Ratio Working Paper No. 373: Who Wants to Work from Home? A Demographic Study of Attitudes Towards Remote Work
Grafström, J. (2024).Who Wants to Work from Home? A Demographic Study of Attitudes Towards Remote Work. Ratio Working Paper No. 373.
Grafström, J. (2024).Who Wants to Work from Home? A Demographic Study of Attitudes Towards Remote Work. Ratio Working Paper No. 373.
This report examines preferences for remote work among office workers in Sweden, based on age, geography, and gender. The report is based on a survey of over 1,000 working individuals identified as office workers. The survey was conducted in April 2022. The number of remote workdays varies with age; the youngest group (18–25 years) works remotely 1.2 days a week, and the oldest group (49–64 years) works 2 days. There are significant geographical differences in home working days, with a difference of up to 0.7 days per week depending on location. 4 out of 10 would decline a job offer where remote work is not an option.
The results indicate significant differences in remote work preferences among workers, suggesting that employers should consider individual preferences and create flexible work models to accommodate various needs and wishes. A diversity of working methods can be advantageous for promoting a positive work environment and productivity regardless of age.
Grafström, J.
2024
Ratio Working Paper Series.
2024
Handbook of Research on Economic Freedom. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
In this chapter, the relationship between economic freedom and environmental performance is scrutinized. The analysis relies on comparing countries’ standing in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) of the Yale Centre for Environmental Law & Policy with two indexes of economic freedom, one developed by the Fraser Institute (Economic Freedom of the World index), and the other by the Heritage Foundation (Index of Economic Freedom). Whether economic freedom is good or bad for the environment depends on how it affects incentives, productive efforts, and effective resource use. Greater economic freedom can both harm and help environmental performance. It is a complicated relationship, but high economic freedom generally goes hand in hand with high scores in the EPI.
2024
The Journal of Technology Transfer
The ongoing debate among economists regarding the presence of economic convergence or divergence has been reignited. This paper aims to dissect the extent of technological divergence or convergence among European Union member states, evaluating the effectiveness of the EU’s pronounced goals for convergence. Defining a countries technological level is not straightforward, this study examines six key indicators: (a) scientific journal publications, (b) total patents, (c) high tech exports, (d) Gross domestic expenditure on R&D, (e) government budget on R&D, and (f) human resources in science and technology as a share of the active population. Employing both time-series and longitudinal methodologies, the analysis spans from 2000 to 2019. The findings reveal a gradual catching-up trend in the inventive capabilities across the EU. This modest pace of convergence necessitates a critical reassessment by policymakers of the current EU convergence strategies to ensure they effectively foster technological parity among member states.
2024
Ratio Working Paper Series.
This study examines the evolving structures of dissertations among 615 individuals who earned their PhDs in economics from Swedish institutions between 2010 and 2023. The findings indicate a shift away from traditional compilation dissertation, which typically consists of 4-5 papers intended for journal publication, towards the “Job Market Paper” model which consists of three papers. While over 70 percent of dissertations presented in 2010 were compilation dissertations, the number dropped to 43 percent in 2023. The structure of dissertations has varied over time, with a trend towards fewer included papers, peaking at 4.2 papers per dissertation in 2011 and dropping to 3.56 in 2023. Throughout the period, men wrote JMP dissertations slightly more frequently than women, with 40 percent compared to 35 percent for women. Many PhD students are unaware of how the format of their dissertation can affect future career prospects. The Swedish dissertation layout differs significantly between and within institutions. This shift is part of a wider adjustment in doctoral training, responding to increased international competition and changes in the academic job market. The study also discusses the implications of these trends for gender equality and institutional practices, suggesting that the evolving dissertation formats are a strategic response to both external market conditions and internal academic policies.