The Convergence of Unemployment Rate in the European Union

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to assess the unemployment rate convergence in European Union (EU-27). The inequality and variation indicators showed that during 20042013 there was a decrease in the degree of convergence process. The convergence regression approach provided more important results: the convergence is obvious in precrisis period, the actual economic crisis generating clear unemployment regional disparities. The regression for the entire period (2004-2013) for the 27 countries of European Union showed a slow convergence of the unemployment rate.