E24 - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor ProductivityReturn

This study examines the long-run relationship between the unemployment rate and labour force participation rate in South Korea from June 1999 to January 2023. The study utilizes the traditional Johansen cointegration test and augments it with Fourier terms to control for an unknown number of breaks in the cointegration system. The empirical findings suggest a significant long-run relationship between the unemployment rate and labour force participation rate in South Korea, which provides evidence against the unemployment invariance hypothesis. The study also finds evidence of the discouraged-worker effect for males and the added-worker effect for females. The findings of this study have important implications for policymakers in creating more effective plans to lower unemployment and foster economic growth in South Korea. This study contributes to the literature by clarifying the validity of the unemployment invariance hypothesis in the South Korean economy, which is regarded as a growth miracle in the literature. Instead of using the standard configuration of dummy variables, the Johansen cointegration technique now has the ability to adjust for an unknown number of multiple structural breaks in the cointegration system.

Precarious work is characterized by flexible and nonstandard employment relations. It affects people's economic relationships and participation in social and political movements. Based on the data of the Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics 2015, this paper explores the influence mechanism of precarious work on political participation with political attitudes as a mediator. The results show that, for precarious workers, there is a significantly lower probability of institutionalized political participation and a higher probability of non-institutionalized political participation. Also, the young precarious workers have a lower probability of institutionalized political participation and a higher probability of non-institutionalized political participation than the middle-aged and the elderly. Political attitudes are a significant mediator between precarious work and political participation.

The objective of this paper is to analyse the distribution of salaries in the public sector with a focus on employees receiving a salary at the level of minimum wages in the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the methods used is the construction of salary distribution models by gender and educational attainment and the creation of predictions using exponential smoothing. The results of the analysis show the highest increase in real salaries among women with the lowest education. The results further show that the highest benefit in terms of the average real monthly salary of both men and women comes from changing the employee's educational attainment from secondary education without A-level examination to secondary education with A-level examination. On the other hand, for women originally with primary education, obtaining an apprenticeship certificate does not have a significant effect on their real salary on average.

The aim of this study is to verify the validity of Barro-Ricardo equivalence in Czech conditions with the help of experimental methods. Ricardian equivalence, in which case consumers postpone consumption under lower taxation, is a basic assumption of many studies dealing with intertemporal decision making and has important implications for government tax policy. Using nonparametric methods and panel data regression, we find that Ricardian equivalence does not hold in general. Our results suggest that taxation has a significant impact on consumption decisions. Over the life cycle, a tax cut increases consumption on average by 28.7% of the tax credit. Conversely, a tax increase causes a 27.8% increase in consumption on average. Using individual consumption time series, we find that approximately 70% of the tested individuals behave contrary to Ricardian equivalence. Our results show that a change in tax levels affects consumption in subsequent periods.

The present study aims to indicate whether structural transformation has provided enhancement for the disadvantaged parts of society in terms of gender or whether it has been implemented at the expense of social inequalities in 10 BEM (Big Emerging Market) economies (Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, South Korea and Türkiye) in the period 1998–2019. The study also aims to understand the dynamics behind the connection between structural transformation and unemployment by comparing the results from each country. This paper also focuses on the effects of economic complexity on the breakdown of unemployment rates including female, male, youth female and youth male unemployment divisions. In the study, firstly, cross-sectional dependence is tested for all variables; secondly, the CADF test as a second-generation unit root test is applied; thirdly, the parameter constancy test is applied to each model, and then the models are estimated using the panel regression method with random coefficients. The study reveals a geographical distinction between the ten economies. Economic complexity significantly affects all types of unemployment in Poland, but it does not affect unemployment in Asian and African countries. The other result of the study is that even in Poland, the decreasing effect of ECI (Economic Complexity Index) on unemployment is different for women and men.

Immigration is a controversial and vital issue that has become an acute problem for countries facing cultural and economic difficulties resulting from it, and unemployment is at the forefront of these difficulties. According to theory, migration causes unemployment; thus, the causality relationship between migration and unemployment is empirically ex- amined in our study. For this purpose, we used a new test known as the Panel Fourier Toda-Yamamoto (PFTY) method for the period 1990-2019, which contributes to the existing literature from a methodological standpoint. This test allows investigating multiple structural breaks, cross-section dependence and country heterogeneity. Our first test results show that when we use the Dumitrescu-Hurlin (2012) test, the causal relationship is confirmed neither for any country nor the entire panel. However, when we employ the PFTY test, we reach causality runs from migration to unemployment for the entire panel and four countries.

