Syllabus query



Curs Acadèmic: 2016/17

8054 - Màster Universitari en Gestió de la Immigració

32266 - Mercat Laboral i Polítiques d'Ocupació


Informació de la Guia Docent

Curs acadèmic:
2016/17
Centre acadèmic:
805 - Centre Màsters del Departament de Ciències Polítiques i Socials
Estudi:
8054 - Màster Universitari en Gestió de la Immigració
Assignatura:
32266 - Mercat Laboral i Polítiques d'Ocupació
Crèdits:
3.0
Curs:
1
Idiomes de docència:
Teoria: Grup 1: Anglès
Professorat:
Luis Maria Ortiz Gervasi
Periode d'Impartició:
Segon trimestre
Horari:

Presentació

The transition from Industrial to Post-Industrial societies has generally entailed a dilemma between unemployment and inequality. For many societies, such a dilemma has turned unemployment into a central challenge for governments. After historically revising the evolution of labour markets in Europe, the effect of globalisation and the national institutions shaping the entry into the labour market, the course will explore the determinants and levels of unemployment in comparative perspective. It will analyse different policies against unemployment and the results these policies have had. The situation of women and ethnic minorities will be especially addressed in the last two weeks of the course.

Competències associades

The aim of this course is to acquire a good knowledge of recent developments of labour markets in OECD countries and the main problems these labour markets are currently facing; to make a comparative analysis of different policies designed to cope with them; and finally to address the situation of groups that suffer from a weak position in the labour market (i.e. women and ethnic minorities). Besides, the course is aimed at making the student familiar with concepts and indicators generally used to assess labour market and employment policies

Prerequisits

Students are expected to have a reasonable knowledge of political institutions and contemporary social and economic history, attainable at any BA degree in social sciences. Besides, they are expected to read and interpret tables and graphics depicting basic statistical analyses on socioeconomic data. Such statistical analyses are the main source of empirical evidence for understanding how unemployment has evolved in OCDE countries.

 

Note: Students enrolled in the MA in Immigration Management are requested to attend a minimum of 18 hours (6 sessions). The specific sessions to attend are to be discussed with the lecturer at the beginning of the course.

Continguts

Readings marked with (*) are strongly recommended as a support reading to further understand the content of the session.

 

Session 1: Historical introduction:  From Industrial to Post-Industrial Societies. The dilemmas of current labour markets and Varieties of Capitalism

 

This session will introduce the transition from Industrial to Post-Industrial Societies and the Baumol Disease, closely associated to economic growth in services. The Baumol Disease poses a dilemma between inequality and unemployment that has been solved in three different ways by different political economies over the last decades. The seminar will discuss a possible fourth “solution”, sought by countries like Spain. Part of the session will review fundamental concepts for the course (labour market activity, unemployment, underemployment, inflation…)

Compulsory readings:

  • Streeck, W. (2011) “The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism”, New Left Review, 71: 5-29
  • Esping-Andersen, G. Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies. Oxford University Press. Chapter 6 (pp. 99-119). 

Additional readings:

  • Acemoglu, D. (2003) ‘Cross-Country Inequality Trends’, The Economic Journal, 113(485): pp.F121-F149.
  • Bernardi, F; Garrido, L. (2008) “Is There a New Service Proletariat? Post-industrial Employment Growth and Social Inequality in Spain”, European Sociological Review. 24(3): 299-313. Crouch, C. (1999) Social Change in Western Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapters 2 & 3 (pp. 53-95).
  • (*) Hall, P.; Soskice, D. (2001) "An Introduction to Varieties of Capitalism." in Varieties of Capitalism, edited by Peter A. Hall y David Soskice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (pp. 1-70)
  • Korpi, W. (2006) “Power Resources and Employer-Centered Approaches in Explanations of Welfare States and Varieties of Capitalism: Protagonists, Consenters, and Antagonists”, World Politics. 58(2): 167–206.
  • Schmidt, V.A. (2002) “Still Three Models of Capitalism? The Impact of Changing Policies and Growing Pressures on Economic Practices”, in The Futures of European Capitalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapter 3 (pp. 107-146)
  • Simmons, B., Dobbin, F., & Garrett, G. (2007) “The Global Diffusion of Public Policies: Social Construction, Coercion, Competition, or Learning?” Annual Review of Sociology, 33: 449-472.

Session 2: Occupational change: Technological change and new skills in the global economy

Technological developments at the turn of the last century are supposed to be behind changes in the occupational structure of advanced industrialized countries. What has been the main pattern of occupational change in our labour markets? What are the implications for unemployment, inequality and, ultimately, for job creation? We will revise evidence drawn from United Kingdom and United Sates. In the seminar, we will debate on the importance of eventual occupational polarization for increasing inequality in some OECD countries.

