Germany's Kurzarbeit Work Program: A Plan for Job Growth in the U.S.
Michael Hamilton
St. Thomas Academy
Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Kevin Hassett, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, stated "if we can slow job destruction even a little bit, then we will have set the stage for big increases in net job creation." Strong policy is necessary to diminish the threat the recession holds over American workers, and after a $787 billion economic stimulus, it may be time to look across the pond for a solution to combat rising unemployment. A sound economic policy to learn from has been implemented in Germany to minimize the effects of unemployment, which they call "kurzarbeit,"or "short-work." This policy has allowed many German workers to remain employed, and a similar American strategy can be implemented, which will most likely have a dramatic effect on the pace and extent of national unemployment. Because of the high level of unemployment in the U.S., it is necessary for the government to work with corporations by encouraging them to keep their current workers, while hiring new employees in order to maximize production. To establish the discussion of a resourceful American plan, it is important to first take a closer look at the situation in Germany.
German policy makers have discovered that it is effective to decrease unemployment rates by essentially decreasing the number of hours and wages of employees. Companies in Germany, along with numerous European countries, are encouraged to comprehensively reduce working hours as an alternative to actually laying off its workers. This seemingly simple solution allows firms to reduce hours and wages by 10% or more, and the government will pay the workers up to 60% of their reduced salary.1 When companies see dropping sales and profits, production and demand for labor decrease, resulting in firing employees to reduce overall production costs. The labor market in Germany has remained relatively steady during the most recent economic downturn, regardless of the country's sharper decline in GDP than the U.S.2 The Kurzarbeit program sustained the labor market during the economic slump, and official estimates state that about $6 billion was spent in 2009 towards the policy, which is a relatively small amount compared to the cost of supporting the unemployed.3 Through the program, 400,000 jobs were saved in 2009, and without work-sharing Germany may have lost an additional 1.5 million jobs, sending their national unemployment above 5 million.4
While many European countries responded to the economic crisis by decreasing worker hours, employers in the United States reacted almost completely with layoffs.5 Taking into account net unemployment, short-work policies would reduce the number of layoffs by 10%, basically having the same effect as creating 200,000 jobs every month.6 Deutsche Bank Research economists in Germany stated that "short-time work is effective in addressing a temporary drop in demand triggered by external effects" because it raises net job creation, while stimulating the economic recovery through a stabilization of the workers' ability to spend.7 This plan helps sustain jobs until,with the help of expansionary fiscal policy, there is a recovery in aggregate demand, which is brought about sooner because work-sharing supports consumer spending in the markets by directly increasing consumer purchasing power, as well as by sustaining the amount of exports in the economy.8 A short-work program also protects the nation from additional increases in unemployment in the case of a "double dip" recession, and acts as a stabilizer for current and future jobs.9
Although the United States' GDP has recovered from the recession better than most countries, fewer workers are producing the nation's goods and services.10 Instead of a controversial economic stimulus, costing hundreds of billions of dollars, a short-work policy would be a fraction of the cost; the United States is capable of fully adopting such a program for $10.6 billion.11 Industries of all sizes and variations are able to implement this policy, allowing it to be a subsidy for all businesses, not specifically corporations in technology, green products, etc., so it truly focuses on securing jobs, instead of promoting one good over another. An American worker making an original $600 weekly would receive $60 after 20% reduced hours, instead of the $300 weekly in unemployment benefits, which would allow the worker to make $540, more than on unemployment alone, making them less likely to remain unemployed long-term.12 Although there are still costs to the government, it would be paying individuals to work shorter hours, instead of unemployment benefits, which effectively pay people for not working at all.13 The program would raise the nation from the deep job slump, while stimulating demand and encouraging job growth.
Numerous states currently encourage the short-work program; however they are underutilized and have not been pursued aggressively enough to make a significant difference in unemployment. Implementing this policy in America would require a broad federal program, with extensive publicity and support, as well as possible tax incentives to encourage employers to take part.14 These governmental actions would ultimately affect the market by promoting an increase in individual market supplies and eventually the macro aggregate supply. Any additional funds needed to finance such a program could come from either individual state programs, or through the existing unemployment insurance system. Subsidies provided by the government must be aimed at firms whose demand is temporarily depressed, and participating firms should be required to prove economic need, to reduce wasted funds.15
Along with additional programs to create and stabilize job creation, implementing a program similar to Germany's Kurzarbeit could prove to be an efficient method to lower unemployment and increase economic security; it would help minimize the moral hazard problem inherent in traditional unemployment programs. By collectively focusing on short-work policies with reformation of unemployment benefits and increases in exports, the government can significantly reduce the threat of the mounting unemployment rate. The nation's destruction of jobs "must be slowed before job creation can be the headline story."16
Endnotes
1/ Hassett, Kevin. "U.S. Should Try Germany's Unemployment Medicine." Editorial. Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 8 Nov. 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
2/ Baker, Dean, and Kevin Hassett. "Work-Sharing Could Work for Us." Los Angeles Times. 5 Apr. 2010: n. pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
3/ "Kurzarbeit - A German Acheivement." Editorial. RTTNews.com. RTT News, 7 May 2010. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
4/ "Kurzarbeit - A German Acheivement."
5/ Schor, Juliet. "Plenitude." Exit Ramp to Sustainability. N.p., 9 Aug. 2010. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
6/ Baker, Dean, and Kevin Hassett.
7/ Damme, Laureen. "Short-Time Work May Be Too Short-Term for U.S." Editorial. NewAmerica.net. New America Foundation, 20 Nov. 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
8/ Brzeski, Carsten. "What is... Kurzarbeit?" Editorial. ing.com. ING, 29 Nov. 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
9/ Leonhardt, David. "In Wreckage of Lost Jobs, Lost Power." Editorial. NYTimes.com. The New York Times, 19 Jan. 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
10/ Baker, Dean, and Kevin Hassett.
11/ Greenhouse, Steven. "Work-Sharing May Help Companies Avoid Layoffs." Editorial. NYTimes.com. The New York Times, 15 June 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
12/ Damme, Laureen.
13/ Lillis, Mike. "Economist Push for Federal Job-Sharing Program." Editorial. WashingtonIndependent.com. The Washington Independent, 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
14/ Izzo, Phil. "Short-Time Work Plans Saved Jobs." Editorial. WSJ com. The Wall Street Journal, 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
15/ Widner, Jakob. "Kurzarbeit: An Alternative to Lay-Offs." Editorial. InternationalLawOffice.com. International Law Office, 27 May 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
16/ Hassett, Kevin.