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The Path to Higher Growth: Does Revamping Japan’s Dual Labor Market Matter?

Chie Aoyagi and Giovanni Ganelli

No 2013/202, IMF Working Papers from International Monetary Fund

Abstract: This paper argues that Japan’s excessive labor market duality can reduce Total Factor Productivity (TFP) due to a negative impact on non-regular workers’ effort and on firms’ incentives to train them. On the basis of cross-country empirical evidence, the paper proposes some reform options. In particular, our analysis suggests that reducing the difference in employment protection between regular and non-regular workers would substantially reduce labor market duality in Japan. One reform consistent with these findings is the introduction of a Single Open Ended Contract for all newly hired workers. This reform could be complemented by a shift towards a model that combines labor market flexibility and security (“flexicurity”) and by policies aimed at encouraging wage growth.

Keywords: WP; worker; firm; pay; labor market; Japan; dual labor market; labor market reform; Single Open Ended Contract; labor market duality; severance pay; wage growth; regular worker; Denmark labor market system; firms incentive; worker status; workers in Japan; job satisfaction; Labor markets; Employment; Employment protection; Wages; Europe; Global (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 26
Date: 2013-10-01
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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