Guaranteed Jobs through a Public Service Employment Program

Related publications

• Policy Notes No.3 01 May 2018

  A Consensus Strategy for a Universal Job Guarantee Program

  L. Randall Wray
  Abstract

  The idea of a universal job guarantee (JG) policy for the United States has become the subject of renewed public debate due to a number of high-profile political endorsements. L. Randall Wray recently coauthored a report that presented a JG proposal—the Public Service Employment program—along with estimates of the economic impact of the plan. However, several other variants have been proposed and/or endorsed. In this policy note, Wray seeks to establish common ground among the major JG plans and provides an initial response to critics.

  Download Policy Note 2018/3 PDF (165.79 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