İşletme Araştırmaları Dergisi, cilt.17, sa.2, ss.1648-1665, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
Purpose
– To analyze the validity of the jobless growth hypothesis for the economies of
the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) with annual data covering the
period 1991-2022 by using the Panel Fourier Toda-Yamamoto causality test using
employment rate and growth rate data. Since 2023 employment data have not yet
been entered in some countries, the data set ends in 2022.
Design/methodology/approach
– The variables are first tested for cross-sectional dependence, homogeneity
and the presence of unit roots using the Panel Fourier Lagrange Multiplier (LM)
unit root test. Finally, the Panel Fourier Toda-Yamamoto causality test is used
to examine the causality relationship between economic growth and employment
variables.
Findings
– While the jobless growth hypothesis is not valid in 7 member states of the
EU, it is valid in the remaining 20 countries.
Discussion
– In 7 EU member states (Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Romania), economic growth leads to employment, which
means that the jobless growth hypothesis is not valid in these countries. In
the remaining 20 countries, it is found that economic growth does not cause
employment and therefore the jobless growth hypothesis is valid. This result
means that although economic growth has been realized in 20 countries,
employment has not increased.