Nm
Overall
The moral issue: "at the heart of the European labour market lies the idea that is accepable to sacrifice the opportunities of the worst off to help those who are in work. What sort of justice is that ?" April 5 97 Ec
Italy
Italy's unemployment rate is 12% but its 22% in the South and 6% in the north and central.
Yet some live in the low cost south as well on welfare there as people with jobs in the North. Furthermore as in US migrants take jobs that nobody will do in the south. There are few part timers. Its almost impossible to sack people. Non wage costs at 50% of total labour costs are the highest in the Economist, France is 45 , Germany 42, Britain 25 .
Over 50% of Italies unemployment have been that way for over a year
33% of adults under 25 are out of work and most have never worked.
Its not because the welfare system is generous but because families are.
Italy's budget defecits have been over 10% most years since 1990 (as compared with Economist average of about 4% since 1980), now in 1997 its down to 3% for entry to the EMU.
Italy only spends half the EU average on family support/ unemployment benefit but 33% more on pensions.
Net present value of future pension liablities is 400% (highest in the EU), Britain is about 110%, Finland Sweden Germany Spain all over 300, and most of the rest over 200, only Ireland has less than UK at 90% odd. (figures taken from a graph) Economist N8,97
Italy 57 governments since 1947.
Netherlands
Deep cuts in unemployment benefit and sickness pay have been made, unemployment has dropped to German levels , 6.2% down from double that . Employers social security contribs down from 20 to 7.9% since 89, bottom rate of income tax halved to 7% April 5 97 Ec
Spain
Unemployment 23%, 66% entitled to benefit and falling.
Spain has one of the largest black economies in Europe (est 22% GDP Ec feb12)
A dismissed Spanish employee can gain 45 days pay compensation for every year worked
Spain has changed this, so 30% of workers are now on another level with less protection.
6.6% of spending on Education (30% private mostly RC) , 14.6 on heath and welfare ( not including a further 8% on Labour and social security and 5% on Pensions, Total = 27%, public works 8%, debt 18%
,defense 5%, ( payments to territorial bodies is 18%)
UK
Education is 12% and health is 14%,soc sec is 33%
Estonia
Tax:gdp just 75%, pers and corp tax at a flat rate of 26%, un 4% , tariffs and subsidies scrapped mostly., currency board with DM has cut inflation to almost single figures, trade defecit financed by capital inflows but what comes in can easily go back out again as ASEAN has found out.
Czechoslovakia: privatisation left the firms to be managed by the banks in effect
Russia
Taxes in Russia are high and arbitrary,41% soc sec,20% VAT,38% excess wages tax,13% national profits tax , 22% local profits tax