Many welfare reforms undertaken in OECD-countries are directed towards enhancing efficiency in the administration and implementation of social security and social benefits. In this perspective the governance reforms in The Netherlands are an example of decentralisation through budgeting of means...

This paper deals with the question of regional variation in two transitions that low educated can make. The first transition is the choice between learning through versus not learning and entering the labour market. Second, if they enter the labour market, the question is whether there is a...

Main point in the current European policy debate is to find instruments that stimulate the growth rate of labour productivity. The reason for this is a persistent slowdown in labour productivity growth in European countries and an increasing gap in growth rates between the USA and Europe...

The issue whether 'jobs follow people' and/or 'people follow jobs' has recently emerged as one of the leading themes in regional and urban science. Much of the interest herein stems from alleged inconsistencies in the empirical evidence, which naturally raises questions as for the reasons why....

Gender-specific dynamics in working hours ERSA Barcelona 2011 The Dutch are part-time working champions of the world, not just because the majority of women work part-time, also a growing number of men are working part-time. However, with the aging of the population there is an increasing threat...

This foreword by Jouke van Dijk, president of ERSA, explains why ERSA is publishing REGION.

This paper analyses the response of the Dutch labour market to a regional labour demand shock. European-wide studies and US labour market studies found that in Europe adjustment to such a shock runs primarily through changes in participation, while in the US this is through migration of workers....

Cooperation and networking are important instruments and suggestions of an innovation oriented regional policy. They bring together similar, but not identical ideas, practices and problems and can therefore stimulate the creation of new ideas and consequently innovations. In this paper, we...

This special issue on "Well-being in cities and regions: measurement, analysis and policy practices" is edited by Paolo Veneri (OECD, Paris, France) and Arjen J.E. Edzes (University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands). With the exception of the editorial, all contributions to this special...