10 years of IZA World of Labor
IZA World of Labor launched in 2014 with the first articles and has published over 500 articles and multiple updates since then. Our articles are regularly mentioned in international press including BBC, Financial Times, Washington Post, and Le Monde, and has advised political decision making throughout the world. Over the last 10 years IZA World of Labor articles have been consulted on our website up to 30K times per year and our “top-10 bestseller” articles (according to views) are listed below (sorted by publication date).
We are proud to number many famous and widely known economist among our almost 600 authors. And we are very grateful for all our contributors – this project would not have been possible without them. We highly appreciate their support and commitment and are thankful for their valuation.
We also want to use this date to thank our long-term publishing Partner, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. who has helped building this unique platform.
In the coming years, we will continue to develop IZA World of Labor by updating the large number of existing articles and publishing new articles to disseminate the most important research on labor markets to policy makers, the media, students, and society at large.
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Unemployment benefits and unemployment Updated
The challenge of unemployment benefits is to protect workers while minimizing undesirable side effects
Robert MoffittWonsik Ko, June 2024All developed economies have unemployment benefit programs to protect workers against major income losses during spells of unemployment. By enabling unemployed workers to meet basic consumption needs, the programs protect workers from having to sell their assets or accept jobs below their qualifications. The programs also help stabilize the economy during recessions. If benefits are too generous, however, the programs can lengthen unemployment and raise the unemployment rate. The policy challenge is to protect workers while minimizing undesirable side effects.MoreLess -
Demographic and economic determinants of migration Updated
Push and pull factors drive the decision to stay or move
Nicole B. Simpson, July 2022There are a myriad of economic and non-economic forces behind the decision to migrate. Migrants can be “pushed” out of their home countries due to deteriorating economic conditions or political unrest. Conversely, migrants are often “pulled” into destinations that offer high wages, good health care, strong educational systems, or linguistic proximity. In making their decision, individuals compare the net benefits of migration to the costs. By better understanding what forces affect specific migrant flows (e.g. demographic characteristics, migrant networks, and economic conditions), policymakers can set policy to target (or reduce) certain types of migrants.MoreLess -
Women in crime Updated
Over the last 50 years women have been increasing their participation in the labor market and in the crime market
Nadia Campaniello, July 2019In recent decades, women's participation in the labor market has increased considerably in most countries and is converging toward the participation rate of men. Though on a lesser scale, a similar movement toward gender convergence seems to be occurring in the criminal world, though many more men than women still engage in criminal activity. Technological progress and social norms have freed women from the home, increasing their participation in both the labor and the crime market. With crime no longer just men's business, it is important to investigate female criminal behavior to determine whether the policy prescriptions to reduce crime should differ for women.MoreLess -
Measuring income inequality
Summary measures of inequality differ from one another and give different pictures of the evolution of economic inequality over time
Ija Trapeznikova, July 2019Economists use various metrics for measuring income inequality. Here, the most commonly used measures—the Lorenz curve, the Gini coefficient, decile ratios, the Palma ratio, and the Theil index—are discussed in relation to their benefits and limitations. Equally important is the choice of what to measure: pre-tax and after-tax income, consumption, and wealth are useful indicators; and different sources of income such as wages, capital gains, taxes, and benefits can be examined. Understanding the dimensions of economic inequality is a key first step toward choosing the right policies to address it.MoreLess -
How does the one child policy impact social and economic outcomes?
A strict policy on fertility affects every aspect of economic life
Wei Huang, September 2017The 20th century witnessed the birth of modern family planning and its effects on the fertility of hundreds of millions of couples around the world. In 1979, China formally initiated one of the world’s strictest family planning programs—the “one child policy.” Despite its obvious significance, the policy has been significantly understudied. Data limitations and a lack of detailed documentation have hindered researchers. However, it appears clear that the policy has affected China’s economy and society in ways that extend well beyond its fertility rate.MoreLess -
How is new technology changing job design?
Machines’ ability to perform cognitive, physical, and social tasks is accelerating, dramatically changing jobs and labor markets
Michael Gibbs, March 2017The information technology revolution has had dramatic effects on jobs and the labor market. Many routine and manual tasks have been automated, replacing workers. By contrast, new technologies complement non-routine, cognitive, and social tasks, making work in such tasks more productive. These effects have polarized labor markets: While low-skill jobs have stagnated, there are fewer and lower paid jobs for middle-skill workers, and higher pay for high-skill workers, increasing wage inequality. Advances in artificial intelligence may be accelerating computers’ ability to perform cognitive tasks, heightening concerns about automation of even high-skill jobs.MoreLess