Table of Contents

Preface Introduction Rebecca M. Blank 1: Evaluating the Connection between Social Protection and Economic Flexibility Rebecca M. Blank, Richard B. Freeman. 2: Trends in Social Protection Programs and Expenditures in the 1980s Peter Scherer 3: Does Employment Protection Inhibit Labor Market Flexibility? Lessons from Germany, France, and Belgium Katharine G. Abraham, Susan N. Houseman. 4: Patterns in Regional Labor Market Adjustment: The United States versus Japan Edward B. Montgomery 5: Housing Market Regulations and Housing Market Performance in the United States, Germany, and Japan Axel Borsch-Supan 6: Health Insurance Provision and Labor Market Efficiency in the United States and Germany Douglas Holtz-Eakin 7: Social Security and Older Workers' Labor Market Responsiveness: The United States, Japan, and Sweden Marcus E. Rebick 8: Public Sector Growth and Labor Market Flexibility: The United States versus the United Kingdom Rebecca M. Blank 9: Does Public Health Insurance Reduce Labor Market Flexibility or Encourage the Underground Economy? Evidence from Spain and the United States Sara de la Rica, Thomas Lemieux. 10: Social Welfare Programs for Women and Children: The United States versus France Maria J. Hanratty 11: Three Regimes of Child Care: The United States, the Netherlands, and Sweden Siv Gustafsson, Frank P. Stafford. Contributors Author Index Subject index