Markus Gangl
 

The study provides a comparative empirical analysis of the dynamics of unemployment in the United States and West Germany. Based on longitudinal data and recent microeconometric methods, the analysis discusses different explanations for both the higher inflow into as well as the higher outflow from unemployment common in the United States. Despite cross-national differences in terms of the skill distribution and patterns of economic restructuring across industries and occupations, the study stresses institutional explanations for the observed country differences. Most importantly, more flexible U.S. labor markets contribute to higher labor turnover, resulting in both lower levels of job security, higher vacancy levels in external labor markets, and higher competitiveness of unemployed job seekers. Unemployment insurance, in turn, has only small effects on unemployment duration, yet contributes to smaller scar effects of unemployment among German workers.

Keywords: Unemployment, Job Loss, Unemployment Duration, Labor Market Institutions, Economic Restructuring, Cross-National Comparative Research

Table of Contents

1. Dynamics of unemployment, jobs and careers: a cross-national perspective;
2. Dynamic perspectives on labor markets and unemployment;
3. Statistical methodology;
4. Dynamics of employment and unemployment in the United States and West Germany;
5. Unemployment incidence: labor turnover in the United States and West Germany;
6. Unemployment duration and reemployment rates: a supply-side perspective;
7. Opportunity, choice and reemployment rates: two-sided search and vacancy levels;
8. Summary and conclusions

2003 VIII, 292 p. 90 illus. Softcover
3-7908-1533-0
Recommended Retail Price: EUR 51.95 *

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