Boosting Job Growth in the Western Balkans

31 Pages Posted: 3 Oct 2014

See all articles by Dmitriy Kovtun

Dmitriy Kovtun

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Alexis Mayer Cirkel

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Zuzana Murgasova

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - European Department

Dustin Smith

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Suchanan Tambunlertchai

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Date Written: January 2014

Abstract

Labor markets in the Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia) are characterized by some of the highest unemployment and low employment rates in Europe. We analyze the poor labor market outcomes in these countries by comparison with the New Member States of the European Union and advanced European economies. Our findings suggest that long-lasting labor market weaknesses in the Western Balkans have structural roots: the institutional setup of the labor markets, labor cost factors, and especially the unfinished transition process. Finally, we offer policy recommendations for boosting job creation.

Keywords: Labor markets, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of, Montenegro, Serbia, Eastern Europe, Workers remittances, Emerging markets, Cross country analysis, The Balkans, unemployment, labor market, employment, long-term unemployment, labor force, employment protection, high unemployment, unemployment benefits, unemployment rates, unemployed, high unemployment rates, job creation, labor productivity, rates of unemployment, low employment, unemployment insurance, unemployment spells, unemployment rate, rate of unemployment, employment protection legislation, employment rates, labor migration, registered unemployment, supply of labor, natural rate of unempl

JEL Classification: E20, J20, J30, J60

Suggested Citation

Kovtun, Dmitriy and Mayer Cirkel, Alexis and Murgasova, Zuzana and Smith, Dustin and Tambunlertchai, Suchanan, Boosting Job Growth in the Western Balkans (January 2014). IMF Working Paper No. 14/16, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2504949

Dmitriy Kovtun

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Alexis Mayer Cirkel (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Zuzana Murgasova

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - European Department ( email )

700 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Dustin Smith

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street NW
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Suchanan Tambunlertchai

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

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