Boosting Job Growth in the Western Balkans
IMF Working Papers, January 28, 2014
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- Boosting Job Growth in the Western Balkans
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: Dmitriy Kovtun, Alexis Meyer-Cirkel, Zuzana Murgasova, Dustin Smith, Suchanan Tambunlertchai
- Published: January 28, 2014
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484391037.001
Summary
- Title: Boosting Job Growth in the Western Balkans
- Authors: Dmitriy Kovtun, Alexis Meyer-Cirkel, Zuzana Murgasova, Dustin Smith, Suchanan Tambunlertchai
- Publication type: IMF Working Papers (Working Paper No. 2014/016)
- Publication date: January 28, 2014
- Core synopsis:
- Labor markets in the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) are characterized by some of the highest unemployment and low employment rates in Europe.
- The paper analyzes poor labor market outcomes by comparison with the New Member States of the European Union and advanced European economies.
- Findings point to long-lasting labor market weaknesses with structural roots.
- Policy recommendations are offered to boost job creation.
Major findings — structural roots of labor market weaknesses
- Institutional setup of the labor markets contributes to weak outcomes.
- Labor cost factors are identified as a contributing element.
- The unfinished transition process is highlighted as an especially important structural factor behind persistently poor labor market performance.
- Comparative analysis: performance is analyzed relative to New Member States of the European Union and advanced European economies.
Policy recommendations (overview)
- The paper offers policy recommendations aimed at boosting job creation in the Western Balkans (specific policy prescriptions are presented in the full working paper).
Subject and keywords
- Subject: Labor, Labor costs, Labor markets, Unemployment, Unemployment rate, Wages
- Keywords: Balkan countries, cost factor, Europe, Labor costs, labor market, labor market challenge, labor market outcome, labor market performance, labor market practice, labor market problem, labor market rigidity, Labor markets, Labor migration, labor-leisure decision, natural rate of unemployment, practices in the Balkan countries, The Balkans, Unemployment, unemployment benefit, Unemployment rate, unemployment spell, Wages, WP