Continuations - Latest Comments in Unemployment and Structural Change

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

albert — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:52:58 -0000

Thanks for the link - yes these are a type of growing pain. But I don't think a lot of politicians acknowledge the true scope.

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

albert — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:48:04 -0000

I agree that's possible but will be hard for a lot of folks to pull off.

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

antrod — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:57:58 -0000

On the other side of this Albert, a lot of these folks will be able to find jobs/start small businesses, especially ones that leverage the Internet as a sales and marketing channel. They can do it today and thus reach customers in a way that is much cheaper than it would have been a decade ago, and virtually impossible before that.

I think you are dead on about the productivity increases meaning big cos. won't have to rehire though, and as such, we're going to go through some short term pain until examples like what I mentioned above start being frequent enough to be statistically signigicant.

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

brycemaddock — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:05:25 -0000

I agree Albert. Structural changes are at play here. We may be headed for the worst "jobless recovery" to date. Check out NPR's coverage - http://www.npr.org/template.... I feel for the people who are loosing jobs. But it's important to keep in mind that these are the growing pains of building a more efficient economy.

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

albert — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:44:55 -0000

Thanks - will check it out

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

Don Jones — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:37:34 -0000

You might find the following article interesting regarding historical consumer behavior when exiting recessions and what is happening so far in this recession.

http://www.zerohedge.com/ar...

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

albert — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:09:00 -0000

It certainly will. But I think the timing is likely to be a lot slower than the reductions that have taken place and as you point out often with fewer people than in the past.

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

Vladimir Vukicevic — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:52:48 -0000

I think that it's a mistake to assume a fixed pie (or a smaller/more efficient pie) - i.e. a fixed number of companies with a fixed amount of resources.

Innovation expands the pie and allows new companies (and jobs) to take the place of old, dying job positions. I agree that there has been a structural shift - e.g. some companies are hitting comparable revenue numbers with 2/3 the staff they had last year.

But I've never felt this strong of a push by talented people of all ages and backgrounds to develop new ideas and start new companies - this is bound to create innovation that will drive the creation of new jobs.

Re: Unemployment and Structural Change

kidmercury — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:56:13 -0000

you know it albert! gloom and doom ftw!