This was precisely one of the main points of the economists' letter to the SPD; that higher unemployment rates in Europe are largely the result of contractionary monetary policy. Scroll back in your email... or we can send you another copy of the statement. -Robert Naiman, Preamble At 11:35 PM 10/19/99 -0500, you wrote: >An economist at Kansas State University wrote an op-ed column in today's >paper here attacking a local labor coalition that is pushing for a living >wage economic development policy. He included the conventional wisdom that >high minimum wages in Europe have caused high unemployment rates. I recall >a posting on PEN in the late summer from someone who disputed this claim. >That message contained some figures on unemployment rates in several >European countries that were not much higher than ours, despite much higher >minimum wages in those countries. If someone has reliable figures on this, >please post them. We will make use of them here in our response. > >This economist of course also represented his view as the universal wisdom >of his profession. Are there other cogent explanations economists offer >for the higher unemployment rates in some European countries? > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Department of Philosophy Office/voicemail: 785-532-0359 >Kedzie Hall 203 Philosophy Office: 785-532-6758 >Kansas State University Home: 785-539-6076 >Manhattan KS 66506 Fax: 785-532-7004 > ------------------------------- Robert Naiman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Preamble Center 1737 21st NW Washington, DC 20009 phone: 202-265-3263 x277 fax: 202-265-3647 http://www.preamble.org/ -------------------------------