On 3/20/07, Jim Devine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
which countries in Europe (1) currently have less flexible labor markets than the US but (2) have less of an unemployment problem?
Iceland and Norway? <http://stats.oecd.org/WBOS/Default.aspx?QueryName=253&QueryType=View> Unemployment Rate 2004 2005 2006 Iceland 3.1 2.6 2.9 Norway 4.5(B) 4.6 3.5 United States 5.5 5.1 4.6 <http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/country.cfm?id=Iceland> Labor Freedom - 69.9% The labor market operates under relatively flexible employment regulations that could be improved to enhance employment and productivity growth. The non-salary cost of employing a worker is moderate, and dismissing a redundant employee is not difficult. Regulations on increasing or contracting the number of work hours are rigid. <http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/country.cfm?id=Norway> Labor Freedom - 51.1% The labor market operates under restrictive employment regulations that hinder employment and productivity growth. The non-salary cost of employing a worker is moderate, but dismissing a redundant employee is relatively costly. A new Working Environment and Worker Protection Act, passed in late 2005, mainly maintains the basic principles of a 1977 Act and aims to meet the need for flexibility in employment contracts and working hour periods. <http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/country.cfm?id=UnitedStates> Labor Freedom - 92.1% The labor market operates under highly flexible employment regulations that enhance overall productivity growth. The non-salary cost of employing a worker is low, and dismissing a redundant employee is costless. -- Yoshie
