Work and Employment (Liberal Democratic Societies)

Global recession is proving an irresistible source of dangerous temptations for governments in the free world. Challenged by high levels of unemployment and waves of business failure, governments are losing sight of the essential role of work as a bulwark of freedom.Even conservative governments are: subsidizing bankrupt and uneconomic industries in order to "save jobs"; taking over a larger share of employment for themselves; pricing the unemployed out of the market by excessive welfare; distorting the labor market by squeezing differentials and weakening incentives; preferring protectionism to free trade; allowing the education system and the media to vilify competition, and to mock enterprise and hard work.They are encouraged in all this by liberal politicians and liberals in the media and in the universities, who do not understand the proper role of work and freedom in liberal democracies.This book re-asserts the value of hard work and enterprise. It demonstrates the paramount role in preserving freedom and maintaining prosperity of sensible attitudes towards work and of intelligent labor market policies.