Roman Raab | European Commission Joint Research Centre (original) (raw)

Papers by Roman Raab

Provided by the author(s) and NUI Galway in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite the p... more Provided by the author(s) and NUI Galway in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite the published version when available. Downloaded 2016-05-10T01:39:00Z Some rights reserved. For more information, please see the item record link above.

The relation between income inequality and support for redistributive policies has long being deb... more The relation between income inequality and support for redistributive policies has long being debated by social scientists, albeit with mostly contrasting findings. We shed light on this puzzle by exploiting a novel EU-28 wide survey (Eurobarometer 471) and matching it with an array of regional and national inequality measures. Using binary choice models, we show that support for redistribution is positively linked with the level of income inequality. The same association is found for perceptions of inequality being too high. In addition, we exploit alternative proxies of socio-economic status as well as subjective beliefs about fairness in the society. We document that individuals believing to be at the top of the social ladder, as well as people considering equal opportunities to be in place, are less supportive of gov- ernment intervention to reduce inequalities. Our results are robust to different measures of inequalities, additional controls as well as a cross-validation with a...

This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union... more This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU). We investigate the time period from 1995 to 2009 in terms of export growth, import growth, the balance of trade, and the balance of payments. Our empirical evidence shows that trade liberalisation did not enhance export growth in AMU countries during the given period. In contrast, it had a significant positive impact on import growth. Moreover, trade liberalisation worsened the balance of trade and the balance of payments. Governance indicators turn out to be important covariates in order to achieve the intended effects of trade liberalization.

These numbers are based on 2016 data for 16 European countries. Life expectancy broken down by ed... more These numbers are based on 2016 data for 16 European countries. Life expectancy broken down by educational level is not available for all EU countries. The European Commission's Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension of Europe (EC 2017a) discusses similar challenges and consequences. The present report takes a slightly different perspective by focusing on fairness and is based on recent evidence. The conclusions drawn are often in line with those of the Reflection Paper.

This paper uses panel data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to s... more This paper uses panel data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to study the effect of care-giving on retirement. The findings suggest that care- and support-giving contributes to the retirement decision, in particular for men. While the frequency of care activities is more influential in the male retirement decision, the most important factor for both genders turns out to be out-of-household care.

The relation between income inequality and support for redistributive policies has long being deb... more The relation between income inequality and support for redistributive policies has long being debated by social scientists, albeit with mostly contrasting findings. We shed light on this puzzle by exploiting a novel EU-28 wide survey (Eurobarometer 471) and matching it with an array of regional and national inequality measures. Using binary choice models, we show that support for redistribution is positively linked with the level of income inequality. The same association is found for perceptions of inequality being too high. In addition, we exploit alternative proxies of socio-economic status as well as subjective beliefs about fairness in the society. We document that individuals believing to be at the top of the social ladder, as well as people considering equal opportunities to be in place, are less supportive of government intervention to reduce inequalities. Our results are robust to different measures of inequalities, additional controls as well as a cross-validation with a w...

Middle East Development Journal, 2020

This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union... more This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) as they attempt to reform their economies by liberalising trade with other nations in order to promote growth and increase welfare. We investigate the time period from 1995 to 2009 in terms of export growth, import growth, the balance of trade, and the balance of payments by using two different estimation techniques: ordinary least square, and panel-corrected standard-error models. Our empirical evidence shows that trade liberalisation did not enhance export growth in AMU countries during the given period. Trade liberalisation worsened the balance of trade and the balance of payments. Governance indicators turn out to be important factors in order to achieve the intended effects of trade liberalisation.

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2019

This paper addresses the question to what extent workplace perception affects the subjective well... more This paper addresses the question to what extent workplace perception affects the subjective well-being of older workers in their jobs. We use several dimensions of workplace perception to estimate their importance for job satisfaction. Our results show that older workers' happiness in the job strongly depends on job rewards, in particular on opportunities to develop new skills, receiving support in difficult situations, and recognition for their work. These dimensions of workplace attributes are merely psychological by nature; in contrast, salary opportunities and socio-demographic dimensions have a weaker impact on job satisfaction, if at all.

