> Up until the 50s (or maybe even the 60s? Doug), this country did Just
> Fine with less than half of the able-bodied adults in the "workforce"
The employment/population ratio never went below 55% in the 1950s. But I get your point. More than all of the increase in the EPR has come from women (since the male EPR has declined from 81% in 1950 to 70% today; women's went from 31% to 70%).
Another change: 25% of the over-65 pop was working in 1950, vs. 15% today.
Doug ************************ And productivity has skyrocketed since 1950. Doug published those figures in "LBO" some time ago. Time for the four hour day with no cut in pay. It's family friendly too. Most of the social problems associated with child neglect (including, finding reliable daycare) and quality time for the kids, could be solved by cutting the eight+ hour work day to four--with no cut in pay. It would also stop the downward pressure on the price of labour. Lots of other benefits as well. We "just" have to organize for it to happen.
Mike B)
An injury to one is an injury to all http://www.iww.org/
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