Both proximity-concentration trade-off and factor proportions explanations have been forwarded to explain the existence of multinational enterprises. This paper analyses to what extent these different explanations are supported empirically, in making a first attempt to distinguish explicitly...

This paper analyses the effects of non-tariff barriers, in terms of both variable and fixed export costs, on trade structure. The relationship between fixed and variable trade costs determines whether international trade emerges. If trade emerges, only variable, but not fixed export costs,...

The European price landscape is characterised by significant price differences among regions and countries for quasi-identical goods. Possible explanations include transport costs, tariffs and non-tariff barriers, market structure, etc? While the introduction of the single European currency...

Economists agree at least on this: it is difficult to find evidence for, or merely to imagine any growth mechanism that does not work through the increase of a stock of capital in one way or another. From a more policy point of view - in particular in terms of the debate of economic development...

We analyse the use of short-time work (STW) by Luxembourg firms during the years of economic and financial crisis (2008-2009) and the subsequent European sovereign debt crisis (2010-2013). The economic and financial crisis saw a surge in the number of firms using short-time work. We find that...

We analyse the use of active labour market policy (ALMP) measures by Luxembourg firms during the years of economic and financial crisis (2008-2009) and the subsequent European sovereign debt crisis (2010-2013). About 34% of Luxembourg firms used ALMPs between 2008 and 2013. Economy-wide, the use...

Using firm-level data from a large-scale European survey among 20 countries, we analyse the determinants of firms using short-time work (STW). We show that firms are more likely to use STW in case of negative demand shocks. We show that STW schemes are more likely to be used by firms with high...