Research Proposal: Unemployment and Social Exclusion in Ireland

Abstract

Ireland has been facing serious challenges in terms of increased unemployment and social exclusion especially in its rural area. Poverty and social exclusion has been increasing at an alarming rate showing wide differences in the living standards of urban and rural population of the country. This calls for serious measures and steps that must be taken to develop better and comprehensive understanding of the rural social exclusion and the policies priorities across the country. The main aim of this report is to discuss and analyze the issues of social exclusion and unemployment in the rural areas of Ireland in detail and provide evidence of their linkage and how dealing with one issue will have a positive impact on the other.

Research Proposal: Unemployment and Social Exclusion in Ireland

Introduction

It has been suggested that the problem of unemployment is interlinked with social exclusion and poverty and has been increasing at an alarming rate in the European Union and its Member states. The latest statistics and figures suggest that the unemployment rate has increased almost by four folds since early 1970s. Surprisingly these countries have been growing steadily on the economic grounds but poverty, social exclusion and unemployment remains a serious and challenging issue (Twena & Aaheim, 2005, pp. 1). Ireland specifically has been facing serious environmental, economical and social as Ireland's rate of unemployment remained at 14.9 percent which is the 5th highest rate in the entire European Union (RTE News, 2012). Rural communities of the country make up around 39 percent of the entire population which is a considerable chunk and facing serious problems of social exclusion and poverty (Walsh, 2010, pp. 3). There is a big difference in the income distribution between the rural and urban areas of the country due to which the living standards of both are also different and shows two extreme sides of the country.

Problem Statement

Social exclusion and poverty has been suggested to be linked with other socioeconomic factors in any country and income distribution and employment is one such major factor that has a profound and direct effect on the people's living standard and socioeconomic status. The concept of social exclusion and unemployment has been suggested to be mutually interlinked. It has been analyzed and observed that increase in unemployment rate of any country leads to irregular and unstable income distribution and pattern in major parts of the society. The direct effect of joblessness is on the individual and his family provided that he is the sole supporter of the family. If unemployment is for a short time period that many individual are able to sustain the short term effect but continued unemployment leads to hardships and difficulties and the individual becomes unable to provide for the basic necessities such as proper food, education, health facilities for himself and his family. Such successive periods of unemployment often leads to extreme situations and result in social exclusion of the people.

Statement of Purpose

The study will be exploratory in nature ...