## Labor Market Issues in Belgium: An International Perspective

_IMF Working Papers, April 1, 1993_

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Reza Moghadam
- Published: April 1, 1993
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451979725.001

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### Summary and main findings
- The labor market in Belgium suffers 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 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.

### Empirical results
- The empirical results use cross section data from 15 industrial countries.
- 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.

### Policy implications and assessment of initiatives
- Recent Belgian labor market initiatives are expected to provide some improvement in underlying problems.
- However, the initiatives are unlikely to completely address the structural problems identified (high non-employment rate, regional disparities, female and youth unemployment, pronounced long-term unemployment).

### Key statistics and publication metadata
- Pages: 50
- Volume: 1993
- Issue: 032
- Series: Working Paper No. 1993/032
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451979725.001
- Stock No: WPIEA0321993
- ISBN: 9781451979725
- ISSN: 1018-5941
- Author: Reza Moghadam
- Publication date: April 1, 1993

*Source: IMF Working Papers — "Labor Market Issues in Belgium: An International Perspective" by Reza Moghadam (April 1, 1993).*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/30/labor-market-issues-in-belgium-an-international-perspective-1051_