Where Did the Jobs Go-And How Do We Get Them Back?

by Bittle, Scott; Johnson, Jean

• ISBN13: 9780061715662
• ISBN10: 0061715662
• Edition: Original
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-01-31
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co

Summary

Find out how the numbers on the jobs situation really add up, once you subtract the spin, the hype, and the political posturing. For most Americans, having a decent job is a matter of basic survival. Politicians of every stripe claim to have the answer-cut taxes, invest in education, develop "green jobs," balance the budget, spend more on bridges and roads. The slogans are catchy, but will their ideas really work? And how can average citizens make sense of it all? Fortunately, Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson, bestselling authors of Where Does the Money Go? and founding editors of the nonpartisan website PublicAgenda.org, cut through the spin with this essential guide to the national jobs crisis. Exploring a very serious subject in a readable, entertaining manner, Where Did the Jobs Go-and How Do We Get Them Back? examines in detail the various proposals we've heard from the left, right, and center. Bittle and Johnson clearly explain the risks and trade-offs associated with each idea, writing specifically for citizens of all political leanings who aren't economists, financiers, business school professors, or think-tank policy wonks.

Author Biography

Scott Bittle is an award-winning journalist, policy analyst, and web producer who has written extensively about the federal budget, energy, and foreign policy. Jean Johnson writes frequently about public opinion and public policy and is the author of You Can't Do It Alone, a book on how parents, teachers, and students see education issues. Both authors are senior fellows at Public Agenda and blog frequently for the Huffington Post, National Geographic, and other outlets.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
It's Not Over Until It's Over: Six Reasons to Worry About Jobs Even If You Have One	p. 1
Has America Lost Its Mojo?	p. 17
Just the Facts, Ma'am: Ten Jobs Trends Worth Keeping an Eye On	p. 28
Churn, Baby, Churn: Why Creating New Jobs Matters So Much	p. 52
Inquiring Minds want to Know: Sorting Out the Big Debate Over Jobs
Would Balancing the Budget Help Create Jobs?	p. 87
Would Cutting Taxes Help Create Jobs?	p. 103
Would Cutting Bureaucracy Help Create Jobs?	p. 121
Would Reviving Manufacturing Help Create Jobs?	p. 137
Would Improving Education Help Create Jobs?	p. 151
Would a Major National Infrastructure Project Help Create Jobs?	p. 168
Would Closing the Gap Between Rich and Poor Help Create Jobs?	p. 180
Stuff Happens: The Big Trends That Could Affect Jobs
Wild Card #1: Globalization and What It Means for Jobs	p. 203
Wild Card #2: The Revolution in Technology and What It Means for Jobs	p. 221
Wild Card #3: Would Reducing Immigration Reduce Unemployment?	p. 237
Wild Card #4: The Aging of the Boomers and What It Means for Jobs	p. 248
Fourteen Big Ideas for Creating More and Better Jobs	p. 260
Now What? Seven Ground Rules for Moving Forward	p. 289
Acknowledgments	p. 300
Notes	p. 302
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