The Employment to Population Ratio

Those who want something done for them will pay to have it done. That's how the market works.

In a free market, nobody can be stopped from making himself gainfully employed.

 

Yes, you've said that.
But repeating it doesn't make it true.

In a famine, free market or otherwise, there is no food.
In a drought, free market or otherwise, there is no water.
In a recession there are no jobs.

Chanting empty mantra's about the all saving goodnesses of the free market doesn't really change hard realities.

If you have no food to pay me, then I cannot work for you.
The free market doesn't magically change that.
Go tell all the worlds unemployed that you have work for them.
Pointless. Because you don't.

Resources are finite.
Someone is going to go without.

I had to beat 300 other people to get my last job.
As the work dried up, the people got laid off. Sucks to be them.
When the work declines further, it will be my turn.
Welcome to the **** end of the free market.

 

Not only that, but even if we went to a socialist state, there must be jobs in every place where folks live. Infrastructure will have to be improved to handle the influx of human migrants, to house the new businesses developing to employ everyone, feed, shelter and clothe them. Schools will need built to educate everyone in something so all may find good employment which will support a lifestyle and possibly a family with children.

It really isn't possible, even in a socialist economy to employ everyone.

 

I obviously wasn't talking about a famine or a drought. I was talking about in a healthy market economy. In such an economy, nobody can prevent you from making an income if you wish to do so.

 

Aaah in an ideal world. I see.

I don't live in one.

Be thankful for the opportunities you have. Not every one does.

 

Not an ideal world. Just in a market economy not undergoing a famine or drought. In such an economy, if one wants to earn more income there's nothing stopping him.

 

To a point I whole heatedly agree.
There is no work in my area, So I've migrated.

There are things I can do.
But it is not guaranteed. Famine and drought come around with regularity.

And the elderly and the weak, they cannot survive migration. And if we all migrate, we cause famine and drought by doing so.
Resources are finite. No way around that simple fact.

I must compete for my share. Not everyone is going to succeed.

 

Yep, there's no guarantee against famine or some other natural disaster, or pandemic, or the sun burning out. No point discussing economics then.

 

Therein lies our problem.

 

There are two aspects to productivity: human labor and capital.
Some aspect of that capital does not derive from human labor.

Now, obviously you're not talking about going back to complete individual self-sufficiency, so there is a system. Economics is about how different people fit into that system. When certain people have difficulty being productive, we have to ask what is holding them back. Understanding how that works within the system can be a bit complicated.

In general there are certain balances and ratios that if maintained seem inducive towards minimal unemployment. For example, keeping demand in the economy growing faster than the supply of labor, or keeping within a certain range of inequality. It can be a balance. Long-term trade deficits.

 

Yep, it's all about finding one's fit in the system. Nobody can prevent me from finding a place in the system that can earn me money.

 

Tell that to some of the people who survived through the Great Depression.
It is possible, in certain particular circumstances, for swaths of the population not to have a place.

 

If your economics aren't taking all that into account already, they aren't very well developed.

Insure yourself as much as you can. Be as vigilant as you can..... There will still be unforseen disasters. Unpredictable events and human errors.
It will happen again and again and again and if you don't think it will ever happen to you, you are complacent already.... or very young.

I assure you, you can be prevented from finding a niche in the economy.
They can physically round you up and put you in a cage. They can name you jew or immigrant and disbar you from the workplace. The can set the bar too high.
Maybe you have a criminal record. Or you are not politically correct. Maybe you voted the wrong way. Went to the wrong school.
Maybe you don't have the entry fee.
Maybe you are not in my family, so your job goes to my son.
Maybe your academic qualifications are too low. Maybe you have no previous experience. Maybe you are too old. Maybe you are the wrong sex. Maybe you are the wrong nationality. Maybe the wrong religion. Maybe you don't own a car or the right tools.

Oh yeah. Plenty can prevent you.

 

What jobs? I asked about more people than available jobs. What are they supposed to do?

well, we know this is of course not true. One example is more people than available jobs. Another is not having the necessary skill set for a job that is available, and not having the means to acquire those skills.

Maybe you'd like to actually address what I asked now?

 

In my entire lifetime, there hasn't been a drought or famine where I live. If I don't have the income or wealth I desire, that's entirely on me, not anyone else.

 

They're supposed to find something to do that will provide value to other members of society. Nobody can be stopped from doing that.

 

Provide all the value you like, if someone has nothing to trade with you, you won't get paid.

 

And If may aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

 

You don't really seem to be able to imagine a jobless environment.
Visit a depressed area of your country some time.
Leave your pre-conceptions with you when you go. (People can take offence).

I approve of your attitude on a personal level. As a self motivational way of thinking.
It's a standard I apply to myself. (One that in extreme cases has provoked my unnecessary starvation I might add).
But I'd be careful of attributing it to others.

 

I don't attribute anything to others. If I want to make more income I will. Because winners win.

Other people, it's up to them. But if they want to and have drive they can earn an income.

 

There is such a thing as a no win scenario.
Let's hope you never have to find that out.

Poverty trap.
No one has enough money to pay you.
You don't have enough money to train, travel or tool yourself.
No money to buy seed, no money to feed yourself while crops grow. No land to plant on even if you had.

Either someone helps you, or you die.

But for a roll of god's dice, this could be you.

 

BTW, do you know that this forum has a reply button? If you don't use the reply button I am not notified that you responded to me.

You're mistaken. People do have enough money to pay me.

It's called division of labor.

 

I'm glad that people have enough money to pay you. Long may that continue.

It's called being bailed out mate. Bring a charity case. Accepting welfare.
Humble pie in my case.

 

sure, but that doesn't provide them any income. they need a job for that.

can you please answer my question now?

 

I will never agree that the profit motive is the main criteria for business decisions. I've been in business for 40 years and never once did I lop off labor in order to increase profit. Labor is added or reduced based on myriad criteria. Labor, just as all other expenditures, must be controlled to avoid waste...