Evidence-based policy making
IZA World of Labor is an online platform that provides policy analysts, journalists, academics and society generally with relevant and concise information on labor market issues. Based on the latest research, it provides current thinking on labor markets worldwide in a clear and accessible style. IZA World of Labor aims to support evidence-based policy making and increase awareness of labor market issues, including current concerns like the impact of Covid-19, and longer-term problems like inequality.
View our content on Covid-19—Pandemics and the labor market
Women’s labor force participation
UpdatedFamily-friendly policies increase women’s labor force participation, benefiting them, their families, and society at large
Female labor force participation is mainly driven by the value of their market wages versus the value of their non-market time. Labor force participation varies considerably across countries. To understand this international variation, it is important to further consider differences across countries in institutions, non-economic factors such as cultural norms, and public policies. Such differences provide important insights into what actions countries might take to further increase women's participation in the labor market.
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Does it pay to be beautiful? Updated
Physically attractive people can earn more, particularly in customer-facing jobs, and the rewards for men are higher than for women
Eva SierminskaKaran Singhal , March 2023It is a well-established view amongst economists that good-looking people have a better chance of employment and can earn more than those who are less physically attractive. A “beauty premium” is particularly apparent in jobs where there is a productivity gain associated with good looks, though this varies for women and men, and varies across countries. People sort into occupations according to the relative returns to their physical and other characteristics; good-looking people take jobs where physical appearance is deemed important while less-attractive people steer away from them, or they are required to be more productive for the same wage.MoreLess -
Should countries auction immigrant visas? Updated
Selling the right to immigrate to the highest bidders would allocate visas efficiently but might raise ethical concerns
Madeline Zavodny , March 2023Many immigrant destination countries face considerable pressure to change their immigration policies. One of the most innovative policies is auctioning the right to immigrate or to hire a foreign worker to the highest bidders. Visa auctions would be more efficient than current ways of allocating visas, could boost the economic contribution of immigration to the destination country, and would increase government revenues. However, visa auctions might weaken the importance of family ties in the migration process and create concerns about fairness and accessibility. No country has yet auctioned visas, although several have considered doing so.MoreLess -
Alternative dispute resolution Updated
Promoting accurate bargainer expectations regarding outcomes from binding dispute resolution is worth the effort
David L. Dickinson , March 2023Alternative dispute resolution procedures such as arbitration and mediation are the most common methods for resolving wage, contract, and grievance disputes, but they lead to varying levels of success and acceptability of the outcome depending on their design. Some innovative procedures, not yet implemented in the real world, are predicted to improve on existing procedures in some ways. Controlled tests of several procedures show that the simple addition of a nonbinding stage prior to binding dispute resolution can produce the best results in terms of cost (monetary and “uncertainty” costs) and acceptability.MoreLess -
The labor market in Poland, 2000−2021 Updated
Employment has been rising, but disadvantaged groups and low participation of older people pose challenges
Piotr LewandowskiIga Magda , March 2023In the early 2000s, Poland's unemployment rate reached 20%. That is now a distant memory, as employment has increased noticeably and the unemployment rate had dropped to 3.4% in 2021. The labor force participation of older workers increased following reforms aimed at prolonging careers. However, participation remains low compared to most developed countries and the reversal of the statutory retirement age in 2017 leaves Poland vulnerable to the effects of population aging. Rising immigration has eased the resulting labor shortages, but women, people with disabilities, and agricultural workers remain underemployed. During the Covid-19 pandemic the slowdown in economic growth and increase in unemployment were small.MoreLess
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Mar 28, 2023
Will ChatGPT take your job?; Most trans adults are happier after transitioning
Today’s global news summary brings news affecting the globe, the US, and Germany, and discusses issues as diverse as AI, happiness, and strikes. -
Mar 14, 2023
Honduran president legalizes morning-after pill; Students unable to cope with financial pressures face dropping out
Today’s global news summary brings news affecting Honduras, the UK, and China, and discusses issues as diverse as contraception, student poverty, and falling birthrates. -
Mar 07, 2023
Gender equality still 300 years away; Lack of affordable childcare is forcing UK women out of work
Today’s global news summary brings news affecting the UK, France and the world, and discusses issues as diverse as women’s employment, gender equality, and pension reforms. -
Feb 21, 2023
England’s RFU announces new maternity policy; Company in US fined for illegally employing children
Today’s global news summary brings news affecting England, the US, and the UK, and discusses issues as diverse as maternity leave, child labor, and the four-day week.
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May 12, 2023 - May 13, 2023
SOLE Annual Meeting
Philadelphia, United States
The Society of Labor Economists will hold its Twenty-Eighth Annual Meetings May 12–13, 2023, at the Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square.
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Jun 29, 2023 - Jul 04, 2023
24th IZA Summer School in Labor Economics
Berlin, Germany
The Summer School gives you an opportunity to learn from leading researchers about the latest advances in labor economics. In addition, the accompanying student presentations and mentoring sessions will provide a great platform for you to showcase your research and get valuable feedback.
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Jul 05, 2023 - Jul 06, 2023
25th Anniversary IZA Conference in Labor Economics
Berlin, Germany
The conference will feature keynotes by Ayşegül Şahin and Patrick Kline, as well as about 15 plenary presentations and a poster session. The conference will conclude with a panel discussion on the German labor market featuring leading policymakers and labor economists (Application deadline: March 15, 2023).
IZA World of Labor discussion on higher education
IZA World of Labor discussion on the environment and the labor market
IZA World of Labor discussion on inflation and the labor market
The direct and indirect effects of online job search advice
Ranking the happiness of countries and states
Telework during the Covid-19 pandemic