A Hallmark of modern labor conomics is the close interplay between the development of theory, data sources and econometric testing. The evolution of the economic analysis of unemployment insurance provides a good illustration. New Theoretical approaches, in particular job-search theory; have...

Despite being a very hot subject in the public debate, the causes behind the increase in social assistance (SA) in the 1990s are relatively unknown. In this paper, I try to investigate if the increase is in part a result of an increase in the propensity to receive SA. Despite what is usually...

We study the Becker and Lewis (1973) quality model of children adding an explicit child care time constraint for parents. They can purchase day car e or take care of the children themselves. Our results are: (i) If there is a combination of purchased and own care, the effect of income on...

The probability of income loss depends on talent and effort. Effort has positive externalities and therefore individuals are awarded status in proportion to their perceived diligence. The social norm requires more effort from individuals perceived as more talented. But talent is private...