IWS Documented News DAILY POSTINGS

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Working Paper | NCSES 12-200 | April 2012

Trends in Interdisciplinary Dissertation Research: An Analysis of the Survey of Earned Doctorates [27 April 2012]

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ncses12200/

or

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/ncses12200/pdf/ncses12200.pdf

[full-text, 22 pages]

Abstract

This working paper used data from the National Science Foundation’s Survey of Earned Doctorates to identify trends in the reporting of interdisciplinary dissertation research among doctoral graduates in the United States from 2001–08. These analyses were based on responses to a questionnaire item asking for respondents’ field or fields of dissertation research. From 2001–08, 28.4% of doctoral graduates reported two or more fields of dissertation research, which, for the purposes of this report, indicates that their research is interdisciplinary. There were no dramatic fluctuations in the rate of interdisciplinary dissertations across each of the eight years in this analysis; the annual rates ranged from 27.7% to 30.0%. However, the data indicated that the rate at which doctoral graduates report interdisciplinary research varies across disciplines. A majority of respondents who reported two fields of research included two fields that are closely related to each other. However, when the wording of the question changed in 2004, the percentage of respondents reporting multiple fields that are not closely related to each other increased. This suggests that changes in the wording of the question elicited different types of responses. Furthermore, the diversity of fields contained within a given knowledge domain category also seemed to affect the rate at which respondents reported two unrelated fields of research. These analyses suggest that interdisciplinary research comprises a significant proportion of dissertation research projects, but there is need for further exploration of the meaning of the questions used to identify interdisciplinary research.

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

International Labour Organization (ILO)

WORLD OF WORK REPORT 2012 [30 April 2012]

http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/world-of-work/lang--en/index.htm

or

http://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/world-of-work/WCMS_179453/lang--en/index.htm

or

http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/publication/wcms_179453.pdf

[full-text, 128 pages]

The World of Work Report 2012 provides a comprehensive analysis of recent labour market and social trends, assesses risks of social unrest and presents employment projections for the next five years. The report emphasizes that while employment has begun to recover slowly, job quality is deteriorating and there is a growing sense of unfairness. Moreover, given the pressure on governments to rein in expenditure, policy efforts have focused on structural reforms to boost employment creation. However, if policy instruments are not carefully designed, they could exacerbate the employment situation and aggravate further equity concerns, with potentially long-lasting adverse consequences for both the economy and society.

The report addresses the following questions:

• To what extent has the slow recovery aggravated social conditions, including falling incomes, deepening poverty and worsening inequality?

• Have countries gone too far, too fast with fiscal consolidation? How should they support recovery while meeting fiscal goals in the medium term?

• What can be expected from recent labour market reforms?

• How can investment be boosted so as to ensure a long-lasting recovery in both the economy and jobs?

• What have been the barriers to implementing a more job-centred and equity-enhancing policy approach? Why has the business-as-usual scenario maintained its centrality despite the increasing risk of social unrest?

This report calls for a carefully designed policy approach that takes into consideration the urgent need to create quality jobs while at the same time laying the ground for a more productive, fairer economy and labour market.

Press Release 29 April 2012

No recovery in sight for labour markets, warns ILO
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/press-and-media-centre/news/WCMS_179449/lang--en/index.htm

GENEVA (ILO News) –Despite signs that economic growth has resumed in some regions, the global employment situation is alarming and shows no sign of recovery in the near future, says the International Labour Organization (ILO).

                The ILO’s “World of Work Report 2012: Better Jobs for a Better Economy” says that around 50 million jobs are still missing compared to the situation that existed before the crisis. It also warns that a new and more problematic phase of the global jobs crisis is emerging.

                First, this is due to the fact that many governments, especially in advanced economies, have shifted their priority to a combination of fiscal austerity and tough labour market reforms. The report says such measures are having devastating consequences on labour markets in general and job creation in particular. They have also mostly failed to reduce fiscal deficits.

                The narrow focus of many Eurozone countries on fiscal austerity is deepening the jobs crisis and could even lead to another recession in Europe”, said Mr. Raymond Torres, Director of the ILO Institute for International Labour Studies and lead author of the report.

                Countries that have chosen job-centred macroeconomic policies have achieved better economic and social outcomes”, added Mr. Torres. “Many of them have also become more competitive and have weathered the crisis better than those that followed the austerity path. We can look carefully at the experience of those countries and draw lessons.”

