We use Norwegian micro-data to identify the driving forces behind unemployment spells following temporary- and permanent dismissals. The duration of unemployment spells for permanently dismissed workers is primarily explained by individual resources and economic incentives, while spell-duration...

With the aid of Norwegian register data, the paper investigates whether or not the relative unemployment propensity for the low-skilled has increased during the 1990’s. Two alternative notions of ‘low skills’ are employed; i) low education, and ii) low previous earnings, conditioned on...

Has the relative unemployment propensity for the low-skilled increased during the 1990’s? We address this question empirically, based on two notions of ‘low skills’; i) low education, and ii) low ability, conditioned on education and work experience. Ability is identified by previous...