European Journal of Social Security, 2011

This paper investigates the pension policies and outcomes of two countries, Austria and Ireland, ... more This paper investigates the pension policies and outcomes of two countries, Austria and Ireland, representing two different welfare models. How do these different systems perform in terms of income adequacy, labour supply incentives for older workers, and actuarial fairness? Although there is no ‘optimal’ design for a pension system, there seems to be a convergence in systems between countries. Countries with established welfare models that have evolved over time need to rethink the basic paradigms of their pension policies for the future. This paper contains specific policy recommendations about pension reform. We highlight the importance of behavioural incentives with respect to raising average retirement ages, and the need for government engagement in providing an adequate retirement income.

This paper uses new survey data from SHARE on ageing in Ireland in order to explore income and re... more This paper uses new survey data from SHARE on ageing in Ireland in order to explore income and retirement issues for older people in Ireland. We address the question of income distribution, equity and poverty among Irish retirees. We find that there is a high degree of poverty embedded in the Irish system of retirement income provision. While private pensions are insignificant in volume and coverage, occupational pension coverage is very heterogeneous across industries and gender. Public pensions remain the most important source of pensioners’ income.

Journal of Economic Policy Reform, 2014

ABSTRACT This paper gives a first-time assessment of the interaction between retirement programs ... more ABSTRACT This paper gives a first-time assessment of the interaction between retirement programs (public and occupational) and labor force behavior of older people in Ireland. Workers planning retirement face a trade-off between earnings from continued work and benefit payments from income security programs. We simulate retirement incentives embedded in these programs. Retirement pathways typical for Ireland uncover different patterns of the incentives; these patterns correspond to observed retirement behavior. A major source of variation relates to the coverage by occupational pensions.

Middle East Development Journal, 2020

This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union... more This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) as they attempt to reform their economies by liberalising trade with other nations in order to promote growth and increase welfare. We investigate the time period from 1995 to 2009 in terms of export growth, import growth, the balance of trade, and the balance of payments by using two different estimation techniques: ordinary least square, and panel-corrected standard-error models. Our empirical evidence shows that trade liberalisation did not enhance export growth in AMU countries during the given period. Trade liberalisation worsened the balance of trade and the balance of payments. Governance indicators turn out to be important factors in order to achieve the intended effects of trade liberalisation.

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2019

DESCRIPTION This paper examines the application of the gap concept to determine pension wealth di... more DESCRIPTION This paper examines the application of the gap concept to determine pension wealth differentials across different retirement arrangements and over a range of retirement ages. The gap concept allows for comparisons of equality outcomes without having to rely on the optimal savings paradigm. The micro simulation analysis draws a clear picture of inequalities generated by a pension system as opposed to other sources of inequality within the generation in retirement.

Publication forthcoming in: Journal of Economic Policy Reform

This paper gives a first-time assessment of the interaction between retirement programs (public a... more This paper gives a first-time assessment of the interaction between retirement programs (public and occupational) and labor force behavior of older people in Ireland. Workers planning retirement face a trade-off between earnings from continued work and benefit payments from income security programs. The method portrayed in Gruber and Wise (1999) is used to simulate the behavioral incentives coming from these programs. Retirement pathways typical for Ireland uncover different patterns of the incentives; these patterns correspond to observed retirement behavior. A major source of variation relates to the coverage by occupational pensions.

