"We’ve got seven million prime-age men, 25 to 54 years old, who are out of the job market altogether, neither working nor looking for work."
This is insane. I had no idea it was that many.
This is insane. I had no idea it was that many.
https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2022/whos-not-working...
My understanding is that many people on disability could plausibly do _some_ work, but if a past injury or illness makes it difficult to be on their feet throughout the day, and the jobs available to them in their communities are in some way physical (even just standing at a register), they end up out of the workforce.
I wonder if it would be better for everyone if there was a middle tier for people whose disability makes them unable to get a job in the market with their current abilities, but doesn't preclude them from doing something useful (e.g. volunteering in their community) or from studying to be able to do other work, and require them to do one or the other to continue receiving benefits. Perhaps this, coupled with greater support for employers making accessibility affordances for workers could get more of these people reengaged with society.
There's a whole class of these guys who have basically retired on the state dime and use MGTOW tropes like blaming women, the work force, home ownership, etc to justify their laziness.
I used to be sympathetic but when you meet these guys, they're basically a "big rock candy mountain" hobos and have a myriad of personal problems they refuse to fix since the state freebies make it possible to live this way.
Kind of like when you say "Chicago has the most murders!" without pointing out that it's solidly safer per-capita than a number of mid-size cities that don't have the same reputation.
https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/georgia/report-put...
While Atlanta has experienced substantial economic and population growth in recent years, the city's high violent crime rate continues to hinder the area's quality of life. There were 1,084 violent crimes reported in 2016 per 100,000 Atlanta residents, nearly three times the national violent crime rate of 386 incidents per 100,000 Americans.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/upshot/murder-crime-trend...
More than half of people in the survey think Chicago is #1, when it's not!
There's a big difference between people understanding that Atlanta or DC have generally high crime, versus crime being a nationally-recognized brand and identity like it is for Chicago.
Chicago having the most murders is true. That's what they are known for. Breaking down by per-capita doesn't change anything.
Hey did you know there are more murders in Europe per year than in Chicago? Europe is more dangerous than Chicago!!
^ That’s why per capita is the most important consideration.
(Another problem with comparing cities directly is the borders of city limits and metropolitan statistical areas but that’s a whole different topic)
If you have a good job and live very frugally in a cheap COL area with roommates, cooking your own food, and no one else to provide for, it's achievable to only work half the time and live off savings the other half.
Wonder if there's a generation of men who have stints of trying to make an app, or learn coding, or make it big as a YouTuber or soundcloud rapper, etc. who don't show up in employment statistics.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, I also have a friend with a "fake" job at a family business. They have an income, but don't actually work for it.
Shared flats/houses with no official subletting. Basically you have a friend (of a friend) who can barely but legally afford a place for themselves that are happy to give you a room/couch/corner for pitching in some money.