Faculty Profiles

August 29, 2012

Pollin Explores Full Employment in New Book and News Series

Professor Bob Pollin (economics) is the founding co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) on campus. His research centers on macroeconomics, conditions for low-wage workers in the US and globally, the analysis of financial markets, and the economics of building a clean-energy economy in the US. Recently he participated in a multi-part interview series, aired on the Real News Network, discussing his new book, Back to Full Employment, whether full employment is possible, and how to get there.

Part I: The Full Employment Debate

Bob Pollin, author of Back to Full Employment, begins a series examining whether full employment is possible and how to get there.

August 15, 2012

Part II: Is Full Employment Possible in Capitalism?

There have been periods of unemployment less than 4%; those conditions could be created if there was intent to do so.

August 16, 2012

Part III: Full Employment and the Swedish Model

In the quest for a short term solution to the crisis, there is a lot to learn from Swedish social-democracy.

August 17, 2012

Part IV: Is Full Employment Possible in the Era of Globalization?

The global "army of the unemployed" weakened American labor, but tariffs are not a solution—a mass mobilization is needed.

August 19, 2012

Part V: Did Obama Stimulus Work?

The stimulus plan saved many jobs and helped prevent a deeper crash, but was far short of spurring a recovery.

August 22, 2012

Part VI: A Green Full Employment Economy Requires Mass Mobilization

The first step towards full employment is to create a green engine of jobs growth.

August 23, 2012