Balancing the subsystems for youth employability - attempts and successes in the Baltic region
| Author | Csenge Kolozsvári |
| DOI | 10.1177/1388262720962131 |
| Published date | 01 September 2020 |
| Date | 01 September 2020 |
| Subject Matter | Book reviews |
topic(s). The book is also multifaceted - in the sense, that the precarious position of the self-
employed is analysed through a plethora of aspects (age, gender, nationality, income, social
protection, etc.). An additional important strength is the empirical research being conducted in
EU Member States (i.e. Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom) with
differently conceived notions of a welfare state, and where the influence of particular institutional
elements can be observed. The empirical research findings are based on precise methodology, with
a rather large sample size of data collected through questionnaires and surveys, which is in a large
part analysed by the use of statistical regression model analysis and the results eloquently pre-
sented, more specifically with tables, graphs and commentary. The book is also written in an
approachable manner. However, the theoretical and trending notions are repeated on several
occasions by multiple authors, although this is to be somewhat expected. Unfortunately, as the
authors concluded, the extent of vulnerability of self-employed still remains ‘sketchy, blurred and
incomplete’, along with the understanding of factors responsible for it. Receiving an answer to this
question will require more in-depth research than the statistics collected by various agencies allow
since the measurement of precarious work ‘is more complicated in the case of the self-employed
than among wage workers.’
Overall, the reviewed book represents a significant enrichment of the discussion on the topic of
precarious self-employment. It is therefore recommended to a wide range of readers, especially to
those wishing to gain insight and advance their knowledge in this field, while also being partic-
ularly relevant for researchers and policy makers.
Author biography
Primoˇ
z Rataj is a Teaching Assistant in Labour and Social Security Law at the Faculty of Law,
University of Ljubljana. His interests include employment relationships and social security law,
especially the areas of social security coordination and unemployment.
primoz.rataj@pf.uni-lj.si
Balancing the subsystems for youth employability - attempts and successes in the
Baltic region
Halvorsen, R. and Hvinden, B. (eds.), Youth, Diversity and Employment – Comparative perspectives on
labour market policies, 2018, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 256 pages, ISBN 978 1 78347
599 5 (hardback).
Reviewed by: Csenge Kolozsv´
ari, Eo
¨tvo
¨s Lor´
and University in Social Studies, Budapest, Hungary
DOI: 10.1177/1388262720962131
A book about youth employment after an economic crisis could hardly be more timely and useful
than presently at the beginning of another global economic challenge caused by the COVID-19
pandemic. Transitions between educ ation and employment are challenging re search topics as
Book reviews 341
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