Compulsory readings:

  • (*) Goos, M. & Manning, A. (2007) ‘Lousy and Lovely Jobs: The Rising Polarization of Work in Britain’, The Review of Economics and Statistics, 89(1): 118-133
  • Mishel, L.; Bivens, J.; Gould, E.; Shierholz, H. (2012) The State of Working America (12th. Edition). Cornell University Press, Chapter 4 (Wages)

Additional readings:

  • Acemoglu,D.; Autor,D. (2011) ‘Skill, Tasks and Technologies: Implications for Employment Earnings’, in Ashenfelter,O., Card,D. (eds.) The Handbook of Labour Economics vol.4b. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 1043-1171.
  • Bernstein, J., Mishel, L. (2001) ‘Seven Reasons for Skepticism about the Technology Story of US Wage Inequality’,   in I.Berg and A.Kalleberg (eds.) Sourcebook of Labor Markets. New York: Springer, pp. 409-427
  • Gallie, D. (2007) “Production Regimes and the Quality of Employment in Europe”, Annual Review of Sociology, 33:85–104.
  • Lefter, Alexandru M., and Benjamin M. Sand. Job Polarization in the US: A Reassessment of the Evidence from the 1980s and 1990s. School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economics, Univ., 2011.

 

  • Levy, F. & Murnane, R. 2004. The New Division of Labor. How Computers are Creating the Next Job Market. Chapters 2 & 3 15-54. Russell Sage Foundation.
  • Herrigel G & Sabel CF. 1999. “Craft Production in Crisis: Industrial Restructuring in Germany during the 1990s”, in The German Skills Machine. Sustaining Comparative Advantage in a Global Economy, PD Culpepper, D Finegold (eds.), 2: 77–114. Oxford/New York: Berghahn Books.
  • Hurley, J.; Storrie, D.; Jungblut, J-M. (2011) “Shifts in the Job Structure in Europe during the Great Recession”, Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions, pp. 11-29
  • Manning, A. 2003, ‘Comment on “The patterns of job expansion in the USA” by E. O. Wright, and R. Dwyer”, Socio-Economic Review 1: 327-333.
  • Mishel, L., Schmitt, J., Shierholz,H. (2013) ‘Assessing the job polarization explanation of growing wage inequality’. Paper presented at the Labor Economics Seminar, UCLA.
  • OECD (2001) “The Characteristics and Quality of Service Sector Jobs”, OECD Employment Outloook 2001. Paris: OECD
  • Oesch, D. & Rodriguez, J. (2010) “Upgrading or Polarization? Occupational Change in Britain, Germany, Spain and Switzerland, 1990-2008”, Socio-Economic Review, 9(1): 1-29
  • Oesch, D. (2013) ‘The Scholarly Debate on Occupational Change’, Occupational Change in Europe. Oxford: OUP.
  • Spitz-Oener, A. (2006) “Technical Change, Job Tasks, and Rising Educational Demands: Looking outside the Wage Structure”, Journal of Labor Economics 24, 2: 235-270.
  • (*) Wright, E. O. & Dwyer, R. 2003. “The Patterns of Job Expansions in the USA: A Comparison of the 1960s and 1990s”. Socio-Economic Review 1: 289-325.

Session 3: Globalisation: offshoring, immigration and monetary unions

There are different dimensions for the analysis of globalization: internationalization of trade, immigration, offshoring and internationalization of financial markets. In the first part of the session we will analyse evidence on the effect of immigration and offshoring on levels and shares of employment among native workers. During the seminar, we will discuss the effect of internationalization of capital, with a particular focus on central banks and monetary unions.

Compulsory readings:

  • Rodrick, D. (2011) “The Political Trilemma of the World Economy”, in The Globalization Paradox. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chapter 9  (pp.184-206)
  • Stiglitz, J. (2000) ‘Capital Market Liberalization, Economic Growth, and Instability’, World Development, 28(6): 1075-1086

Additional readings:

