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Unit VIII Social Institutions
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Instructor's Manual
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IM for Understanding Unemployment
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Theme
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DescriptionA plan for guided discussion to help students understand the concept of unemployment.
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Learning GoalsTo understand what the concept of unemployment is and how it is measured by the U.S. government.Back to top
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Estimated TimeIt could take 20 minutes in class, if students participate in the discussion.Back to top
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ProceduresBegin by asking students to think of what it means to be "fully employed." Ask them to devise an "ideal" measure of unemployment. Have them read, or present to them, the current measure of unemployment used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls). Discuss the limitations of the current measure of unemployment. This allows for a discussion of "discouraged" workers, part-time workers who would like to be full-time, workers who are full-time but on short-term contracts, workers whose skills are not fully utilized, and others.Back to top
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More InformationStudents could be asked to consider the implications for public policy of what they have learned.Back to top
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Creator/SourceDavid Karen, Bryn Mawr College.
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Other Comments (Interpretation, possible pitfalls)Some work would need to be done by the instructor explaining why the concept and its measurement have important social implications. The bls also releases many reports relevant to the study of work and employment.
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