This bundle features selected contributions from the Autumn conference of the German Association of Political Economy, held in Maastricht in 1997. The papers primarily focus on theoretical discussions surrounding contemporary issues in the unemployment debate from both macro- and micro-economic perspectives. Key topics include macro-economic policies and income inequality, the relationship between unemployment, inflation, and growth, the dynamics of European welfare states, labor market institutions and their performance, and the effects of labor market deregulation on unemployment. This collection is particularly relevant for economists and social scientists engaged in macro-economics and labor economics, as well as those interested in the theoretical foundations of current macro-economic and labor market policies. Notable contributions include discussions on disinflation and unemployment, growth and unemployment in dual economies, the interplay of inequality, unemployment, and inflation, and the implications of market power among skilled workers. Other papers examine the reluctance of firms to hire underbidders, the impact of active job search on unemployment, and the incentives for employers' associations in collective bargaining contexts. Additionally, there is an analysis of sectoral average wages and employment growth in models with international capital movements.
