The regional distribution of Spanish unemployment: A spatial analysis

Abstract

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. Abstract: This paper proposes a set of tools for analysing the regional distribution of unemployment. As we were interested in the characteristics of the distribution as a whole, results from a traditional regression analysis were complemented with those obtained by estimating its external shape before and after being conditioned to factors underlying regional unemployment. In addition, the paper specifically considers the spatial characteristics of the distribution, and the empirical model developed in order to determine explanatory factors includes spatial effects. This framework is applied to the study of the provincial distribution of unemployment rates in Spain. Results point to increasing spatial dependence in the distribution of regional unemployment rates, and a change in the factors causing regional differentials over the last decade. Terms of use: Documents in EconStor may

The regional distribution of unemployment: What do micro‐data tell us?

“…In line with previous studies (e.g., López‐Bazo et al. ; Patacchini and Zenou ; Filiztekin ), regional unemployment rates in Spain are spatially clustered. Figure maps the regional distribution of the average unemployment rates over the entire period (with a similar picture being obtained for the individual years).…”

“…Furthermore, the effect is reported as being positive, and in some cases even significant, for the set of Canadian regions in Partridge (), while no significance was found for the Spanish regions in López‐Bazo et al. (, ). Likewise, Filiztekin () finds no evidence of a robust negative effect for the Turkish provinces.…”

“…Disparities in unemployment rates are sizeable and persistent both between and within many countries (OECD , , , ; Blanchard and Katz ; Decressin and Fatás ; López‐Bazo et al. ; Overman and Puga ; Cracolici et al. ; Bande et al.…”

“…Most previous contributions to the empirical literature (Elhorst ; Partridge and Rickman ; Taylor and Bradley ; López‐Bazo et al. , ; Filiztekin ) have sought to analyse the determinants of regional inequalities in unemployment by means of an aggregate specification in which the unemployment rate in each region, or the deviation from a benchmark (the nationwide average or the region with the lowest rate), is related to regional magnitudes proxying for both the disequilibrium and the equilibrium determinants of unemployment. It should be noted that this aggregate approach imposes the same effect on each variable in all regions, while only partially (and thus imperfectly) accounting for regional heterogeneity in individual and household characteristics, that is, for the sorting of individuals across regions according to their observed characteristics.…”

The accessibility to employment offices in the Spanish labour market

“…Finally, we will consider in this section whether the accessibility to employment offices has effect on local unemployment rates. Within the field of labour market studies, several contributions have taken into account the spatial dimension of regional labour markets and pointed out the high degree of interdependence of local labour markets (Molho 1995; Lopéz‐Bazo et al. 2002; Overman and Puga 2002).…”