The aim of the paper is to verify the sensitivity of national labour markets to economic growth while respecting its sources and different growth trends. We monitored the change in employment caused by economic growth in the set of EU27 member states in the period 2000-2019. The sensitivity of the labour market was quantified by finding the values of the elasticity coefficient. To obtain it, we used a relation to calculate the point elasticity as well as a logarithmic linear regression model compiled for each member state. The differences in the response of the labour market were identified by comparing the values of the indicator. To determine the factors of employment changes, partial analyses were performed by dividing the evaluated period into sections, especially into periods of growth and decline. As a result, it was possible to identify the impact of economic development trends on the elasticity of the labour market. At the same time, subsets (groups of countries) were created based on similarity of labour productivity levels and employment rates. The results of the analyses indicated that the labour market in all cases responded to changes in economic performance in a short period of time, while the strength of the influence is also affected by the stability of economic development.

The inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) is linked to several positive effects, which result in growing gross domestic product (GDP) and reduced unemployment rate in the host country. The level of GDP and the unemployment rate determine the FDI inflow, but contrariwise, FDI inflow has an impact on these variables. In the paper, we investigate which of these variables is the impulse and which is consequently determined by the impulse variable. The objective of the paper is to examine the length of the FDI effect in a host economy as well as the impact of FDI inflow on the unemployment rate using vector autoregression and impulse-reaction functions. Based on results of the Granger causality, we analyse linkages between FDI inflow, unemployment rate and GDP growth in the Slovak Republic in the period 1995-2018. The results show that the impulse comes from the unemployment rate, which consequently affects the FDI inflow. However, the length of this effect is very short.

The issue of minimum wage is highly topical in the context of the so-called minimum wage controversy, which contradicts the attitude of the neoclassical school. The aim of this paper is to analyse the effect of minimum wage increase together with effects of changes in other exogenous variables such as GDP growth rate, inflation rate, unemployment compensation and other social benefits on the real unemployment rate in the Czech Republic in 2006-2018. Linear regression models are tested using the Cochrane-Orcutt method. The effect of minimum wage increase on the rate of unemployment proved to be insignificant in the period 2006-2018. A negative effect of GDP growth rate was confirmed in 2006-2018, while unemployment benefits seemed to have a positive effect on the unemployment rate. The results show a negative effect of increasing minimum wage on the unemployment rate of women in 2011-2018, in line with the neoclassical theory. The conclusions of this paper have significant economic implications for minimum wage policy.

This paper explores whether downward rigidity in nominal wages has negative impacts on the economy in the case of deflation caused by economic growth. In this situation, growth of real wages may be delivered by a fall in the price level even if nominal wages are constant. Hayek's proposal to stabilize MV is studied in detail. The nominal GDP is stabilized within this framework, and when potential output is growing, the price level might decrease. It is derived that this Hayekian rule would lead to a fall in nominal wages in an economy with positive population growth, which restricts the space for deflation. Friedman's proposal to stabilize prices of factors of production is also examined. It results in weaker deflation than Hayek's proposal and no need for decrease in nominal wages. The next part of the article demonstrates that the Hayekian framework may not require a fall in nominal wages in a converging economy if the labour share of income is gradually increasing, even if population growth is positive.

Foreign investment has been an important source of capital formation in transition countries but has caused the division of economies into foreign- and domestic-owned sectors. This paper explores the persistence of dual economy in the Czech Republic as well as the relationship between labour productivity and components used in the income approach to GDP calculation. Analysing the dataset of 20,900 firms operating in the Czech Republic in 2015, the paper presents evidence that higher levels of foreign investment are associated with significant labour productivity and wage differentials. Lower unit labour costs in foreign enterprises are consistent with higher level of investment of foreign-owned firms. Our model shows that differences in the degree of capital intensity are the driving force for the level of unit labour costs (i.e. factors are substitutes concerning the factor payments).

