The Human Cost of Recessions: Assessing It, Reducing It

Author/Editor:

Mai Dao ; Prakash Loungani

Publication Date:

November 11, 2010

Electronic Access:

Free Download. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file

Summary:

Recessions leave scars on the labor market. Over 200 million people across the globe are estimated to be unemployed at present resulting from the Great Recession of 2007–09. We assess the human cost of increased unemployment by surveying what is known about the effects of past recessions. If past is prologue, the cost to the unemployed (and society) could be high. The focus of this paper is on advanced economies. To their credit, most countries mounted strong policy responses to minimize the human costs, and the policy actions were notable also for their consistency and coherence across countries.

Series:

Staff Position Note No. 2010/017

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

November 11, 2010

ISBN/ISSN:

9781462308163/2617-6742

Stock No:

SPNEA2010017

Pages:

27

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