Regional variations in the competitiveness of unemployed job-seekers and the rate of outflows from unemployment

The paper examines the role of variations in the competitiveness of unemplo yed job-seekers in leading to regional variations in the rate of outflows f rom unemployment, and attempts to identify the factors responsible for regi onal variations in the share of new hires captured by the unemployed. The p aper's empirical analysis suggests that the duration structure of unemploym ent, measured by the rate of inflows into unemployment relative to the begi nning of period stock, is the primary determinant of the competitiveness of a region's unemployed job-seekers.