Men Without Work

by Nicholas Eberstadt

June 23, 2020 — July 16, 2020

Los Angeles, CA

An interesting topic in labor economics, I really enjoyed this book. It’s revealing the reality of high unemployment rates amongst primary-age working men, and discusses the numbers throughout history, provides explanations and reasoning behind the numbers, and eventually suggests possible solutions. I’ve been one to really care about the employment rate and see that holding an occupation or a source of income through one’s own work is not just essential, but fundamental. Increasing employment was one of the key themes in my vision for the past 5 years, it remains an important topic for me but I’ll definitely be reforming my approach to it.

We created the unemployment rate during an era when not having a job and being of working age was inconceivable, what’s common across people, places, and time is that each generation will live with more luxury and leisure than their father’s; but it did not mean deciding not to work when capable. Based on facts, the traits that are prime in un-working men are single, childless, African American, non-Immigrant, and not having a college degree. The author then discusses the reasoning and patterns behind each trait. Eventually, we reach the conclusion of economic, social, and political consequences before being suggested solutions.

I agree with the suggestions, in order for us to restore and empower the economic output of labor to its maximum and true potential we should revitalize, reduce, and reenter: revitalize job-generating businesses and entities, reduce social welfare programs that people are misusing and taking advantage of to be lazy by regulating them and reforming the way they’re run, and re-enter and reintroduce ex-cons and ex-felons back into the labor force. Our economic growth is tied to our social policies and practices, if we want a stronger economy we need smarter policies.