This analysis seeks to map the level of reconciliation of work and family life of women in the Czech Republic. Using a HP filter, the authors estimate and compare the development of the NAIRU on the labour market in the case of women compared with men aged 20–49. The authors also quantify the impact and character of selected government policy measures on the NAIRU of women in the 20–49 age group. An explanation is offered for negative and positive influence. While the unemployment rate measured for the age group 15–64 reached 6.9%, it was 7% for the age group 20–49 and 8.6% for women. An increase in the NAIRU of women aged between 20 and 49 given by reconciliation of work and family life was identified, e.g., for the men’s part-time job category or social care facilities category. To the contrary, a decrease in the NAIRU of women (20-49) was identified for the following categories: number of hours worked per week, number of pupils in after-lessons school clubs, women’s part-time jobs, number of children enrolled in kindergartens, and day care service spending.

The research database consists of the OECD countries except Iceland, Latvia and Turkey, which were excluded because of insufficient data. The primary objective of the study is to group the countries according to their average wage, GDP per capita, minimum wage and unemployment rate. Another objective, of no less importance, is to determine which of the three remaining above variables significantly affect the average wage, while defining the type and strength of this relationship. Yet another important goal is to develop forecasts of the wage level and GDP per capita for each OECD country by 2020. In terms of clustering OECD countries by the four variables, the Czech Republic always ranks alongside Chile and three post-communist countries, Estonia, Hungary and Poland. GDP per capita is the only explanatory variable significantly affecting the average wage. The dependence of these two variables is represented by a second-order polynomial (concave parabola), the selected regression parabola explaining approximately 88 percent of the variability in the observed levels of the average annual wage. The conversion of the average wage, GDP per capita and minimum wage to purchasing power parity allows consideration of different price levels and thus comparison of purchasing power parity of the population in different countries.

We analyze age-specific labor market dynamics in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia over the period 2009-2012. We document a marginalized status of young workers aged 16-24, whose risk of job loss followed by unemployment is two to three times higher than that of prime-age workers (35-49). Further more, unemployed workers aged 50-61 face relatively the lowest probability of finding a job, at rates 30-50% lower than prime-age unemployed workers. These results are qualitatively in line with those established for the reference economy of the UK. Finally, we find that fluctuations in age-specific unemployment rates in all three countries are mainly driven by variations in outflow rates from unemployment rather than by variations in inflow rates into unemployment. In contrast, in the UK, the fluctuations in all age-specific unemployment rates, are decisively affected by variations in inflow rates into unemployment.

This article analyses wages development in the Czech Republic since 2000 to 2014. Analysis is principal focused on ICT Professional's (this group of employees in the economy is split into two sub groups ICT Specialists and ICT technicians) wages and its comparison to the wages in the whole Czech economy. Used data sources were collected by Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic, in the "Information System of Average Earnings" which is harmonized with the "Structure of Earnings Survey" provided by Europen Union. Analysis is provided by ICT sub groups and by gender. For more detail analysis, is also the percentile analysis of ICT job groups in comparison to the whole Czech economy presented. Contribution of ICT Professional's average wage to the average wage of the Czech economy increased from 0.43% in 2000 to 1.32% in 2014. The long term trend in wages of ICT Professionals in permanently increasing. Wages for ICT Specialists are significant higher then wages of ICT Technicians. The non-equality in wages is analysed by method of Gini index. This method is demonstrated by the development of GINI index for ICT Professionals and its comparison to Gini index of the whole Czech economy. Comparison shows that non equality is lower by ICT Professionals then in the Czech economy and from two job groups in ICT is the lower non equality for ICT Technicians group then for ICT Specialists.

The present paper deals with the development of the gross monthly wage distribution according to the length of the practical experience of employees in the Czech Republic since the beginning of the global economic downturn in 2009, during the course of the crisis and in its aftermath. The gross monthly wage dependence on the length of the practice has been researched, the dependence intensity measurement being a part of the analysis. The trend analysis of gross monthly wage time series differentiated according to the length of the practice having been conducted, forecasts of wage levels for 2015 and 2016 were constructed with the use of the above analysis.

In its theoretical part the paper summarizes the main developmental phases of a concept of optimal currency areas. In the empirical part of the paper Mundell's OCA condition of a mobility of factors of production for EMU countries is verified. There is a little doubt that the criteria of labour mobility was not met. On the other hand, capital mobility almost reached its limit. However, labour immobility was not substituted by effective allocation of capital. Moreover, both factors of production were not homogeneous within the Eurozone. To entirely confirm Mundell's criteria it is crucial to scrutinize not only the mobility of factors of production but also their homogeneity.

