Childhood friendships and the gender equality paradox in education
The most economically prosperous and gender-equal societies often display stronger gender segregation in educational choices – a pattern known as the ‘gender equality paradox’. This
Filtering labour market data optimally to detect recessions early and accurately
The timely detection of recessions is critical for policymakers to make informed decisions. This column presents an algorithm for detecting recessions early using labour market
The labour market disparities of second-generation immigrants
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 emergence of a North–South divide in the age-profile of Europeans’ life satisfaction
The traditional U-shape in wellbeing, with people’s life satisfaction lowest in their late 40s or early 50s, appeared to have been replaced around 2013-15 by
A smart European strategy for electric vehicle investment from China
Chinese EV investment aids EU decarbonisation but brings risks, needing a united EU strategy to align it with climate, industrial and security aims. The European
Adult skills and productivity: New evidence from PIAAC 2023
Adult skills play a crucial role in shaping productivity. This column uses data from the 2023 OECD Survey of Adult Skills to analyse the relationship
Early job mentoring, placement, and training boost refugee integration without high costs
The number of people fleeing war and persecution worldwide has nearly tripled since the early 2010s, challenging European policymakers to ensure swift integration of asylum
Gender role attitudes and female labour supply
Increasing women’s labour force participation and career progression is a key priority for policymakers in developing and developed economies alike. A central question is whether
Part-time work slows the narrowing of France’s lifetime gender earnings gap
France has narrowed its gender lifetime earnings gap, but has not managed closed it. Despite legal guarantees, French women still earn 30% less than men
The rise and retreat of US inflation: An update
During the pandemic, annual CPI inflation in the US rose sharply to a peak of 9% in June 2022. This column argues that the rise
