Fighting Unemployment

In Fighting Unemployment in Twentieth-Century Chile, Ángela Vergara narrates the story of how industrial and mine workers, peasants and day laborers, as well as blue-collar and white-collar employees earned a living through periods of economic, political, and social instability in twentieth-century Chile. The Great Depression transformed how Chileans viewed work and welfare rights and how they related to public institutions. Influenced by global and regional debates, the state put modern agencies in place to count and assist the poor and expand their social and economic rights. Weaving together bottom-up and transnational approaches, Vergara underscores the limits of these policies and demonstrates how the benefits and protections of wage labor became central to people’s lives and culture, and how global economic recessions, political oppression, and abusive employers threatened their working-class culture. Fighting Unemployment in Twentieth-Century Chile contributes to understanding the profound inequality that permeates Chilean history through a detailed analysis of the relationship between welfare professionals and the unemployed, the interpretation of labor laws, and employers’ everyday attitudes.

Critically assessing the widely accepted view that the cause of unemployment is excessive labor market regulation and overly generous welfare state benefits, this book's chapters include both cross-country statistical analyses and country case studies.

With much of Europe plagued by high levels of unemployment, it has become widely accepted that the culprit is labor market rigidity and that the prescription can only be labor market deregulation: lower wages, higher earnings inequality, greater decentralization in bargaining, less generous unemployment benefits, more hiring flexibility, and less job security. Fighting Unemployment critically assesses this free market orthodoxy. With cross-country statistical analyses and country case studies, leading economists from seven North American and European countries contend that this conventional wisdom has greatly exaggerated the extent to which the unemployment problem can be blamed on protective labor market institutions and that the case for dismantling the welfare state to fight unemployment rests more on free market ideology than on the empirical evidence. The larger message of this book is that fundamentally different labor market models - ranging from the 'American Model' to the much more regulated and coordinated Scandinavian systems - are compatible with low unemployment.

Following the five books listed above on an earlier page, the Egon Sohmen-Foundation herewith submits its sixth volume. Once again, it is a collection of academic papers that were discussed at a symposium sponsored by the Foundation and subsequently revised. Readers not familiar with the Foundation may be interested to know that it was established in 1987 by Helmut Sohmen of Hong Kong in memory of his late brother, Egon Sohmen (1930-1977). Egon Soh men was an international economist highly respected in North America and in Europe, notably for his work on flexible exchange rates and on the economics of allocation and competition. Born in Linz (Austria) and educated as an economist in Vienna, Tiibingen, and Cambridge, Mass., Egon Sohmen held teaching posts in several places (M.I.T., Yale, Frankfurt, Saarbriicken, Minnesota, and Heidelberg). As an active participant in numerous international con ferences and workshops, he truly belonged to the international research community of his time and age cohort. His lasting reputation greatly helped me to convene the active participants of this symposium.

An indispensable investigation into the American unemployment system and the ways gender and class affect the lives of those looking for work Through the intimate stories of those seeking work, The Tolls of Uncertainty offers a startling look at the nation’s unemployment system—who it helps, who it hurts, and what, if anything, we can do to make it fair. Drawing on interviews with one hundred men and women who have lost jobs across Pennsylvania, Sarah Damaske examines the ways unemployment shapes families, finances, health, and the job hunt. Damaske demonstrates that commonly held views of unemployment are either incomplete or just plain wrong. Shaped by a person’s gender and class, unemployment generates new inequalities that cast uncertainties on the search for work and on life chances beyond the world of work, threatening opportunity in America. Following in depth the lives of four individuals over the course of their unemployment experiences, Damaske offers insights into how the unemployed perceive their relationship to work. She reveals the high levels of blame that women who have lost jobs place on themselves, leading them to put their families’ needs above their own, sacrifice their health, and take on more tasks inside the home. This “guilt gap” illustrates how unemployment all too often exacerbates existing differences between men and women. Class privilege, too, gives some an advantage, while leaving others at the mercy of an underfunded unemployment system. Middle-class men are generally able to create the time and space to search for good work, but many others are bogged down by the challenges of poverty-level unemployment benefits and family pressures and fall further behind. Timely and engaging, The Tolls of Uncertainty posits that a new path must be taken if the nation’s unemployed are to find real relief.

