Chapter 3: The effect of globalisation on Western European jobs: curse or blessing?

Abstract

This chapter analyses the impact of increased economic integration with low-wage economies on Western European jobs: the message is that when taking all effects into account, globalisation is more likely in the end to raise rather than to reduce employment, because it will help making labour markets more flexible. The challenge for policy is to counter adverse income distribution effects, but to do so in a way that employment is not harmed.