Short-time work: A breathing space during the crisis

Abstract

"At least since the fourth quarter of 2008, practically the entire world economy has been immersed in a massive economic crisis. The fact that the crisis has not yet had a particularly negative effect on the German labour market is mainly due to two things: on the one hand, the labour market reacts with a clear time lag (the shock waves on the financial and goods markets simply haven't reached it yet); on the other, the German labour market in particular has certain reserves of flexibility at its disposal which help in reacting to drastic changes. In the first part of this article, the authors discuss the labour market policy role of short-time work. In the second and third, they analyse aspects of cost related to this." (Authors' abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Bach, H., Crimmann, A., Spitznagel, E. & Wießner, F. (2009): Kurzarbeit: Atempause in der Krise. In: IAB-Forum No. H. Spezial, p. 52-63. DOI:10.3278/IFO090SW052