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EU unemployment levels on the rise
From the Wall Street Journal Graphics page. Unemployment in the EU hits record highs – joblessness in the 17-nation currency area rose to 12.2 percent in April. Reuters stated that the greatest menace to the unity of the euro zone is now social breakdown from the crisis, rather than market-driven factors. What is of significant concern is that 5.6m young are without employment although it is getting desperate for Spain and Greece.
Spain tries the German method to reduce unemployment
If you look at the labour market in Spain you would think that it resembles the German economy 10 years ago when Gerhard Schroder was its leader. Schroder was responsible for labour reforms that ignited the German economy into one of the strongest in Europe.
Spain is relaxing labour laws and cutting public spending and there are some positive signs here in that labour unit costs are falling as result of greater productivity. However German’s vocational education sector was a significant factor in its improved performance as the education and training system is more job orientated. Furthermore, with austerity measures in place and more to follow – pressure from the EU to introduce yet another sales-tax rise – Spain will find it hard to generate any sort of growth. But if it does grow will it generate any reduction in unemployment? Because of labour reforms some economists now believe that only 1.5% growth is required to bring about net job creation rather than 2.5% as previous.
Oil drought but of the “Olive” variety – Simple Supply and Demand
The drought in Spain this summer has had a significant impact on the Olive oil market worldwide. Approximately 50% of world production comes from the World Cup and European Champions but The Economist estimate that the lack of rain might cause a drop in global production of around 20% – supply curve to the left. In 2011 the market was awash with around 3 million tonnes of olive oil. Because of this prices hit nine year lows – July 2012 $2,745 but over the last few months they have risen approximately 40% – $3,787 a tonne. Stocks are being put onto the market from last year’s crop (supply curve to the right) have helped to keep the price below $4,000 a tonne – a bit like a buffer stock system. See graph below
Olive Oil – US$ per Tonne
High prices have helped some other economies that border the Mediterranean Sea like Italy and Greece as they are the next biggest producers of olive oil and between them provide 20% of the world market.
Demand on the increase
Demand for olive oil has increased as it becomes more fashionable – maybe from all those cooking shows that they have on TV these days. Germany are using 5 x more olive oil and the British x 10. Demand in the US has been growing 6% for the last 20 years.
Is Spain going to go the Greek way?
With increasing debt, out of control unemployment and a general strike Spain has some serious economic problems. However, before the financial crisis of 2008 Spain was seen as a prudent member of the Eurozone with GDP debt being half that of Germany at 36%, and a well regulated financial sector. But since the aftermath of the financial crisis it has been all downhill for the Spanish economy with unemployment now at 24% and public debt at 66%.
Causes of the downturn
Like most economies before the financial crisis Spain had access to cheap credit. This was especially prevalent since entering the Eurozone interest rates, which were set by the European Central Bank ECB) in Frankfurt fell from 12.75% in 1995 to 3% in 2005.
The result
Spain’s banks and households realising that they had massive debts whose collateral was overpriced housing. Property values have fallen 27% and the building of new home is down 80% and given the size of the construction sector mentioned above this has some major implications for the Spanish fundamentals.
The Spanish economy is in serious trouble. With unemployment at 24% and the subsequent fall in consumer spending can it get much worse? Well, rating agency Standard & Poors have proceeded to downgrade Spain to BBB+ rating, which means “adequate payment capacity” and is only a few notches above a junk rating.
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The above is a brief extract from an article published in this month’s econoMAX – click below to subscribe to econoMAX the online magazine of Tutor2u. Each month there are 8 articles of around 600 words on current economic issues.
The Pain in Spain – civil servants now lose jobs
With 24% unemployment and approximately 50% of those under 25 without a job, can it get much worse for the Spanish economy. Well it just has – Standard & Poors have downgraded Spain by two levels to BBB+ from A, with a negative outlook and this has “direct negative rating implications”. However the latest trend is for public-sector workers to lose their jobs with 32,000 government employees being made redundant in the first quarter of this year. When they lose their jobs they receive unemployment benefit for up to two years. When that runs out, the central government has been giving for the past several years a monthly subsidy of €400 ($530) to people who still haven’t found jobs. Most laid-off workers cut down on consumption, so they aren’t spending on goods and services to help stimulate the economy or fill tax coffers. But the dilemma is if they don’t bring in austerity measures they won’t get bailed out by their European colleagues – balanced budget v growth in the economy.
Spanish prostitutes: striking at the heart of the banking industry. What about an SPS?
Back on deck after the Easter break – many thanks to Richard Wells for this piece from The Week magazine.
High-class prostitutes in Spain have gone on strike over the financial sector’s reluctance to extend credit to families and small businesses. The women say they will not have sex with bankers until the situation changes. “We have been on strike for three days,” said one woman in Madrid. “We don’t think they can withstand much more.” It is claimed that bankers have been trying to get around the strike by posing as architects and engineers – but the sex workers have not been fooled. “It’s been many years since these professionals could afford rates that start at £250 an hour,” said one. .
With the issue Collateral Debt Obligation (CDO) and Credit Default Swaps (CDS) leading up to the financial crisis of 2008 I am surprised that the Spanish banking fraternity haven’t developed a SPS – Spanish Prostitute Security. I am sure the SPS would be rated AAA by Standard & Whores.
The youth of Spain fall mainly on the “dole”
Youth unemployment has been one of the major issues in the Spanish labour for a number of years. However, it has been the latest crisis in the euro zone that has highlighted the issue and it has worrying consequences for future growth in the Spanish economy. One cause is that of education participation.
As the chart (BBVA Research – Madrid) below shows, the rate of youth unemployment in Spain during the 1990‘s showed little change between the various sectors of education. From 2000 onwards those with secondary and tertiary education had lower rates of unemployment when compared to their counterparts whom had left secondary school early – the latter unemployment rate being consistently above 20%. The current crisis in the euro zone has seen the unemployment rate of those in the lowest level of education rise to 50% when compared to 35% amongst those who finished secondary education and 30% of whom gained a university degree. Tertiary education needs to be restructured in their content and duration as too many degrees have no direct future with regard to employment. Maybe there needs to be greater links with the private sector in order to improve the employability of graduates. It could be the case that certain degrees have compulsory internships that provide students with experience and specific knowledge.
Spanish unemployment – 48.56% of under 25′s
Here is a graphic from the WSJ. There are some serious problems in the spanish economy with 48.56% unemployment of those under 25 and 22.85% being the national figure. Also from the NYT:
- 1.6 million Spanish households ended last year without a single member holding an official job.
- 33% of those unemployed aged below 30.
- 5.72 million are unemployed.
- The Bank of Spain recently forecast that the Spanish economy would shrink 1.5 percent this year, with employment recovering only in the second half of 2013.
This is worrying news for the Spanish as another recession seems likely which in turn means more pressure on jobs.