  • Armingeon, K.; Baccaro, L. (2012) “Political Economy of the Sovereign Debt Crisis: The Limits of Internal Devaluation”, Industrial Law Journal, 41(3): 254-275.
  • Bertola, G. (2008) “Labour Markets in EMU”, Paper for the European Commission DG Economics and Finance
  • Amiti, M.; Wei, S.-J. (2005) ‘Fear of Service Outsourcing. Is it Justified’, Economic Policy 20(42): 308-347
  • Borjas, G.; Freeman,R.; Katz,L. (1997) ‘How much do immigration and trade affect labour market outcomes?’, Brookings Papers on Economic Activity 1: 1-90.
  • Card, D. (2001) ‘Immigrant Inflows, Native Outflows, and the Local Market Impacts of Higher Immigration’, Journal of Labor Economics 19(1): 22-64
  • Bucholz, S. et al. (2009) “Life Courses in the Globalization Process: The Development of Social Inequalities in Modern Societies”, European Sociological Review, 25(1): 53-71
  • Foged, M. & Peri, M. (2015) ‘Immigrants Effect on Native Workers: New Analysis on Longitudinal Data’, IZA Discussion Paper No.8961
  • Freeman, R. (1995) “Are Your Wages Set in Beijing?”, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 9(3): 15-32
  • Krugman, P. (1997) “Trade, jobs and wages”, in Pop Internationalism. Chap.3: 35-48.
  • ILO (2012) “Eurozone Job Crisis: Trends and Policy Responses”, Geneve: ILO (Studies on Growth with Equity)
  • Millberg, W.; Winkler, D. (2009) ‘Financialisation and the dynamics of offshoring in the US’, Cambridge Journal of Economics 39(1):
  • OECD (2008) “Do Multinationals Promote Better Pay and Working Conditions?” in OECD Employment Outlook, Chapter 5:
  • (*) Ottaviano, G., Peri, G., Wright, G. (2010) “Immigration, Offshoring and American Jobs”, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Discussion Paper, No. 8078.
  • Rodrick, D. (2000) “How Far Will International Economic Integration Go?”, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 14(1): 177-186
  • Stiglitz, J. (2002) “Development policies in a world of globalization”, paper presented at the seminar ‘New International Trends for Economic Development’, Rio de Janeiro, 12-13 2002.
  • Wood, A. (1995) ‘How Trade Hurt Unskilled Workers?’, The Journal of Economic Perspectives 9(3): 57-80

Session 4: Institutions (1): collective bargaining: the relationship between coordination/centralization and unemployment, and how it is modified by the internationalisation of the economy and monetary unions.

Coming down to institutional factors explaining cross-national differences in unemployment, there is first collective bargaining and union density. This session will deal with the effect of centralization and coordination of collective bargaining on unemployment. It will enrich the first debates on this topic with amendments made due to increasing exposure of the economies to international markets and the effect of central banks. During the seminar, we will discuss how the EMU has affected collective bargaining in member countries

Compulsory readings:

  • Johnston, A., Hancké, B., Pant, S. (2014) ‘Comparative Institutional Advantage in the European Sovereign Debt Crisis’, Comparative Political Studies 47(13): 1771-1800
  • Traxler, F.; Brandl, B. (2009) “Towards Europeanization of Wage Policy. Germany and the Nordic Countries”, European Union Politics, 10(2): 177-201.

Additional readings:

  • Baccaro, L., Simoni, M. (2010) ‘Organizational Determinants of Wage Moderation’, World Politics 62(4): 594-635.
  • Baccaro, L., Howell, C. (2011) ‘A Common Neoliberal Trajectory: The Transformation of Industrial Relations in Advanced Capitalism’, Politics & Society, 39(4): 521-563
  • Calmfors, L.; Drifill, J. (1988) “Bargaining Structure, Corporatism and Macroenomic Performance”, Economic Policy, 6: 13-61.
  • Calmfors, L., Booth, A., Burda, M., Checchi, L., Naylor, R. & Visser, J. (2001) “Bargaining Structure and Macroeconomic Performance” in Boeri, T., Brugiavini, A. and Calmfors, L. (eds.) The Role of Unions in Twenty-First Century. Oxford: Oxford University Press: pp. 86-114.
  • Checchi, D.; Lucifora, C. (2002) “Unions and Labour Market Institutions in Europe”, in Economic Policy, 17(35): 361-408.
  • Hancké, B. & Rhodes, M. (2005) “EMU and Labour Market Institutions in Europe: The Rise and Fall of National Social Pacts”, Work and Occupations 32(2): 196-228.
  • (*) Iversen, T. (1999) Contested Economic Institutions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chap. 3 (“Economic Institutions and Performance”) and Chap. 4 (“A Theory of Contested Institutions”): pp. 47-90 and 93-106.
  • Iversen, T. (2001) “The Choices for Scandinavian Social Democracy in Comparative Perspective”, in Andrew Glyn (ed.) Social Democracy in Neoliberal Times. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Traxler, F. (2003) “Bargaining (De)centralization, Economic Performance and Control over the Employment Relationship”, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 41(1): 1-27
  • Visser, J. (2005) “Beneath the Surface of Stability: New and Old Modes of Governance in European Industrial Relations”, European Journal of Industrial Relations 11(3): 287-306
  • Visser, J.; Checchi, D. (2009) “Inequality and the Labour Market”, in Oxford Handbook on Economic Inequality, Chap.10.

