Comments on: Lord Layard on the cause of long-term unemployment http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/ Looking Forward to Freedom Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:17:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Paul Pettinger http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-2741 Paul Pettinger Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:36:47 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=3869#comment-2741 Sounds good to me. Sounds good to me.

]]> By: Tom Papworth http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-2739 Tom Papworth Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:35:03 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=3869#comment-2739 Paul, It is possible to agree with somebody's diagnosis but not their prescription. However, I actually think that well targetted interventions can do wonders for getting people back to work. The Australians have had a remarkable success with privatising the Unemployment Service. Rather than pay staff to sign people on, they pay agencies to find them work. The agencies get little or no money for registering unemployed people, or for those who remain unemployed, but get paid for getting them into work, and get bonuses if they are still in work after a decent interval (I think increasing bonuses kick in after 3, 6 and 12 months). The result is that the companies have a huge incentive to find <i>sustainable</i> employment for their clients, rather than the current cycle of jobs and benefits (see Frank Field's work on the revolving New Deal door). It doesn't all have to be slash-and-burn, you know. Policy just has to work <i>with</i> the grain of human behaviour, rather than against it. Paul,

It is possible to agree with somebody’s diagnosis but not their prescription.

However, I actually think that well targetted interventions can do wonders for getting people back to work. The Australians have had a remarkable success with privatising the Unemployment Service. Rather than pay staff to sign people on, they pay agencies to find them work. The agencies get little or no money for registering unemployed people, or for those who remain unemployed, but get paid for getting them into work, and get bonuses if they are still in work after a decent interval (I think increasing bonuses kick in after 3, 6 and 12 months). The result is that the companies have a huge incentive to find sustainable employment for their clients, rather than the current cycle of jobs and benefits (see Frank Field’s work on the revolving New Deal door).

It doesn’t all have to be slash-and-burn, you know. Policy just has to work with the grain of human behaviour, rather than against it.

]]> By: Paul Pettinger http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-2734 Paul Pettinger Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:25:37 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=3869#comment-2734 Except that Lord Layard argues proactive welfare to work measures are required to tackle to long-term unemployment, not less government support. Do you advocate cutting unemployment benefits? Except that Lord Layard argues proactive welfare to work measures are required to tackle to long-term unemployment, not less government support. Do you advocate cutting unemployment benefits?

]]> By: Tom Papworth http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-2730 Tom Papworth Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:44:36 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=3869#comment-2730 A direct quote without interpretation cannot be called honestly be called "misrepresentation", Paul. A direct quote without interpretation cannot be called honestly be called “misrepresentation”, Paul.

]]> By: Paul Pettinger http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-2728 Paul Pettinger Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:32:37 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=3869#comment-2728 Also, Lord Layard's paper is called 'Welfare-to-Work and the New Deal', not 'The cause of long-term unemplyment in Europe'. Why are you misrepresenting what he has written? Also, Lord Layard’s paper is called ‘Welfare-to-Work and the New Deal’, not ‘The cause of long-term unemplyment in Europe’. Why are you misrepresenting what he has written?

]]> By: Paul Pettinger http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-2727 Paul Pettinger Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:57:51 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=3869#comment-2727 Are you advocating cutting unemployment benefits?? Why have you only quoted the paragraph above from the paper about US benefits being cut equalling less unemployment? The article actually argues that proactive welfare to work measures are required to tackle to unemployment, not less government support. Are you advocating cutting unemployment benefits?? Why have you only quoted the paragraph above from the paper about US benefits being cut equalling less unemployment?

The article actually argues that proactive welfare to work measures are required to tackle to unemployment, not less government support.

]]> By: Tom Papworth http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-2716 Tom Papworth Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:29:29 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=3869#comment-2716 It's a shame he didn't impress this upon his acolytes during their 12 years in power. It’s a shame he didn’t impress this upon his acolytes during their 12 years in power.

]]> By: tim leunig http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/11/24/lord-layard-on-the-cause-of-long-term-unemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-2714 tim leunig Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:59:19 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=3869#comment-2714 He has been saying this for about 25 years - read the Layard, Nickell and Jackman textbook, Unemployment, published c. 1984! And yes, he is right. Note that this also applies within the UK. Wales is (significantly) poorer than Britain, and the reason is primarily differences in long term dislocation of working age people, particularly men, from the labour market. He has been saying this for about 25 years – read the Layard, Nickell and Jackman textbook, Unemployment, published c. 1984! And yes, he is right.

Note that this also applies within the UK. Wales is (significantly) poorer than Britain, and the reason is primarily differences in long term dislocation of working age people, particularly men, from the labour market.

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