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Explanations of Unemployment: An Eight-Country Comparison

Author

Listed:
  • Kostas Mylonas
  • Adrian Furnham
  • Jose Luis Alvaro
  • Sofia Papazoglou
  • William Divale
  • Romeo Zeno Cretu
  • Hector Grad
  • Sonia Gondim
  • Cigdem Leblebici
  • Ania Filus
  • Angela Moniz
  • Anna Mitsostergiou
  • Georgia Kyvetou
  • Emmanouil Konstantinidis
  • Pawel Boski

Abstract

Explanations of unemployment as non-expert beliefs or lay theories, were originally described by Furnham (1982) to follow three axes: individualistic, societal, and fatalistic. Through a revised 19-item version (EoU-R), comprising original and new items with its structure closely resembling the original one we studied 1,689 participants from eight countries (Brazil, United Kingdom, Greece, Poland, USA, Romania, Turkey, and Spain). Internal consistency for a derived three-factor structure (Individualistic, Fatalistic, Societal-Educational) was reached and crosscultural factor equivalence was supported across countries through covariance structure analysis. The composite EoU-R dimension scores were compared across countries, genders, and employment status groups with the largest differences across countries found for the Individualistic factor. Females were found to explain unemployment in terms of SocietalEducational explanations more than males and some interesting interactions also emerged. The Revised Explanations of Unemployment scale can be used cross-culturally and for within cultures comparisons and can prove useful for counseling.

Suggested Citation

  • Kostas Mylonas & Adrian Furnham & Jose Luis Alvaro & Sofia Papazoglou & William Divale & Romeo Zeno Cretu & Hector Grad & Sonia Gondim & Cigdem Leblebici & Ania Filus & Angela Moniz & Anna Mitsostergi, 2016. "Explanations of Unemployment: An Eight-Country Comparison," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 6(9), pages 344-361, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:hur:ijarbs:v:6:y:2016:i:9:p:344-361
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Artazcoz, L. & Benach, J. & Borrell, C. & Cortès, I., 2004. "Unemployment and Mental Health: Understanding the Interactions among Gender, Family Roles, and Social Class," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(1), pages 82-88.
    2. Jahoda,Marie, 1982. "Employment and Unemployment," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521285865.
    3. Panagiotis Petrakis, 2012. "The Greek Economy and the Crisis," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-642-21175-1, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Johnny Runge & Nathan Hudson-Sharp, 2020. "Public Understanding of Economics and Economic Statistics," Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE) Occasional Papers ESCOE-OP-03, Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE).

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    Keywords

    Unemployment; comparison;

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