Session 5: Institutions (2): systems of education: the effectiveness of education systems in granting a good access to the labour market

The second institutional cluster at the national level theoretically affecting unemployment at entry into the labour market is the system of education. The session will explain the traits of the systems of education and training that are relevant for explaining youth unemployment and temporary employment. As a result, regional patterns of labour-market entry will be discerned, and the peculiarities of the Southern European ones will be exposed.

Compulsory readings:

  • Bol, Thijs; van de Werfhorst, Herman (2014) ‘Educational systems and the Trade-Off between Labor Market Allocation and Equality of Educational Opportunity’, Comparative Education Review, 57(2)
  • Torche, F. (2011) “Is a College Degree Still the Great Equalizer? Intergenerational Mobility across Levels of Schooling in the United States”, American Journal of Sociology, 117(3): 763-807
  • De Witte, K. (2013) “The Impact of Institutional Context, Education and Labour Market Policies on Early School Leaving: a comparative analysis of EU countries”, European Journal of Education¸ 48(3): 336-345.

Additional readings:

  • Biavaschi, C. et al. (2012) “Youth Unemployment and Vocational Training”, IZA Working Papers, No. 6890: pp.1-31
  • Breen, R.; Jonsson, J. (2007) ‘Explaining Change in Social Fluidity: Educational Equalization and Educational Expansion in Twentieth-Century Sweden”, American Journal of Sociology, 112(6): 1775-1810.
  • Brunello, G.; Checchi, D. (2007) “School tracking and equality of opportunity”, Economic Policy 22(52): 781-861.
  • Dietrich, H. (2012) “Youth Unemployment in Europe: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Findings”, Berlin: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
  • Gangl.M. (2002) ‘Changing labour markets and early career outcomes: labour market entry in Europe over the past decade’, Work, Employment and Society, 16(1): 67-90
  • Ianelli, C. & Soro-Bonmatí, A. (2003) “The Transition from School-to-Work in Southern Europe: The Cases of Italy and Spain” in Müller, W. & Gangl, M. (eds.) Chap.8 (pp. 212-250)
  • Müller, W. (2005) “Education and Youth Integration into European Labour Markets”, International Journal of Comparative Sociology, 46(5-6): 461-485
  • Quintini, G., Martin, J.P., Martin, S. (2007) “The Changing Nature of the School-to-Work Transition Process in OECD countries”, IZA Working Papers, No.2007/2582
  • (*) Van de Velden, R.; Wolbers, M. (2003) “The Integration of Young People into the Labour Market: The Role of Training Systems and Labour Market Regulation”, in Walter Müller and Markus Gangl (eds.) Transitions from Education to Work in Europe. Oxford: OUP, Chap.7 (pp.186-211).
  • Van de Werfhorst, H. (2011) “Skill and Education Effects on Earnings in 18 Countries: The role of national education institutions”, Social Science Research, 40: 1078-1090.

Session 6: Flexibility and employment regulation

From the 1970s onwards, different types of flexibility have been advocated for companies and national economies in order to cope with increasing market uncertainty. We will discuss the extent to which different types of flexibility are compatible. The ‘flexicurity’ model, followed by Denmark and The Netherlands and very much praised during the last decades, will receive special attention. At the seminar we will discuss if numerical flexibility (a reduction of EPL) leads to job creation; and whether temporary contracts are stepping-stones to permanent employment or dead-end jobs.

Compulsory readings:

  • Baranowska, A.; Gebel, M. (2010) “The Determinants of Youth Temporary Employment in the Enlarged Europe”, European Societies, 12(3): 367-390.
  • Esping-Andersen, G. (2000) “Who is harmed by labour market regulations? Quantitative Evidence” in Esping-Andersen, G. and Regini, M. (eds.) (op.cit): 66-98.

Additional readings:

