European Restructuring Monitor: The database and its methodology

This working paper offers a comprehensive methodological overview of the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM) databases. Even though the methodology has not changed over time, new categories have been added, and the way it has been used by researchers and policymakers has changed. The overview covers the strengths and biases of the ERM Events database, which are essential to be aware of to use, analyse and interpret the data correctly. In addition, the dataset is compared to other sources, showing how some of the main trends from other sources are reflected in the ERM data. A specific section is dedicated to how the data can be used for research purposes and for policy. This section is complemented by two more sections, which include how the data has been used with an extensive list of examples from the literature and from policy-making documents. The paper concludes with a brief overview of the ERM legislation database.