Sammendrag
The persistently high level of youth unemployment places policy makers across Europe under considerable pressures to accommodate the situation. This thesis seeks to provide insight into the general situation in four countries; Germany, the UK, France and Spain. It is confided to the analysis of descriptive empirics, across countries and time. Furthermore, an illustrative analysis of labor market efficiency will be given through utilizing the Beveridge curve relation. A comparative analysis will be exploring differences in policy response, with the purpose of providing suggestions for future policy. I argue that the recession have contributed to an acceleration of structural changes in the labor market. Moreover, the countries under most strain are advised to draw on successful experiences from those who have fared better, although this might not be politically favorable.