10th October Current Affairs

Economics Nobel Prize winner to study Women in Workforce

Context: Claudia Goldin’s Nobel Prize-Worthy Contributions to Women’s Labor Market Studies

Claudia Goldin: A Trailblazer in Economics:

Breaking Barriers: Claudia Goldin’s 2023 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences celebrates her groundbreaking work on women’s labor market outcomes.

Pioneering at Harvard: In 1990, Goldin became the first woman to attain tenure in Harvard University’s economics department, securing a permanent professorship.

In-Depth Research:

Acknowledged Achievements: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized Goldin’s vital contributions, praising her work’s advancement in understanding women’s job market outcomes.

Unearthing History: Goldin’s research delves into centuries of women’s earnings and labor market participation, unveiling the reasons behind shifts and the persistent gender gap.

Key Questions Addressed by Claudia Goldin’s Research:

Unveiling Inequality: Goldin’s research dissects why fewer women pursue employment and earn less than men, illuminating this enduring inequality.

Economic Growth’s Surprising Effects: She challenges the assumption that economic growth invariably results in increased female labor force participation, revealing a U-shaped historical trend shaped by societal changes and evolving norms.

The Trio’s Influence: Goldin investigates the impact of education, marriage, and childbirth on women’s work, shedding light on the intricate interplay between these factors.

The Gender Pay Paradox: Her research demonstrates that despite 20th-century modernization and economic growth, the gender pay gap endured, with a significant portion emerging after the birth of a first child.

Transformational Insights:

Empowering Pill: Goldin underscores the transformative influence of the contraceptive pill in enabling women to plan their careers and creating new pathways for professional development.

Earnings Gap Shift: She reveals a shift in the primary source of earnings disparity between men and women, transitioning from career choices to within-job disparities, particularly after the birth of the first child.

Generational Influence: Goldin emphasizes how young women’s educational and career decisions are often shaped by preceding generations, contributing to the slow progress in narrowing the earnings gap.

Significance for Society:

Policy Relevance: Claudia Goldin’s research carries significant policy implications for dismantling barriers obstructing women’s progress in the labor market. Her work sheds light on the critical areas necessitating attention to promote gender equality.

Advancing Understanding: Through her groundbreaking research, Goldin has markedly enhanced our comprehension of women’s roles in the labor market, furnishing the knowledge required to construct a more inclusive and equitable society.

Conclusion:

Claudia Goldin’s Nobel Prize in Economics stands as a testament to her pioneering research in unraveling the intricacies of women’s labor market outcomes.

Her comprehensive historical analysis has redefined our comprehension of the persistent gender gap, offering policymakers and society invaluable insights to forge a more just and equitable future.

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2022-2023

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1966154

Introduction

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report for the year 2022-23, released by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), sheds light on important labor force data trends in India.

This survey, initiated in April 2017, was designed to provide more frequent and comprehensive employment and unemployment information.

In this report, we will explore the objectives of PLFS, the sampling methodology employed, and key findings regarding the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR) trends.

Objectives of PLFS

PLFS has two primary objectives:

Estimating Key Employment and Unemployment Indicators: This includes parameters like the Worker Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate, and Unemployment Rate on a quarterly basis for urban areas using the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS) method.

Annual Estimates: PLFS also provides annual estimates for employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ and CWS for both rural and urban areas.

Annual Reports and Data Collection

Five Annual Reports have been published to date, covering data collected during specific periods: July 2017-June 2018, July 2018-June 2019, July 2019-June 2020, July 2020-June 2021, and July 2021-June 2022.

The sixth Annual Report, based on the PLFS conducted from July 2022 to June 2023, is currently in preparation.

Notable Trends in PLFS Data
- A consistent increase in the Labor Force Participation Rate and Worker Population Ratio.
- A continuous decrease in the Unemployment Rate.

Sampling Methodology

For the PLFS conducted from July 2022 to June 2023, a comprehensive sampling method was employed:

A total of 12,714 FSUs (Field Survey Units) were included, comprising 6,982 villages and 5,732 urban blocks.

The survey covered 1,01,655 households, with 55,844 in rural areas and 45,811 in urban areas.

A total of 4,19,512 individuals were surveyed, with 2,43,971 in rural areas and 1,75,541 in urban areas.

Among those surveyed, 3,20,260 individuals were aged 15 years and above, with 1,81,049 in rural areas and 1,39,211 in urban areas.

Key Employment and Unemployment Indicators

Key indicators in the PLFS include:

Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR): The percentage of individuals in the population who are part of the labor force (either working or seeking work).
Worker Population Ratio (WPR): The percentage of employed individuals in the population.
Unemployment Rate (UR): The percentage of unemployed individuals among those in the labor force.

Key Findings

Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) Trends:

In rural areas, LFPR for individuals aged 15 years and above increased from 50.7% in 2017-18 to 60.8% in 2022-23.
In urban areas, LFPR for the same demographic increased from 47.6% to 50.4% during the same period.
For males in India, LFPR rose from 75.8% in 2017-18 to 78.5% in 2022-23.
For females, there was a substantial increase from 23.3% to 37.0% over the same period.

Worker Population Ratio (WPR) Trends:

In rural areas, WPR for individuals aged 15 years and above increased from 48.1% in 2017-18 to 59.4% in 2022-23.
In urban areas, WPR increased from 43.9% to 47.7% for the same demographic.
The WPR for males in India increased from 71.2% in 2017-18 to 76.0% in 2022-23.
For females, the WPR increased from 22.0% to 35.9% over the same period.

