The PS deputies listened this Monday to a speech by the economist Sandra Maximiano on negative consequences of factors such as the immutability of public employmentlow productivity and the adoption of extreme environmental measures without sustainability.
Sandra Maximiano, professor at the Higher Institute of Economics and Management (ISEG), spoke at the PS Parliamentary Conference, which will take place in the district of Leiria until Tuesday, in a panel on “Demography, public policies to support the middle class” , along with former socialist minister José António Vieira da Silva.
In the fundamental question about the causes of the low birth rate in Portugal, the economist supported the thesis that public policies seek to combat the set of restrictions for a couple to have children, but immediately observed that classical economics assumes that preferences are constant in the time. , which is considered an error.
Among other messages, he said that labor flexibility cannot be thought of out of context in terms of the provision of nurseries and schools. And he pointed to a wide range of obstacles that young people face, such as the price of housing, or the lack of conditions in Portugal (due to low wages) for a part-time job option.
But Sandra Maximiano went further and relativized the concept of precariousness, especially among the younger generations, since some of the younger ones even consider “Castrator The Exclusive Long Contract Guy“.
“If security were such a determining factor as is thought, young people would not emigrate”, leaving for a stage of uncertainty, he said.
A position that he conveyed before criticizing the existing cultural model in Portugal in terms of working life, giving as an example the distribution of tasks between young researchers and full professors at the Higher Education level.
“Our cultural model does not attract talent”, he declared, criticizing “the installed powers” in various sectors, the consequences for social mobility derived from the “immutability of public employment”, low labor productivity, together with low salaries in the State, the most relevant case of the teachers. in public schools. .
“We have to avoid extreme environmental policies without long-term sustainability. And public support must be given based on the results, which requires evaluation”, underlined Sandra Maximiano, who ended her speech by defending tax benefits and more foreign direct investment to attract and value talent.
The former socialist minister spoke then and distanced himself from Sandra Maximiano regarding the idea of precariousness.
“In the Portuguese case, unlike the countries of northern Europe, precariousness is associated with low wages,” he countered.
Vieira da Silva put the housing factor As the main obstacle faced by young people, he said that between 2011 and 2021 there was a significant reduction in job instability, but not among young people.
In his speech, he considered it important that, despite the progress, the revaluation of parental leave continues, he described the reinforcement of investment in continuous training as essential and defended greater integration between the areas of Social Security and Health, with a view to delaying the process of institutionalization of the elderly.
The former socialist minister pointed out that the reduction of working hours is already being done at the level of collective bargaining and highlighted the importance of a strategic and integrated approach to attracting immigrants.
“We have good examples of inclusion in terms of immigration, but we need to do more“added Vieira da Silva.
Source: Observadora
