Publisher's Synopsis
According to the OECD Jobs Study unemployment is the most widely feared phenomenon in our society. It implies considerable economic, social and individual waste. In particular youth unemployment is worrisome. - - This book sets out to meet the challenges posed by the causes and consequences of youth unemployment from both a scientific and a policy point of view. It departs from a multi-disciplinarian perspective, combining insights from economic and social sciences and it presents experiences built up in various parts of Western Europe. - - Training programmes are a crucial part of combating youth unemployment. However, the results of policy studies into the effects of youth training programmes do not make one optimistic as to the chances of resisting youth unemployment and of reducing the huge economic, social and personal waste involved. Countries with large numbers of unemployed youth are confronted with the challenge to prevent a new underclass by creating jobs because a demanding paid job is the best guarantee of social integration. If such jobs are not made available, the following question becomes relevant: to what identity may long term unemployed youngsters transfer? This debate has only just begun.
