Young, restless and ... unemployed?

New studies indicate the in the developed world, individuals under 25 are more likely to be unemployed than their older counterparts. Three times as likely, when the numbers are examined as an aggregate.

Youth who are full-time students are not counted in these numbers, meaning that countless young adults (well, not entirely countless - some reports say up to 15 million) who reside in relatively affluent countries are without a job or education. In Spain, which suffers from high unemployment across the board, nearly 40 percent of the youth is unemployed.

One reader of the Times' report on these numbers made an astute observation:

Basically all this is measuring is the effects of education on employment status. Those who are 15 to 24 are either full time students (and thus not counted in employment statistics at all), or are high school dropouts and/or those with only high school educations. It shouldn't be surprising that they find themselves unemployed at higher rates than those who graduate from college and/or have more experience in the workforce.

The value of a college education is a rarely disputed fact. But in the current economic climate, the normal laws of education and job possibilities do not necessarily apply. In countries around the world, college graduates are forced to take jobs for which they are overqualified because there is nothing else available. Consequently, those who have no college education at all -but in a vacuum would be qualified for these entry-level positions - are left without employment. This is the case in Spain, where "the risk of overeducation" has become a conscious phenomenon. Youth are opting out of college because the rewards of attending are no longer worth the time and cost. In effect, the opportunity cost of a college education has become too high - especially if unemployment is the result nonetheless.

For those with money to spare, unpaid internships have become the option. But for those without a college education or a fallback option, what do these facts mean? Is an entire generation, worldwide, being crippled by the economic crisis? If youth are unemployable and therefore unable to gain beginner experiences, how will they ever rise up? Though the numbers do not appear to exist, statistics on the employment of those aged 25-30 would be helpful for understanding the implications of this mass unemployment.

For more: a video by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on what these statistics mean.

Manning up to the law

Rule of law versus rule of man

It seems like a clear dichotomy. Either your country is governed by standards that all residents adhere to willingly, or society is ruled with the iron fist of one man. And it is generally accepted that the former is far superior. With law, economies thrive. Property rights are guaranteed, the standards for trade are set and everyone follows the same compulsory guidelines. Trust and reputation matter, and they are much more likely to be found in a law-abiding, law-enforcing society.

It's indisputable — there is concrete evidence to support the belief that a greater adherence to laws leads to a higher GDP.

But what does the rule of law really mean? According to one Economist article, there is a dichotomy even within this concept. There is "thick" rule of law, the kind that is inseparable from democracy and morality, and there is "thin" rule of law, which necessitates property rights and justice, but says nothing about the mandated type of governance.

The article argues that economic growth comes more strongly when the law is thicker. In Spain, for example, tremendous economic growth was seen after the fall of the Franco regime and the reinstitution of democracy. But the direction of causality can be a little fuzzy. Take China for example. The economy skyrocketed and society is becoming more judicious — but which happened first? Could the sociopolitical climate of the nation have changed were it not for the economic growth that gave the country the monetary and intellectual resources to adapt?

On a micro level, the difference between rule of law and rule of man becomes fuzzy. Who's to say that the rule of law does not mirror the way of man? And what if that man is collective and thus his will is just as judicious and fair as the law?

In education, the debate is over rules and standards. The World We Created At Hamilton High examines the culture of one American high school and its changes and developments over the course of three decades. During that period, the number of regulations within the school grew exponentially. Once upon a time, standards were sufficient. It was assumed that everyone knew what was expected of them, how to dress and behave respectfully, what kind of conduct was assumed from a "gentleman." But as the society (well, the school community) evolved, simply having standards was not enough. Not all men followed the same rules. And so law-like rules had to be implemented. Consequences had to be laid out and regulations had to be codified.

Zooming back out to the big picture — this rules versus standards comparison can be applied to the rules of law and man and their effects on the economy. Once upon a time, standards were accepted and adhered to. But some cheated the system, others suffered and so, the expectations had to be made explicit. In the United States, the adherence to a set of codes ensures that the same standards are being applied in all arenas. Whether individuals would choose to follow these standards becomes irrelevant because now they have to. Thus, the rule of law and that of man are not always so dichotomous — in many cases, it's quite possible they have the same point of origin. It's when society becomes diversified and rebellious that the rules have to be enforced.

