Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Progressive Policy, Howard J. Sherman

HOWARD J SHERMAN

The Employment Problem In Korea, Gary S. Fields

Gary S Fields

What Korea has is not an "unemployment problem" but rather an "employment problem." The employment problem includes continued high unemployment, but it goes well beyond it, also encompassing falling labor earnings, rising poverty and inequality, disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged groups, informalisation of employment, increased job insecurity, and consequent social strains. This paper documents Korea's employment problem, characterizes the problem as deficient aggregate demand rather than frictional or structural unemployment, examines in some detail three of the most important elements of the social safety net (the Employment Insurance System, the Livelihood Protection Program, and public works), and considers four major ways …

The Impact Of The 1990'S Economic Boom On Less Educated Workers In Rural America, Elizabeth E. Davis, Stacie Bosley

Stacie Bosley

This study uses National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY79) data to investigate whether the effect of local labor market conditions on the earnings of workers differs by gender, education level, or metropolitan/nonmetropolitan location. The results suggest that local economic conditions in the late 1990s did have a positive effect overall on wages for men with no more than a high school degree and for women regardless of education. Further, there is evidence of a difference between metro and nonmetro labor markets, suggesting that the 1990s boom helped urban less-educated workers but not those in rural areas. The metro-nonmetro difference is …

Women, The Recession, And The Impending Economic Recovery, Jennifer W. Keil

Jennifer Keil

Would female investment bankers, mortgage lenders, and chief executive officers have taken the same risks given the same expected returns? Maybe not. The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of the U.S. recession on women and to help readers gain useful knowledge about women’s role in the economy.

Should Ui Eligibility Be Expanded To Low-Earning Workers? Evidence On Employment, Transfer Receipt, And Income From Administrative Data, Pauline Leung, Christopher J. O'Leary

Christopher J. O'Leary

Recent efforts to expand unemployment insurance (UI) eligibility are expected to increase low-earning workers’ access to UI. Although the expansion’s aim is to smooth the income and consumption of previously ineligible workers, it is possible that UI benefits simply displace other sources of income. Standard economic models predict that UI delays reemployment, thereby reducing wage income. Additionally, low-earning workers are often eligible for benefits from means-tested programs, which may decrease with UI benefits. In this paper, we estimate the impact of UI eligibility on employment, means-tested program participation, and income after job loss using a unique individual-level administrative data set …

Employment And Training Policy In The United States During The Economic Crisis, Christopher J. O'Leary, Randall W. Eberts

Christopher J. O'Leary

This paper examines labor market conditions and public employment policies in the United States during what some are calling the Great Recession. We document the dramatic labor market changes that rapidly unfolded when the rate of gross domestic product growth turned negative, from the end of 2007 through early 2009. The paper reviews the resulting stress on labor market support programs and the broad federal response. That response came through modifications to existing programs and the introduction of new mechanisms to help Americans cope with job loss and protracted unemployment. The particular focus is on federally supported public programs for …

Promoting Self Employment Among The Unemployed In Hungary And Poland, Christopher J. O'Leary

Christopher J. O'Leary

To evaluate the effectiveness of self-employment assistance to the unemployed in Hungary and Poland more than 5,500 follow-up interviews were conducted in early 1997 by employees of local labor offices with persons in self-employment participant and comparison group samples. Wide ranging differences were observed between the demographic composition of self-employment samples and the general population of unemployed. Program effects were therefore computed as net impact estimates controlling for systematic sample selection using observable characteristics including information on job search assistance from the employment service. While self-employment assistance yielded a favorable set of net impact estimates in both countries, there was …

Job Growth And The Quality Of Jobs In The U.S. Economy, Susan N. Houseman

Susan N. Houseman

During the 1980's employment grew rapidly in the United States, prompting many analysts to label the U.S. economy the great American job machine. But while aggregate employment increased rapidly during the 1980's, many did not benefit from the expansion. Among less educated prime-age males, unemployment rates rose and labor force participation rates declined sharply. Moreover, although job growth was high, many argued that the quality of American jobs as measured by wages, benefits, and job security deteriorated. The decline of jobs in the high-paying manufacturing sector and the growth of jobs in the low-paying services sector, the growth in part-time …

Temporary Agency Work, Susan Houseman

Susan N. Houseman

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Manufacturing In A Jobs Recovery, Susan Houseman

Susan N. Houseman

No abstract provided.

The Job Creation Tax Credit: Dismal Projections For Employment Call For A Quick, Efficient, And Effective Response, Timothy Bartik, John Bishop

Timothy J. Bartik

No abstract provided.

The U.S. Economic Crisis And A Revised New Jobs Tax Credit, Timothy J. Bartik

Timothy J. Bartik

An efficacious economic stimulus to help the U.S. economy recover from its current recession is the revival of the New Jobs Tax Credit. Unlike the original credit utilized by the federal government in 1977– 1978, the new version should be a refundable credit but at a lower current dollar value. My 2001 book, Jobs for the Poor: Can Labor Demand Policies Help? proposed a permanent version f the New Jobs Tax Credit that would be automatically triggered when the unemployment rate is high. My estimates, updated to 2008, suggest that such a revised credit might increase aggregate U.S. employment by …

A Proposal For Early Impact, Persistent, And Cost-Effective Job Creation Policies, Timothy J. Bartik

Timothy J. Bartik

No abstract provided.

