Labor Market Issues in Belgium: An International Perspective

April 1, 1993

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Reza Moghadam. Labor Market Issues in Belgium: An International Perspective, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 1993) accessed November 8, 2024

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

The characteristics of the Belgian labor market are examined using international comparisons in order to assess the government’s recent labor market initiatives. The labor market in Belgium is found to suffer from a number of structural problems compared to other industrial countries: the non-employment rate is very high, there are large regional disparities in unemployment, female and youth unemployment are prevalent and there is an unusually pronounced incidence of long-term unemployment. The causes of these problems are investigated. The empirical results, using cross section data from 15 industrial countries, show that the generosity of long-term unemployment benefits helps to explain the prevalence of long-term unemployment. Unemployment compensation also appears to be paid to many who are not actively seeking work. The recent labor market initiatives in Belgium will help to ameliorate some of the underlying problems but they are unlikely to completely address the underlying structural problems.

Subject: Employment, Expenditure, Labor, Labor markets, Unemployment, Unemployment benefits, Unemployment rate

Keywords: Aggregate employment figure, Belgium, Employment, Employment growth, Labor market, Labor market problem, Labor markets, Long-term unemployment, Unemployment, Unemployment benefit, Unemployment benefits, Unemployment compensation, Unemployment interruption, Unemployment rate, WP, Youth unemployment

Publication Details

Pages:

50
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 1993/032
Stock No:

WPIEA0321993
ISBN:

9781451979725
ISSN:

1018-5941

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