  • Carlin, W.; Soskice, D. (2009) ‘German Economic Performance: Disentangling the Role of Supply-Side Reforms, Macroeconomic Policy and Coordinated Economy Institutions’, Socio-Economic Review, 7(1): 67-99
  • Boeri, T.; Conde-Ruiz, J.I.; Galasso, V. (2012) ‘The Political Economy of Flexicurity’, Journal of the European Economic Association, 10(4): 684-715
  • Esping-Andersen, G. and Regini, M. (2000) “Conclusions”, in Esping-Andersen, G. and Regini, M. (eds.) Why deregulate labour markets? Oxford: Oxford University Press: pp. 336-341.
  • Gangl, M. (2003) “The Only Way is Up? Employment Protection and Job Mobility among Recent Entrants to European Labour Markets”, European Sociologial Review 19(5): 429-449.
  • Gebel, M., Giesecke, J. (2011) ‘Labour Market Flexibility: The Changing Skill-Based Temporary Employment and Unemployment Risks in Europe’, Social Forces 90(1): 17-39
  • Hipp, L., Bernhardt, J., Allmendinger, J. (2015) ‘Institutions and the prevalence of nonstandard employment’, Socio-Economic Review 1-27
  • Kalleberg, A. (2000) “Nonstandard employment relations: part-time, temporary and contract work” Annual Review of Sociology 26: 341-365
  • Madsen, P.K. (2002) “The Danish model of flexicurity: A paradise with some snakes”, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Brussels http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/working/employment/documents/madsen.pdf
  • Nickell, S. (1997) ‘Unemployment and Labor Market Rigidities: Europe versus North America, The Journal of Economic Perspectives 11(3): 55-74
  • Noelke, C. (2011) “The Consequences of Employment Protection Legislation for Youth Labour Market”, MZES Working Paper 2011/144.
  •  (*) Muffels, R. and Luijkx, R. (2008) ‘Labour market mobility and employment security of male employees in Europe: ‘Trade-off’ or ‘Flexicurity’’ Work, Employment & Society 22(2): 221-242.
  • (*) Polavieja, J. (2005) “Flexibility or polarization? Temporary employment and job tasks in Spain”, Socio-Economic Review 3(2): 233-258
  • Siebert, H. (1997) ‘Labour Market Rigidities: At the Root of Unemployment in Europe’, The Journal of Economic Perspectives 11(3): 37:54.
  • Viebrock, E.; Clasen, J. (2009) “Flexicurity and Welfare Reform: A Review”, Socio-Economic Review  7(2): 305-331.

Session 7: Labour market segmentation

We will discuss the risk or labour market segmentation entailed when flexibility is introduced at the margin of the labour market.

Compulsory readings (Option A):

  • Polavieja, J. (2006) “The Incidence of Temporary Employment in Advanced Economies: Why Spain is Different?” European Sociological Review, 22(1): 61-78.
  • Bentolila, S.; Dolado, J.J.; Jimeno,J.F. (2012) “Reforming and Insider-Outsider Labor Market: The Spanish Experience”, FEDEA Working Papers, No.2012-01.

Compulsory readings (Option B):

  • Booth, A., Francesconi, M. and Frank, J. (2002) “Temporary jobs: stepping stones or dead ends?” The Economic Journal, 112: 189-213
  • Scherer, S. (2004) “Stepping-stones or traps? The consequences of labour market entry positions on future careers in West Germany, Great Britain and Italy” Work, Employment & Society 18(2): 369-394
  • Güell, M.; Petrongolo, B. (2007) “How Binding are Legal Limits? Transitions from temporary to permanent jobs in Spain”, Labour Economics, 14: 153-183

Additional readings:

  • Bentolila, S.; Cahuc, P.; Dolado, J.J.; Le Barbachon, T. (2012) “Two-Tier Labour Markets in the Great Recession: France versus Spain”, The Economic Journal 122(562): 155-187.
  • Gebel, M., Giesecke, J. (2011) ‘Labour Market Flexibility and Inequality: The Changing Skill-Based Temporary Employment and Unemployment Risks in Europe’, Social Forces, 90(1): 17-39.
  • Giesecke, J.; GroS, M. (2003) “Temporary Employment: Chance or Risk?” European Sociological Review 19(2): 161-177.
  • Fernández-Abertos, J.; Manzano, D. (2008) “Business and Labor Market Policies”, CEACS Working Papers 2008/237
  • Häusermann, S.; Schwander, H. (2010) “Varieties of Dualisation? Labor Market Segmentation and Insider Outsider Divides across Regimes”, Paper presented for the Conference ‘The Dualisation of European Societies’, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, January 14th.-16th. 2010.
  • Schwander, H., Häusermann, S. (2013) ‘Who is in and who is out? A risk-based conceptualization of insiders and outsiders’, Journal of European Social Policy 1-22
  • Hassel, A. (2012) “The Paradox of Liberalization – Understanding Dualism and the Recovery of the German Political Economy”, British Journal of Industrial Relations, forthcoming.
  • (*) Lindbeck, A. & Snower, D.J. (2001) “Insiders versus Outsiders”, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 15(1): 165-188
  • Mertens, A.; Gash, V.; McGinnity, F. (2007) “The Cost of Flexibility at the Margin. Comparing the Wage Penalty for Fixed-Term Contracts in Germany and Spain using Quantile Regression”, Labour, 24(4-5), 637-666.

