: i) the creation of pastoral zones, ii) securisation of transhumance routes and pastures areas iii) improvement of transhumance practices and iv) capacity building of transhumant pastoralists.
Keywords: Burkina Faso, fourrage, pastoralisme, ressources naturelles, Sahel, transhumance, pâture, Burkina Faso, forages, pastoralism, natural resources, Sahel, transhumance, pasture, livestock
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