Training the unemployed: much ado about nothing?

A number of ideas have been put forward to help tackle youth unemployment in Europe. Bob Hancké takes a closer look at the issue, arguing that while training is never a bad thing, bringing unemployment down is not a substitute for growth. Only in Spain, perhaps, where an entire generation has succumbed to the temptation of higher wages in unskilled jobs today (in the now defunct construction sector), instead of raising their skills for tomorrow, could a sustained training programme bring key benefits.