Press releases

Press releases

IZA World of Labor is a global, freely available online resource that provides policymakers, academics, journalists, and researchers, with clear, concise, and evidence-based knowledge on labor economics issues worldwide. The site offers relevant and succinct information on topics including diversity, migration, minimum wage, youth unemployment, employment protection, development, education, gender balance, labor mobility, and flexibility, among others—for information by topic see our Key Topics pages. The concise article format with easy-to-find recommendations provides journalists with the information they need for quick research.

IZA World of Labor authors are happy to speak to the press about their research. If you have an enquiry about a labor market issue, please search our spokesperson database to find and directly contact a relevant spokesperson.

We issue frequent press releases for newly published articles and commentaries. To sign up to receive press releases, journalists should email our publisher.

  • March 31, 2015

    Workers are motivated by the “greater good”

    A new article by Mirco Tonin looks at the role that social responsibility plays in workforce dynamics, demonstrating that workers show more commitment to businesses which promote the greater good. If a job is associated with a social cause, employees tend to work harder and show greater levels of motivation.
    A new article by Mirco Tonin looks at the role that social responsibility plays in workforce dynamics, demonstrating that workers show more commitment to businesses which promote the greater good. If a job is associated with a social cause, employees tend to work harder and show greater levels of motivation.
  • March 24, 2015

    Do works councils really boost firm productivity?

    Works councils are often seen as controversial, and many argue as to how useful they are in business. The German model has been mimicked by other countries for years – but does this really have a positive influence on productivity?
    Works councils are often seen as controversial, and many argue as to how useful they are in business. The German model has been mimicked by other countries for years – but does this really have a positive influence on productivity?
  • March 19, 2015

    Rising food prices can lower poverty – but only in certain areas

    The last few years have seen dramatic spikes in food prices, raising concerns about how downward income reallocation will affect the poor in developing countries. According to the FAO, the number of undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa rose to a record 236 million in 2009.
    The last few years have seen dramatic spikes in food prices, raising concerns about how downward income reallocation will affect the poor in developing countries. According to the FAO, the number of undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa rose to a record 236 million in 2009.
  • March 12, 2015

    How does child care affect child development and educational outcomes?

    The time that parents spend with their children has a huge impact on their social and educational development. As the rate of female employment is increasing, more and more families are coming to rely on external forms of care – which has raised some concern among child development specialists.

    The time that parents spend with their children has a huge impact on their social and educational development. As the rate of female employment is increasing, more and more families are coming to rely on external forms of care – which has raised some concern among child development specialists.

  • March 10, 2015

    Reducing gender bias at home will reduce the gender gap at work

    Household production, including housework and shopping, is a crucial part of the economy. But, it is surprising just how much time is spend on it – about half as much time as one usually spends in paid employment. Women generally bear the brunt of this workload, a trend that is driven in part by the gender wage gap. Income and sales taxes on household income can further dissuade women to work, meaning that their incentives to work are distorted and they spend more time in the home.
    Household production, including housework and shopping, is a crucial part of the economy. But, it is surprising just how much time is spend on it – about half as much time as one usually spends in paid employment. Women generally bear the brunt of this workload, a trend that is driven in part by the gender wage gap. Income and sales taxes on household income can further dissuade women to work, meaning that their incentives to work are distorted and they spend more time in the home.
  • March 05, 2015

    Do highly-educated people improve prospects and earnings for their peers?

    Formal schooling has obvious positive impacts upon individual earnings and employment prospects, but do these benefits “rub off” on one’s peers? A new article by John V. Winters discusses how regions with higher than average education levels also demonstrate higher than average earnings, even among workers with relatively little formal qualifications or training.
    Formal schooling has obvious positive impacts upon individual earnings and employment prospects, but do these benefits “rub off” on one’s peers? A new article by John V. Winters discusses how regions with higher than average education levels also demonstrate higher than average earnings, even among workers with relatively little formal qualifications or training.
  • March 03, 2015

    Bilingual vs native-only education programs: Which is best?

    Studies show that bilingual education programs in the US lead to similar academic outcomes as English-only courses.

    Studies show that bilingual education programs in the US lead to similar academic outcomes as English-only courses.