"In the context of the so-called Hartz reforms, the previous unemployment assistance and the social assistance for individuals who are in need but capable of work were combined into a uniform basic benefit for those seeking employment. After a brief description of the problems associated with...

"Differences in the development of wage levels and employment between individual economies are often explained by the institutional structuring of national wage rate systems. Clamping down on wage levels leads to higher levels of employment particularly in decentralised but also in centralised...