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Labour Market Institutions and Amplification of Employment Fluctuations

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  • Matsue Toyoki

    (International University of Kagoshima)

Abstract

Labour market reforms have been undertaken to eliminate labour market rigidities in European countries since 1970s. The important features of the reforms are the reduction in adjustment costs and the introduction of fixed-term contracts (FTC). Some empirical studies point out that employment fluctuations have become more volatile after the reforms. This paper presents a model with FTC and analyzes the effects of the key features of the reforms. Numerical examples show that an expected productivity shock causes the oscillatory behaviour of employment. Moreover, a reduction in adjustment costs amplifies fluctuations. In the labour market literature, a number of studies point out the importance of trade unions in European countries. This paper also analyzes the effects of union influence, and the numerical examples indicate that the stronger union influence leads to larger employment fluctuations.

Suggested Citation

  • Matsue Toyoki, 2019. "Labour Market Institutions and Amplification of Employment Fluctuations," Central European Economic Journal, Sciendo, vol. 6(53), pages 164-173, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:ceuecj:v:6:y:2019:i:53:p:164-173:n:8
    DOI: 10.2478/ceej-2019-0010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    employment fluctuations; fixed-term contracts; trade unions; labour market reforms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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