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Addressing Un/Under-Employment at the Local Level: Participatory Action Research in Greece of Crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Eugenia Vathakou

    (University of Peloponnes, School of Social and Political Sciences)

  • Maria Tsampra

    (University of Patras, School of Business Administration)

  • Pantelis Sklias

    (University of Peloponnes, School of Social and Political Sciences)

Abstract

The underutilization of human capital, reflected on shrinking job opportunities and employment deterioration, is the major crisis outcome and cause of socio-economic exclusion in Greece. Our research (EEA-GR07/3694 project), addressing un/under-employment at the local level during the country's downturn, identified wide discrepancies between labour supply and demand. Data analysis revealed that the type of employment required by locally prevailing business does not contribute to local employability, nor sustains labour market resilience and employment recovery. On this ground, the capability of local entrepreneurship to capitalize the existing qualified personnel was questioned; and Participatory Action Research (PAR) was carried out in order to set new accounts of entrepreneurship for inclusive growth and social innovation. The paper presents the collaborative process and tentative results of PAR undertaken at the target-locality of Sparta in Greece. The process of action planning and implementation engaged local key-stakeholders and empowered local actors (municipality, vocational institutions, business chambers, trade unions, cooperatives) to address the potential of the un/underemployed and particularly, the most vulnerable of the labour market (young and women). The action implemented as part of the PAR process, "Spartathlon - Routes of Taste, Trade and Art", sought to attract more tourists to the town and strengthen local business. Its presentation makes a contribution to the discussion for social innovation, cohesion and sustainable economic recovery.

Suggested Citation

  • Eugenia Vathakou & Maria Tsampra & Pantelis Sklias, 2017. "Addressing Un/Under-Employment at the Local Level: Participatory Action Research in Greece of Crisis," EconWorld Working Papers 17004, WERI-World Economic Research Institute, revised Mar 2017.
    • Handle: RePEc:ana:wpaper:17004
    DOI: 10.22440/EconWorld.WP.2017.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Benedikt Herrmann & Alexander Kritikos, 2013. "Growing out of the crisis: hidden assets to Greece's transition to an innovation economy," IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Justin Doran & Bernard Fingleton, 2015. "Resilience from the micro perspective," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 8(2), pages 205-223.
    3. Raffaele Lagravinese, 2015. "Economic crisis and rising gaps North–South: evidence from the Italian regions," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 8(2), pages 331-342.
    4. Ron Martin, 2012. "Regional economic resilience, hysteresis and recessionary shocks," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 1-32, January.
    5. Lois Labrianidis, 2014. "Investing in Leaving: The Greek Case of International Migration of Professionals," Mobilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 314-335, May.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    local entrepreneurship; skills mismatch; labour surplus; participatory action research;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search

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