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Europe > Latvia, Republic of

You are looking at 1 - 9 of 9 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search x
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Cover IMF Working Papers
Unemployment Surges in the EU: The Role of Risk Premium Shocks
Mr. Bas B. Bakker
,
Marta Korczak
, and
Mr. Krzysztof Krogulski
In the last decade, over half of the EU countries in the euro area or with currencies pegged to the euro were hit by large risk premium shocks. Previous papers have focused on the impact of these shocks on demand. This paper, by contrast, focuses on the impact on supply. We show that risk premium shocks reduce the output level that maximizes profit. They also lead to unemployment surges, as firms are forced to cut costs when financing becomes expensive or is no longer available. As a result, all countries with risk premium shocks saw unemployment surge, even as euro area core countries managed to contain unemployment as firms hoarded labor during the downturn. Most striking, wage bills in euro area crisis countries and the Baltics declined even faster than GDP, whereas in core euro area countries wage shares actually increased.
Keywords:
WP; risk premium shock; risk premium; interest rate; GDP; Risk premia; interest rates; Euro area crisis; global economic; fincanial crisis; debt ratio; risk premium surge; unemployment surge; financing cost; Return on investment; Unemployment; Employment; Sovereign bonds; Baltics
Cover IMF Working Papers
The Re-Emerging Privilege of Euro Area Membership
Mr. Johannes Wiegand
When the euro was introduced in 1998, one objective was to create an alternative global reserve currency that would grant benefits to euro area countries similar to the U.S. dollar’s “exorbitant privliege”: i.e., a boost to the perceived quality of euro denominated assets that would increase demand for such assets and reduce euro area members’ funding costs. This paper uses risk perceptions as revelaed in investor surveys to extract a measure of privilege asscociated with euro membership, and traces its evolution over time. It finds that in the 2000s, euro area assets benefited indeed from a significant perceptions premium. While this premium disappeared in the wake of the euro crisis, it has recently returned, although at a reduced size. The paper also produces time-varying estimates of the weights that investors place on macro-economic fundmentals in their assessments of country risk. It finds that the weights of public debt, the current account and real growth increased considerably during the euro crisis, and that these shifts have remained in place even after the immediate financial stress subsided.
Keywords:
WP; euro; area membership; euro area; euro crisis; exorbitant privlege; investor perceptions; time dummy; investor perception; governance framework; Euro premium; euro adoption; area privilege; membership premium; Credit ratings; Unemployment rate; Currencies; Exchange rate arrangements; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Croatia: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This paper mainly examines fiscal decentralization, credit-loss recovery, and unemployment in Croatia. The degree of expenditure and revenue decentralization in Croatia appears limited relative to its peers. At about 16 percent of general government spending, subnational government spending in Croatia is modest compared to other southeastern European countries and to the EU-28 average, and particularly low compared to the most decentralized countries in the EU. Croatia’s recovery since late 2014 has been moderate. Croatia’s recession lasted six years and was thus the longest among the new EU member states. Croatia’s structural and cyclical unemployment rates are very high, at about 11.5 percent and 5 percent respectively in 2015.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; government; local government; wage; cyclical unemployment unemployment rate; unemployment trap; Subnational government; government structure; city authorities; reservation wage; Unemployment rate; Unemployment; Public employment; Nonperforming loans; Wages; Central and Eastern Europe; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Unemployment and Structural Unemployment in the Baltics
Mr. Christian H Ebeke
and
Greetje Everaert
While the unemployment rate in the Baltics has fallen sharply from its crisis-peaks, it remains close to double digits. This paper estimates the structural component of the jobless rate in the three Baltic countries and analyzes its causes. Our main findings are that the current still elevated levels of unemployment mostly reflect structural factors. We then turn to why structural unemployment is so high. This paper points to skill mismatches, high tax wedges, and unemployment and inactivity traps as potential causes.
