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Flexibility vs. Rigidity: Does Spain have the worst of both Worlds?

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  • Saint-Paul, Gilles

    (Paris School of Economics)

Abstract

In this paper we study the structure of labor market flows in Spain and compare them with France and the US. We characterize a number of empirical regularities and stylized facts. One striking result is that the job finding rate is slightly higher than in France, while the jon loss rate is much higher, putting Spain half-way between France and the US. This suggests that while Spain has borne the full cost of its labor market reforms in terms of job precarity, the benefits in terms of job creation have been quite modest. We hypothesize that this has been due to the reform’s credibility being imperfect, which leads to expectation of reversal.

Suggested Citation

  • Saint-Paul, Gilles, 2000. "Flexibility vs. Rigidity: Does Spain have the worst of both Worlds?," IZA Discussion Papers 144, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp144
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    1. Thomas Bauer & Klaus F. Zimmermann, 1999. "Overtime Work and Overtime Compensation in Germany," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 46(4), pages 419-436, September.
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    3. Hart, Robert A. & Malley, James R., 1999. "On the Cyclicality and Stability of Real Earnings," IZA Discussion Papers 45, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Bauer, Thomas & Zimmermann, Klaus F, 1999. "Overtime Work and Overtime Compensation in Germany," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 46(4), pages 419-436, September.
    5. Bell, D. & RA Hart, 1999. "Overtime Working in an Unregulated Labour Market," Working Papers Series 9904, University of Stirling, Division of Economics.
    6. Hart, Robert A. & Ritchie, Felix, 1999. "Tenure-based Wage Setting," IZA Discussion Papers 47, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Gutierrez-Domenech, 2002. "The Impact of the Labour Market on the Timing of Marriage and Births in Spain," CEP Discussion Papers dp0556, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    2. Pau Baizan & Francesca Michielin & Francesco Billari, 2002. "Political Economy and Life Course Patterns," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 6(8), pages 191-240.
    3. Stefano Visintin & Alessandro Gentile, 2013. "Il mercato del lavoro in spagna: criticit? e riforme strutturali in un contesto di crisi economica," ECONOMIA E SOCIET? REGIONALE, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(2), pages 65-85.
    4. Juan J Dolado & Carlos Garcia--Serrano & Juan F. Jimeno, 2002. "Drawing Lessons From The Boom Of Temporary Jobs In Spain," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 112(721), pages 270-295, June.
    5. Eduard Gombár, 2016. "Karol Sorby Jr.Iraqi Politics In The Shadow Of The Military (1936-1941) (Karol Sorby Jr. Iracká Politika Vo Vojenskom Tieni (1936-1941))," Medzinarodne vztahy (Journal of International Relations), Ekonomická univerzita, Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov, vol. 14(3), pages 319-322.
    6. Kandel, Eugene & Pearson, Neil D., 2001. "Flexibility versus Commitment in Personnel Management," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 515-556, December.
    7. Pau Baizán Munoz & Francesca Michielin & Francesco C. Billari, 2001. "Political economy and life course patterns: the heterogeneity of occupational, family and household trajectories of young spaniards," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2001-037, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    8. Gutiérrez-Domènech, Maria, 2002. "The impact of the labour market on the timing of marriage and births in Spain," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 20053, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    9. Veronika končíková & Robert Barca, 2016. "Vyrobené V Číne: Hrozba Pre Európsky High-Tech Sektor? (Made In China: A Threat To European High-Tech Sector?)," Medzinarodne vztahy (Journal of International Relations), Ekonomická univerzita, Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov, vol. 14(3), pages 243-256.
    10. Suzan Kodrazi, 2016. "Morálny Hazard Humanitárnej Intervencie. Pozitíva. Negatíva. (Moral Hazard Of Humanitarian Intervention. Advantages And Disadvantages.)," Medzinarodne vztahy (Journal of International Relations), Ekonomická univerzita, Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov, vol. 14(3), pages 257-283.
    11. Zuzana Potužáková & Stanislava Mildeová, 2015. "Analýza příčin a důsledků nezaměstnanosti mladých v Evropské unii [Analysis of Causes and Consequences of the Youth Unployment in the EU]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2015(7), pages 877-894.
    12. Renato Faccini, 2014. "Reassessing Labour Market Reforms: Temporary Contracts as a Screening Device," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 124(575), pages 167-200, March.
    13. Hugo Hopenhayn, 2004. "Labor Market Policies and Employment Duration. The Effects of Labor Market Reform in Argentina," NBER Chapters, in: Law and Employment: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean, pages 497-516, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Zuzana Potužáková, 2016. "Nezaměstnanost Mladých A Její Řešení Na Evropské Úrovni (Youth Unemplyment And Its Solution On The Eu Level)," Medzinarodne vztahy (Journal of International Relations), Ekonomická univerzita, Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov, vol. 14(3), pages 283-303.
    15. Karol Sorby, 2016. "Mendel Miloš - Arabské Jaro. Historické A Kultúrní Pozadí Událostí Na Blízkom Východe (Mendel Milos: Arab Spring. Historical And Cultural Background Of The Events In Middle East)," Medzinarodne vztahy (Journal of International Relations), Ekonomická univerzita, Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov, vol. 14(3), pages 204-221.
    16. Alícia Adserà, 2011. "The interplay of employment uncertainty and education in explaining second births in Europe," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 25(16), pages 513-544.
    17. Patrick Puhani, 2002. "A Note on Changes in the Wage and Unemployment Structures in Spain: Evidence from the Luxembourg Income Study," LIS Working papers 328, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    18. Franco Peracchi & Eliana Viviano, 2004. "An Empirical Micro Matching Model with an Application to Italy and Spain," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 538, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    19. Tomáš Hoch & Jakub kašpar, 2016. "Limity Gruzínské Občanské Společnosti Při Budování Míru (Limits Of Georgian Civil Society In The Pecebuilding Process)," Medzinarodne vztahy (Journal of International Relations), Ekonomická univerzita, Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov, vol. 14(3), pages 222-242.
    20. Cristina Borra, 2010. "Childcare cost and Spanish mother’s labour force participation," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 194(3), pages 9-40, October.
    21. Lubomír Čech, 2016. "Stredná Ázia – Od „Veľkej Hry“ K „Veľkej Zmene“ (Central Asia – From „Big Game“ To A „Big Change“)," Medzinarodne vztahy (Journal of International Relations), Ekonomická univerzita, Fakulta medzinárodných vzťahov, vol. 14(3), pages 304-318.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    labor market flows; job finding; job loss; flexibility; temporary contracts; labor market reform; Unemployment; unemployment duration; unemployment recurrence; on the job search; labor force composition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts
    • J42 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Monopsony; Segmented Labor Markets
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity

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