https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/79638 2026-05-05T20:04:14Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135873 Title: The impact that trade unions exert on the gender pay gap : evidence from a panel of European countries Abstract: Governments and supranational organisations around the globe have placed a strong emphasis on addressing the Gender Pay Gap. As a result, various policies have been put into action in recent years to tackle this problem, and it remains a central focus in numerous policy discussions and agendas. The objective of this dissertation is to explore whether the participation of trade unions contribute to reducing this disparity. To arrive at a conclusion, the Fixed-Effects Model is employed, for a sample of nineteen European countries spanning a period of ten years from 2009 to 2018. The results obtained provide contradictory results as found in the existing literature. When running the model without incorporating fixed-effects, this study concludes that trade unions contribute to reducing the gap, which aligns with the majority of the literature consulted. However, when fixed-effects were included in the model, mixed results emerged. This is because when using both country and year fixed-effects the result was positive and insignificant. Moreover, when including solely country fixed-effects the coefficient on the trade union density rate while still positive, shows that it has a statistically significant relationship with the dependent variable, the gender pay gap. In addition, the same result as when the model was run without fixed-effects was also established when only year fixed-effects were included, since a negative statistically significant relationship was established. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135872 Title: Estimating the potential economic benefits of applying overseas substance abuse prevention programs in Malta Abstract: This study presents a detailed Cost-Benefit Analysis of introducing new substance abuse prevention initiatives in Malta. The proposed initiatives aim to extend the availability of schools beyond regular hours to provide safe environments for adolescents and reduce the intervals between data collection to support timely policy updates. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, the research combines primary data from contingent valuation surveys to estimate willingness-to-pay for benefit evaluation and secondary data from expert opinions, international studies, and local sources. The primary aim is to assess the cost-effectiveness of this initiative, focusing on adolescents and comparing scenarios with and without its implementation. The analysis includes four scenarios: a scenario for tobacco use reduction, alcohol use reduction, illicit drug use reduction, and a combined scenario of all three. Employing a cost-benefit approach and the Benefit Transfer Method, both direct and indirect benefits and costs are estimated. Key findings indicate significant economic viability, with a positive net present value and a benefit-cost ratio greater than 1. The combined scenario yields an NPV of €44.35 million and a BCR of 8.09, highlighting the substantial benefits of the prevention program relative to its costs. Sensitivity analysis highlights the robustness of these results, showing positive returns even under less favourable conditions. This study emphasizes the importance of continued and expanded substance use prevention efforts, recommending the integration of these initiatives into broader, multi-component prevention strategies to optimize their impact on public health and economic outcomes in Malta. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135870 Title: An investigation of the relationship between inflation and unemployment in selected Eurozone countries Abstract: Two main issues that are of priority to policymakers are those of inflation and unemployment, and economists have long carried out research as to whether a relationship exists between these two variables. A.W. Phillips discovered that the UK had a negative relationship between inflation and unemployment during the period 1861 to 1957, as an increase in the inflation rate led to a fall in unemployment. This dissertation investigates the relationship between inflation and unemployment for a sample of 6 countries - Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These countries all joined the European Union in 2004, and then over time also went on to adopt the Euro currency. Data for the period from 2004, which was the year each country joined the EU, until 2022 on a quarterly basis is used and analysed through OLS regression before and after Euro adoption. In addition, a multivariate regression is carried out for each country to investigate the effect of two other important economic markers, interest rates and unit labour costs, together with inflation, on unemployment. Finally, a Vector Autoregression was carried out in order to also consider the effect of previous values of the same variables. Results confirmed the anticipated negative relationship between inflation and unemployment in each of the selected countries. However, this relationship varies in magnitude depending on the country concerned. When looking at the multivariate regression, relationship signs with all variables are also as anticipated. This is evident in the OLS and multivariate regression models, in particular after Euro adoption, indicating that the economic policies required for Euro adoption have a similar effect in the different countries, albeit at different levels of strength and significance. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135868 Title: Discretionary time allocation : with others or with self? Abstract: The main aim of this dissertation is to identify any differences between Norway, Germany, and Italy, in the way the citizens of these three countries spend their leisure time. In recent years more attention is being given to the well-being of the whole individual, not only looking at issues related with jobs and family life but also how a person spends free time. Such time can be spent alone or with others, with the latter being seen as the person being more in tune with social activities, whether these are in voluntary work or going out with friends. The Harmonised European Time Use Survey distinguishes between social and non-social activities. The first part of the analysis is carried out using binary probit and logit regression models. This is done to gauge the social dimension of these three countries, on a spectrum from alone to community life. The second part of the analysis is carried out using a multinomial logit regression model. The analysis looks at the different types of leisure activities and the ones preferred by the individuals in each country. It also gives an insight on which country spends the most time on leisure activities. The results from the probit and logit regression are insignificant; however, some of the results from the multinomial logistic regression are significant. Norway is the country which spends the most time on leisure overall, with the preferred activities being those spent with others. On the other hand, Italy is the country which spends the least amount of time in leisure, with the preferred form of leisure being time spent with self. Finally, Germany spends less leisure time with others when compared to Norway but more time with others when compared to Italy. Most results for Germany and Norway were found to be significant; however, no significant results for Italy were found. This research contributes to literature in the way that there is a gap in the literature on the type of activities which people spend their time on. This is particularly true for European countries. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z