Happiness is...

I must be experiencing the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon (I had to dig deep into my memories of Psych 1 to remember that one), but ever since writing about happiness, I have come across innumerable articles identifying the variables that affect our choices, our wealth and our subsequent happiness.

First: Religion. In discussion section, we argued (and were unable to agree) as to whether religion is an absolute or religious need. Do people require faith in absolute terms, or do they desire to belong to a religious group because their neighbor does? What sacrifices are made in the name of religion?

A recent study examines the breakdown of wealth in America by religion — and finds distinct variation between groups.

The article provides minimal analysis, but does raise a number of interesting questions, particularly the begging question of causation versus correlation. Jewish wealth is often traced back to the Middle Ages when people of all other faiths (well, Christian-derived faiths) were prohibited from entering the banking profession. Even if those historic roots are able to account for current wealth distribution, how can the other breakdowns be explained? Is it a reflection of the ties to race and ethnicity that religion have? Do different faiths place different values on work and leisure?

Second: Education. Studies point to the affirmative — YES, education does make us happier. (Comforting news to the college student currently in the library.) But, there is a growing consensus arguing a somewhat contrary position: that we are overeducating our children.

Though having a bachelor's degree may correlate to a certain level of happiness, is this really the best route for everyone? It's a viewpoint Americans are reluctant to express — we're supposed to be ever dreaming upward —but in other countries (Spain, for example), the "risk of overeducation" is a more widely expressed opinion. Because a college education does not necessarily guarantee a better occupation or lifestyle, students I met while studying abroad there put much more thought into whether or not to attend university. Comparatively, my friends and I stateside just viewed college as the automatic, the next step. Choosing not to go was never an option most of us considered. So although Brown is the happiest school in the country, are we actually happier because of the choice we made?

And if the quantifiable factors aren't satisfying for you, here's an article proving that happiness can be generated just by imagining how awful your life would be without the positive things you already have.

Culture Shock

When I first arrived for my semester abroad in Spain, it was hard to understand how anything ever got done in business. The Spanish people prize their siesta time, lunch is a three-hour affair (with wine, of course) and the night does not end until at least 2 am. Even when they are working, the Spanish have a much more laid-back attitude about, for example, task completion. They figure, why worry if it will get done eventually?

The adjustment is frustrating for American students who, three weeks into their classes, have not been formally matriculated, have no syllabus and do not know what materials are even needed for the course. The pervasive cultural attitude of work "as a necessary evil" creates an environment that values leisure and happiness at a level above productivity. (1) Relationships matter and often overpower the actual "work" side of working. In a tutorial for British nationals looking to work in Spain, the BBC cautions that individuals should "be prepared" for work to get personal. (2)

While work does matter to the Spaniards, it will never be the be-all end-all that it is for Americans. From the Spanish perspective, Americans will never be content with what they have. They, on the other hand, believe that by minimizing the pressures of work, they are able to better enjoy the simple pleasures in life, as well as the greater joys of culture and family. "Workaholism is not fashionable in Spain." (3)

In 2008, Spain's GDP per capita was $31,960, compared to the United State's $47,580. (4) But this does not explain everything. For example, the Spaniards enjoyed a longer life expectancy at birth (81 years versus 78). (5)

Given that the Spanish as a whole value leisure over work (the opposite being true in the United States), their GDP alone cannot give insight into the "wealth" of the nation. (6)

The fact that the Spanish have a generally weaker work ethic than Americans, and the reality of their culture offers an explanation as to why the GDP is lower (and why doing business with Spaniards is relatively difficult). Culture is a difficult variable to quantify, but it does offer some explanation for the numerical differences in material wealth between the United States and Spain.

But on the other hand: never discount the value of a mid-afternoon nap.

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(1) Weil, David. Economic Growth. Boston: Pearson Education Inc., 2009. pp. 410

(2) "Spanish for Work," BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/forwork/beingthere/systems.shtml. Accessed on Feb. 16, 2010.

(3) Wattley-Ames, Helen. Spain is Different. Yarmouth, Maine: Intercultural Press Inc., 1992. Accessible on Google Books

(4) World Bank, www.worldbank.org. Accessed on Feb. 16, 2010

(5) Ibid.

(6) Weil 411