The aim of the article is to describe effects of selected institutional factors on structural and cyclical unemployment. The theoretical and methodological basis of institutional aspects of the labour market functioning draws from a number of previously published studies. Factors are modified for national conditions of the Visegrad Group (hereinafter V4). The article compares NAIRU estimates of previously fine-tuned models with estimates of models extended by selected institutional factors. The difference between these groups will then be compared with development of relevant variables of the real economy. That will allow us to determine whether the institutional factor infl uenced structural or cyclical unemployment. We will also specify the intensity of its negative influence on the two types of unemployment. The final results of the analysis are compared with results of previous studies and world literature data.

This article addresses the issue of the relationship of parenthood, employment and economic inactivity of childcare holders. It focuses on the mother's motivation to work in the context of Czech social policy measures. The aim is to empirically verify the willingness of women, taking care of children under three years old, to return to work. The decision of mothers, about their participation the labour market, is analysed by indicator "Effective cost of return to work" and by using sensitivity analysis. Negative net fi nancial effect of return to work was identifi ed for all studied regions and types of workloads. These results demonstrate clearly that mothers, entering the labour market, are confronted with very high additional costs. These costs would not be covered by their employment income and other received benefi ts. Estimated amount of potential wage, which would encourage women to return to work, reach in some cases up to four times the median wage of women in the particular region.

The EU labour markets show a number of long-term imbalances and asymmetries, which are refl ected in a persisting high unemployment rate. A group that is particularly affected by the high unemployment rate are young people. The aim of the paper is to analyse causes and consequences of the youth unemployment in the EU and compare them with the measures. We test 894 POLITICKÁ EKONOMIE, 7, 2015 following hypothesis: "The high rigidity of the labour markets in the EU increases the rate of youth unemployment." Further, we analyse the correlation between the rigidity of the EU labour markets and youth unemployment rate. There is some evidence that Employment Protection Legislation index (EPL) is one of the key factors infl uencing youth unemployment. However, the results have differed significantly the according to the various regions (socio-economics models) of the EU. In the end of the paper the research leads to the conclusion that if the education systém allows a smooth transition between school and work, a higher rate of EPL doesn't increase youth unemployment. In order to reflect high complexity of the problem is the examination of the systems approach.

Having regard to the importance of the compensation effect between output and unemployment known as Okun's law for both contemporary economic theory and for practical economic policy, the intent of the paper is to examine the empirical validity of Okun's law for the four Visegrad Group countries with consideration given to possible asymmetry. Using the quarterly data for the period from Q1/1998 and Q2/2014 and its gap version, Okun's law is verifi ed for each investigated country and some specifi cs of labour markets are highlighted so as to explain the magnitude of the estimated Okun's coeffi cients. The contribution of the paper is two-fold. First, this empirical relationship is confi rmed in validity with attention directed to the foursome of countries. Second, the analysis utilizes the non-linear ARDL model proposed in the paper to accommodate possible nonlinearity and asymmetry in Okun's law. Asymmetry is found and economically reasoned by the specifi cs of the labour market only for Slovakia since there appears to be a different reaction of the unemployment gap to positive output gap and to negative one.

The aim of the presented paper is to estimate the cost of unemployment in the Slovak Economy. The cost of unemployment can be divided into a direct component, composed of decreasing government revenues due to reduced direct taxes and social contribution payments from the employees and the employers; increased public spending on unemployment benefi ts, social security and health insurance and finally increased expenditures on running the administration of unemployed persons and active labor market policies. The second part, consisting of indirect costs, is composed of one component, represented by the decreasing collection of indirect taxes. The analysis showed that the average estimated real monthly cost per one unemployed throughout the years 2008-2012 fall within the range from 416 euros to 588 euros.

This paper investigates the possible reasons why many microfi nance institutions (MFIs) have gradually experienced a decrease in the share of female borrowers in their portfolios over the last few years. We confi rm that the share of women may be decreasing due to the growing proportion of low-income inhabitants in the area and unpaid family workers. Our results further show that the share of women is also strongly dependent on employment policy that has a positive impact on the dependent variable. Unexpectedly, none of macroeconomic variables such as economic growth, wage and household consumption has an impact on the number of female borrowers.

