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EU unemployment is a problem. | 70 comments (70 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: EU unemployment is a problem. (4.00 / 2)
I have to say that the sentiment of "tweaking the system" seems excessively technocratic to me.  See, for example, the work of Galbraith and Garcilazo, who have taken a whole different tack from Blanchard, Summers, et al.  Galbraith and Garcilazo (link below) show how unemployment within European regions is correlated with high degrees of inequality.  Perhaps there need to be some questions about social justice asked on the fundamental level, and not just endless "tweaking of systems."

Germany is the perfect example of how such tweaking is inevitably politicized and overblown.  The entire Hartz debacle means that lots of people are going to suffer in the name of the sort of technocratic management you are advocating here.  And much of it seems to me to be pointless--there are more just ways to lower unemployment in Germany than to punish poor people.

http://utip.gov.utexas.edu/abstract.html#UTIP25

by KB on Tue Mar 28th, 2006 at 07:57:13 PM EST
Re: EU unemployment is a problem. (none / 0)
I may be misunderstanding you, but it seems you're misunderstanding me: the system I'm talking about is the whole system of employment and welfare and taxation and industry. Punishing poor people wasn't on the menu.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Mar 29th, 2006 at 02:21:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: EU unemployment is a problem. (none / 0)
I didn't mean to say that punishing poor people was (directly) on your agenda, just that anything that is framed as "tinkering" tends to result in just that sort of punitive result.  The point is that I find it unacceptable for anyone to tell me that they are just "tinkeriing with the system" when, in fact, there is no system, but instead only the divergent interests of numerous social groups--divergent interests which require some considered judgment in the name of justice.  If you told me that changes to labor policy in a number of European countries were necessary in order to achieve more just societies, I would whole-heartedly agree.  But you seem to be one of those people who wants to fix the system, a sentiment I find completely foreign.
by KB on Wed Mar 29th, 2006 at 08:35:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: EU unemployment is a problem. (none / 0)
Sorry, read "tweak" for "tinker" above.  Also, whether or not you agree with this assessment, I highly recommend Galbraith and Garcilazo.
by KB on Wed Mar 29th, 2006 at 08:38:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

EU unemployment is a problem. | 70 comments (70 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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