ESRI Research Seminar: “What Explains the German Labor Market Miracle in the Great Recession?”

Speaker: Michael Burda (Humboldt University of Berlin)
Venue: The ESRI, Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2
Date: 25/04/2013, 4pm
Abstract available here
All welcome, no booking required.

Eurostat: Labour Costs

Eurostat have published their first estimates of hourly labour costs in 2012.  Ireland had the tenth highest hourly labour costs in the EU27 (eighth in the EA17), though is fifth highest for ‘wage and salaries’ (third in the EA17) due to lower than average ‘other costs’, which is primarily employers’ social contributions.

In 2008, Irish labour costs were 112.5% of the EA17 average and in 2012 this had fallen to 104.0%.  Over the same five years, hourly labour costs in Ireland are estimated to have been largely unchanged (+0.8%) compared to rise of nearly 9% in the EA17.  Only Greece in the EA17 recorded a decline (-11%) over the five years and all of that occurred in the last two years.

For Ireland, non-wage costs are estimated to be 14% of hourly labour costs, compared to an EA17 average of 26%.  Only Luxembourg (13%) and Malta (8%) are lower.

FAC Report

The latest Assessment Report from the Fiscal Advisory Council can be accessed here.

Reminder: Gaspar Lecture, TCD, 9am tomorrow

reminder about tomorrow’s event – all welcome.

Address by Vitor Gaspar “Adjusting in the euro area: the Portuguese case”
Date: Thursday, 11th April
Time: 9am – 10am
Venue: The Thomas Davis Theatre, Room 2043, Ground Floor Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin

Portugal’s Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar will deliver an address on “Adjusting in the euro area: the Portuguese case” at 9am on Thursday April 11. The lecture will be followed by a Q+A session.

Prior to his current position, Mr Gaspar had a distinguished economics career at the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the Central Bank of Portugal.

Soros on the crisis

George Soros’ recent speech on the eurozone is available here.