Previous studies have mainly been concentrated on aggregated re-employment effects, while mental health effects or the effects on the more vulnerable groups of unemployed have not been taken into account.

The aim of the dissertation is therefore to broaden the context of the previous studies and:

This thesis is the result of the Nordic research projects the reseacher Ira Malmerg-Heimonen has been involved for many years: Youth unemployment in Europe and Evaluation of job search training in Finland.

Two quantitative data sets are analysed of which the first is the evaluation of job search programmes by a randomized field experimental design, with half-a-year follow-up. The second data set is based on a large comparative survey-data on youth unemployment totally consisting of 10 European countries and almost 17 000 young persons. Totally the dissertation consists of a summary article and five separate studies.

The results show that employment effects can be increased to a minor extent, by the use of tough labour market policies e.g. financial incentives or enforcement by means of financial sanctions, however only among the resourceful groups of unemployed. Among the vulnerable groups, it is measures aiming at improving these groups coping with the unemployment situation that have favourable effects on mental health, whereas the effects of tough labour market policies appear to be harmful.

The main policy implication of this dissertation is that in order to achieve optimum success, diverse labour market policies ought to be targeted to the needs and conditions of different groups of unemployed persons and the use of tough policies should be avoided for the more vulnerable groups of unemployed.

University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences
Ms. Ira Malmberg-Heimonen, tel. +358 9 191 24585

22/06/2005

Ira Malmberg-Heimonen

research

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Social services