This paper investigates to what extent the tax and transfer systems in Europe protect households at different income levels against losses in current income caused by economic downturns like the present financial crisis. We use a multi country micro simulation model to analyse how shocks on...

The reduction of the high mass unemployment is on top of the political agenda in various countries. Especially low-skilled workers with low wages suffer from this mass unemployment. Therefore, we propose a basic income scheme/low wage subsidy scheme for low-skilled workers to help them find a...