unemployment rates high

flash9286 · February 24, 2003, 17:15

why are unemployment rates so high in france in germany

France-8.90
Germany-7.90
Usa-4.80

chequita guevara · February 24, 2003, 17:25

4.8%, what the heck are you smoking? It's officially 6% in the US.

chequita guevara · February 24, 2003, 17:30

DP

DuncanK · February 24, 2003, 21:16

The US doesn't have good unemplyment benefits, so if you can't get a job after awhile you have to start driving a taxicab or something.

Skanky Burns · February 24, 2003, 21:20

10 years ago Australia's unemployment was at 11%. That is high.
Now its down to a lower 8%

VJ · February 24, 2003, 21:24

Quote:

10 years ago Australia's unemployment was at 11%. That is high.

10 years ago Finland's unemployment was at 18%. Now THAT was high.

Note: it was over 20% at Spain then...

Skanky Burns · February 24, 2003, 21:26

No wonder everyone in Finland is playing MMORPGs all day!

Zkribbler · February 24, 2003, 23:11

The U.S. doesn't count those who have given up looking.

MattyBoy · February 25, 2003, 23:05

Quote:

The U.S. doesn't count those who have given up looking.

And who else employs people just to stand around at the entrance to restaurants to say hello to people as they pass through the entrance?

In Australia, we have something called a minimum wage, which saves people from such indignities.

Sava · February 25, 2003, 23:26

The US also doesn't count students, or people under the age of 21, for the most part.

And plus, in the US, we employ more people with lower paying jobs and give our tax cuts to the rich. Anything else is unpatriotic!

Spiffor · February 25, 2003, 23:34

European calculations (at least France's but I guess it is a European standard) don't take those who gave up looking into account either.

Many reasons can explain the high unemployment in France and Germany, but the first one is the lack of adaptation to the high-tech economy.
Most of the old activities, especially industry, get moved into low-wage countries, and the workers cannot convert to high-tech jobs where there is hiring, because they are not educated enough to do.
Also, our unemployed have a safety net, and do not have to accept any indignant shitty job to merely survive. They can look for something corresponding to their formation, or at least remotely respectful of human dignity (exception being big distribution).

Also, we have to notice the disastrous economic policies in the EU, since budgetary policies are still decided by the states, while monetary policies are decided at the European level (normally, both kind of poilicies must be decided on the same level to be effective).
The fundamentalism of the European Central Bank hinders deficit spending, growth and employment for the sake of limiting overall inflation to less than 2%. This partly explains why Britain is doing better, since it is not limited by the ECB's dogma.

Lastly, poor economic foresight, general distrust in the future and incompetent leadership make things worse.