The relationship between inflation and the relative variability of prices has been the subject ofcareful investigation in the US using data for product groups at the city level. Yet in Europe,where the relationship could have profound effects on the viability of monetary integration, noattempt...

In order to con¯ne excessive levels of temporary layo®s, US ¯rms are taxed - albeit incom-pletely - according to the unemployment insurance bene¯ts claimed by their laid o® workers.In contrast, German construction ¯rms are not charged according to their layo® historyand should thus have...