This paper shows that state control of some industries may have contributed to the increase in European unemployment from the 1970s to the early 1990s. We develop a simple model with both publicly-run and privately-run enterprises and show that when economic turbulence increases, higher unemployment rates may result in economies that have a larger public sector.

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January 2004     Paper Number CEPDP0610

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This CEP discussion paper is published under the centre's programme.