Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/36055 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 4595
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
The observation of highly regulated, but successful economies has given rise to the hypothesis of various viable models of labor market adaptability. The paper presents a quantitative indicator that tries to avoid a simplified flexibility-rigidity dichotomy and provides a detailed picture of the varying institutional configurations by which flexibility is achieved. In order to capture different patterns of flexibility, we differentiate between five types of flexibility which can be combined (external-numerical, internal-numerical, external-functional, Internal-functional, and wage flexibility). Following the dominant analytical perspective in comparative labor market research the indicator is limited to the institutional level (de jure variables). Besides institutional variables influencing external numerical flexibility (employment protection, unemployment benefit system and active labor market policies, taxation and wage setting) we include further institutions which can be assumed to influence adaptability (education, working-time arrangements and firm-specific vocational training).
Subjects: 
Labor market institutions
flexibility
indicators
JEL: 
J38
J58
J28
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
452.24 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.