Fired... Quit... A New Start... Or Just Fed Up... Let this book serve as your lantern to a brighter tomorrow. self-help * employment * entrepreneurship * self-discovery "I'm aware of the mixed feelings and emotions during this time of your job loss. There are knots in your stomach that serve as a reminder of the impeding concerns. You're anxious about tomorrow's turmoil. I know these feelings. I've felt them too during my times of unemployment. This means I've ventured through the valleys of uncertainty -- more than once." The book focuses on self-help, self-discovery, entrepreneurship, and employment. The chapters are transitional, and the hope of the book is to reawaken the reader's motivation -- to give some sense of direction by allowing the author's defeats give insight into the looming uncertainties that exist in an unemployed person's mind. "Unemployed or fearing unemployed, start at square one. Do as nature does. Squirrels gather acorns and bears prepare for hibernation; you too must gather your own acorns and prepare for hibernation." Whether terminated, fired, discharged, laid off, or aware of an upcoming turmoil, it's the actions taken now that will determine whether life becomes bountiful with enjoyment, or if this phase in life becomes an experience comparable to hell. "Electricity, shelter, and a safe place to sleep ... trump the need to preserve your credit score, or purchase a new gizmo." With unemployment at staggering new heights, many have lost their job. The question then becomes: What now? What does one do when abandoned by their second family? Too often the newspaper headlines inform us of the thousands, or millions, of jobs lost. It has become routine to read about the new round of layoffs -- so much so that it's discussed on porches in the same manner as approaching bad weather. And from this, many tend to blame themselves, and some will fall into a depression. Whatever is felt by you, understand that this experience isn't something to personalize; the termination was a business calculation. Put this ordeal behind you and move forward. Sure, rough patches and doubt will exist, but with a plan and preparation, this hurdle in life may soon prove to be the most enlightening. The book examines the route to take to become an entrepreneur. The book also contains exercises to guide you in finding your near ideal job. Learn how to choose a suit for a job interview, learn how to raise capital for new ventures, and ultimately, learn how to enjoy life. You will see the importance of discovering your life-balance. You will also learn how to invest in your own life portfolio. Reviews -------- "Prepare to be enlightened. Prepare to be a little disappointed, and even a little shocked at times as the author peels backs the cover on a part of America rarely seen. Prepare to be better informed about an eventual end more and more Americans are facing in this new economy. Long before the final page, you'll be glad you picked up this book." --Lee Adams, Comedian, and contributor "To say this book is a helpful guide for the unemployed would be grossly undervaluing its worth. While Mathis does give excellent advice for people seeking employment, he delves much deeper." -- BookAddict "This is a highly intelligent, well-written and insightful guide for those facing unemployment. In the introduction, it exposes in detail (using real examples and case studies) the often blatant greed and immorality of corporate America." -- Anna Elizabeth "He motivates, gives the hard truths, then follows-up with advice." -- Robin "If you are worried about not having a job soon, or have already lost your job, this book will help you turn your life around and put it back where you want it to be." -- Andrew David "I've ordered copies for my friends who are in a similar situation as well." -- Mark "You will find yourself "Recharged" and ready for the next step toward your future." -- 4moreshelflife

Is there really a Perfect Job? This Book is loaded with special tips and guides to help an individual find his or her own answer to this question. In it the author takes you through a journey that begins with "Making timely and right career decision(s); Getting the right Education to Resume and writing; ends with the Interviewing tips, guides and process. If getting the perfect job is your major

Recoge: 1. What is the Europan Social Fund? - 2. Fighting unemployment and exclusion; promoting equal opportunities - 3. Reconnecting people to working life - 4. Training, guidance and counselling - 5. Support for jobs - 6. ESF figures & contact points in the EU.