Publication

This commentary disaggregates the data on youth unemployment in Spain. The author argues that alarmist reports tend to rely on Eurostat's definition of youth unemployment. The resulting claims that over 50% of this age group are unemployed tend to distort the on-the-ground reality. Eurostat's data exclude that portion of the youth population currently studying, which accounts for approximately half of the publicized unemployment rate. The author compares Spain's economy in 2013 with previous crises, asserting that youth unemployment was a greater issue in 1994. She concludes by suggesting that the use of Eurostat's data can distort effective policy responses.