Is public spending used as a substitute for structural reforms?
Is public spending used to correct the negative effects of a lack of structural reforms? One can imagine f or example that if the absence of structural reforms reduces employment, public spending could be increased (on welfare benefits, subsidies, job creation in the public sector, etc.) to try to offset th is negative effect on employment. This leads us to compare, across OECD countries, the weight of public spending and: The employment rate, the unemployment rate and the degree of employment protection; Labour force and youth skill levels; The degree of corporate modernisation; The degree of regulation in the goods and services markets; Indeed, w e find that high public spending is associated with: A low employment rate; Strong employment protection; Low youth skills.