Suchergebnisse

Each year Germany and many other developed economies spend tens of billions of Euros on active measures of employment promotion with the explicit aim of contributing to the reduction of unemployment. Yet, high unemployment has universally been a persistent problem throughout the last two decades, raising the question as to the actual effect of the measures of employment promotion. This paper contributes to the received literature by investigating whether a specific strategy of active labor market policy measures can contribute to a significant reduction of unemployment on the (semi-) aggregate level of the local labor offices in Germany. To this end, we analyze ALMP in Germany in a spatially augmented regression framework. Our results suggest that a policy strategy focusing on monetary incentive schemes rather than on public employment programs is more successful.

Focusing on employment exchange systems, the authors explain how early labor market institutions established by British and Swedish governments affected the possibilities for subsequent policy. They demonstrate how the way in which labor exchanges were implemented in Britain and Sweden limited and facilitated, respectively, active labor market policy after 1945. The absence of institutional legitimacy in the legacy of the British labor exchange system contrasts with the legitimacy achieved by the Swedish system. The authors identify the reasons for this comparative pattern and analyze its significance.

By the 1970s, capitalist democracies had established three significantly different types of strategies for mitigating labor market problems: a passive social democratic or "guardian" strategy (GB), an active social democratic or "egalitarian" strategy (Sweden), & a passive neoliberal or "business-centered" strategy (US). In response to high unemployment, the Thatcher government has resurrected a long dormant fourth strategy -- an active, neoliberal, market-centered approach that seeks a LF that is less organized, has greater wage disparities, & is more adaptable to business needs. Evidence of the government's pursuit of this strategy is presented, & its political & economic implications are explored. 1 Table, 1 Figure, 65 References. Modified HA

ABSTRACTThough each of the capitalist democracies has developed a similar battery of programs for mitigating labor market problems, politically significant differences in strategy underlie superficial similarities. By the 1970s, labor market strategies could be distinguished by three models: a passive social democratic orguardianstrategy (Britain), an active social democratic oregalitarianstrategy (Sweden), and a passive neo-liberal orbusiness-centeredstrategy (United States). In response to high unemployment, the Thatcher government has resurrected a long dormant fourth strategy that combines neo-liberal principles with an active state. This active neo-liberal ormarket-centeredapproach seeks a workforce that is less organised, has greater wage disparities, and is more adaptable to business needs. The government's activism is evident in the growth of the Manpower Services Commission, both in absolute terms and relative to passive compensatory measures. Its neo-liberalism is evident in reducing structural impediments to lower wages, increasing incentives for individual initiative, and revamping employment and training schemes along neo-liberal lines. These efforts correlate with decreasing levels of union membership, increasing self-employment, and increasing wage disparities in the British economy, trends that are, by the government's criteria, improvements.

"Das Leitbild 'Gewährleistungsstaat' bestimmt auch die Reformagenda des Arbeitsmarkts, wo es sich in Formeln wie 'Fördern und Fordern' oder 'Von der aktiven zur aktivierenden Arbeitsmarktpolitik' niederschlägt. In diesem Beitrag wird dieses Leitbild am Beispiel der Neugestaltung der Arbeitsmarktpolitik, insbesondere der Reform der Bundesanstalt für Arbeit auf nationaler Ebene und der Methode der offenen Koordinierung auf europäischer Ebene getestet. Zielsetzung und praktische Erfahrungen dieser Reformen werden zum einen mit den normativen Prämissen des 'Gewährleistungsstaates' verglichen, zum anderen dienen sie zu einer weiteren Schärfung und Modifikation dieser Prämissen." (Autorenreferat)

The systems of financing labor market policy in six countries, and the effects of differemt financing systems on expenditures for active labor market policy, are described. Financial systems influence not only the level but also the structure of labor market policy which in turn has implications for its allocational and distributional effects. (Abstract amended)

We survey the recent literature on the effects of active labor market policies on individual labor market outcomes like employment and income, for adult female individuals without work in European countries. We consider skill-training programs, monitoring and sanctions, job search assistance, and employment subsidies. The results are remarkably uniform across studies. We relate the results to the relevant level of female labor force participation.

Based on conference paper. The government's activism in expansion of the Manpower Services Commission and reduction of impediments to lower wages, increasing incentives for individual initiative, and revamping employment and training schemes along neo-liberal lines.

Average subjective well-being decreased in Europe during the Great Recession, primarily among people with less than a college education and people younger than retirement age. However, some countries fared better than others depending on their labor market policies. More generous unemployment support, which provided income replacement or programs to assist unemployed workers find jobs, mitigated the negative effects for most of the population, although not youth. In contrast, stricter employment protection legislation exacerbated the negative effects. We present further evidence that suggests the exacerbating effects of employment protection legislation are due to greater rigidities in the labor market, which in turn affect perceived future job prospects. Our analysis is based on two-stage least squares regressions using individual subjective wellbeing data obtained from Eurobarometer surveys and variation in labor market policy across 23 European countries.

We survey the recent literature on the effects of active labor market policies on individual labor market outcomes like employment and income, for adult female individuals without work in European countries. We consider skill-training programs, monitoring and sanctions, job search assistance, and employment subsidies. The results are remarkably uniform across studies. We relate the results to the relevant level of female labor force participation.

The protection of outsiders in the era of liberalization -- Labor market policy in Austria, Denmark, and Sweden -- Relying on the weak : Austrian unions and smoothed dualization -- Strengthened governments and the erosion of Danish flexicurity -- Goodbye to Swedish social democracy and welfare universalism -- Strong governments and precarious workers in the era of liberalization

ABSTRACTIn recent years the hopes of finding a solution for the puzzle of mass unemployment shifted to labor market institutions such as the system of regulation and industrial relations. The following study takes up a much neglected aspect of labor market institutions, the issue of financing labor market policy. After developing the analytical framework, the systems of financing labor market policy in six countries are briefly described. Next are analyzed the effects of different financing systems on expenditures for active labor market policy – as an essential element in fighting unemployment. Financial systems, however, influence not only the level but also the structure of labor market policy which in turn has implications for its allocational and distributional effects. Finally, some lessons are drawn from the international comparison, the main thesis is illustrated by the German case. Institutional incongruity, i.e. a mismatch between organizational structures and functions, may have two effects, leading political decision makers to behave in a generally unexpected way, and channelling the effects of political programmes in unintended directions.