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In this study, we estimate the public sector wage premium in a post‐transition economy, a quarter of a century since the collapse of the old regime. Our methodology uses a copula method to estimate the switching regression model, which allows for the relaxation of the restrictive assumption of joint normality. We control for employment selection into both sectors using an instrument based on information regarding learned professions. We use data from the Polish Survey of Earnings by Occupations (2012). Contrary to earlier results for Poland, we found positive selection into employment in both sectors, with positive average treatment effect on the treated and negative average treatment effect on the untreated. The results suggest that both private and public sector employees select themselves into the sector in which they earn more than they would in a counterfactual scenario.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of job satisfaction determinants of higher education graduates across six selected study domains. Design/methodology/approach -Based on the theoretical considerations, derived from human capital theory and signalling theory, the authors formulate the model explaining job satisfaction as a broad measure of labour market success. Explanatory variables include various socio-demographic characteristics as well as market environment and process of learning, modes of teaching and study programme characteristics. Data used in the analysis comes from two special surveys of European research projects REFLEX and HEGESCO. Principal component analysis method and OLS regression were used to estimate model parameters.Findings -The results of our research show the important role of characteristics of educational process, as well as individual graduates' early work-related experience in predicting job satisfaction. Differences in job satisfaction determinants across domains may be to some extent explained by the differences in the labour market characteristics for graduates in given discipline. Variety of educationrelated characteristics taken into account in the empirical analysis of determinants of job satisfaction is a key valuable contribution to the research in the field. Originality/value -Research findings indicate the areas of potential actions aimed at improving future job satisfaction which can be undertaken by higher education institutions' management bodies.

Research background: This paper extends the early papers by Brander (1981) and Brander and Krugman (1983) who used a simple partial equilibrium Cournot duopoly to a full general equilibrium setting. The explanations of intra-industry trade can be based either on oligopolistic reciprocal dumping idea (Brander, 1981) or product differentiation (Dixit and Norman, 1980; Krugman, 1979, 1980, 1981; Lancaster, 1980; Helpman, 1981). In this paper we combine both explanations in a unified general equilibrium model. Purpose of the article: We develop a two-sector, one-factor general equilibrium model, in which the first sector produces a differentiated good under monopolistic competition and the second sector produces a homogenous good under Cournot oligopolistic competition. In this paper, we study how competition between domestic and foreign firms resulting from trade liberalization affects intra-industry trade in both sectors. Methods: The paper develops a two-sector model based on several assumptions. Consumers have a two-tier utility function of the Cobb-Douglas-Spence-Dixit-Stiglitz form. Firms operate in two sectors and produce goods under increasing returns to scale resulting from the existence of fixed costs. One sector produces homogenous good under Cournot competition, and the second one produces a differentiated product in under Chamberlinian monopolistic competition. Free entry is assumed in both sectors. Labor is assumed to be the only factor of production with perfect mobility and full employment. Findings & Value added: In contrast to previous papers, our study is based on a full general equilibrium Cournot oligopoly framework with many firms. Moreover, we endogenize the number of firms and study the resulting trading equilibria. Therefore, this paper can be regarded as the extension and unification of the early papers by Brander (1981), Brander and Krugman (1983) and Krugman (1979, 1980).

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide the estimates of returns to schooling using consistent methodology and comparable set of data for a long time horizon for a country undergoing economic transition. Second, the paper aims to verify if returns to schooling in Poland were pro-cyclical or counter-cyclical.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on the human capital theory in estimating the wage returns to years of schooling controlling additionally for unemployment rates at a regional level. Data come from a collection of Polish individual LFS waves for the period 1995–2017.FindingsReturns to schooling in Poland were increasing until 2006 and declining afterwards unveiling the supply side effects domination. The estimates suggested counter-cyclicality of returns in Poland.Research limitations/implicationsUsing LFS data made it impossible to control for ability bias therefore it is possible that the estimates are somewhat biased (the literature however suggests that the extent of the bias is likely to be small). It might still be argued that using consistent methodology for the whole period of analysis still offers valuable insight into returns evolution.Originality/valueThis paper finds a reversal of returns trend after 2006 suggesting the period after accession to EU exhibited a supply side effect domination. The findings on counter-cyclicality of returns to education in Poland have not yet been documented in the literature.