I think the issue is more the composition of the workforce rather than the level of unemployment. Without trade liberalization of the last few years, more of the working class would still be higher-wage, more unionized manufacturing sectors and less of it in the low-wage, mostly non-union private service sectors (retail, etc).
-Andy English
-----Original Message----- From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 12:13 PM Subject: Re: Clintonoids Serve Up Mud Pie Analysis
>Max Sawicky wrote:
>
>>I know you all love this stuff so I will keep you
>>posted on it. New briefing paper from EPI. . . .
>>
>>
>>50 LOST OPPORTUNITIES
>>Commerce Department’s state-level
>>review of supposed gains from China trade
>>betrays hollowness of claims of PNTR proponents
>
>Hey, didn't you guys predict all kinds of employment losses from
>NAFTA? Employment is up 18.8 million since January 1994, average real
>hourly earnings up 5.6%. Would things have been even better without
>NAFTA?
>
>Doug