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What does otherwise mean in this sentence?
You do not need to be living on one of the southern European contries to understand the implications of otherwise well-intentioned job protection, and why it is better to protect workers than to protect jobs.
There are some definition for it in dictionary but I do not understand its meaning here.
The word otherwise there alludes to unintended side-effects and undesirable consequences of such job-protection measures, the "implications". The measures, though they have had those side-effects, were in all other respects well-intentioned.
The sentence is a bit elliptical. The word otherwise is perhaps not the best way to contrast the intention of the measures with their unforeseen consequences.
You do not need to be living in one of the southern European countries to understand the adverse implications of even the most well-intentioned job protection measures, and why it is better to protect workers than to protect jobs.
