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Commentary

Watch exclusive video from conferences, debates and other events on labor market economics as well as reading the latest opinion pieces from IZA World of Labor authors.

August 23, 2019

Giorgio Di Pietro

Does studying abroad enhance employment opportunities?

In recent decades, the number of students spending some time abroad during their university studies has significantly risen worldwide.
August 05, 2019

Marie Connolly

How will climate change affect what we do?

Adaptation to climate change will be costly and likely exacerbate current patterns of inequality; more research is needed to understand the issues.
July 15, 2019

Janneke Pieters

Can we use trade policy to achieve gender equality?

Women consistently work less for pay and earn less than men. What policies work to achieve productive employment for all women and men, and equal pay for work of equal value?
June 24, 2019

Ömer Tuğsal Doruk, Francesco Pastore, Hasan Bilgehan Yavuz

Low social mobility in Latin America may hinder economic growth

A more equal income distribution is important for increasing the well-being of the population and, indirectly, economic development.

Women at Work Around the World

Female labor force participation is mainly driven by the value of women’s market wages versus the value of their non-market time. While women’s labor force participation has risen in many countries, rates remain quite low in some countries and regions.

Read more articles on female labor force participation.

Read Daiji Kawaguchi and Hiroaki Mori's article: "The labor market in Japan, 2000–2016"

Read Tomi Kyyrä and Hanna Pesola's article: "The labor market in Finland, 2000–2016"

Read Elena Nikolova's article: "Can diversity encourage entrepreneurship in transition economies?"

Read Jungmin Lee's article: "The labor market in South Korea, 2000–2016"

Read Rafael Lalive and Tobias Lehmann's article: "The labor market in Switzerland, 2000–2016"

Read Benedikt Herz and Thijs van Rens' article: "The labor market in the UK, 2000–2016"

Read Philippe Askenazy's article: "The changing of the French labor market, 2000–2017"
Minimum wages, austerity and debt

2013 IZA prizewinner, Daniel Hamermesh, discusses topical economic issues, including minimum wage, and austerity. See his IZA World of Labor article where he examines how labor costs affect companies' demand for labor.
The importance of labor supply and the role of public policy

Richard Blundell, of University College London and IZA, explains the importance of labor supply and the role that public policy plays. His IZA World of Labor article specifically looks at the role of tax policy.