LyrArc Article Gist
How the extended family acts as a lifeline in Spain. High unemployment does not cause homelessness and social distress becuase of the family as an additional support and safety net. Lower mobility also helps as people live near their extended families. Few people end up on the street because of this as unemployment hits 17% a year. Other things to note: the safety net of government benefits is much stronger in Europe. Also the older workers with steady jobs are less affected, as immigrants take the brunt of the high unemployment in Spain. And in France it is the younger workers and the people in temp jobs who are more affected, to some extent true also for Spain. So these countries are holding up better. In the USA President Obama's stimulus measures are picking up some of this, and the universal coverage health care plan should add additional benefits by 2010.
How the extended family acts as a lifeline in Spain. High unemployment does not cause homelessness and social distress becuase of the family as an additional support and safety net. Lower mobility also helps as people live near their extended families. Few people end up on the street because of this as unemployment hits 17% a year. Other things to note: the safety net of government benefits is much stronger in Europe. Also the older workers with steady jobs are less affected, as immigrants take the brunt of the high unemployment in Spain. And in France it is the younger workers and the people in temp jobs who are more affected, to some extent true also for Spain. So these countries are holding up better. In the USA President Obama's stimulus measures are picking up some of this, and the universal coverage health care plan should add additional benefits by 2010.
