Layard, Richard 
ORCID: 0000-0002-1313-699X
(1990)
Understanding unemployment.
CEP Discussion Papers (CEPDP0004).
London School of Economics and Political Science. Centre for Economic Performance, London, UK.
Abstract
This lecture provides a general framework for analysing unemployment. For inflation to be stable, there must be sufficient unemployment to prevent ''target real wages'' exceeding ''feasible real wages''. Target real wages depend on bargaining systems, benefit systems, labour market policies and mismatch. This framework explains inter-country differences in unemployment rates and British time series. The Restart Programme has helped in a major way to reduce British unemployment. Long-term unemployment is an almost total economic waste since it does little to reduce target real wages. It also imposes major external costs on British taxpayers since long-term unemployed people are so unlikely to become re-employed. Britain should adopt the Swedish ''employment principle'' and the labour market policies that go with it.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Discussion Paper) |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://cep.lse.ac.uk |
| Additional Information: | © 2009 The Author |
| Divisions: | Economics Centre for Economic Performance |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Feb 2013 10:30 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Dec 2024 19:44 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/48883 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
