• Contributors; Foreword Klaus J. Jacobs; Introduction Jeylan T. Mortimer; Part I. Investment in Youth: 1. Youth, unemployment and marginality: the problem and the solution Laura E. Hess, Anne C. Petersen and Jeylan T. Mortimer; 2. Social capital, human capital and investment in youth James S. Coleman; 3. When may social capital influence children's school performance? John Modell; Reply to John Modell James S. Coleman; Reply to James S. Coleman John Modell; Part II. Macrosocial Perspectives: 4. The historical context of transition to work and youth unemployment Helmut Fend; 5. The causes of persistently high unemployment Michael White and David J. Smith; Part III. Individual Perspectives: 6. Concepts of causation, tests of causal mechanisms and implications for intervention Michael Rutter; 7. Individual differences as precursors of youth unemployment Jeylan T. Mortimer; 8. The psychosocial consequences of youth unemployment Adrian Furnham; Part IV. Social Consequences and Interventions: 9. Societal consequences of youth unemployment Hannie te Grotenhuis and Frans Meijers; 10. Social roles for youth: interventions in unemployment Stephen F. Hamilton; Part V. Implications for Research: 11. Youth: work and unemployment - a European perspective for research Hans Bertram; 12. Conclusions: social structure and psychosocial dimensions of youth unemployment Walter R. Heinz; Index.

"The volume offers not only comprehensive reviews and interpretations of relevant literature, but also methodological and theoretical challenges to social scientists who work on these problems. The conclusions drawn throughout are well supported by the latest scientific research on the determining, mediating, and moderating factors affecting unemployment in Europe and North America. The book provides analyses of the success of national programs and systems designed to alleviate unemployment or prevent it from becoming a personal and societal problem." Leann M. Tigges, Contemporary Sociology