                Second, in advanced economies, many jobseekers are demoralized and are losing skills, something which is affecting their chances of finding a new job. Also, small companies have limited access to credit, which in turn is depressing investment and preventing employment creation. In these countries, especially in Europe, job recovery is not expected before the end of 2016 – unless there is a dramatic shift in policy direction.

                Third, in most advanced economies, many of the new jobs are precarious. Non-standard forms of employment are on the rise in 26 out of the 50 advanced economies with available information.

                There are, however, a few countries that managed to generate jobs while improving the quality of employment, or at least one aspect of it. For example, in Brazil, Indonesia and Uruguay employment rates have increased while the incidence of informal employment has declined. This was mainly due to the introduction of well-designed employment and social policies.

                Fourth, the social climate has aggravated in many parts of the world and may entail further social unrest. According to the report’s Social Unrest Index, 57 out of 106 countries with available information showed a risk of increased social unrest in 2011 compared to 2010. The two regions with the largest increases are Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East and North Africa.

                The report says that fiscal austerity combined with labour market deregulation will not promote employment prospects in the short term. In general, there is no clear link between labour market reforms and higher employment levels. Moreover, some recent reforms – especially in Europe – have reduced job stability and exacerbated inequalities while failing to create jobs.

                However, the report argues that if a job-friendly policy-mix of taxation and increased expenditure in public investment and social benefits is put in place, approximately 2 million jobs could be created over the next year in advanced economies.

Other main findings of the report include:

• Employment rates have increased in only 5 of 36 advanced economies (Germany, Israel, Luxembourg, Malta and Poland) since 2007.
• Youth unemployment rates have increased in about 80 per cent of advanced countries and in two-thirds of developing countries.
• Poverty rates have increased in half of developed economies and in one-third of developing economies, while inequality rose in half of developed countries and one-fourth of developing economies.
• On average, more than 40 per cent of jobseekers in advanced economies have been without work for more than a year. The majority of developing economies show a decline in both long-term unemployment and inactivity rates.
• Involuntary part-time employment has increased in two-thirds of advanced economies. Temporary employment has also risen in more than half of these economies.
• The share of informal employment stands at more than 40 per cent in two-thirds of emerging and developing countries.
• In 26 out of the 40 countries for which information is available, the proportion of workers covered by a collective agreement declined between 2000 and 2009.
• 28 per cent of the selected group of emerging and developing countries implemented policies to reduce social benefits during the crisis compared to 65 per cent in advanced economies
• At 19.8 per cent of GDP in 2010, global investment remains 3.1 percentage points lower than the historical average, with a more pronounced downward trend in advanced economies. In all regions, investment in small firms has been impacted disproportionately by the global crisis.

****************************

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)

IDEA

Ideas for Development in the Americas, Volume 27:

The Skills Gap: Teens in the Workforce

http://www.iadb.org/en/research-and-data/publication-details,3169.html?pub_id=IDB-NW-105

or

http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=36820616

[full-text, 12 pages]

Abstract:

This edition of IDEA focuses on secondary education in Latin America and examines the serious mismatch between what employers are seeking in terms of knowledge and skills, and what young people are actually learning in the region's schools. It draws on the findings of a new IDB book, Disconnected: Skills, Education and Employment in Latin America, and what they imply for public policy in education throughout the region.

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

PERSONAL INCOME AND OUTLAYS, MARCH 2012 [30 April 2012]

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2012/pi0312.htm

or

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2012/pdf/pi0312.pdf

[full-text, 11 pages]

or

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2012/xls/pi0312.xls

[spreadsheet]

and

Highlights

http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2012/pdf/pi0312_fax.pdf

Personal income increased $50.3 billion, or 0.4 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI)

increased $42.5 billion, or 0.4 percent, in March, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $29.6 billion, or 0.3 percent.  In February,

personal income increased $39.6 billion, or 0.3 percent, DPI increased $29.4 billion, or 0.2 percent,

and PCE increased $93.7 billion, or 0.9 percent, based on revised estimates.

Real disposable income increased 0.2 percent in March, in contrast to a decrease of 0.1 percent

in February.  Real PCE increased 0.1 percent, compared with an increase of 0.5 percent.

[TABLE]

                                Wages and salaries

Private wage and salary disbursements increased $17.3 billion in March, compared with an increase

of $24.1 billion in February.  Goods-producing industries' payrolls decreased $1.3 billion, in contrast

to an increase of $1.8 billion; manufacturing payrolls increased $0.1 billion, compared with an increase

of $1.6 billion.  Services-producing industries' payrolls increased $18.6 billion, compared with an

increase of $22.3 billion.  Government wage and salary disbursements increased $1.4 billion, compared with

an increase of $0.7 billion.

