Why Have Labour Markets Reacted to the Global Crisis in Different Ways?

Abstract

The analyses indicate that the scale of changes in employment and unemployment during the global crisis depends on such factors as: the depth of the demand shock and scale of GDP adjustments; the degree of openness of the economy; the scope of alternative labour market adjustments and some labour market institutions, especially employment protection legislation and the share of fixed-term employment contracts. The analyses indicate that the smallest declines in employment (and correspondingly the smallest increases in unemployment) during the crisis can be expected in countries where the EPL indexes and share of those employed on fixed-term employment contracts in total employment are moderate.