fRDB-IZA Social Reforms Database

New (preliminary) version available

• The fRDB-IZA database (preliminary version)
• The fRDB Social Reforms database (old version)
• Related publications and events

NEW DATABASE (PRELIMINARY VERSION)!

This database has been created thanks to the joint initiative of fRDB and IZA (Institute for the Study of Labour, Bonn) to collect an inventory on core labour market reforms. This new version builds upon the fRDB Social Reforms database, incorporating additional input from international and national sources. It collects information about social reforms in the EU15 countries (except Luxembourg) over the period 1980-2007.

The preliminary version of the database, which is now available from this website, focuses on two areas of reform:
•    Employment Protection Legislation (EPL);
•    Non-Employment Benefits (NEB).
The data, in its final version, will cover also a third policy area: Public Pension Systems (PEN).

The purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive (i.e. complete both in time and geographically) qualitative database of relevant labour market reforms in European countries. It will allow researchers to benefit from a generally available and comprehensive inventory of labour market reforms, and it will help those researchers who are increasingly interested on qualitative information in deepening their understanding of country specific reform processes.

A core group of researchers at IZA and fRDB assembled information and data, while individual experts on specific topics cross-checked national information for some of the countries included in the dataset (Italy, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom). We are currently looking for additional funding opportunities in order to establish a flexible network of experts who will be in charge of filling missing details and checking collected information (researchers who are interested in collaborating may contact paola.monti@unibocconi.it).

Categorical variables as well as other characteristics of the reforms are organized in a STATA file, ready to be used for statistical analysis. A more detailed description of each reform can be found in the related excel file.

Note: the final version of the database is currently under construction jointly by fRDB and IZA! As soon as the latest version of the database is available, it will be uploaded on this webpage. For more information on the project, please visit the dedicated page on this website.

Access to database: the fRDB wants to keep track of users of its Reforms Database as well as of publications based on these data. For this reason, users are required to register in order to obtain free access to the database. Please contact fRDB (info@frdb.org) for registration and passwords.

Credits: the fRDB-IZA Reforms Database has been developed by Massimo Anelli, Andrea Catania, Gaetano Basso, Tommaso Colussi, Paola Monti, Magdalena Zhelyazkova and Werner Eichhorst. For any further information please write to info@frdb.org or contact Paola Monti at paola.monti@unibocconi.it.

Country experts: Alessandro Corrado (Italy), Maximilian Freier (UK), Virginia Hernanz (Spain),  Giuseppe Messina (Spain), Minna Van Gerven (Sweden).