Comments on: Employment

By: Ralph Musgrave

Ralph Musgrave — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:43:26 +0000

In addition to a payroll tax holiday, I like the idea of reducing taxes on goods (e.g. the Value Added Tax reduction that the UK implemented early in 2009). This induces people to spend NOWISH rather than just save the money. They know the tax will be raised after the recession.

Re deficits, Warren does have a few friends out there: Samuel Brittan in todayâ€™s Financial Times argues for a continuation of deficits. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/66e41076-cfc4-11de-a36d-00144feabdc0.html

By: zanon

zanon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:50:03 +0000

OK. So you don’t have a $ target in mind for the deficit, it’s all about unemployment and inflation.

Looks like Obama is tee-ing up a summit so he can give more $ to his political friends under “stimulus” spending. It’s an ugly way to drive the deficit, although less ugly than unemployment to be sure

By: Warren Mosler

Warren Mosler — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:08:17 +0000

I picked $8 because it would not be disruptive. If Congress determines that it’s is disruptive and wants to start with a lower wage i’m ok with that. the important thing is to get started.

it would be limited to anyone legally in the nation.

what they would do is gone into in more detail in numerous places on this website.

the deficit should be large enough to achieve desired outcomes for output and employment as well as price stability.

By: Scott Fullwiler

Scott Fullwiler — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:00:13 +0000

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2009/11/unemployment-insurance-for-the-21st-century.html

By: zanon

zanon — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:32:37 +0000

WARREN: What is the right target for the deficit? Big enough that employment/inflation comes back?

By: Floccina

Floccina — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:58:36 +0000

Payroll tax holiday
Per capita revenue distribution for the states
$8/hr job for anyone willing and able to work

I love the Payroll tax holiday though I would prefer the permanent elimination of FICA and the medicare tax.
I like the per capita revenue distribution for the states.
But the $8/hr job for anyone willing and able to work is full of problems.

1. $8/hr is too high, it would draw people away from more productive work.
2. Doing what?
3. Would it be limited to US citizens? People with green cards?
4. it is hard to define able to work.

Now if we can use people for example picking up litter gov should hire people to do that for as low a wage as possible.