Fiscal Multipliers

[Jon Miller]

If you want to say 'results are not relevant because I think that ricardian equivalence plays a significant role' then fine. That does not make the writers, or those who listen to them, idiotic/etc.

JM

[Vanguard]

Fiscal multipliers are of very limited usefulness. They should probably be ignored for anything but the broadest comparisons.

Forget that nonsense. If you want to solve economic problems, find the problem and SOLVE it.

The problem for Western Economies is JOBS. Nothing else. If you want to solve that problem then the solution is for the government to hire unemployed people. All of them.

You can put them to work digging holes and filling them in if you want. Or you can hire them to clean up the roads, build new bridges, schools and playgrounds---- whatever. Who really cares? How is it worse for the government to hire people to clean up American than it is for the rich to hire those same people to clean their houses and mow their lawns? It isn't.

Ultimately, the important thing is that people get money, buy stuff they want and gain utility. That is the whole purpose of the study of economics. So do that.

[C0ckney]

i actually think it would be an interesting experiment to abolish welfare and make the government the employer of last resort.

[Elok]

i actually think it would be an interesting experiment to abolish welfare and make the government the employer of last resort.

More than it is already, you mean?

[Dauphin]

The problem for Western Economies is JOBS. Nothing else. If you want to solve that problem then the solution is for the government to hire unemployed people. All of them.

Get rid of immigrants. Save local jobs to solve unemployment. Oh wait, they don't all want to work and would rather be indolent.

[Kidlicious]

i actually think it would be an interesting experiment to abolish welfare and make the government the employer of last resort.

This is how it is in Oklahoma. You have to work for a charity or something unless you are in some job training.

[C0ckney]

More than it is already, you mean?

well it isn't really. in western countries the government will provide financial assistance (in cash or in kind) to those who are unable to find work. what i'm talking about would be abolishing all this kind of support for the able bodied and for the government to directly provide jobs for them instead.

[Dauphin]

Work for the "dole"? But then it would be a misnomer. We can't have that. Preposterous.

[C0ckney]

i know, crazy, right! wait 'till you hear my far out ideas for sorting our the housing problem.

[Kidlicious]

i know, crazy, right! wait 'till you hear my far out ideas for sorting our the housing problem.

Does it have anything to do with the homeless living with bankers?

[C0ckney]

it's like you're inside my head!!!!111

[Elok]

well it isn't really. in western countries the government will provide financial assistance (in cash or in kind) to those who are unable to find work. what i'm talking about would be abolishing all this kind of support for the able bodied and for the government to directly provide jobs for them instead.

I was referring more to the government being the employer of last resort. Especially the military.

[C0ckney]

wrt to the military, that may be the case in america, but certainly not in the rest of the western world, where small professonal forces are the norm. in any case, in america, there are a huge number of people who cannot find work. ergo what i'm talking about simply doesn't happen.

[Elok]

It was a joke--I was remembering my brief stint at the U.S. Census Bureau, and my efforts to wade through USAJobs.gov. The US Federal workforce is not famous for competence or productivity. But I guess I shouldn't have expected a Brit to get it, huh?

[C0ckney]

that was a cultural reference too far i'm afraid.