Link: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17487870.2014.912582?journalCode=gpre20#.VEhK-snB1Us

Published in: Administration 59:3

The relation between income inequality and support for redistributive policies has long being deb... more The relation between income inequality and support for redistributive policies has long being debated by social scientists, albeit with mostly contrasting findings. We shed light on this puzzle by exploiting a novel EU-28 wide survey (Eurobarometer 471) and matching it with an array of regional and national inequality measures. Using binary choice models, we show that support for redistribution is positively linked with the level of income inequality. The same association is found for perceptions of inequality being too high. In addition, we exploit alternative proxies of socio-economic status as well as subjective beliefs about fairness in the society. We document that individuals believing to be at the top of the social ladder, as well as people considering equal opportunities to be in place, are less supportive of government intervention to reduce inequalities. Our results are robust to different measures of inequalities, additional controls as well as a cross-validation with a w...

Middle East Development Journal, 2020

This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union... more This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) as they attempt to reform their economies by liberalising trade with other nations in order to promote growth and increase welfare. We investigate the time period from 1995 to 2009 in terms of export growth, import growth, the balance of trade, and the balance of payments by using two different estimation techniques: ordinary least square, and panel-corrected standard-error models. Our empirical evidence shows that trade liberalisation did not enhance export growth in AMU countries during the given period. Trade liberalisation worsened the balance of trade and the balance of payments. Governance indicators turn out to be important factors in order to achieve the intended effects of trade liberalisation.

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2019

European Journal of Social Security, 2011

Journal of Economic Policy Reform, 2014

Middle East Development Journal, 2020

This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union... more This paper explores the impact of trade liberalisation on the economies of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) as they attempt to reform their economies by liberalising trade with other nations in order to promote growth and increase welfare. We investigate the time period from 1995 to 2009 in terms of export growth, import growth, the balance of trade, and the balance of payments by using two different estimation techniques: ordinary least square, and panel-corrected standard-error models. Our empirical evidence shows that trade liberalisation did not enhance export growth in AMU countries during the given period. Trade liberalisation worsened the balance of trade and the balance of payments. Governance indicators turn out to be important factors in order to achieve the intended effects of trade liberalisation.

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2019

Publication forthcoming in: Journal of Economic Policy Reform

Link: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17487870.2014.912582?journalCode=gpre20#.VEhK-snB1Us

Published in: Administration 59:3

JRC Technical Reports, 2018

Innovation is a crucial driver of national and regional success. Innovation activities are often ... more Innovation is a crucial driver of national and regional success. Innovation activities are often associated with increased growth and higher average wages. However, few studies have considered the potential consequences of innovation: are the gains from innovation shared equally in the society? What is their overall effect of innovation
activities on income inequality? This report provides empirical evidence on the relationship between innovation and
income inequality on the regional/subnational level. Our data set includes 126 EU spatial entities over a long time period. It focuses on two interrelated issues on the innovation-inequality link: (i) the effects of innovation on the overall income distribution; (ii) the influence of innovation on different income groups, such as high, middle and low ones.
Estimated results present evidence of the nexus, since our empirics portray that innovation have significant and diverse effects in different income inequality indicators, as it reduces overall distribution and the gap between high incomes and lower and middle income groups, while enhancing at the same time high incomes. Overall, we can infer that technological process and high tech investment, in the form of innovative
actions, does not hamper the inclusive growth of an economy.

JRC Working Papers in Economics and Finance, 2019/6, 2019

The relation between income inequality and support for redistributive policies has long being deb... more The relation between income inequality and support for redistributive policies has long being debated by social scientists, albeit with mostly contrasting findings. We shed light on this puzzle by exploiting a novel EU-28 wide survey (Eurobarometer 471) and matching it with an array of regional and national inequality measures. Using binary choice models, we show that support for redistribution is positively linked with the level of income inequality.
The same association is found for perceptions of inequality being too high. In addition, we exploit alternative proxies of socio-economic status as well as subjective beliefs about fairness in the society. We document that individuals believing to be at the top of the social ladder, as well as people considering equal opportunities to be in place, are less supportive of government intervention to reduce inequalities. Our results are robust to different measures of inequalities, additional controls as well as a cross-validation with a widely recognized survey (ESS). We conclude that for the planning of policies based on social preferences, inequality
matters.