Macroeconomics and Labor Markets

Our research focuses on two broad topics: (i) the link between labor markets and the welfare state; and (ii) the interactions between economic inequality and the macro-economy.

In our labor market research we empirically identify the causal effect of welfare state policies for individual labor market outcomes. We study, for example, how labor market policies affect unemployment; how disability- and unemployment-insurance systems affect retirement and mortality; how family policies affect fertility and labor supply; and how immigration policies affect host-country labor markets.

To understand the nexus between inequality and macroeconomic outcomes we analyze, theoretically and empirically, how the formation of large middle classes in emerging economies affects growth and structural change; how inequalities affect R&D and innovation incentives through the demand for new and higher-quality products; and how inequalities within and between countries shape trade flows and the international division of labor.

The Chair Macroeconomics and Labor Market is currently involved in two collaborative research projects:

Economic Inequality and International Trade

Sinergia Project CRSI11_132272 / 1 financed by the SNF
PI: Prof. Dr. Josef Zweimüller (Project Partners: Prof. Dr. Peter Egger, ETH; Prof. Dr. Reto Foellmi, University of St.Gallen)

NRN Labor and Welfare State

Subproject Population Economics financed by the Austrian Science Foundation FWF
Project Partner: Prof. Dr. Josef Zweimüller (PI: Prof. Dr. Rudolf Winter-Ebmer, University of Linz)

Office

Patrick de Caes

Office: MUB-F303
Phone: +41 (0)44 634 37 16
Fax: +41 (0)44 634 51 55
EMail: patrick.decaes@econ.uzh.ch

Address

Mühlebachstrasse 86
CH-8008 Zürich