The New Subjectivism emphasizes the inner-directed person rather than a person led and manipulated by outside demands. It involves a stand against the steering mechanisms used by the political apparatus and by the state. It also involves a focus on the fate of the individual and a refutation of the "ethics of consequence" in favor of an "ethics of principle." These are youth's reactions to structural and institutional trends that involve commercialization, the state's penetration into most spheres of life, and a numerical increase in the well-educated middle class combined with a decline in its social position. Against the background of the New Subjectivism, this essay discusses characteristics of youth labor markets, the increasing amount of schooling, youth participation in the creation of new job opportunities, politics, and leisure. 23 notes.