The natural rate of unemployment is calculated based on D. M. Lilien's (1982) notion that an increase in the sectoral dispersion of demand results in a rise in unemployment for a given level of aggregate demand. In contrast to earlier applications, the dispersion measure is based on sectoral...

The focus of this paper is an empirical examination of the importance of an industry in terms of its contribution to regional employment. It uses a closed input-output model. Four alternative measures of importance are presented and explored in the framework of a 58-industry input-output model...