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Labour Flexibility and Migration in the EU Eastward Enlargement Context: The Case of the Baltic States

Author

Listed:
  • Tiiu Paas

    (Institute of Economics, University of Tartu)

  • Raul Eamets

    (Institute of Economics, University of Tartu)

Abstract

The eastward enlargement of the European Union and the requirements of the European Monetary Union increase pressure for flexibility of labour markets. This paper analyses main changes in the Baltic States’ labour market over the period 1990 - 2001 giving emphasis on the problems of labour market flexibility and migration in the EU eastward enlargement context. Labour market flexibility issues are analysed paying attention to wage flexibility and institutional flexibility (regulations, labour policy, trade unions) while labour migration problems are discussed giving emphasis on pull and push factors of migration and on labour migration experience during the previous stages of EU enlargement. In conclusion labour market flexibility is relatively high in all three Baltic States, being a bit higher in Estonia and lower in Lithuania. In all three states the flexibility has declined in the course of transition. The weakness of the trade unions compared to EU has contributed to the high wage flexibility, while the insufficient funding of labour policies and high share of passive measures might have had negative effect on flexibility. Labour migration from the Baltic States into the EU15 countries will not be significant in the near future. Still the free movement of labour will have pressure on the labour markets of the Baltic States due to possible movement of better-qualified and flexible labour force and due to possible cross-border movement of workers in the Baltic Sea region.

Suggested Citation

  • Tiiu Paas & Raul Eamets, 2002. "Labour Flexibility and Migration in the EU Eastward Enlargement Context: The Case of the Baltic States," Eastward Enlargement of the Euro-zone Working Papers wp11, Free University Berlin, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, revised 01 Sep 2002.
    • Handle: RePEc:ezo:ezppap:wp11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Zasova & Aleksejs Melihovs, 2005. "Assessment of Labour Market Elasticity in Latvia," Working Papers 2005/03, Latvijas Banka.
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    3. Andreas Freytag, 2002. "Estonian labour market and EMU membership - challenges and policy options," Bank of Estonia Working Papers 2002-11, Bank of Estonia, revised 10 Dec 2002.
    4. Gunther Schnabl & Christina Ziegler, 2008. "Exchange Rate Regime and Wage Determination in Central and Eastern Europe," CESifo Working Paper Series 2471, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Labour market flexibility; labour migration; Baltic States; eastward enlargement of the European Union;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J30 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - General
    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J80 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - General
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General

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