Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002

You Are Here: Home » Archives: April 2011

Monthly Archives: April 2011

Working away at the cost of ageing: the labour market adjusted dependency ratio

by on

Working away at the cost of ageing: the labour market adjusted dependency ratio, EPC Issue Paper No.64. April 2011. By Benedetta Guerzoni and Fabian Zuleeg

  • “In 2050, nearly one in three European citizens will be 65 or older. Demographic change and population ageing is one of the greatest challenges that will affect the structure of the EU economy over the next couple of decades, through its impacts on labour markets, pensions systems and public finances. The policy implications of this demographic evolution are profound: the proportion of people of working age in the EU will shrink at the same time as the number of those who potentially need support mechanisms, such as retirement benefits and public healthcare, expands. European societies will need to respond and adapt to this change. The challenge varies considerably across Europe, since EU member states are at different starting points, both concerning their demographic outlook and also their labour market performance. Assessing the relative position of EU countries according to the old-age dependency ratio – a demographic indicator that measures the proportion of people over 65 over the working-age population – shows that the best performing countries are Ireland, Slovakia, Cyprus and Poland. Old-age dependency ratio is often used to estimate the impact of demographic trends on welfare systems and, according to Eurostat projections, the average ratio in the EU is forecast to grow from 25.9% in 2010 up to 50.4% in 2050.”

    • Wisconsin Governor Budgets $18.9M in Cuts to Public Libraries

    by on

    Walker budget cuts target Wisconsin libraries Materials sharing, Braille service are threatened: “Under Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget, Wisconsin libraries would see their funding requests cut by more than $18.9 million in 2012 alone, threatening a wide variety of services, including those for job-seekers and the blind…Cuts to Wisconsin library budgets come in three areas.… Continue Reading

    Amazon to Launch Library Lending for Kindle Books

    by on

    News release: “Amazon announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps. Customers will be able to check out… Continue Reading

    Ranking the Risks: The 10 Pathogen-Food Combinations with the Greatest Burden on Public Health

    by on

    News release: “”Researchers at the University of Florida Emerging Pathogens Institute have identified the Top 10 riskiest combinations of foods and disease-causing microorganisms, providing an important tool for food safety officials charged with protecting consumers from these costly and potentially life-threatening bugs. The report, Ranking the Risks: The 10 Pathogen-Food Combinations with the Greatest Burden… Continue Reading

    The Mobile Movement – Understanding Smartphone Users

    by on

    The Mobile Movement Understanding Smartphone Users – Google/IPSOS OTX MediaCT U.S., April 2011 General Smartphone Usage: Smartphones have become an integral part of users’ daily lives. Consumers use smartphones as an extension of their desktop computers and use it as they multi-task and consume other media. 81% browse the Internet, 77% search, 68% use an… Continue Reading

    New GAO Reports: VA Health Care, Private Pensions, DOD erformance Management

    by on

    Management Report: Opportunities for Improvement in the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Internal Controls and Accounting Procedures, GAO-11-398R, April 29, 2011 VA Health Care: Need for More Transparency in New Resource Allocation Process and for Written Policies on Monitoring Resources, GAO-11-426, April 29, 2011 Private Pensions: Some Key Features Lead to an Uneven Distribution of Benefits,… Continue Reading

    EPA's Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Livable Communities through Green Infrastructure

    by on

    “On April 29, 2011 Deputy Administrator Perciasepe announced the release of EPA’s new Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Livable Communities through Green Infrastructure, which outlines the activities that the Agency will undertake to help communities implement green infrastructure approaches. EPA’s strategy focuses on clarifying how green infrastructure can and should be used… Continue Reading

    Four Major Communications Carriers Respond to Questions About Customer Data Collection

    by on

    The big four phone carriers spill on their location and customer data collection policies: “The recent uproar over location tracking in smartphones has gotten ugly and fingers are bound to be pointed. But in the spirit of transparency, the four major carriers have outlined and detailed their location tracking applications s well as what exactly… Continue Reading

    Interagency Working Group Seeks Input on Proposed Voluntary Principles for Marketing Food to Children

    by on

    News release: “In an effort to combat childhood obesity – the most serious health crisis facing today’s youth – a working group of four federal agencies today released for public comment a set of Preliminary Proposed Nutrition Principles to Guide Industry Self-Regulatory Efforts that can be used by industry as a guide for marketing food… Continue Reading