Why are Americans working less? While there are a number of factors, the phenomenon is due mainly to a variety of public policies that have reduced the incentives to be employed.
He goes on to cite increased use of food stamps, disability, Pell Grants, and extended unemployment benefits.
I might dub this the non-WPA. Paul Krugman and others talk about reviving the Works Progress Administration, which built public works projects in the 1930s. But would anybody even take those jobs today? With all the other options to get by without working, how many people would be willing to travel to the site of a government construction job and pick up a shovel?
I find this peculiar as well. Robert Reich is a big promoter of WPA programs and mentions it often as a modern day solution to our employment problem. However, he (on others who think this way) never (to my knowledge) illustrate how this would actually work in practice. What modern day, large or small infrastructure projects would you want 100’s of 1000’s of unskilled/semi-skilled workers doing and they would perform to standard AND they would be willing to re-locate to perform these jobs? I just dont see it.
If memory serves, the New Deal brought forth a plethora of state-sponsored work. You and Gene may be struggling with how would (lets call it “serious/purposeful” work, like the TVA, the Hoover Dam, etc) work today. I think people like Krugman and Reich would be content if we had to settle for programs like the Federal Art Program (FERA, PWAP, etc)….
The WPA wouldn’t stand a chance today–the unions would go berserk if the government tried to bring in low skilled/low pay workers to do public works projects. All such work MUST be union work.
Also, listen to Russ Roberts’ podcast wish Casey Mulligan from a few weeks ago. They go over the ways that specific programs disincentivise work for low skilled workers.
All the “normal” definitions of work are definitely taken and jealously guarded. And not just paid work, but even volunteering: for instance in terms of what little hospital volunteers can actually do for patients. Even someone seeking to start a non-profit is likely to be told they are just ripping off resources from someone else’s non-profit mission. That’s why so many people are willing to buckle and just shove a little money at someone, or perhaps put them behind bars, instead of creating real economic space for them.
Every 10 years, the Federal Government hires up for the decennial Census. As a Census taker in the field, you walk from address to address, ring on doorbells, ask for someone who lives at the address, explain the 10-question survey, and proceed to ask the questions. While some respondents are nice, many (especially at the end of the survey period when you are trying to get an accurate count of those who wish not to be counted) are uncooperative, rude, hostile, aggressive, or worse. During the past Census, I was physically assaulted more than once (okay, it was only twice but it was enough).
I have worked on many Census crews over the years. (The decennial Census actually takes two years to complete.) No one quits unless they are leaving for another job that has either higher pay or more hours.
While I enjoy the fact-free neoliberal speculations of Kling and others, you can feel free to admit the actual behavior of fellow human beings and countrymen into your hate-fests every now and again.