The Younger German Historical School and the problem of unemployment

Purpose – To analyse some proposals of the Younger German Historical School as to how to reduce unemployment and to examine them with regard to their application to contemporary unemployment. The more general issue of this paper is: Can we learn from the Younger Historical School how to solve current problems? Design/methodology/approach – A review and discussion of the proposals of the Younger German Historical School. Findings – Even though the Younger German Historical School saw the unemployment problem from an integrated point of view, many proposed solutions appear in a very modern light. Economic and social policy was called on to stimulate economic activity and to coordinate the different economic policies, taking account of the level of employment. Originality/value – Highlights the fact that unemployment is not only a present day phenomenon. The dramatic impact of unemployment on individuals and societies has been well-known, at least since the start of industrialization.