Not All Job Creation Tax Credits Are Created Equal, Timothy Bartik

Timothy J. Bartik

No abstract provided.

Comment On Edlin And Phelps: A Better Employer Wage Subsidy, Timothy Bartik

Timothy J. Bartik

No abstract provided.

Group Wage Curves, Timothy J. Bartik

Timothy J. Bartik

Using panel data on U.S. MSAs, this paper estimates how a typical MSA's wages of different demographic groups, and prices, are affected by overall MSA unemployment, the distribution of unemployment among different groups, and national prices and wages. MSA unemployment has strong effects on MSA wages and prices, but the distribution of unemployment among different groups has weak effects on wages and prices. Using these estimates, simulations show that targeting high-unemployment groups for unemployment reductions will not reduce wage or price inflation pressures. The estimates also show that the effects of MSA unemployment on prices and disadvantaged groups' wages are …

The Market Failure Approach To Regional Economic Development Policy, Timothy Bartik

Timothy J. Bartik

No abstract provided.

Michigan's Economic Competitiveness And Public Policy, Timothy J. Bartik, George A. Erickcek, Wei-Jang Huang, Brad R. Watts

Timothy J. Bartik

No abstract provided.

Employment Impacts Of Environmental Regulation, Timothy Bartik

Timothy J. Bartik

This research paper addressed the issue of evaluating and improving potential links between employment impacts of environmental regulation and benefit-cost analysis. The research examined labor market conditions that would justify relaxing the full employment assumption within benefit-cost analysis. This information may be influential to the opportunity cost of unemployed labor and addresses the measurement of influential variables. The research was presented at two workshops in Washington, D.C.: a “planning” workshop in Spring 2012 and a “presentation” workshop in Fall 2012.

Including Jobs In Benefit-Cost Analysis, Timothy J. Bartik

Timothy J. Bartik

Public policies may affect employment by directly creating jobs, facilitating job creation, or augmenting labor supply. In labor markets with high unemployment, such employment changes may have significant net efficiency benefits, which should be included in benefit-cost analyses.
The research literature offers diverse recommendations on measuring employment benefits. Many of the recommendations rely on arbitrary assumptions. The resulting employment benefit estimates vary widely.
This paper reviews this literature, and offers recommendations on how to better measure employment benefits using estimable parameters. Guidance is provided on measuring policy-induced labor demand, estimating the demand shock’s impact on labor market outcomes, and translating …

Complementing Recovery Policies With A Jobs Creation Tax Credit, Timothy Bartik, John Bishop

Timothy J. Bartik

No abstract provided.

Michigan Competitiveness For Economic Development Report, Timothy Bartik, George Erickcek

Timothy J. Bartik

Institute staff evaluated Michigan's competitiveness for economic development compared to the nation and nearby states. The report analyzed several aspects of Michigan's competitiveness including: tax competitiveness, Michigan's growth and industry mix, Michigan's competitiveness in human capital, and the competitiveness of Michigan's metropolitan areas. The report also included an executive summary targeted to a broader audience

When Will Us Employment Recover From The Great Recession?, Randall W. Eberts

Randall W. Eberts

No abstract provided.

The Obama's Administration Likely Changes In U.S. Employment Policy, Randall W. Eberts

Randall W. Eberts

No abstract provided.

When Will The Labor Market Recover?, Randall W. Eberts

Randall W. Eberts

No abstract provided.

Responding To The Needs Of Workers During The Great Recession, Randall W. Eberts, Stephen A. Wandner

Randall W. Eberts

No abstract provided.

U.S. Training And Re-Training Programs In The Economic Crisis, Randall W. Eberts

Randall W. Eberts

No abstract provided.

U.S. Employment Outlook For 2013, Randall W. Eberts

Randall W. Eberts

No abstract provided.

Employment And Training Policy In The United States During The Economic Crisis, Christopher J. O'Leary, Randall W. Eberts

Randall W. Eberts

This paper examines labor market conditions and public employment policies in the United States during what some are calling the Great Recession. We document the dramatic labor market changes that rapidly unfolded when the rate of gross domestic product growth turned negative, from the end of 2007 through early 2009. The paper reviews the resulting stress on labor market support programs and the broad federal response. That response came through modifications to existing programs and the introduction of new mechanisms to help Americans cope with job loss and protracted unemployment. The particular focus is on federally supported public programs for …

The Economic Influence On Electoral Politics, David Lynch, Nicholas R. Jesteadt, Brencis Navia

Professor David Lynch

The economy has been one of the focal points of not just this election, but almost every election in the past. The incumbent party attempts to portray the economy as healthy, recovering, prosperous; the opposing party attempts to show stagnation and volatility. This presentation aims to expose the effect of the economy on campaigning and electoral outcomes by examining historical elections and projecting toward the 2012 election. What economic factors influence voters? We examine unemployment, GDP growth, inflation, and several others as we try to piece together the economic impact on elections. Our guest speaker is David Lynch, a senior …