Full Employment

Related publications

• Working Paper No.895 23 August 2017

  Unemployment: The Silent Epidemic

  Pavlina R. Tcherneva
  Abstract

  This paper examines two key aspects of unemployment—its propagation mechanism and socioeconomic costs. It identifies a key feature of this macroeconomic phenomenon: it behaves like a disease. A detailed assessment of the transmission mechanism and the existing pecuniary and nonpecuniary costs of unemployment suggests a fundamental shift in the policy responses to tackling joblessness. To stem the contagion effect and its outsized social and economic impact, fiscal policy can be designed around two criteria for successful disease intervention—preparedness and prevention. The paper examines how a job guarantee proposal uniquely meets those two requirements. It is a policy response whose merits include much more than its macroeconomic stabilization features, as discussed in the literature. It is, in a sense, a method of inoculation against the vile effects of unemployment. The paper discusses several preventative features of the program.
   

  Download Working Paper No. 895 PDF (397.21 KB)
• Research Project Report 30 November 2011

  Direct Job Creation for Turbulent Times in Greece

  Rania Antonopoulos, Dimitri B. Papadimitriou and Taun Toay
  Abstract

  Countries in crisis round the world face the daunting task of dealing with abrupt increases in unemployment and associated deepening poverty. Greece, in the face of her sovereign debt crisis, has been hit the hardest. Remediating employment policies, including workweek reductions and employment subsidies, abound but have failed to answer the call satisfactorily. Direct public-service job creation, instead, enables communities to mitigate risks and vulnerabilities that rise especially in turbulent times by actively transforming their own economic and social environment.

  With underwriting from the Labour Institute of the Greek General Confederation of Workers, the Levy Economics Institute was instrumental in the design and implementation of a social works program of direct job creation throughout Greece. Two-year projects, funded from European Structural Funds, have begun.

  This report traces the economic trends preceding and surrounding the economic crisis in Greece, with particular emphasis on recent labor market trends and emerging gaps in social safety net coverage. While its primary focus is identifying the needs in Greece, broader lessons for direct job creation are highlighted, and could be applied to countries entertaining targeted employment creation as a means to alleviate social strains during crisis periods.

  Download Research Project Report, November 30, 2011 PDF (18.23 MB)
• Research Project Report No.34 02 January 2008

  Joint Project of UNDP and Levy Institute on Public Employment

  Rania Antonopoulos and Kijong Kim
  Abstract

  Documents relating to the South Africa and India case studies are available below.

  SOUTH AFRICA	INDIA
  Policy Brief Full Report Appendix A. SAM–SA Technical Report Appendix B. Statistical Analysis Appendix C. Job Identification Tables Appendix D. SAM Reformulation	Policy Brief Full Report Appendix A. SAM-Nana Kotda Village Appendix B. A Note on the Village Sam Appendix C. A Summary Table on Unpaid Work and Its Implications for Public Works Programmes
  Annotated Bibliography