Businesses use checklists to exercise managerial control and ensure quality, but excessive bureaucracy can frustrate skilled workers and reduce morale. This column presents a randomised control trial in a German bakery chain that removed two time-consuming, non-essential checklists in selected stores. After abolishing the checklists, sales rose by 2.7%, customer ratings improved, and qualified workers […]
Studies of the impact of robots on labour markets often conceptualise jobs as bundles of distinct tasks. In such frameworks, technologies substitute or complement workers. But this view may overestimate the potential adverse effects of automation, particularly in developing countries. This column distinguishes between technical feasibility and economic viability of adopting industrial robots and artificial […]
The two most prominent arguments President Trump has advanced for his trade war – both during the early months of his second term, and for decades prior – are that protectionism will reduce the trade deficit and increase manufacturing employment. This column, taken from a CEPR book on the economic consequences of the second Trump […]
Industrial policy is increasingly implemented worldwide, with many policymakers and researchers highlighting its benefits. However, the cost of industrial policy remains less understood. Using Chinese firm-level data, this column shows that higher industrial subsidies raise the likelihood and severity of foreign anti-dumping and countervailing duties at each investigation stage. These retaliatory tariffs wipe out roughly […]
Export booms can boost formal job growth and lead to greener employment. In Brazil, between 2000 and 2020, municipalities more exposed to exports showed higher employment growth. A 1% increase in exports led to a 0.4% increase in formal jobs three years later. While environmentally risky jobs tend to rise more rapidly in the short run, […]
Trade uncertainty between the EU and the US – driven by the announcement of new tariffs and a volatile global economy – has raised concerns for EU businesses, workers, and policymakers. This column presents evidence on the sectoral and regional exposure of EU labour markets to exports to the US. In manufacturing – the sector […]
Yen sinks, Bank of Japan signals no hurry to resume rate hikes. The dollar headed for its strongest weekly performance in almost three years against other major currencies, maintaining momentum on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new tariff rates on dozens of trade partners. Some of the currencies of the countries that were […]
The successful integration of second-generation immigrants into education and employment is essential for Europe’s long-term social and economic cohesion. This column uses the results of the latest edition of the European Labour Force Survey to assess the demographic profile, educational attainment, and employment outcomes of second-generation immigrants, finding that they tend to be younger and […]
In their recent blog Can Africa Claim the 21st Century?, Andrew Dabalen and Chorching Goh rightly highlight Africa’s moment of opportunity: a convergence of global attention, demographic momentum, and natural resource wealth. But whether this century can truly be Africa’s depends on whether its cities are able to generate enough good jobs to employ its growing population. […]
As the global shift toward electric mobility gains momentum, countries are making bold bets on electric vehicles (EVs) to meet their climate goals, reduce fuel import dependence, and spur industrial growth. In South Asia too, the EV transition is being positioned as a catalyst for industrial transformation and job creation. The employment reality, however, is more complex. […]
