EU LABOUR MARKETS and SOCIAL POLICY:
Lecturers: Prof. Nick Adnett (SU) & Prof. Željko Mrnjavac
Lecture Topics
Friday, March 24th 2006
Lecture 1: The Lisbon Strategy: a critical evaluation
Saturday, March 25th 2006
Lecture 2: Modernising or Americanising the European Social Model?
Prepared Questions
For Friday, March 24th
Read: Aiginger, K. and Guger, A. (2005) The European Socio-Economic Model:
differences with the USA and changes over time, WIFO Working Paper.
Prepare answers to the following questions to be discussed in class:
1. Identify the three characteristics of he European Socio-Economic Model. What do
Aiginger and Guger consider to be the three ‘pillars’ on which the success of
Denmark, Finland and Sweden have been based?
2. What are the main differences between the ‘Old’ and ’Reformed’ European
model?
3. To what extent ids the ‘Reformed’ European Model distinct from the US Model?
For Saturday, March 25th
Read: Freeman, R. (2004) Are European Labour Markets as Awful as All That? London
School of Economics, Centre for Economic Performance, Discussion Paper No. 644.
Prepare answers to the following questions which will be discussed in class:
1. Interpret the data in Table 1 and identify the reasons for the much higher US
employment rate. What are the main conclusions from comparisons of real wages
and wage dispersion in the EU and US?
2. What are the main institutional differences between the EU and US? To what
extent are these institutional differences a cause of the different overall
employment rates?
3. What does Freeman argue are the main areas where the EU labour market
institutions could be improved?
Additional Reading
Adnett, N. and Hardy, S. (2005) The European Social Model: Modernisation or
Evolution, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, Chapter 4.
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