AND MUCH MORE...including TABLES....

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

European Commission (EC)

HEALTH-EU:  Your gateway to trustworthy information on public health

The official EU Public Health Portal has been revamped. [25 April 2012]
http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/index_en.htm

Its new design aims at attracting new visitors and at further raising awareness about public health issues.

The portal also hosts a section on health and safety at work.
http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/my_environment/at_work/index_en.htm

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

BLS; DOL; NIOSH; CDC; OSHA

Fatal Occupational Injuries and Workers’ Memorial Day [28 April 2012]

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/worker_memorial.htm

In 2010, a total of 4,690 workers died from injuries they suffered at work. That works out to one U.S. worker dying every 2 hours from a work-related injury.

DOL

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis observes Workers' Memorial Day at Action

Summit for Worker Safety and Health, announces fall prevention campaign

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=22260

NIOSH eNews FLASH

Statement by John Howard, M.D.,

Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),

For Workers Memorial Day 2012

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/enews/flash/enewsFLASH18.html

CDC

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

Workers Memorial Day — April 28, 2012

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6116a1.htm?s_cid=mm6116a1_x

OSHA

Radio actuality in honor of Workers' Memorial Day available from

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=22254

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC)

CHINA'S EVOLVING SPACE CAPABILITIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S. INTERESTS [27 April 2012]

http://www.uscc.gov/RFP/2012/USCC_China-Space-Program-Report_April-2012.pdf

[full-text, 85 pages]

Press Release 27 April 2012

http://www.uscc.gov/pressreleases/2012/12_4_27.pdf

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Census

CB12-TPS.20

USA COUNTIES [Updated 27 April 2012]

http://censtats.census.gov/usa/usa.shtml

These files contain demographic, economic and governmental statistics from the Census Bureau and other federal agencies, presented for the purpose of multi-county comparisons or single county profiles. National- and state-level statistics are presented as well. The files cover topics such as agriculture, crime, education, health, retail trade and vital statistics. New in this update are additional statistics from the 2005-2009 American Community Survey for economic and housing characteristics and 2010 federal spending

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training (JIPT)

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

Korea Labor Institute (KLI)

Working Papers

Recent Studies—

http://www.kli.re.kr/kli_ehome/work/lst.ehome-200004

209         Labor Market Dualism and Social Insurance Coverage in Korea

                (Jiyeun Chang, Director of International Cooperation and Information Office, KLI)

                http://www.kli.re.kr/kli_ehome/work/vew.ehome-200004?pageNo=&condition=&keyword=&rowNum=&year=&firstClass=&seq=342&listNum=209#none

[full-text, 20 pages]

208         Case Studies of Long Working Hours in Korea―With a Focus on the Banking and Auto Parts Industries

                (Kiu-Sik Bae, Director-General of Labor Relations and Social Policy Research Division, Korea Labor Institute)

                http://www.kli.re.kr/kli_ehome/work/vew.ehome-200004?pageNo=&condition=&keyword=&rowNum=&year=&firstClass=&seq=341&listNum=208#none

[full-text, 22 pages]

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

IWS Documented News Service

_______________________________

Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

________________________________________________________________________

World Bank

FOOD PRICE WATCH [25 April 2012]

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPOVERTY/Resources/336991-1311966520397/Food-Price-Watch-April-2012.htm

or

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPOVERTY/Resources/336991-1311966520397/Food-Price-Watch-April-2012.pdf

[full-text, 6 pages]

Press Release 25 April 2012
Food Prices Rise Again on Higher Oil Prices and Adverse Weather
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:23180612~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html

MAIN MESSAGES:

Global food prices have increased by 8% in the last four months since December 2011, and in March 2012 were only 6% below their February 2011 historical peak. All key food prices have increased, except for rice.

Increasing international oil prices, adverse weather conditions, Asia's strong demand for food imports, and the persistent European financial crisis have contributed to this increase, notwithstanding the projected bumper harvests of rice and coarse grains and the corresponding increase in ending food stocks.

Domestic prices remain high in many parts of the world, with the magnitude of increases typically exceeding price declines across countries. If the current production forecasts for 2012/13 do not materialize, global food prices could reach higher levels, underscoring the need to remain vigilant and improve the monitoring of early signals of global and regional crises.

JUMP TO SECTION: Global Price Trends  |  Toward a New Crisis?

________________________________________________________________________

This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.