Two key facts about European unemployment must be explained: the rise in unemployment since the 1960s, and the … heterogeneity of individual country experiences. While adverse shocks can potentially explain much of the rise in unemployment … institutions pre-date the rise in unemployment. Based on a panel of institutions and shocks for 20 OECD nations since 1960, we find …

In countries where wages are primarily set by collective bargaining, the effects on unemployment of changes in the … relations. In this paper, we examine the role this quality of labor relations has played in the evolution of unemployment across … relations have experienced higher unemployment. This conclusion remains even after controlling for labor institutions …