13. During the first three months of 2009, the number of American workers counted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as being employed decreased by 2,451,000 (that is, by almost 2 1/2 million) yet, over the same period, the number of American workers counted by the BLS as being unemployed increased by only 2,053,000 (that is, by just a little more than 2 million). (a) Explain briefly (no more than a sentence or two) how these two numbers can be consistent with one another.

Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
8th Edition
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:N. Gregory Mankiw
Chapter20: Unemployment
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 6PA
icon
Related questions
Question
13.
During the first three months of 2009, the number of American workers counted
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as being employed decreased by 2,451,000 (that is,
by almost 2 1/2 million) yet, over the same period, the number of American workers
counted by the BLS as being unemployed increased by only 2,053,000 (that is, by just
a little more than 2 million).
(a) Explain briefly (no more than a sentence or two) how these two numbers can be
consistent with one another.
(b) In light of the two statistics given above, would you say that the rise in the
unemployment rate from 7.2 percent to 8.5 percent during the first three months of
2009 overstates or understates the severity of the recession as felt by US workers?
(c) If the US labor market begins to recover later this year, which would you expect
to be larger in magnitude: the size of the increase in the number of workers who
are counted as employed or the size of the decrease in the number of workers who
are counted as unemployed?
Transcribed Image Text:13. During the first three months of 2009, the number of American workers counted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as being employed decreased by 2,451,000 (that is, by almost 2 1/2 million) yet, over the same period, the number of American workers counted by the BLS as being unemployed increased by only 2,053,000 (that is, by just a little more than 2 million). (a) Explain briefly (no more than a sentence or two) how these two numbers can be consistent with one another. (b) In light of the two statistics given above, would you say that the rise in the unemployment rate from 7.2 percent to 8.5 percent during the first three months of 2009 overstates or understates the severity of the recession as felt by US workers? (c) If the US labor market begins to recover later this year, which would you expect to be larger in magnitude: the size of the increase in the number of workers who are counted as employed or the size of the decrease in the number of workers who are counted as unemployed?
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 4 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Labor employment
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337091992
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Brief Principles of Macroeconomics (MindTap Cours…
Brief Principles of Macroeconomics (MindTap Cours…
Economics
ISBN:
9781337091985
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Economics 2e
Principles of Economics 2e
Economics
ISBN:
9781947172364
Author:
Steven A. Greenlaw; David Shapiro
Publisher:
OpenStax
Exploring Economics
Exploring Economics
Economics
ISBN:
9781544336329
Author:
Robert L. Sexton
Publisher:
SAGE Publications, Inc
Principles of Macroeconomics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Macroeconomics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305971509
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Principles of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781305585126
Author:
N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:
Cengage Learning