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Regional and Domestic Responses to the Unemployment Problem in Europe: Reconfiguring the Architectures of Welfare States

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Regional Organizations and Social Policy in Europe and Latin America

Part of the book series: Development, Justice and Citizenship Series ((SIID))

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Abstract

In the mid-1990s, many European countries were lagging behind. Compared to its main competitors, economic growth was slow and unemployment rates were high. These challenges put strains on welfare states and labour markets designed to deal with different types of demographic and socioeconomic conditions. The matter in question was how to reform existing social policies and institutions with the aim of surmounting common European problems and challenges. In this context, the region emerged as a unit to address challenges to domestic welfare systems (see Bianculli and Ribeiro Hoffmann, Introduction). More specifically, common problems suggested the diffusion of common European labour market approaches, which would in turn guide and support domestic reforms.

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© 2016 Mariely López-Santana

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López-Santana, M. (2016). Regional and Domestic Responses to the Unemployment Problem in Europe: Reconfiguring the Architectures of Welfare States. In: Bianculli, A.C., Hoffmann, A.R. (eds) Regional Organizations and Social Policy in Europe and Latin America. Development, Justice and Citizenship Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137490353_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137490353_6

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-57095-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-49035-3

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