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Identifying the Main Determinants of Part-Time Employment in EU Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Miežienė Rasa

    (Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology, Department of Labour Market Research, Vilnius, Lithuania.)

  • Krutulienė Sandra

    (Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology, Department of Labour Market Research, Vilnius, Lithuania.)

  • Gruževskis Boguslavas

    (Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology, Department of Labour Market Research, Vilnius, Lithuania.)

Abstract

The article analyses the prevalence of part-time employment in different EU countries with a focus on the factors affecting the rate of part-time employment across the EU. Based on the literature review, a distinction is made between three groups of factors that are relevant for the rate of part-time employment, in particular, cyclical factors, political and institutional factors, and structural factors. The article analyses how these factors influence part-time employment rates in EU countries. The linear regression analysis based on EU-28 macroeconomic data for the period of 2007-2018 has shown that all three groups of determinants (i.e. cyclical, political and institutional as well as structural factors) affect the rate of part-time employment in the EU-28. Part-time employment is a complex phenomenon which depends on a number of factors. However, the regression analysis has found that the following political and institutional as well as structural independent variables are also significant predictors of part-time employment rates in EU Member States (EU-28): average annual wages, the tax rate on low wage earners, expenditures on children and family benefits as a percentage of gross domestic product, trade union density, and the activity rate of people aged 15-24 and 55-64. Cyclical factors (the unemployment rate in Model (1) and real GDP per capita in Model (2)) have also been found to have a significant effect on part-time employment in EU-28 countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Miežienė Rasa & Krutulienė Sandra & Gruževskis Boguslavas, 2021. "Identifying the Main Determinants of Part-Time Employment in EU Countries," Review of Economic Perspectives, Sciendo, vol. 21(2), pages 151-171, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:reoecp:v:21:y:2021:i:2:p:151-171:n:2
    DOI: 10.2478/revecp-2021-0007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chung, Su Hwan, 2025. "Decomposing the growth of part-time work in South Korea, 2010-2024," KDI Journal of Economic Policy, Korea Development Institute (KDI), vol. 47(4), pages 35-71.

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    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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