Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Demeter

(85,373 posts)
19. Work Like a German By GLENN HUTCHINS
Sat Mar 15, 2014, 09:45 AM
Mar 2014

I THINK THIS IS A STUPID AND FALSE EQUIVALENCE...I THINK WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK AS AMERICANS...WHICH MEANS DETHRONING, DIS-EMPOWERING AND ASSET-STRIPPING THE 1%. THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (AND THE CIVIL WAR, REVOLUTION PART 2, WERE ALL ABOUT). BUT THEN, THIS IS A BROOKINGS INSTITUTION GUY...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/15/opinion/work-like-a-german.html

SOME of our workplace programs, like Unemployment Insurance and Disability Insurance, parts of which date from the 1930s, desperately need updating. The original designers did not envisage such large numbers of people unemployed for long periods of time or living on disability benefits. If we could convert these programs into ladders of upward mobility, they would disproportionately benefit the disadvantaged, as well as strengthen the economy. We need to focus on enabling workers to stay in work — rather than having to compensate them after they have lost their jobs.

We need only turn to Germany to see how much more effective such an approach can be. In 2009, Germany suffered a more precipitous drop in gross domestic product than the United States, but it experienced almost no change in unemployment. Here, it doubled. Today, unemployment in Germany is actually lower than it was pre-crisis, and long-term unemployment is negligible. With America’s unemployment rate stuck above 6.5 percent, the contrast is stark.

In the German job-share model (known as “Kurzarbeit”), if an employer cuts an employee’s hours so that income is reduced by more than 10 percent, the government compensates workers for a large portion of wages lost. This enables companies to cut costs during downturns without having to lay workers off. And then they’re better placed for a recovery because they’ve been able to preserve their pool of skilled labor. America should have a similar program to enable people to share jobs and to give employers an incentive to cut hours rather than staff.

When people lose their jobs but find work at lower wages, the new program could plug the gap by supplementing their income. For the long-term unemployed who take significantly lower-paying jobs (typically, at minimum-wage levels), the unemployment benefits could offer stop-loss insurance to put a floor under their losses. The new program should also subsidize employers to provide paid sick days, family leave and child care support — measures that are especially important for disadvantaged women in the work force.

AND THERE'S MORE..YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT THIS ELITIST THINKS ABOUT DISABILITY!


Glenn Hutchins is a co-founder of the technology investment firm Silver Lake Partners and the vice chairman of the Brookings Institution.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Just like Spring itself, I am tardy Demeter Mar 2014 #1
No bank failures this weekend Demeter Mar 2014 #2
Gutters will run green in Boston late Monday night Warpy Mar 2014 #7
Investment Bank Revenue to Decline 11%, JPMorgan Says Demeter Mar 2014 #3
EMU Periphery Watch: 'Deflation Club' Increases To Four Demeter Mar 2014 #4
Senate Banking leaders reach housing finance deal (Fannie and Freddie) Demeter Mar 2014 #5
MORE LATER...MEANWHILE, SOME MUSIC Demeter Mar 2014 #6
Well, unless you got no time, here's a little more music. This one describes where I hoped our jtuck004 Mar 2014 #8
Eurosceptic party leads in Danish poll before European election xchrom Mar 2014 #9
The times, they are a changing Demeter Mar 2014 #13
CHINA WIDENS CURRENCY'S FLUCTUATION AGAINST DOLLAR xchrom Mar 2014 #10
Why would we want an "efficient" economy? Demeter Mar 2014 #14
US GOVERNMENT CEDING CONTROL OF KEY INTERNET BODY xchrom Mar 2014 #11
the 'paid what your worth' myth xchrom Mar 2014 #12
Don’t trust anyone until you do a background check Demeter Mar 2014 #15
Five strategies to get the most Social Security Demeter Mar 2014 #16
Fed nominee Fischer: policy decisions are best made early Demeter Mar 2014 #17
We Can’t Grow the Gap Away Charles M. Blow Demeter Mar 2014 #18
Work Like a German By GLENN HUTCHINS Demeter Mar 2014 #19
In-the-know insiders are dumping stocks Demeter Mar 2014 #20
50 years young, forever immortal Demeter Mar 2014 #21
Another classic Demeter Mar 2014 #22
Xpost from Dixiegrrrl: Wells Fargo caught with "how to defraud homeowners" manual. Demeter Mar 2014 #23
Time for change of pace Demeter Mar 2014 #24
Safety Alert! Beware the Ides of March! (don't order from little caesar's!) Demeter Mar 2014 #25
Well, it's officially Spring. Fuddnik Mar 2014 #26
Investors Pulling Back — What Happens to Housing Now? Demeter Mar 2014 #27
PUTINOMICS (WILL BEAT THE SOCKS OFF EVERYTHING ELSE) Demeter Mar 2014 #28
KEEP YOUR GOLD Crewleader Mar 2014 #29
Thank you! A perfect start to your Weekender life Demeter Mar 2014 #30
Banking's back room risk cops step into top jobs xchrom Mar 2014 #31
Alibaba picks U.S. for IPO; in talks with six banks for lead roles xchrom Mar 2014 #32
New York takes London's crown as top financial centre - survey xchrom Mar 2014 #33
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Economy»Weekend Economists Toast ...»Reply #19