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.
Should common law marriage be abolished?
The availability of common law marriage may affect couple formation, labor supply, and the decision to have children
In addition to regular marriage, Australia, Brazil, and 11 US states recognize common law (or de facto) marriage, which allows one or both cohabiting partners to claim, under certain conditions, that an informal union is a marriage. France and some other countries also have several types of marriage and civil union contracts. The policy issue is whether to abolish common law marriage, as it appears to discourage couple formation and female labor supply. A single conceptual framework can explain how outcomes are affected by the choice between regular and common law marriage, and between various marriage and civil union contracts.
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Female labor force participation and development Updated
Improving outcomes for women takes more than raising labor force participation—good jobs are important too
Sher Verick , May 2025The relationship between female labor force participation and economic development is far more complex than often portrayed in both the academic literature and policy debates. Due to various economic and social factors, such as the pattern of growth, education attainment, and social norms, trends in female labor force participation do not conform consistently with the notion of a U-shaped relationship with gross domestic produc (GDP). Despite the initial impact, Covid-19 did not have a lasting negative effect, on average, on women’s participation. At the same time, some countries have made significant progress in increasing participation rates for women, including those who have started from a lower level.MoreLess -
Gender quotas on corporate boards of directors Updated
Gender quotas for women on boards of directors improve female share on boards, but firm performance effects are mixed, and spillover effects are positive but small.
Nina SmithEmma Von Essen , May 2025Arguments for increasing gender diversity on corporate boards of directors by gender quotas range from ensuring equal opportunity to improving firm performance. The introduction of gender quotas in a number of countries, mainly in Europe, has increased female representation on boards. Current research does not unambiguously justify gender quotas on grounds of economic efficiency. In many countries, the number of women in top executive positions is limited, and it is not clear from the evidence that quotas lead to a larger pool of female top executives, who, in turn, are the main pipeline for boards of directors. Thus, other supplementary policies may be necessary if politicians want to increase the number of women in senior management positions.
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Machine learning for causal inference in economics
Discover how machine learning can help to uncover causal insights from economic data to guide better informed policy decisions.
Anthony Strittmatter , April 2025Machine learning (ML) improves economic policy analysis by addressing the complexity of modern data. It complements traditional econometric methods by handling numerous control variables, managing interactions and non-linearities flexibly, and uncovering nuanced differential causal effects. However, careful validation and awareness of limitations such as risk of bias, transparency issues, and data requirements are essential for informed policy recommendations.MoreLess -
Environmental regulations and business decisions Updated
Environmental regulations impose costs on firms, affecting productivity and location but providing significant health benefits
Wayne B. GrayRon Shadbegian , April 2025Environmental regulations raise production costs at regulated firms, though in most cases the costs are only a small fraction of a firm’s total costs. Productivity tends to fall, and firms may shift new investment and production to locations with less stringent regulation. However, environmental regulations have had enormous benefits in terms of lives saved and illnesses averted, especially through reductions in airborne particulates. The potential health gains may be even greater in developing countries, where pollution levels are high. The benefits to society from environmental regulation hence appear to be much larger than the costs of compliance.MoreLess
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May 30, 2025
Raising the glass raises risks for the whole family
Finnish study reveals significant health consequences of legal drinking ages, with risks spilling over to siblings -
May 28, 2025
Gender-based expectations influence external demands for parental involvement
Schools are more likely to call mothers than fathers, regardless of availability -
May 26, 2025
Pandemic slowed German firms’ tech progress
New research uncovers unexpected decline in advanced technology adoption while remote work tools surged -
May 05, 2025
Brexit’s hidden cost: Higher patient mortality in NHS hospitals
New research reveals how immigration restrictions led to reduced care quality and thousands of additional deaths
Protection for whom? The political economy of protective labor laws for women
Waiting for welfare: How processing times affect benefit receipt and employment
The human cost of austerity: How UK fiscal policies led to 190,000 excess deaths
When protests normalize intolerance: The hidden costs of far-right demonstrations
Planning for succession in family businesses
Can your doctor save you?