Germany has long been portrayed as the best real-world example of an export-oriented economic model associated with a dualized labor market and welfare state. The success of this export-centered model over the last decades has typically been ascribed to competitiveness due to wage restraint and...

This study examines the association between firm-level investments in automation technologies and employment outcomes, drawing on a panel dataset of approximately 10,450 Italian firms. We focus on the proliferation of non-standard labour contracts introduced by labour market reforms in the...

As nonprofits operate in a competitive environment with limited resources, they constantly seek new ways to optimize their resources. This study investigates factors influencing nonprofits' decision to integrate flexible labor, such as independent contractors, into their workforce. Using...

The EU energy system faces unprecedented challenges, driven by the energy prices crisis, originating from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the need to accelerate decarbonisation of energy production and consumption. In response, the EU launched the REPowerEU plan and, in 2024, adopted...

A free competitive market offers wide opportunities for individuals and businesses and is compatible with the framework of classical liberalism. It is also the best environment for boosting productivity and economic growth. * Theere are uncompetitive elements within the UK's private sector which...

The changing nature of work, accelerated by the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in several fundamental shifts in the terms and conditions of work. Overlain with a clear trend of increased non-standard employment, including through the gig economy and platform work, this poses...

This report gather coherent overview of the literature and data around how flexible working can relate to gender equality patterns in European societies. This report aims to summarise the current state of art in the theory and evidence around flexible working with regards to gender equality,...

Flexible work schedules and telecommuting may help to improve the combination of work and family. This is arguably most important in households with (young) children. An open question is whether job flexibility can increase the well-being of the children, which depends, in part, on the time...

We study heterogeneity in the prevalence of and preferences for workplace flexibility and work meaning. We show that, internationally, women and parents value flexibility more but do not work more flexible jobs. The gender dimension of this flexibility puzzle is related to differences in...