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On the definition of involuntary unemployment

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  • Sawyer, Malcolm
  • Spencer, David

Abstract

Keynes gave two definitions of involuntary unemployment which could be seen more as tests for the existence of involuntary unemployment than definitions. It is argued that Keynes's definitions are inadequate as tests of unemployment and in many circumstances would fail to reveal the existence of unemployment. We argue that unemployment as a theoretical construct is always involuntary, and the appearance of voluntary unemployment arises only through the mismeasurement of unemployment. We argue that involuntary unemployment has to be viewed as a macroeconomic concept rather than a microeconomic one. In a collective sense, the degree of unemployment is not the outcome of decisions made by the individuals concerned.

Suggested Citation

  • Sawyer, Malcolm & Spencer, David, 2008. "On the definition of involuntary unemployment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 718-735, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:37:y:2008:i:2:p:718-735
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David A. Spencer, 2006. "Work for all those who want it? Why the neoclassical labour supply curve is an inappropriate foundation for the theory of employment and unemployment," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 30(3), pages 459-472, May.
    2. Weitzman, Martin L, 1982. "Increasing Returns and the Foundations of Unemployment Theory," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 92(368), pages 787-804, December.
    3. Michel, DE VROEY, 2005. "Involuntary Unemployment : the Elusive Quest for a Theory," Discussion Papers (ECON - Département des Sciences Economiques) 2005004, Université catholique de Louvain, Département des Sciences Economiques.
    4. David G. Blanchflower & Andrew J. Oswald, 1995. "The Wage Curve," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 026202375x, December.
    5. Malcolm Sawyer, 2002. "The NAIRU, Aggregate Demand and Investment," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(1), pages 66-94, February.
    6. Malcolm C. Sawyer, 1992. "On Imperfect Competition and Macroeconomic Analysis," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Alfredo Monte (ed.), Recent Developments in the Theory of Industrial Organization, chapter 4, pages 79-113, Palgrave Macmillan.
    7. Robert E. Prasch, 2000. "Reassessing the Labor Supply Curve," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(3), pages 679-692, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yasuhiro Sakai, 2017. "Involuntary Unemployment versus "Involuntary Employment" : J.M. Keynes and Beyond," Discussion Papers CRR Discussion Paper Series A: General 25, Shiga University, Faculty of Economics,Center for Risk Research.
    2. Malcolm Sawyer & David Spencer, 2010. "Labour Supply, Employment and Unemployment in Macroeconomics: A Critical Appraisal of Orthodoxy and a Heterodox Alternative," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 263-279.

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