In the context of the so-called Hartz reforms, the previous unemployment assistance and the social assistance for individuals who are in need but capable of work were combined into a uniform basic benefit for those seeking employment. After a brief description of the problems associated with the...

This paper summarizes the findings of studies which investigate the determinants of wages in Germany, using data of the German Socioeconomic Panel (GSOEP). The empirical analyses apply least squares estimates as well as the estimators developed by Altonji and Shakotko, Rev. Econ. Stud. 54, 437...

Die gesamtwirtschaftliche Lage, die zum Zeitpunkt der Erstellung der vorliegenden Version der Beschäftigungsprognose für Österreich und die Bundesländer vorherrscht, ist von mehreren Sonderfaktoren geprägt. Zum einen führte die weltweite Covid-19-Pandemie zu großen wirtschaftlichen...

The article describes (concentrates on the description of) the employment development and social problems related to labour market situation in Poland during the transition period (before the EU accession). It consists of four parts. The first gives an overview of basic tendencies in labour...

The insider-outsider theory is one of the approaches with which the persistence of unemployment can be accounted for. The central hypothesis says that the insiders, in other words the 'job holders', drive the wage level above the market-clearing level, thus creating a barrier that prevents new...

The paper explores wage setting practice in eastern Germany since unification. It gathers evidence to support the claim that economically non-viable collective agreements have fostered decentralized wage setting. First, we document the declining organization rates of both employers and...

This study uses recent data taken from the German Socio-Economic Panel (2002-2006) to evaluate the extent of and heterogeneity in returns to tenure for men in eastern and western Germany, employed in both the private and the public sector. We find significantly different wage patterns in eastern...

Using unique personnel data from one Russian firm for the years 1997 to 2002 we study the size, development and determinants of the gender earnings gap in an internal labor market during late transition. The estimated gender earnings gap at the firm level falls from about 38 percent in 1997 to...

In this paper we address the question as to whether and to what extent workers in atypical employment are affected by low wages (below two-thirds of the hourly median wage). Our analysis is based on quantitative data (using the GSOEP) and on qualitative interviews at establishment level in...