. This paper assesses the role of structural factors and institutions in explaining the common patterns and main differences … suggests that laws and institutions such as product market regulations, unions and more coordinated wage-setting systems are …

On the face of it, Austria’s labour market performs very well, which is reflected in one of the lowest unemployment … rates in the EU. However, while many of the euro area members have recently succeeded in reducing unemployment, the Austrian …. In addition the unemployment statistics are distorted by the relatively low labour force participation of older workers …

This study poses the question about whether labour market institutions can explain unemployment rates in the ten new … European Union member states. In five out of the ten new member states, unemployment rates lie above the average in the 15 … institutions in the acceding countries are less rigid than in the EU-15. Moreover, labour market institutions explain only a minor …