This article presents the methodology to extend the traditional employment-unemployment flows model with a third sector: long-term unemployment. This enables a new range of decompositions of various labour market aggregates which allows for a deeper understanding of the structure and dynamics of a particular labour market. One of possible analyses is conducted in the case of selected EU Member States. Finally, it is shown that transition probabilities into and from long-term unemployment depend on the business cycle in most EU countries.

The aim of this article is to explore main linkages among the participation rate, potential output and pension funding system. Based on the existing literature, there are several possibilities how to render the current set-up of the pension system sustainable. This sustainability is conventionally regarded from the perspective of provision of "satisfactory level" of retirement pensions as well as from the perspective of general budgetary impact. In this respect, demographic change is accounted for owing to the common perception that it has a lot to do with how the future pension system should and will look like. It has been found out that if appropriate economic policy measures ‒ targeting mainly labour market participation rate and long-term unemployment ‒ are adopted, no need for abrupt changes in the existing social security system framework is actually necessary. Also, the linkages between the participation rate and potential output seem to be relatively strong, so that the economy could be easily considered as signifi cantly influenced by its labour market. The functioning of the latter thus seems to be pivotal for the resolution of some long-term economic capacity concerns, including its dynamics.

Economic growth of the Czech Republic measured by GDP reached 3,4 % per annum in the decade 2001-2010 and was substantially faster than average annual growth of the European Union. Strong acceleration in the years 2005-2007 was followed by stagnation in the years 2008-2012 caused by strong decline of GDP in the year 2009 and milder recession in the year 2012. The modest recovery in the years 2010 and 2011 was pulled namely by foreign trade, while final consumption and gross fixed capital formation stagnated. Alternative indicator of national income was negatively influenced by growing outflow of primary incomes. Real gross domestic income indicates different results in comparison with gross domestic product because of changes in the terms of trade. Macroeconomic stability improved substantially in the field of foreign trade while general government deficit contributed to its deterioration.

In the global world, the special focus of the paper is on the potential effects of foreign ownership on job and employee flows during the recent economic crisis. The initial hypothesis is that the foreignowned economic subjects may be more often subject to the excessive negative effect caused by the economic downturn compared with those of domestic ownership. Keeping this in mind, we quantify the extended set of employment indicators concerning job creation and job destruction as well as hires and separations according to the ownership of the economic subjects running their businesses in the Czech Republic in the period 2007-2010 and discuss which economic subjects have suffered the consequences of the current crisis. The results show that job destruction varied more than job creation which corresponds to cyclical asymmetry investigated by previous studies.

The economic development points out the importance of the development study of sectors and branches of economics, because they can deepen or moderate volatility of the economic cycle. The article aims at mapping the rate of unemployment in the primary, secondary and tertiary sector in the Czech Republic. With using the HP filter we estimate NAIRU. The comparison of the actual rate of unemployment with the average value NAIRU was used for the specification of the economic cycle. We compare the rate of unemployment, NAIRU and unemployment gaps in sectors with the average value on the national level too.

The growing complexity of problems solved in today's European labor market forces us to change our views of the system; and requires the application of modern approaches, including systems theories. The main purpose of the paper is to analyze the flexicurity in a systematic manner. With a focus on systems approach to solving these problems (e.g. unemployment and long-term unemployment), we try to form a new framework for thinking about the European labor market. The further purpose of the paper is to confirm, or refuse, the hypothesis related to the intersection of an employment protection and a long-term unemployment. With the aid of causal loops it is possible to analyze the European labor market as a complex feed-back system. The outputs of the paper should be a contribution to the concept of the flexicurity which had been implemented into the more complex Lisbon Strategy, and for the support of systems thinking about the European labor market.

Economic growth of the Czech Republic strongly accelerated in the years 2005-2007. Substantial decline of economic activity took place at the end of 2008 and in the year 2009. On the supply side the main contributing factors were labour and total factor productivity. On the demand side the growth was pulled by domestic demand and the contribution of foreign trade became positive in the years 2004-2008. Macroeconomic stability improved substantially in the field of foreign trade. The process of real convergence accelerated in the years 2001-2007 and was based on the growth of labour productivity. In 2008 the GDP per capita in purchasing power standards reached 80 % of the EU-27 average. The comparative price level grew quickly from the low starting level, but was far below the relative economic level compared with EU-15. In 2008 a great jump in CPL took place (from 59 % in 2007 to 67 % in 2008 in relation to EU-15).

