Spain’s labour market reforms: the road to employment – or to unemployment?

This working paper examines the impact of fiscal austerity on EU labour market policies. Using a case study approach, it examines: the extent of change in unemployment benefit levels and policies; the effect of this on groups of workers; and whether the logic of activation policies has shifted. Overall, the broad direction of policy has not altered... Find out more

This Working Paper critically analyses Italy’s labour market reforms of 2012 (Fornero Reform). It focuses especially on a measure designed to cut unemployment and labour-market dualism by reducing the protection against dismissal enjoyed by permanent employees. The main argument of this paper is that labour market reforms focused on promoting... Find out more

Unemployment rates in the EU rose after the economic crisis of 2008, passing 10% in 2012, but with big variations between countries. The worst afflicted had been subject to so-called policies of internal devaluation, aimed at curing unemployment by reducing wage costs. This book provides a comparative study of countries that to varying degrees... Find out more

This Working Paper maps the labour law reforms in various European countries either triggered by the crisis or introduced using the crisis – falsely – as an excuse. Such reforms generally render existing labour law provisions more flexible and loosen minimum standards, shifting the emphasis to soft law (deregulation). In some countries it consists... Find out more