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Tax Wedge on Labour and its Effect on Employment Growth in the European Union

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  • Primož Dolenc
  • Suzana Laporšek

Abstract

The paper assesses the characteristics of tax wedge, employment and unemployment rate in the EU and by using linear regression analysis with panel-corrected standard errors on the sample of twenty-seven EU Member States over 1999-2008 period analyzes whether the tax wedge affects the employment growth. The empirical estimates have shown that, with regard to employment and unemployment rate, the EU Member States can be classified into two groups. The first group is characterized with high tax wedge, low employment and high unemployment rate, whereas the second group has the alternative characteristics. The negative tax wedge-employment relation was confirmed in the panel regression analysis, showing that an increase in tax wedge for one percentage point decreases the employment growth in the EU-27 by around 0.04 percentage points, ceteris paribus. The empirical estimates suggest that the EU-27 should continue with the trend of reducing tax wedge, as this would increase employment growth and employment rate and decrease unemployment, especially in Member States with high tax wedge.

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  • Primož Dolenc & Suzana Laporšek, 2010. "Tax Wedge on Labour and its Effect on Employment Growth in the European Union," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2010(4), pages 344-358.
    • Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlpep:v:2010:y:2010:i:4:id:381:p:344-358
    DOI: 10.18267/j.pep.381
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    Cited by:

    1. Leoš Vítek, 2011. "Fiscal Instruments of a Support of the Families with Children and their Changes in Developed Countries," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2011(4), pages 60-84.
    2. Andrei Ionut Husman, 2020. "Taxation And Economic Development In The Former Communist Bloc. A Panel Data Approach," Oradea Journal of Business and Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 5(2), pages 83-91, September.
    3. Predrag Trpeski & Biljana Tashevska, 2012. "Labour Tax Wedge In The Republic Of Macedonia - Trends And International Comparison," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 2(14), pages 1-24.
    4. Matthew Melchiorre & Emilio Rocca, 2013. "The Unintended Consequences of Italy's Labour Laws: How Extensive Labour Regulation Distorts the Italian Economy," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 156-173, June.
    5. IlmÄ rs Sņucins & Ieva Kodoliņa-MiglÄ ne, 2015. "Reform of labour taxes in Latvia 2011-2013," Financial Theory and Practice, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 39(4), pages 371-391.
    6. Jan Čadil & Tomáš Pavelka & Eva Kaňková & Jan Vorlíček, 2011. "Odhad nákladů nezaměstnanosti z pohledu veřejných rozpočtů [Unemployment Cost Estimate from Public Budgets Perspective]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2011(5), pages 618-637.
    7. Radman Peša, Anita & Brajković, Ana, 2015. "Testing The ‘Black Swan Effect’ on Croatian Stock Market Between 2000 and 2013," MPRA Paper 69223, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2015.
    8. Gina Cristina Dimian & Bogdan Ileanu & Josef Jablonský & Jan Fábry, 2013. "Analysis of European Labour Market in the Crisis Context," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2013(1), pages 50-71.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic policy; tax wedge; employment growth; EU;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy

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