Session 8: Passive labour market policies: advantages and disadvantages of coping with unemployment after it happen.

Passive labour market policies (PLMP) have not become extremely popular from the 1980s onwards. Yet, they may be advocated, not just on the grounds of limiting inequality and preserving social cohesion, but because of their positive effect on promoting employers’ and employees’ human capital investment and preventing the ‘scarring effect’ produced by spells of unemployment.

Compulsory readings:

  • Gangl, M. (2004) “Welfare states and the scar effects of unemployment: A comparative analysis of the United States and West Germany”, American Journal of Sociology, 109(6): 1319-1364
  • Nickell, S. (1997) “Unemployment and Labor Market Rigidities: Europe versus North America”, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 11(3): 55-74.

Additional readings:

  • Boeri, T.; Conde-Ruiz, J.I.; Galasso, V. (2012) ‘The Political Economy of Flexicurity’, Journal of the European Economic Association, 10(4): 684-715
  • Dieckhoff, M. (2011) “The Effect of Unemployment on Subsequent Job Quality in Europe: A Comparative Study of Four Countries”, Acta Sociologica, 54(3): 233-249.
  • (*) Estevez-Abe, M., Iversen, T., Soskice, D. (2001) “Social protection and skill formation: A reinterpretation of the welfare state”, in Hall & Soskice (eds.) Varieties of Capitalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press: pp. 145-183.
  • Gordon, J. (2015) ‘Protecting the unemployed: varieties of unionism and the evolution of unemployment benefits and active labour market policy in rich democracies’, Socio-Economic Review 13(1): 79-99
  • OECD (2009) “Income support for the unemployed: How well has the safety-net held up during the ‘Great Recession’?”, OECD Employment Outlook 2009, Chap.1
  • OECD (2012) “Elegibility criteria for unemployment benefits”, OECD Social, Employment and Migration papers, No.31. OECD: Paris.
  • Pollmann-Schult, M.; Büchel, F. (2005) “Unemployment Benefits, Unemployment Duration and Subsequent Job Quality”, Acta Sociologica, 48(1): 21-39
  • Sjöberg, O. (2000) “Unemployment and Unemployment Benefits in the OECD 1960-1990: An Empirical Test of Neo-Classical Economic Theory”, Work, Employment & Society, 14(1): 51-76.
  • Venn, D. (2012) “Eligibility Criteria for Unemployment Benefits: Quantitative Indicators for OECD and EU Countries”, OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, No.131.

Session 9: Active labour market policies

Active labour market policies (ALMP) have come to the forefront of the political debate, as a more efficient solution than PLMP for the endemic problem of unemployment some post-industrial societies are facing since the 1970s. We will discuss the different philosophies and types of ALMP; the problems for evaluating these policies and which of them seem to be more effective in coping with unemployment. During the seminar we will discuss to what extent permanent employees (insiders) are interested in promoting ALMP.

Compulsory readings:

  • Emmeneger, P. (2009) “Barriers to Entry: Insider/Outsider Politics and the Political Determinants of Job Security Regulations”, Journal of European Social Policy 19(2): 131-146.
  • Rueda, D. (2014) “Dualization, Crisis and the Welfare State”, Socio-Economic Review 12(2): 381-407

Additional readings:

  • Card, D., Kluve, J., Weber, A. (2010) ‘Active Labour Market Policy Evaluations: A Meta-Analysis’, The Economic Journal 120(548): F452-457.
  • Esping-Andersen, G. & Bison, I. (2000) "Unemployment, Welfare Regime and Income Packaging" in Welfare Regimes and the Experience of Unemployment in Europe, edited by Duncan Gallie y Serge Paugam. Oxford: Oxford University Press: pp. 69-86
  • (*) Gallie, D. (2004) "Unemployment, Marginalization Risks, and Welfare Policy" in Resisting Marginalization. Unemployment Experience and Social Policy in the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press: pp. 1-33
  • Kluve, J. (2006) “The Effectiveness of European Active Labor Market Policy” IZA Discussion Paper No. 2018
  • (*) Martin, J.P. (2000) “What works among active labour market policies: evidence from OECD countries’ experiences”, OECD Economic Studies 30, 2000/1
  • Rueda, D. (2006) “Social Democracy and Active Labour-Market Policies: Insiders, Outsiders and the Politics of Employment Promotion”, 36(3): 385-406

Session 10: Unemployment: cross-national variation, institutional and political determinants

The final session of the seminar will revise different cross-national studies that have assessed the relative weight of the different factors so far analysed in the course: Which one of them is more decisive in explaining cross-national differences in unemployment? What makes somebody more at risk of falling into unemployment? And why are some countries more prone to generate unemployment when economic growth slows down?

