Presentationat the conference:

The Social Sciences Today: Dilemmas and Projections beyond the Crisis

(Lesvos, Greece 06-09.06.2019)

 

‘Policies promoting Social and Sharing Economies in Mediterranean European Economic Area (MED EEA): A literature review focusing on youth unemployment and NEETs’

Athina AVAGIANOU, PhD Candidate, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean

Sofia KARAMPELA, Post-Doctoral researcher, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean

Theodoros IOSIFIDES, Professor of Social Science Methods, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean

Thanasis KIZOS, Professor of Rural Geography, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean

Ioannis PISSURIOS, Lecturer in Urban Planning & Design, Neapolis University Pafos

 

Abstract:

During the past decade, and in response to the persistent world-wide economic recession, several labor market actors have directed their interest on value creating alternatives and on consumption modes that dispute dominant ways of production. Technological evolution along with high diffusion of networking applications has facilitated the establishment of the so-called sharing economies, one of the most significant alternatives to mainstream economies across the globe. Global economic crisis, in combination with increased refugee movements affected significantly
regions that had been characterized by traditional, or even resilient economies and relatively stable social structures.

Within this framework, based on a review of the recent literature, we discuss the potential impact of social and sharing economy policies on youth unemployment in MED EEA and, more specifically across insular and coastal areas of Greece, Cyprus, Italy and Spain. Apart from the literature review, a tentative analysis of secondary data referring to people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) is conducted.

Specifically, the paper offers alternative conceptualizations of social and sharing economies while it highlights the relation of such economies’ expansion to the needs of young NEETs. Based on a theoretical framework inspired by geographical cultural political economy, the paper discusses social and sharing economies’ spatial dimensions and assesses their impact upon youth employment policies, with an emphasis in MED EEA regions. The paper concludes by summarizing best practices in the field of social and sharing economy and their effect on youth unemployment.

The present study is being conducted in the framework of the research project “A Place for Youth in Mediterranean EEA: Social and Sharing Economy for NEETs” (YOUTShare) which is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment.

 

Presentation:

Policies promoting Social and Sharing Economies in Mediterranean European Economic Area (MED EEA)