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The Impact of Product and Labour Market Reform on Growth: Evidence for OECD Countries Based on Local Projections

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  • Jakob de Haan
  • Rasmus Wiese

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of labour and product market reforms on economic growth in 25 OECD countries between 1985 and 2013, and tests whether this impact is conditioned by the fiscal policy stance, i.e. whether there are fiscal expansions or adjustments. Our local projection results suggest that controlling for endogeneity of reforms and the stance of fiscal policy is crucial. To control for endogeneity, we use the Augmented Inverse Probability Weighted estimator. Our results suggest that product market reforms mostly cause slight negative growth, except when implemented during periods of neutral fiscal policy. Labour market reforms hurt growth under tight and neutral fiscal policy but are conducive to economic growth if introduced during periods of expansionary fiscal policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Jakob de Haan & Rasmus Wiese, 2020. "The Impact of Product and Labour Market Reform on Growth: Evidence for OECD Countries Based on Local Projections," CESifo Working Paper Series 8393, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8393
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    6. Andrea Cintolesi & Sauro Mocetti & Giacomo Roma, 2024. "Productivity and entry regulation: evidence from the universe of firms," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1455, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
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    8. Kwamivi Mawuli Gomado, 2024. "Impact of uncertainty on economic growth: The role of pro‐market institutions in developing countries," Post-Print hal-04725308, HAL.
    9. Rasmus Wiese & Jakob de Haan & João Tovar Jalles, 2023. "The impact of endogenous product and labour market reforms on unemployment: New evidence based on local projections," Working Papers REM 2023/0296, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    structural reforms; local projections; fiscal policy stance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
    • L43 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Legal Monopolies and Regulation or Deregulation
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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