This book investigates whether the rise of global trade with developing nations is a primary driver of high unemployment rates within the European Union. The authors, André Sapir, Khalid Sekkat, and Mathias Dewatripont, utilize empirical economic data and comparative labor market analysis to challenge the prevailing assumption that globalization is the sole culprit for European job losses. By examining trade patterns and labor market flexibility, they provide a rigorous framework for understanding the complex interplay between international commerce and domestic employment stability.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of trade policy and labor economics in the European context. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the authors' commitment to data-driven conclusions over political rhetoric.