Search results for ""author thomas lange""

Unemployment in Theory and Practice examines the effectiveness of current policies in the battle against unemployment. It uses a variety of country case studies to analyse the range of potential causes of and cures for unemployment and analyses the complex nature of labour markets. This volume surveys the policy options and prescribes a mix of both macro and microeconomic policies to combat unemployment effectively. The contributors address the issue of policy targeted groups, including self-employed and older workers, and offer a comprehensive survey of key empirical findings. Issues considered include the rising number of self-employed in Australia and the labour market prospects for the aged in Germany. Particular labour market policies are discussed including the role of training and concerted international action through social democratic and trade union collaboration. The nature of unemployment in countries characterized by economic and social transformation, such as Bulgaria and Poland, is also analysed in detail. The final section of the book is dedicated to wage policy and compensatory pay for the unemployed. It challenges the conventional neoclassical wisdom that wage constraints and limited trade union power will necessarily lead to labour market improvements and reduced unemployment. Evidence from Germany and South Africa is used to argue that collective action is a promising policy alternative. International in scope, the book will be essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of economics, political economy, industrial relations and international economics. It will also appeal to professional economists, sociologists, political scientists, trade unionists and policy advisors.

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This tightly argued paper asks two fundamental questions about the nature of higher education in this country. Does Britain provide too much higher education, and are the current funding mechanisms fair and efficient? Lange's answers to these questions are controversial, but make a timely contribution to this on-going debate.

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Increasing international competition has put improvements in vocational training at the top of many nations' political agendas. This important book explores the economic analysis of training and relates it to the differing systems found in Western Europe and the United States. After an examination of the theoretical basis for increased emphasis on training the authors present a comparative analysis of the different systems employed in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. A number of common issues and problems are discussed, such as the relationship between schooling and training, the role of continuing training, retraining for the unemployed, and the position of women and disadvantaged groups in the labour market. A central theme is the differing policies pursued by governments. While recognizing the common concern with potential market failure in training, the authors also draw attention to the poor record of government-funded training in practice and to the dangers of excessive intervention as a result of pressure group activity. Although primarily aimed at students and teachers of economics, business studies and industrial relations, Training for Employment in Western Europe and the United States will be of interest to practitioners and all those concerned with policy issues arising in the training field.

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Following German reunification in 1990, East Germany's centrally planned economy was abolished and replaced by West Germany's social market economy. Western Germany has since provided vast financial support to aid the transformation, and enable eastern Germany to catch-up with western Germany's productivity and living standards. This book evaluates the main events and their outcomes since mid-1990 and the associated policy issues. The authors assess the medium to long term growth prospects of eastern Germany and the wider implications for western Germany and Europe.The Economics of German Unification analyses the economic process of assimilating eastern Germany into the institutions and performance levels of western Germany. It includes original research as well as providing an overview of existing literature. Among the topics discussed are: the relative backwardness of East Germany's economy the impact of monetary and economic integration restructuring and privatization <>li>labour market and industrial policy, including an analysis of wage restraint and cost reduction the prospects for eastern Germany catching-up economically with western Germany the repercussions for German competitiveness nationally and within the wider European context This book will be welcomed by academics, researchers and undergraduates interested in the economics of transition, comparative economic systems, political economy and the European business environment.

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