Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/80526 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 7490
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
France and Germany are two polar cases in the European debate about rising youth unemployment. Similar to what can be observed in Southern European countries, a lost generation may arise in France. In stark contrast, youth unemployment has been on continuous decline in Germany for many years, hardly affected by the Great Recession. This paper analyzes the diametrically opposed developments in the two countries to derive policy lessons. As the fundamental differences in youth unemployment are primarily resulting from structural differences in labor policy and in the (vocational) education system, any short-term oriented policies can only have temporary effects. Ultimately, the youth unemployment disease in France and in other European countries has to be cured with structural reforms.
Subjects: 
labor policy
labor market institutions
Great Recession
youth unemployment
minimum wages
demographic trends
vocational education and training
employment protection
JEL: 
J24
J38
J68
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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