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Inequality and unemployment patterns in Europe: Does integration lead to (real) convergence?

Author

Listed:
  • Mercedes Monfort

    (Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

  • Javier Ordóñez

    (Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

  • Hector Sala

    (IZA and Department of Economics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract
The economic convergence criteria adopted in the Maastricht Treaty and the fiscal discipline of the Stability and Growth Pact enforced nominal convergence, leaving aside real convergence indicators. In this paper, we use cluster analysis to examine the convergence patterns of income inequality, absolute redistribution (a measure of governments’ effectiveness in correcting for inequality) and unemployment. The expected outcome after years of economic integration was, ex-ante, convergence to a single cluster. Our results, however, uncover a variety of groups, implying that economic integration has not led to real economic convergence. Moreover, the existence of different patterns suggests: (i) that traditional classifications (Anglo-Saxon, Continental European, European Periphery, and Nordic models) remain broadly valid; (ii) that there is no unemployment-inequality trade-off to be exploited in terms of economic policy; and (iii) that the redistributive capacity of governments plays a pivotal role in coping with inequality without negative effects in terms of unemployment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mercedes Monfort & Javier Ordóñez & Hector Sala, 2016. "Inequality and unemployment patterns in Europe: Does integration lead to (real) convergence?," Working Papers 2016/15, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    • Handle: RePEc:jau:wpaper:2016/15
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kyungmin Kim, 2022. "Income inequality convergence: Evidence from the World Inequality Database," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 42(4), pages 1858-1873.
    2. Jianu, Ionuț & Tudorache, Maria-Daniela & Nicolescu, Andreea Florentina, 2024. "Investigating the effects of education and labour market challenges on income inequality," EconStor Conference Papers 289591, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    3. Laia Maynou & Javier Ordóñez & José Ignacio Silva, 2020. "NEET rates convergence in Europe: A regional analysis," Working Papers 2020/08, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    4. Alka Obadić & Vladimir Arčabić & Lucija Rogić Dumančić, 2021. "Labor market institutions convergence in the European Union," EFZG Working Papers Series 2102, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb.
    5. Enock Mwakalila, 2023. "Income inequality: a recipe for youth unemployment in Africa," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Maynou, Laia & Ordóñez, Javier & Silva, José Ignacio, 2022. "Convergence and determinants of young people not in employment, education or training: An European regional analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    7. Juan Carlos Cuestas & Mercedes Monfort & Javier Ordóñez, 2021. "The education pillar of the Europe 2020 strategy: a convergence analysis," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 48(4), pages 1113-1129, November.
    8. Juan C. Cuestas & Mercedes Monfort & Javier Ordóñez, 2021. "Stochastic convergence in real personal disposable income in the EU: A note," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 6390-6394, October.
    9. Maynou, Laia & Monfort, Mercedes & Morley, Bruce & Ordóñez, Javier, 2021. "Club convergence in European housing prices: The role of macroeconomic and housing market fundamentals," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Jianu Ionuț & Tudorache Maria-Daniela & Nicolescu Andreea Florentina, 2024. "Investigating the Effects of Education and Labour Market Challenges on Income Inequality," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 1950-1958.
    11. Atanu Ghoshray & Mercedes Monfort & Javier Ordóñez, 2020. "Economic integration and the distribution of income in Europe: A between country analysis," Working Papers 2020/11, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    12. Obadić, Alka & Arčabić, Vladimir & Rogić Dumančić, Lucija, 2023. "Club convergence of labor market institutions in the European Union," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 876-896.
    13. Juan Ángel Lafuente & Amparo Marco & Mercedes Monfort & Javier Ordóñez, 2020. "Social Exclusion and Convergence in the EU: An Assessment of the Europe 2020 Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-22, February.
    14. Juan Carlos Cuestas & Mercedes Monfort & Javier Ordóñez, 2020. "Stochastic convergence in real personal disposable income in the EU," Working Papers 2020/09, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    15. González, Germán Héctor & García-González, Juan David & Gómez-Medina, José Santiago & Corbella, Virginia Inés, 2023. "Regionalization of Latin America based on asymmetries in the absorptive capacity of countries," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 27(C).
    16. Binh Thai Pham & Hector Sala, 2022. "Cross-country connectedness in inflation and unemployment: measurement and macroeconomic consequences," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 1123-1146, March.
    17. Krištić, Irena Raguž & Dumančić, Lucija Rogić & Arčabić, Vladimir, 2019. "Persistence and stochastic convergence of euro area unemployment rates," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 192-198.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Europe; convergence; clusters; unemployment; inequality; redistribution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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