"This paper investigates the selectivity of vocational training courses on Germany's labor market. We consider the case of a special program ('IFlaS'), which provides vocational training for low-skilled unemployed. The program aims at alleviating the foreseeable shortage of skilled workers in...

"During the recession of 2008-09 Germany experienced a huge decrease in GDP. Employment, however, remained surprisingly stable. The so-called German labor market miracle is often ascribed to the intensive usage of short-time work. Despite the resurgence of this instrument, little is known about...

"In theoretical trade models with variable markups and collective wage bargaining, export exposure may reduce the exporter wage premium. We test this prediction using linked German employer-employee data from 1996 to 2007. To separate the rent-sharing mechanism from assortative matching, we...

"This paper examines the joint impact of international trade and technical change on U.K. wages across different skill groups. International trade is measured as changes in product prices and technical change as total factor productivity (TFP) growth. We take account of a multi-sector and...

"Further vocational training for the unemployed aims at enhancing their job prospects. This paper analyses the effectiveness of such subsidized training programmes for means-tested unemployment benefit recipients in Germany. The empirical findings are based on rich administrative data of the...

"This paper deals with the medium-term effects of job mobility on the average wage growth of job movers in East Germany. The analysis is based on all employees subject to social insurance contributions working in East Germany in 2004. Using a statistical matching procedure combined with a...

"For many years there have been lively debates about the integration of women in the labour market, especially in terms of equality between women and men or the integration of women in management positions. In 2008 the data from the IAB Establishment Panel (Fischer et al. 2009) shed light on the...

"The pilot project 'Berliner Joboffensive' (BJO) aimed at increasing the number of labor market integrations of individuals receiving means-tested unemployment benefits II (also known as Hartz IV) by intensified counseling and assistance. To this end, the caseload of 650 caseworkers in twelve...

"The major research contribution of this paper is an analysis of the selection processes in active labor market programs. Using findings from existing literature and expert interviews with job placement officers we define a realistic selection process ranging from the registration of...

"This paper explores whether wage, employment and tenure outcomes of workers taking up a job subsidized by the German Federal Employment Agency differ by industry. The analysis utilizes administrative data and statistical matching techniques; it covers an observation period of 3.5 years. First,...