ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS: EVIDENCE FROM THE STATES |
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| Authors: | LAUREN R HELLER E FRANK STEPHENSON |
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| Institution: | Heller: Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA. Phone 706‐290‐2688, Fax 706‐238‐7854, E‐mail lheller@berry.edu |
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| Abstract: | Using 1981–2009 data for the 50 states, this article examines the relationship between economic freedom and the unemployment rate, the labor force participation rate, and the employment‐population ratio. After controlling for a variety of state‐level characteristics, the results from most specifications indicate that economic freedom is associated with lower unemployment and with higher labor force participation and employment‐population ratios. (JEL J68, K31, O43) |
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