Defining Unemployment in Developing Countries: Evidence from Trinidad and Tobago

Arbeitspapier

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) argues for relaxing the standard definition of unemployment in developing countries by eliminating the requirement that a person be actively searching for a job. We examine whether such an extension of the standard definition is appropriate in the case of Trinidad and Tobago. Specifically, we use the Trinidad and Tobago labour force survey to examine whether active job search is important in determining the labour market transitions of the non-employed. Our results indicate that in Trinidad and Tobago males, who under the standard criteria would be considered out of the labour force because they report willingness to work but are not currently searching for a job, are appropriately classified as unemployed. Further evidence suggests that this may be because job search may not be as meaningful in rural as it is in urban areas.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 659

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: definition of unemployment ; job search ; developing countries ; Arbeitslosigkeit ; Messung ; Arbeitsmarktstatistik ; Trinidad und Tobago

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Strobl, Eric ; Byrne, David
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2003

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/20834
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET