This volume, the first in a new series by the National Bureau of Economic Research that compares labor markets in different countries, examines social and labor market policies in Canada and the United States during the 1980s. It shows that subtle differences in unemployment compensation, unionization, immigration policies, and income maintenance programs have significantly affected economic outcomes in the two countries. For example: -Canada's social safety net, more generous than the American one, produced markedly lower poverty rates in the 1980s. -Canada saw a smaller increase in earnings inequality than the United States did, in part because of the strength of Canadian unions, which have twice the participation that U.S. unions do. -Canada's unemployment figures were much higher than those in the United States, not because the Canadian economy failed to create jobs but because a higher percentage of nonworking time was reported as unemployment. These disparities have become noteworthy as policy makers cite the experiences of the other country to support or oppose particular initiatives.

Offers an analysis of 12 indicators from the ILO Key Indicators of the Labour Market database. The aim is to look for progress or lack of progress towards the goal of gender equality in the world of work and identify where and why blockages to labour market equity continue to exist. Focuses on the relationship of women to labour markets and compares employment outcomes for men and women to the best degree possible given the available labour market indicators.

This study evaluates private-sector labour relations laws by examining provincial laws (which cover the overwhelming majority of Canadian workers) and federal laws in Canada, and federal and state laws in the United States in 2008.4 The study evaluates the extent to which labour relations laws achieve balance and flexibility in the labour market. [...] Jurisdictional differences Prior to the examination of labour relations laws in Canada and the United States, it is important to recognize that there is a marked difference between the two countries in terms of the level of government responsible for the regulation of labour relations. [...] The National Labor Relations Board decides whether the purchaser is a successor employer by taking into account a number of factors including the number of employ- ees taken over by the purchasing employer, the similarity in operations and product of the two employers, the manner in which the purchaser integrates the purchased operations into its other operations, and the character of the bargaini [...] Whether the purchaser is a successor employer is dependent on several factors, including the number of employees taken over by the purchasing employer, the similarity in operations and product of the two employers, the manner in which the purchaser integrates the pur- chased operations into its other operations, and the character of the bargaining relationship and agreement between the union and t [...] The ability to disrupt the operations of third parties means that the union and workers have the ability to affect not only the employer covered by the collective agreement but also any other company doing business with the primary firm and pressure from these third parties may force the employer to settle a strike instead of addressing the reasons for the strike.

This publication gathers the papers presented at the “OECD-EU dialogue on mobility and international migration: matching economic migration with labour market needs” (Brussels, 24-25 February 2014), a conference jointly organised by the European Commission and the OECD.