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

Eugenia Vathakou (), Maria Tsampra and Pantelis Sklias
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Eugenia Vathakou: University of Peloponnes, School of Social and Political Sciences
Pantelis Sklias: University of Peloponnes, School of Social and Political Sciences

No 17004, EconWorld Working Papers from WERI-World Economic Research Institute

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.

Keywords: local entrepreneurship; skills mismatch; labour surplus; participatory action research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J24 J64 P48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16 pages
Date: 2017-03, Revised 2017-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ent
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ana:wpaper:17004

DOI: 10.22440/EconWorld.WP.2017.004

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