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Critical Analysis of Some Well-Intended Proposals to Fight Unemployment

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  • Gebhard Kirchgässner

Abstract

In this paper it is asked whether it is meaningful to state a ‘right to work’ as a basic human right to be written down in the constitution, for example, whether working time should generally be reduced, and whether those who do not have (or find) a job should get a guaranteed minimal income. All three demands have to be rejected, at least in the radical form in which they are often stated. They cannot be realised at all or at least not without impairing other basic human rights. Finally, it is asked what can be retained from these (usually well-intended) demands.

Suggested Citation

  • Gebhard Kirchgässner, 2009. "Critical Analysis of Some Well-Intended Proposals to Fight Unemployment," University of St. Gallen Department of Economics working paper series 2009 2009-17, Department of Economics, University of St. Gallen.
    • Handle: RePEc:usg:dp2009:2009-17
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    Cited by:

    1. Habermacher, Florian & Kirchgässner, Gebhard, 2013. "Das garantierte Grundeinkommen: Eine (leider) nicht bezahlbare Idee," Economics Working Paper Series 1313, University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science, revised Aug 2013.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unemployment; Right to Work; Working Time; Negative Income Tax; Basic Income;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J68 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Public Policy

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