Economic growth of the Czech Republic differed strongly in two periods: 2001-2003 and 2004-2006. While in the first period the average annual rate of growth of GDP reached only 2,7 %, in the second period the growth accelerated to 5,7 %. The economic growth measured by the indicators of real income (namely of real gross domestic income) was faster. This was caused by positive contribution of the terms of trade. On the supply side the main contributing factors were labour and total factor productivity. On the demand side the growth was pulled by domestic demand which grew in the period 2001-2003 even faster than GDP. The contribution of foreign trade becomes positive in the years 2004-2006 with very strong contribution in the year 2005. Macroeconomic stability of the Czech economy improved substantially in the field of foreign trade. The trade balance becomes positive from the year 2004 and growing imbalance persists in the balance of income. The negative gap between savings and investments is caused mainly by households and general government. The process of real convergence accelerated in the years 2000-2006 and was based on the growth of labour and total factor productivity. In 2006 the GDP per capita in purchasing power standards reached almost 80 % of the average level in EU-27. The comparative price level of the Czech Republic in this year reached only 61 % despite accelerated process of catching-up.

The efficiency of macroeconomic policies depends on adequate business cycle approximation. Given that potential output and the output gap (the difference between actual and potential output) are not directly observable, their values need to be estimated using alternative statistical, structural, and combined techniques. In this paper the Hodrick-Prescott filter and the Cobb-Douglass production function has been applied on the Slovak conditions. The pross and coins of both methods are analysed. The Hodrick-Prescott filter does not capture the structural changes, which were significant especially in the first half of analysed period. Thus the Cobb-Douglass production function seems to be more appropriate. It enables to detect particular factors of potential output growth as technological progress, capital and labour. Despite of potential shortcomings, this approach is still widely used by international institutions, governments and researchers.

Economic growth of the Czech Republic differed strongly in two periods: 1996-1999 and 2000-2004. While in the first period the economy was hit by the recession and the average annual rate of growth of GDP reached only 0,9 %, in the second period the growth accelerated to 3,2 %. The economic growth measured by the indicators of real income (namely of real gross domestic income) was faster. This was caused by positive contribution of the terms of trade. On the supply side the main contributing factors were labour and total factor productivity. On the demand side the growth was pulled by domestic demand which grew even faster than GDP. The contribution of foreign trade becomes positive in the year 2004 and mainly in 2005. Macroeconomic stability of the Czech economy improved substantially in the fields of inflation, monetary development and foreign trade. Imbalances persist in general government budget and on the current account of the balance of payment. The process of real convergence accelerated in the years 2000-2004 and was based on the growth of labour and total factor productivity. In 2004 the GDP per capita in purchasing power standards surpassed 70 % of the average level in EU-25. The comparative price level of the Czech Republic in this year reached only 53 % despite accelerated process of catching-up.

World economy slowed down more than 2 %, which was the main feature of its development in 2001. There were more factors behind this economic slowdown, primarily the faltering upswing of the world crude oil price, problems of the technological sector, and September 11 events in the USA. Recession forces hit world trade and investment activities in particular. Main sources of economic growth were thus significantly weakened in consequence. The growth rate of GDP in the EU slowed down from 3.3 % in 2000 to 1.6 % in 2001. A larger fall of the economy was prevented by only a slight deceleration of the growth of household consumption from 2.7 % in 2000 to 2.0 % in 2001 and keeping the dynamic growth of services between 2 % and 4 %. However, external trade growth rates were only a third on 2000 and came to limit Czech external trade dynamics in the second half of the year.

The economies of Central and Eastern Europe are acceding to the EU with economic levels well behind those of current Member States. Combining countries with different economic standards does give rise to certain risks. Where the convergence of the price level is too fast and is not underpinned by labour productivity growth above the level of growth in EU and by the related balancing of wage income, it could pose a threat to the standard of living due to the decline in real wages. If wage pressures are too strong, and force a rise in wages that is incommensurate to labour productivity, the competitiveness of the business sphere would decline, economic growth would slow down, and unemployment would ultimately rise. A key requirement for the smooth progression of integration is a robust economic growth on the basis of labour productivity and its harmonization with wage level and price level developments.