Keywords:
WP; Unemployment; Structural Unemployment; Baltics; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania; NAIRU estimate; NAIRU unemployment; unemployment gap; core CPI; internal migration; crisis dummy; structural unemployment rate estimate; Unemployment rate; Labor taxes; Labor markets
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Baltic Cluster Report: Staff Report for the 2014 Cluster Consultation
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This 2014 Cluster Consultation report examines common themes and challenges facing the three Baltic countries—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It identifies common features and common challenges, and discusses policies—both national and joint—that could help to address these challenges. The Baltic economies have performed well during the last two decades. The global financial crisis exposed vulnerabilities that had built up in the Baltics, but the postcrisis recovery revealed inherent strengths as well. This report highlights that national policies are necessary to address all of the challenges, but collaboration is also important in some areas.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; country; authority; IMF pilot project; economy; consultation; staffs assessment; skill mismatch; staffs discussion; export product mix; NAIRU estimate; Credit; Exports; Labor taxes; Unemployment; Baltics; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Baltic Cluster Report: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issues paper focuses on the Baltic model, Baltic–Nordic links, and convergence. The Baltic countries form a distinct group within a tightly integrated Nordic–Baltic region. They are following similar approaches to economic policy, broadly in line with those of Northern European and the Anglo-Saxon countries. Their macroeconomic policies are generally robust. The paper examines the possible causes of the creditless recoveries in the Baltic countries. It characterizes their experience in comparison with other episodes of creditless recoveries in both advanced and emerging market economies, and also investigates demand and supply constraints to credit expansion in the Baltics.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; export; Baltics; FDI; credit growth; export sector; country pair; Baltic country; higher-income country; Exports; Credit; Structural unemployment; Unemployment; Labor taxes; Global; Western Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Republic of Latvia: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This note presents estimates of potential growth and the output gap in Latvia. The estimates suggest that the output has marked below potential in the early 2000s but the output gap becomes positive and large after EU accession. With unemployment still well above its natural level, the output gap is estimated to be negative in 2012, but is expected to narrow gradually and be closed in the next 3–4 years. Potential growth is expected to be substantially lower than in 2002–07.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; estimate; labor market; output gap estimate; crisis; unemployment gap; vocational education; output gap in Latvia; Output gap; Potential output; Unemployment rate; Labor markets; Europe; Baltics; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Adjustment Under a Currency Peg: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania During the Global Financial Crisis 2008-09
Miss Catriona Purfield
and
Mr. Christoph B. Rosenberg
The paper traces the Baltics’ adjustment strategy during the 2008-09 global financial crisis. The abrupt end to the externally-financed domestic demand boom triggered a severe output collapse, bringing per capita income levels back to 2005/06 levels. In response to this shock, the Baltics undertook an internal devaluation that relied on unprecedented fiscal and nominal wage adjustment, steps to preserve financial sector stability as well as complementary efforts to facilitate voluntary private debt restructuring. One-and-half years on, the strategy is making good progress but not yet complete. Confidence in the exchange rate was maintained, the banking system was supported by its parent banks, external imbalances and inflation have largely disappeared, competitiveness is improving, and fiscal deficits are gradually being brought back towards pre-crisis levels. However, amid record levels of unemployment, further reforms are needed to foster a return to more balanced growth, fiscal sustainability, and a healthier banking system.
Keywords:
WP; Lithuania; wage; Estonia; swap line; unemployment rate; Internal devaluation; boom bust; competitiveness; wage adjustment; fiscal adjustment; global financial crisis; Baltics; wage reduction; reductions in Latvia; market share; government takeover; economy earnings; Wages; Unemployment; Currencies; Labor markets; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Latvia: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix
International Monetary Fund
This Selected Issues paper and Statistical Appendix highlights that the real GDP growth in Latvia accelerated in the second half of 1997, and is estimated at 6 percent for the year. Growth was broad-based, with particularly strong performance in the services sector and construction, and has been led by increased investment, with real capital formation rising by an estimated 10 percent, and enhanced efficiency. Reflecting the strong economic growth, official unemployment has begun to decline, falling from 7½ percent in mid-year to 6.7 percent at end-January 1998.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; job creation; minimum wage; exchange rate; private sector; labor market; U.S. dollar; financial market; market share; current account; retirement age; investment funds; Wages; Unemployment; Employment; Labor markets; Central and Eastern Europe; Europe; Baltics; Eastern Europe