{
  "title": "Labor Markets, Migration, and EU Integration in the Western Balkans",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, October 31, 2025",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2025/10/31/labor-markets-migration-and-eu-integration-in-the-western-balkans-571329",
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  "summary": "This paper develops a structural model of interconnected European labor markets to examine how further EU integration would impact the Western Balkan economies and how policy can improve output and employment in these countries.",
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      "heading": "Study objective and framework",
      "content": "- Develops a structural model of interconnected European labor markets to examine how further EU integration would impact the Western Balkan economies and how policy can improve output and employment in these countries.\n- Model explicitly links migration responses to labor market outcomes across interconnected European economies."
    },
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      "heading": "Key findings from model simulations",
      "content": "- Productivity increases of 30 percent, similar to previous EU accession cases, would:\n  - result in wage growth;\n  - help close the unemployment gap;\n  - offset increased emigration through higher immigration and labor participation.\n- Risks of increased emigration from further integration can be managed through promoting faster productivity growth, including through structural reforms."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy implications and recommendations",
      "content": "- Promote faster productivity growth (including through structural reforms) to manage emigration risks and to support wages and employment.\n- Improve the efficiency of the labor market across three dimensions to boost employment and support output:\n  - participation;\n  - job search;\n  - production.\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Working Paper\n  - Working Paper (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Working Paper (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2025/10/31/labor-markets-migration-and-eu-integration-in-the-western-balkans-571329"
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    "Authors: Stephen Ayerst, Nina Chebotareva, Oksana Dynnikova, Amanda Edwards, Charles Zhang",
    "Published: October 31, 2025",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229029056.001",
    "Develops a structural model of interconnected European labor markets to examine how further EU integration would impact the Western Balkan economies and how policy can improve output and employment in these countries.",
    "Model explicitly links migration responses to labor market outcomes across interconnected European economies.",
    "Productivity increases of 30 percent, similar to previous EU accession cases, would:",
    "Risks of increased emigration from further integration can be managed through promoting faster productivity growth, including through structural reforms.",
    "Promote faster productivity growth (including through structural reforms) to manage emigration risks and to support wages and employment.",
    "Improve the efficiency of the labor market across three dimensions to boost employment and support output:",
    "**Working Paper**"
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