This guide provides an analysis of past trade agreements, set within the context of developments in international economic relations. It shows that there can be gains from more trade and economic integration, but that there have also been losers.There are clear dangers to economic and social...

This paper investigates flexibility strategies of automobile producers in nine assembly subsidiaries in three Central and Eastern Europe Countries (CEECs). The organization of employment flexibility is an important concern for car makers, as well as for their employees. In CEECs, employment...

The aims of this report are threefold. The first is to map how much information can be obtained on the labour markets in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in order to proceed with analyzing the labour market policies and the growth models in the region. Secondly, while some comparative data can...

This working paper looks at recent structural reforms of the Spanish labour market and evaluates them against the government's stated objectives to reduce unemployment.It concludes that the labour market flexibilisation approach has not helped to reduce unemployment, nor has it contributed to...

This new working paper explores why there is a persistent wage gap between western Europe and the new EU Member States of eastern and central Europe. Why is it still the case that after 27 years of transition from state socialism and 14 years of EU membership the closing of the gap in living...

This paper analyses policy responses to the financial and economic crisis in the central east European countries. The crisis raised the profile of economic policy themes that relate to the role of taxation and state spending. The key policy differences related to public budgets and support for a...