Unemployment Rate (UR) Trends:

In rural areas, UR for individuals aged 15 years and above decreased from 5.3% in 2017-18 to 2.4% in 2022-23.
In urban areas, UR decreased from 7.7% to 5.4% for the same demographic.
The UR for males in India decreased from 6.1% in 2017-18 to 3.3% in 2022-23.

For females, the UR decreased from 5.6% to 2.9% over the same period.

Saving forests and wildlife goes hand in hand

Introduction:

The depletion of forest cover has led to an increasing incidence of wild animals encroaching into human-occupied areas, resulting in conflicts.

Here we will delves into the intertwined issues of global warming, forest conservation, and wildlife preservation, emphasizing the need for concerted national and international efforts to combat climate change and its associated challenges.

Escalating Global Warming Crisis:
Alarming Temperature Records:

Unprecedented temperature records since July 2019 pose threats to ecosystems and agriculture.

Disparities in Climate Responsibility:

Developed nations are primarily responsible for global warming, while developing countries bear the brunt.
Lack of financial aid for climate resilience hampers the transition to green energy, prolonging fossil fuel dependency.

Carbon Capture and Forest Conservation:

Emphasis on the critical roles of carbon capture and forest preservation in combating global warming.

Challenges and Remedies in Forest Conservation:
Human-Induced Forest Degradation:

Illicit activities like tree cutting, grazing, and encroachments degrade forests and displace wildlife.
Livestock grazing disrupts feed availability for wild animals, violating their precedence in forest use.

Rising Human-Wildlife Conflicts:

Degraded and fragmented forests prompt wildlife to stray, leading to heightened human-wildlife clashes.

Persistent Challenges:

Commendable efforts in encroachment clearance and native tree plantation in Karnataka.
Concerns arise from the growth of tiger and elephant populations outpacing habitat availability.

III. Wildlife Conservation in Forest Preservation:

Tackling Forest Fires and Climate Disruption:

Global concerns regarding forest fires releasing substantial carbon, contributing to climate change, and disrupting ecosystems.

Urge for Global Collaboration:

The imperative need for global collaborative efforts to combat forest fires and their environmental repercussions.

Preservation as a Symbiotic Endeavor:

Highlighting the interdependence between forest and wildlife conservation, emphasizing the need to prioritize both.

India-Tanzania Strategic Partnership

Context:

Recently, India and Tanzania strengthened their bilateral relations, elevating them to a strategic partnership.

This historic development occurred during the visit of Samia Hassan, President of Tanzania, to India, making her the first head of state from Africa to visit India following the African Union’s recent inclusion in the G20.

Tanzania’s Support and Global Biofuels Alliance Participation

Tanzania demonstrated its support for India by endorsing India’s candidacy for non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council for the term 2028-29.

Additionally, Tanzania announced its decision to join the Global Biofuels Alliance, an initiative launched by India at the G20 summit.

Maritime Security Cooperation and Exclusive Economic Zone Surveillance Exercise

Both countries affirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in maritime security within the Indian Ocean region.

They expressed satisfaction with the successful execution of the first-ever joint exclusive economic zone surveillance exercise between India and Tanzania.

Tanzania at a Glance

Formation:Tanzania was established as a sovereign state in 1964 through the union of two separate states, Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Capital:The capital of Tanzania is Dodoma.

Geographical Location: Tanzania is situated in East Africa, just south of the Equator.

Boundaries: It shares its borders with Uganda, Lake Victoria, and Kenya to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, Mozambique, Lake Nyasa, Malawi, and Zambia to the south and southwest, and Lake Tanganyika, Burundi, and Rwanda to the west.

Prominent Landmarks: Tanzania boasts Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, which stands at an impressive 5,895 meters. It is also home to Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second-deepest lake.

SHRESTHA SCHEME

Objective of SHRESTHA Scheme

The SHRESTHA Scheme has a primary goal of uplifting the socio-economic status of Scheduled Castes (SC) individuals by providing them access to high-quality education in leading private residential schools across India.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the SHRESTHA Scheme, students must come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds within the SC community.
Specifically, their parental annual income should not exceed Rs.2.5 Lakh.

Mechanism: National Entrance Test for SHRESTHA (NETS)

The mechanism through which students gain access to the SHRESTHA Scheme is the National Entrance Test for SHRESTHA (NETS).
This standardized test is designed to assess the academic potential of SC students seeking admission to private residential schools.

Administration by National Testing Agency (NTA)

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for conducting the NETS, ensuring fairness and transparency in the admission process.

Beneficiaries

The government aims to admit approximately 3000 SC students into Class 9 and Class 11 each year under the SHRESTHA Scheme.
This initiative aims to provide educational opportunities that can lead to improved socio-economic outcomes for SC individuals and their communities.

Benefits of the scheme

For the students taking admission under this scheme, their entire fee including school fees (tuition fees) and hostel fees (mess charges) will be waived off.

Admissible fees for each class are specified as follows- 9th: ₹1,00,000, 10th: ₹1,10,000, 11th: ₹1,25,000, 12th: ₹1,35,000, said the press release.

Students can also take the benefit of a bridge course within the selected schools, targeting the individual academic requirements of students and aiding their adjustment to the school environment.

The cost of bridge course, equivalent to 10% of the annual fee, is also covered under the scheme. The progress of these students under the scheme will be constantly monitored by the Ministry of Education.