Aspects of the Swiss Labor Market
28 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2006
Date Written: January 1996
Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of the behavior of the Swiss labor market, which emphasizes both changes to labor supply and real wage inflexibility as determinants of recent unusually high levels of unemployment. Supply responses in the past meant that measured unemployment rates were rarely high. The paper suggests that these responses also meant that real wages were probably less responsive to shocks as a result. Econometric tests reported in the paper broadly confirm these suggestions, and imply that the level of unemployment consistent with stable inflation has risen in Switzerland.
JEL Classification: J64
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation