EU Unemployment Rates - May 2010

[Tender Branson]

Ranked by Countries:

Austria: 4.0%
Netherlands: 4.3%
Luxembourg: 5.2%
Malta: 6.7%
Denmark: 6.8%
Germany: 7.0%
Slovenia: 7.1%
Cyprus: 7.2%
Romania: 7.4%
Czech Republic: 7.5%
UK: 7.9%
Belgium: 8.6%
Finland: 8.6%
Italy: 8.7%
Sweden: 8.8%
Bulgaria: 9.7%
Poland: 9.8%
France: 9.9%
Hungary: 10.4%
Portugal: 10.9%
Greece: 11.0%
Ireland: 13.3%
Slovakia: 14.8%
Lithuania: 17.4%
Estonia: 19.0%
Spain: 19.9%
Latvia: 20.0%

EU: 9.6%

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-02072010-AP/EN/3-02072010-AP-EN.PDF

[opebo]

Interesting many European countries have lower unemployment %s than the U.S. You would figure that European countries would have higher unemployment since their social welfare policies discourages many people from looking for work.

Only if you accepted ridiculous right-wing propaganda would you 'figure' that.

[Tender Branson]

Interesting many European countries have lower unemployment %s than the U.S. You would figure that European countries would have higher unemployment since their social welfare policies discourages many people from looking for work.

Not really. The so called "social welfare policies" are generally very low, for example if you earned 1200€ net a month, then get unemployed and receive unemployment money, you´ll only get 50-80% of the previously earned money back in form of unemployment money. In Austria, where unemployment is low, this so called "net compensation rate" is even lower than in many other countries, at only 55% of the previously earned wage. On the other hand though the standard of living here is very high, with many appartments starting at about 600€ or 800$ amonth for about 60-80m². So, basically you have to spend all your unemployment money only on paying for your appartment. And then you also need money for eating, clothing etc.

Therefore nobody is encouraged by our so called generous "social welfare policies" to remain unemployed and stop looking for good work ...

[opebo]

Therefore nobody is encouraged by our so called generous "social welfare policies" to remain unemployed and stop looking for good work ...

It also helps that people tend to earn more there when they do work than the laughable US minimum of $7.25/hour.

[Ameriplan]

Europe is an economic nightmare, period.

[Franzl]

Interesting many European countries have lower unemployment %s than the U.S. You would figure that European countries would have higher unemployment since their social welfare policies discourages many people from looking for work.

I think we need to start requiring a minimum IQ to post here.

[phk]

Could all these EU Macro stats be merged into a single thread?

[Beet]

Europe having lower unemployment rates than the US isn't completely new. That was the case generally until the 1980s. The Kennedy administration was so baffled by Europe's low unemployment that they thought the Europeans must be fudging the numbers and actually appointed a commission to investigate the issue.

[opebo]

Europe is an economic nightmare, period.

I think we need to start requiring a minimum IQ to post here.

[Derek]

Ranked by Countries:

Austria: 4.0%
Netherlands: 4.3%
Luxembourg: 5.2%
Malta: 6.7%
Denmark: 6.8%
Germany: 7.0%
Slovenia: 7.1%
Cyprus: 7.2%
Romania: 7.4%
Czech Republic: 7.5%
UK: 7.9%
Belgium: 8.6%
Finland: 8.6%
Italy: 8.7%
Sweden: 8.8%
Bulgaria: 9.7%
Poland: 9.8%
France: 9.9%
Hungary: 10.4%
Portugal: 10.9%
Greece: 11.0%
Ireland: 13.3%
Slovakia: 14.8%
Lithuania: 17.4%
Estonia: 19.0%
Spain: 19.9%
Latvia: 20.0%

EU: 9.6%

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-02072010-AP/EN/3-02072010-AP-EN.PDF

Seems like the more socialist countries have more people out of work.

[Beet]

Quite the opposite. Before the crisis, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were used by conservatives to crow about the boom-inducing effects of a flat tax, and Ireland's success was similarly attributed to its favorable business environment long after it moved into bubble territory. In Spain, the government was fiscally conservative while the PP led by Aznar built up the housing bubble from 1996-2004, which Zapatero inherited.

[Cubby]

Interesting many European countries have lower unemployment %s than the U.S. You would figure that European countries would have higher unemployment since their social welfare policies discourages many people from looking for work.

I think we need to start requiring a minimum IQ to post here.

Do you really think the economics board needs less activity?

[Magic 8-Ball]

Interesting many European countries have lower unemployment %s than the U.S. You would figure that European countries would have higher unemployment since their social welfare policies discourages many people from looking for work.

I think we need to start requiring a minimum IQ to post here.

Do you really think the economics board needs less activity? 

I think Franzl means the forum in general.  Of course, he's neglecting that stuff like this is an integral part of Rochambeau's trolling style.

[Democratic Hawk]

No nation should afford a >15% unemployment rate.  It would be better to place an absolute ban on capital flow (or at least fix exchange rates ala China) than suffer that.

Do you know I'm struggling not to begin thinking that way myself. If the Right can clamour for restrictions on immigration [should not capitalism be as much premised on the free movement of labor as it is the free movement of capital I ask], why should limits on the free movement of capital not be considered?

The West has got to face up to things because I've got this terrifyingly nightmarish vision that before too long we'll be going cap in hand to others and getting our debts wrote-off

[Democratic Hawk]

You don't live on benefits in the UK, you exist

[afleitch]

You don't live on benefits in the UK, you exist

Some exist somewhat comfortably (and I'm thinking of some of my own relatives here...)

[Democratic Hawk]

Quite the opposite. Before the crisis, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were used by conservatives to crow about the boom-inducing effects of a flat tax, and Ireland's success was similarly attributed to its favorable business environment long after it moved into bubble territory. In Spain, the government was fiscally conservative while the PP led by Aznar built up the housing bubble from 1996-2004, which Zapatero inherited.

Aye, the Right couldn't sing the 'Celtic Tigers' praises enough ... and .... di-di-di-di-dey ... there she is among the EU's infamous PIGS

I accidentially tuned into a House session and some Republican was speaking re-Greece saying that that the US could not support (fair enough) such fiscally irresponsible governments. Ahem who is he to judge? I wish I'd taken his name and looked at the extent to which he voted for George W's agenda

[Democratic Hawk]

You don't live on benefits in the UK, you exist

Some exist somewhat comfortably (and I'm thinking of some of my own relatives here...)

Well, I'm yet to meet any one who does