Training Program

Officials at Ministries of Finance, Labor, and Social Affairs, and Social Security Institutions involved in the analysis, design and implementation of labor taxes and social benefits.

Participants are expected to have a degree in social science (e.g., economics or social policy) or a related field.

This course, presented by the Fiscal Affairs Department, provides an overview of the impact of labor taxation and social Insurance systems on employment outcomes in advanced and emerging European countries, with an emphasis on reform options and associated tradeoffs. Boosting employment and reducing undeclared work are priorities in many advanced and emerging European economies, where labor markets are often constrained by demographic trends, low labor-force participation (particularly among females and young people), and weak productivity growth. Undeclared work remains a significant challenge, leaving many individuals without social insurance benefits and reducing revenue collection. For these reasons, many governments are considering reducing labor taxation to boost employment and reduce the size of undeclared work. This, in turn, generates financing needs for social insurance systems, particularly in contexts where such systems must be strengthened to provide adequate support to workers and households at scale.