We extend the standard quality-ladder model with heterogeneous workers by including efficiency wages and unions. We find that higher union bargaining power leads to a negative relationship between growth and unemployment. An increase in the supply of human capital, however, on the one hand...

Unemployment is still the most pressing economic problem in Europe. It is consensus among most economists that the major fraction of the unemployment problem is not caused by short term business cycle factors, but is caused by structural problems. Thus, unemployment in Europe is a long term...