Abstract

Childbirth in Early Modern Spain can be viewed as an area where ig­norant midwives and cruel doctors ruled over terrified women who, deprived of all choices, were condemned to passively endure the ordeal of parturition. Medical and judicial sources seem to strengthen this vision.Yet, when we apply Mary Douglas’s theory of ritual, another picture emerges which might be just as valid for wide sections of social experience. Consequently, this article concentrates on the social rhythms of birth. It will touch on relics, the Rose of Jericho, delivery as a shared experience, on birthing positions, role playing and the stories which were brought back to the memory of parturient women, espe­cially those about Saint Mary, imagined as a midwife and a powerful assistant who comes to the rescue of sinners.Doctors from Golden Age Spain, it appears, appreciated the knowledge and skills of midwives. Even though they tried to curtail some rituals and wrote against witchcraft, they did not want to do away with the institution of female midwifery.

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are often related to economic and social improvements. They have been associated with job creation as well as increases in the quality of work and remuneration. However, at a macroeconomic level, it is noteworthy that while the digitization process increases, employment and wages are generally deteriorating. Referencing EU-15 data, this article explores some uses of these technologies in relation to unemployment and wages, within an economic context marked by increasing problems of profitability and by the rise of financial markets.

Abstract

Using a large matched employer-employee data set with information at both the worker and the company level we characterise the Portuguese airlines' employment structure and, by comparing it with the general structure of the Portuguese labour force, we stress the particularities of the sector. Based on the Heckman selection model, we develop an analysis of the variables that influence wages in this sector and which contribute to its differentiation from the general labour market. Particular attention is paid to the disparity among different types of jobs in the air transportation sector, namely amongst flight crews and land personnel. We also analyse the differences between regular and non-regular sub-sectors. Our main findings indicate that the aviation sector labour force is clearly specific regarding gender distribution and human capital accumulated by its workers. Moreover, some professions, pilots in particular, have important specificities compared to other jobs even within the sector. We also find that wages are strongly influenced by levels of education, tenure and experience as well as professional categories, which appears as an important specificity of this sector. Usando uma grande base de dados com correspondência empregador-empregado com informações tanto ao nível do trabalhador quanto da empresa, caracterizamos a estrutura de emprego das companhias aéreas portuguesas e, por meio de comparação com a estrutura geral da força de trabalho portuguesa, destacamos as particularidades do setor. Com base no modelo de seleção de Heckman, desenvolvemos uma análise das variáveis que influenciam os salários neste setor e que contribuem para a sua diferenciação do mercado de trabalho em geral. É dada atençao especial para a disparidade entre os diferentes tipos de empregos no setor de transporte aéreo, ou seja, entre os tripulantes e o pessoal de terra. Analisamos também as diferenças entre os subsetores de aviação regular e não-regular. Nossos principais resultados indicam que a força de trabalho no setor de aviação é claramente específica quanto à distribuição de gênero e de capital humano acumulado por seus trabalhadores. Além disso, algumas profissões, pilotos em particular, têm especificidades importantes em comparação com outros tipos de trabalhos, mesmo dentro do setor. Também apontamos para evidências de que os salários são fortemente influenciados pelos níveis de escolaridade, senioridade e experiência bem como pelas categorias profissionais, que aparecem como uma especificidade importante deste setor. Document type: Article