This paper describes the relationship between central bank interest rates and exchange rates under a capital control regime. Higher interest rates may strengthen the currency by inducing owners of local currency assets not to sell local currency offshore. There is also an effect that goes in the...

OECD unemployment rates show long swings which dominate shorter business cycle components and these long swings show a range of common patterns. Using a panel of 21 OECD countries 1960-2002, we estimate the common factor that drives unemployment by the first principal component. This factor has...

The Nordic countries are known for their success in combining an extensive welfare state with high labor force participation. This is explained by the origins and organization of their welfare states, which can be traced to a set of values and beliefs that emphasize the right of women to...

This paper attempts to explain the role of capital inflows in creating economic booms and busts in a small open economy with sovereign currency. We develop a stock–flow consistent (SFC) model for a small open economy while relying on the experience of the Icelandic crisis. We demonstrate the...

Der Ansatz favorisiert befristete Lohnkostenzuschüsse für neu eingestellte Langzeitarbeitslose bzw. für gering qualifizierte Arbeitslose. Diese sollen Arbeitgebern in Form von Einstellungsgutscheinen gewährt werden. Von der gezielten Reduzierung der Arbeitskosten versprechen sich die Autoren...

This paper describes the practical implementation of hiring vouchers in Germany. According to our proposal, employers receive vouchers for hiring long-term unemployed, low-ability workers. Thereby labor costs are reduced for a limited period of time. The size of the vouchers increases with the...