... that have managed to contain the number of job seekers (e.g. Norway) or have shown clear improvements in the recent past (Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark). To what extent are these marked differences in labor market performances related to different labor market policies and, more generally, labor market institutions? What are the causes of the rise in some European countries? What really affects unemployment? 2. Theoretical Background According to official figures (See European Economy, 1995), around 12% of the working population of the European Union are unemployed. Eighteen million European citizens, five million of them under twenty-five, are officially looking for work. Relevant research institutes inform that the number of unemployed is continuing to rise. Many authors in the relevant literature attribute the European disease of unemployment to factors such as technology, globalisation, labour market rigidities and the generous European welfare States. More specifically, an influential section of academic and ...

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