As global trade has expanded, many studies have documented the level of impact of import competition on employment, but we know less about how firms adapt. This column uses data on Japanese firms from 1997 to 2015 to show that rising imports have led many firms to reduce their workforce, but firms that engaged in […]
The Covid-19 pandemic sparked a large and lasting shift to remote work. This column draws on detailed administrative data from a major call centre in Türkiye to show that a permanent shift to fully remote work can expand recruitment and raise productivity without compromising service quality. The transition increased the share of women, including married […]
Advanced economies are still experiencing labour shortages in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This column examines the high labour shortages across OECD countries, focusing on wage and non-wage job quality. Real wages have generally increased, but with differences between countries and industries. Beyond pay, job insecurity, poor working conditions, and exposure to health risks […]
