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Short-time work in the Great Recession: firm-level evidence from 20 EU countries

Author

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  • Lydon, Reamonn
  • Mathä, Thomas Y.
  • Millard, Stephen

Abstract

Using firm-level data from a large-scale European survey among 20 countries, we analyse the determinants of firms using short-time work (STW). We show that firms are more likely to use STW in case of negative demand shocks. We show that STW schemes are more likely to be used by firms with high degrees of firm-specific human capital, high firing costs, and operating in countries with stringent employment protection legislation and a high degree of downward nominal wage rigidity. STW use is higher in countries with formalised schemes and in countries where these schemes were extended in response to the recent crisis. On the wider economic impact of STW, we show that firms using the schemes are significantly less likely to lay off permanent workers in response to a negative shock, with no impact for temporary workers. Relating our STW take-up measure in the micro data to aggregate data on employment and output trends, we show that sectors with a high STW take-up exhibit significantly less cyclical variation in employment. JEL Classification: C25, E24, J63, J68

Suggested Citation

  • Lydon, Reamonn & Mathä, Thomas Y. & Millard, Stephen, 2018. "Short-time work in the Great Recession: firm-level evidence from 20 EU countries," Working Paper Series 2212, European Central Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20182212
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Harasztosi, Péter & Maurin, Laurent & Pál, Rozália & Revoltella, Debora & van der Wielen, Wouter, 2022. "Firm-level policy support during the crisis: So far, so good?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 30-48.
    3. Mussida, Chiara & Zanin, Luca, 2023. "Asymmetry and (in-)stability of Okun’s coefficients in nine European countries," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 28(C).
    4. Konstantins Benkovskis & Olegs Tkacevs & Karlis Vilerts, 2024. "Understanding How Job Retention Schemes Reshape the Within-Occupation Skill Profile of Employees within Firms," Working Papers 2024/02, Latvijas Banka.
    5. Tito Boeri & Pierre Cahuc, 2022. "Labor Market Insurance Policies in the XXI Century," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03878719, HAL.
    6. van der Wielen, Wouter & Barrios, Salvador, 2021. "Economic sentiment during the COVID pandemic: Evidence from search behaviour in the EU," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    7. Maarten Dossche & Andrea Gavazzi & Vivien Lewis, 2023. "Labor Adjustment and Productivity in the OECD," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 47, pages 111-130, January.
    8. Ulrike Huemer & Rainer Eppel & Marion Kogler & Helmut Mahringer & Lukas Schmoigl & David Pichler, 2021. "Effektivität von Instrumenten der aktiven Arbeitsmarktpolitik in unterschiedlichen Konjunkturphasen," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 67250.
    9. Natalia Bermudez & Muriel Dejemeppe & Giulia Tarullo, 2023. "Theory and Empirics of Short-Time Work: A Review," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2023018, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    10. Julien Albertini & Xavier Fairise & Arthur Poirier & Anthony Terriau, 2022. "Short-Time Work Policies During the Covid-19 Pandemic," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 146, pages 123-172.
    11. Kolasa, Marcin & Rubaszek, Michał & Walerych, Małgorzata, 2021. "Do flexible working hours amplify or stabilize unemployment fluctuations?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    12. Ulrike Huemer & Marion Kogler & Helmut Mahringer, 2021. "Kurzarbeit als Kriseninstrument in der COVID-19-Pandemie. Kurzexpertise zum Vergleich der Modelle ausgewählter europäischer Länder," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 67020.
    13. Povilas Lastauskas, 2022. "Lockdown, employment adjustment, and financial frictions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 919-942, February.
    14. Bruno Ducoudre & Pierre Madec, 2020. "Évaluation au 6 mai 2020 de l'impact économique de la pandémie de COVID-19 et des mesures de confinement sur le marché du travail en France," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03401434, HAL.
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    17. Johnston Richard & Hogg Ryan & Miller Kristel, 2021. "Who is Most Vulnerable? Exploring Job Vulnerability, Social Distancing and Demand During COVID-19," The Irish Journal of Management, Sciendo, vol. 40(2), pages 100-142, December.
    18. Garcia-Clemente, Javier & Rubino, Nicola & Congregado, Emilio, 2022. "Evaluating the effects of short and medium-term temporary work reduction schemes: the case of Spain’s ERTEs during the COVID-19 outbreak," MPRA Paper 114504, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    crisis; firms; recession; short-time work; survey; wages;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs
    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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