Virtually the whole of Europe is grappling with the problem of rising unemployment. But how can we reverse this trend and create more jobs?
Respected German economic expert Heiner Flassbeck gave some answers to this question, focusing on possible solutions as well as common obstacles.
An economist who is not afraid to speak his mind, Flassbeck previously worked for the German Council of Economic Experts, which plays an important part in the country’s political decision-making processes. During his time at the German Institute for Economic Research, Flassbeck was a highly respected expert on the labour market, and he served as a state secretary under Social Democrat Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine. A former Director of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva, he also lectures at the University of Hamburg and has written numerous books.
“We need to use all of the economic policy tools at our disposal to prevent a further increase in unemployment, and to ensure that the European idea and our democracy do not come under threat.”