Compulsory readings:

  • Baccaro, L.; Rei, D. (2007) “Institutional Determinants of Unemployment in OECD Countries: Does the Regulatory View Hold Water?” International Organization 61(3): 527-569
  • Nickell, S.; Nunziata, L.; Ochel, W. (2005) “Unemployment in the OECD since the 1960s. What do we know?”, The Economic Journal, 115: 1-27.

Additional readings:

  • (*) Bradley D. H. & Stephens, J. D. (2007) “Employment Performance in OECD Countries. A Test of Neoliberal and Institutionalist Hypotheses.” Comparative Political Studies, 40(12): 1486-1510.
  • Breen, R. (2005) “Explaining cross-national variation in youth unemployment”, European Sociological Review, 21(2): 125-134.
  • Blanchard, O. (2006) “European unemployment: the evolution of facts and ideas”, Economic Policy 34: 8-65.3
  • Clasen, J.; Clegg, D.; Kvist, J. (2012) “European Labour Market Policies in (the) Crisis”, European Trade Union Institute, Working Papers, 2012/12
  • De Lange, M., Gesthuizen, M., Wolbers, M. (2014) ‘Youth labour market integration across Europe: the impact of cyclical, structural and institutional characteristics’, European Societies 16(2): 194-212
  • Eichhorst, W.; Escudero, V.; Marx, P.; Tobin, Steven (2010) “The Impact of the Crisis on Employment and the Role of Labour Market Institutions”, IZA Working Papers, No. 5320
  • Kahn, L.M. (2012) “Labor Market Policy: A Comparative View on the Costs and Benefits of Labor Market Flexibility”, Journal of Public Policy Analysis and Management 31(1): 94-110.
  • Oesch, Daniel (2010) “What explains high unemployment among low-skilled workers? Evidence from 21 OECD countries”, European Journal of Industrial Relations, 16(1): 39-55

Session 11: Gender

Although not strictly considered as labour market policies, family-friendly policies may stimulate employment creation and labour market activity, besides promoting gender equality in the labour market. To a great extent, future perspectives of employment generation in a service (post-industrial) society depend upon female labour market activity. This session will deal with the gender gap in employment, atypical employment and earnings in cross-national perspective. It will also evaluate different policies that might improve all these indicators.

Compulsory readings: (to be determined)

 

Additional readings:

  • Blau, Francine D., y Lawrence M. Kahn. 2000. "Gender differences in Pay." Journal of Economics Perspective 14:75-99.
  • Blossfeld, H.-P.; Hofmeister, H. (2006) Globalization, Uncertainty and Women’s Careers. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, Chaps. 1,2 & 17
  • Blau, F. Ferber, M and Winkler, A. 2001. The Economics of Women, Men and Work. (Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 11)
  • Del Boca, Daniela, y Marilena Locatelli. 2006. "The determinants of motherhood and work status: a survey." CHILD working papers 15/2006.
  • Esping-Andersen, G. (2009) The Incomplete Revolution. Adapting to Women’s New Roles.  Polity (Chapters 1 & 3. Pp. 1-5, 76-110).
  • Gornick, J.C.; Meyers, M.K.; Ross, K.E. (1997) “Supporting the Employment of Mothers: Policy Variation Across Fourteen Welfare States”, Journal of European Social Policy, 7(1): 45-70
  • Hakim, C. (1996) Key Issues in Women’s Work: Female Heterogeneity and the Polarisation of Women's Employment. London: Athlone/Continuum Press. Chapter 6.
  • Mandel,H.; Semyonov,M. (2005) “A Welfare State Paradox: State Interventions and Women’s Employment Opportunities in 22 Countries”, ISA Research Committee on Social Stratification and Mobility, Los Angeles, August 2005.
  • OECD (2002) Employment Outlook. Paris: OECD (Chapter 2: “Women at Work”)
  • Polavieja, Javier G. (2005) "Task Specificity and the Gender Wage Gap: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Analysis of the Spanish Survey on

Session 12: Ethnic minorities

The session will deal with the structural, economic and institutional causes of ethnic labour market lack of integration in host countries. Among other questions, we will discuss the effect of immigration over natives’ labour market prospects and welfare provision.

