ROBERT MACDONALD is Professor of Sociology at the University of Teesside. He has long-standing research interests in the consequences of social and economic change for individuals, families and communities. He has co-authored and edited several books and reports about young people and youth issues, including Risky Business? Youth and Enterprise Culture (1991), Youth, the 'Underclass' and Social Exclusion (1997), Snakes and Ladders (2000) and Poor Transitions (2004).JANE MARSH studied sociology at Edinburgh University. After working for the Careers Service, she then moved to the University of Teesside to work as the key researcher on the Disconnected Youth? project. She has co-authored several conference papers and journal articles on young people and social exclusion. She has more recently worked for Teesside Probation Service and is now a primary school teacher.