European Unemployment: The Evolution of Facts and Ideas

61 Pages Posted: 3 Feb 2006 Last revised: 11 Aug 2022

See all articles by Olivier J. Blanchard

Olivier J. Blanchard

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Peterson Institute for International Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: November 2005

Abstract

In the 1970s, European unemployment started increasing. It increased further in the 1980s, to reach a plateau in the 1990s. It is still high today, although the average unemployment rate hides a high degree of heterogeneity across countries. The focus of researchers and policy makers was initially on the role of shocks. As unemployment remained high, the focus has progressively shifted to institutions. This paper reviews the interaction of facts and theories, and gives a tentative assessment of what we know and what we still do not know.

Suggested Citation

Blanchard, Olivier J., European Unemployment: The Evolution of Facts and Ideas (November 2005). NBER Working Paper No. w11750, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=842484

Olivier J. Blanchard (Contact Author)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

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Peterson Institute for International Economics ( email )

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