Compulsory readings:

  • van Tubergen, F., H. Flap, y I. Maas. 2004. "The Economic Incorporation of Immigrants in 18 Western Societies: Origin, Destination, and Community Effects." American Journal of Sociology 69: 704-727.
  • Algan, Y., Dustmann, C., Glitz, A., Manning, A. (2010) ‘The Economic Situation of First- and Second-Generation Immigrants in France, Germany and The United Kingdom’, The Economic Journal 120(542): F4-F30

Additional readings:

  • Bernardi, F. (2011) ‘The Recent Fast Upsurge of Immigrants in Spain and Their Employment Patters and Occupational Attainment’, International Migration, 49(1): 148-187.
  • Heath A. F., Rothon, C. & Kilpi, E. (2008) ‘The Second Generation in Western Europe: Education, Unemployment, and Occupational Attainment’, Annual Review of Sociology, 34: 211–35.
  • Kogan, I. (2006) ‘Labor Markets and Economic Incorporation among Recent Immigrants in Europe’, Social Forces, 85(2), 697-721.
  • Moreno, F.J. (2004) ‘The Evolution of Immigration Policies in Spain. Between External Constraints and Domestic Demand for Unskilled Labour’ Estudios/Working Paper 2004/211.
  • OECD (2003) OECD Economic Surveys – Spain. Chapter 4: ‘The Economic Impact of Migration’, pp.127-140.
  • Waldinger, Roger D. (1990) Ethnic Entrepreneurs: Immigrant Business in Industrial Societies. Newbury Park: Sage. 

Metodologia docent

Each session will be divided into two parts. First, the lecturer will present the main debates and empirical evidence on the topic dealt with in the session; then, there will be a seminar or discussion dealing with the readings marked as compulsory. A question for discussion will be provided for each seminar. This question should guide and focus the readings for the seminar.

Along with the lectures and seminars, the students are expected to make a brief research either on a country of their choice or on a topic of their choice. As regards the first option, the research is expected to explore the level and characteristics of unemployment in the selected country, comparing it with another country and a group of countries (OECD, European Union, European Monetary Union...) where both countries are included. Guided by the lecturer, they will analyse levels of labour market activity and unemployment by gender, age, educational attainment and ethnic origin; they will critically revise the policies implemented in that country to cope with its problems of unemployment or inactivity; finally, they will make policy recommendations.

Alternatively, the student may choose a research question for any of the topics treated along the course. The lecturer will end his lectures with a number of recommended research questions for the topic. The student may choose one of them for the final essay of the course.

This case of study is to be submitted at the end of the course.  

Avaluació

Student’s performance will be assessed on the basis of the case study mentioned above and his/her performance at the seminars held on the second half of each session. The case study will mean 85% of the final mark; seminars will mean 15% of the mark. 

Bibliografia i recursos d'informació

7.1. Basic references

  • Appelbaum, E. (2012) “Reducing Inequality and Insecurity: Rethinking Labor and Employment Policy for the 21st. Century”, Work and Occupations, 39(4): 311-320.
  • Bermeo, N. (ed.) (2001) Unemployment in the New Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Blossfeld, H-P; Mills, M.; Bernardi, F. (eds.) (2006) Globalization, Uncertainty and Men’s Careers.  Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
  • Blossfeld, H-P; Klijzing, E..; Mills,M.; Kurz,K. (eds.) (2006) Globalization, Uncertainty and Youth in Society. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
  • Bradley D. H. & Stephens, J. D. (2007) “Employment Performance in OECD Countries. A Test of Neoliberal and Institutionalist Hypotheses.” Comparative Political Studies, 40(12): 1486-1510.
  • Esping-Andersen, G. Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies. Oxford University Press.
  • Esping-Andersen, G.; Regini, M. (eds.) Why Deregulate Labour Markets? Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Gallie, D. (ed.) (2007) Employment Regimes and the Quality of Work. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Hall, P.; Soskice, D. (eds.) (2001) Varieties of Capitalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press
  • Kalleberg, A. (2011) Good Jobs, Bad Jobs. Russell Sage Foundation.
  • Lindbeck, A.; Snower, D.J. (1988) The Insider-Outsider Theory of Employment and Unemployment. Cambridge (MA.): MIT Press.
  • Müller, W.; Gangl. M. (eds.) Transitions from Education to Work in Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Oesch, Daniel (2013) Occupational Change in Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Pres
  • Polavieja, J. (2005) “Flexibility or polarization? Temporary employment and job tasks in Spain”, Socio-Economic Review 3(2): 233-258
  • Rueda, D. (2007) Social Democracy Inside Out. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

7.2. Other resources

The resources for the course are, on the one hand, the readings to be discussed in each of the seminars held along the course. These readings will be made available to the students on-line and will appear in a syllabus also made public to them the beginning of the course. On the other hand, students are expected to use the following statistical databases to gather empirical evidence for the written research (essay) mentioned above:

These databases are expected to provide students with evidence on the levels of unemployment in the country they have selected for their research, the policies designed to cope with it and the incidence of unemployment among the groups (women, ethnic minorities) more vulnerable to unemployment.

Besides these on-line databases, there are websites of special interest for the course: