Conference | October 13, 2006

Employment Guarantee Policies: Theory and Practice

This event has ended.

When

October 13, 2006 - 12:00am
to
October 14, 2006 - 12:00am

Where

Levy Economic Institute of Bard College

Levy Economics Institute of Bard College
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

October 13–14, 2006

This conference focused on those government policy initiatives that can create a safety net through public service employment for individuals who are ready, willing, and able to work but find themselves in an economic environment that does not offer employment opportunities.

Unemployment and involuntary “inactivity” are structural macroeconomic problems of both developed and developing economies. The negative effects of unemployment reach beyond the immediate economic losses to individuals and their families. The effects extend to the potential growth of the economy. Protracted periods of unemployment lead to multidimensional poverty, deterioration of communities, erosion of decent job conditions, and intolerance along racial and gender divides. There appears a connection, then, between the right to work and the role of government in guaranteeing employment. This connection ought to be part of the public policy dialogue.

The International Working Group on Gender, Macroeconomics, and International Economics (GEM-IWG), a global knowledge-sharing and capacity-building network, generously provided support for the conference by securing the participation and contributions of several GEM-IWG members.

The conference proceedings include edited transcripts of the keynote speakers’ remarks, summaries of session participants’ presentations, and biographies of all participants.

Program

PARTICIPANTS
LIST PRINTABLE
PROGRAM [pdf]

PROGRAM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13
8:30–9:30 a.m.	BREAKFAST AND REGISTRATION
9:30–10:00 a.m.	WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
	Dimitri B. Papadimitriou, The Levy Economics Institute
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.	SESSION 1 – EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE POLICIES
	CHAIR: Rebeca Grynspan, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) “Workingfor a Better World: The Social and Economic Benefits of Employment Guarantee Schemes” Mathew Forstater, University of Missouri-Kansas City and The Levy Economics Institute VIEW: PowerPoint“Full Employment in the Center of Economic and Social Policies” Daniel Kostzer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) VIEW: PowerPoint“Employment-Intensive Investment Strategies: Linking Sustainable Infrastructure Development and Social Transfers” Steven Miller, International Labour Organization VIEW: PowerPoint
12:00–2:00 p.m.	LUNCH
	SPEAKER: James K. Galbraith, University of Texas-Austin and The Levy Economics Institute “Equality, Efficiency and the Goal of Full Employment”
2:00–4:00 p.m.	SESSION 2 – EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE POLICIES: BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS AND PRICE EFFECTS
	CHAIR: Martha Melesse, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) “Funding a Job Guarantee Program” Philip Harvey, Rutgers University School of Law VIEW: PowerPoint“On the Feasibility of ELR” L. Randall Wray, University of Missouri-Kansas City and The Levy Economics Institute VIEW: PowerPoint“The Indian National Rural Employment Guarantee: Where Do We Go From Here?” Santosh Mehrotra, Planning Commission of the Government of India COMMENTS: Ahmed El Bouazzaoui, Tax Analyst, Ministry of Finance, Morocco; GEM-IWG
4:00–4:30 p.m.	COFFEE BREAK
4:30–6:30 p.m.	SESSION 3 – MODELING EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE POLICY
	CHAIR: Saul Weisleder, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations “Hidden Vacancies: From Unpaid Work to Gender-Aware Public Job Creation” Rania Antonopoulos, The Levy Economics Institute and Marzia Fontana, The Levy Economics Institute and IDS VIEW: PowerPoint“Simulating an Employment Guarantee Policy in the U.S.” Scott T. Fullwiler, Wartburg College VIEW: PowerPoint“From ‘Solidarity’ to Full Employment: A Gradualist ELR Plan for Tunisia” Fadhel Kaboub, Drew University VIEW: PowerPoint COMMENTS: Hamidou Poufon, Cameroon School of Public Administration (ENAM); GEM-IWG
6:30–7:00 p.m.	RECEPTION
7:00 p.m.	DINNER
	SPEAKER: Amit Bhaduri, Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Pavia “Institutional and Legal Requirements for Effective Demand Management for Employment”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14
8:30–9:00 a.m.	BREAKFAST
9:00–10:30 a.m.	SESSION 4 – INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
9:00–10:30 a.m.	CHAIR: Rania Antonopoulos, The Levy Economics Institute “ELR as an Alternative Development Strategy” Jan Kregel, University of Missouri-Kansas City VIEW: PowerPoint, Presentation Transcript“Employment Guarantee for Promoting Pro-Poor Development Issues and Concerns with Reference to NREGA in India” Indira Hirway, Center for Development Alternatives and The Levy Economics Institute; GEM-IWG VIEW: PowerPointCOMMENTS: Rathin Roy, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
10:30–11:00 a.m.	COFFEE BREAK
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	SESSION 5 – COUNTRY EXPERIENCES: MOROCCO, ARGENTINA
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	CHAIR: Daniel Kostzer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)“Promotion Nationale: 45 Years of Experience of Public Works in Morocco” Hind Jalal, GEM-IWG; Ministry of Economy and Finance, Rabat VIEW: Paper, PowerPoint “Public Service Employment as an Institutional Vehicle for Transforming Gender Inequalities: The Case of Argentina” Pavlina R. Tcherneva, Bard College VIEW: PowerPoint “Community development and ELR, a gender-oriented perspective: The Jefes y Jefas Program in Argentina” Corinne Pastoret, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Martha Tepepa, University of Missouri-Kansas City VIEW: Corinne Pastoret – PowerPoint VIEW: Martha Tepepa – PowerPointCOMMENTS: Valeria Renata Esquivel, Universìdad Nacional De General Sarmiento; GEM-IWG
12:30–2:30 p.m.	LUNCH
12:30–2:30 p.m.	SPEAKER: Lydia Santova Shouleva, Member, 40th National Assembly and Observer in European Parliament, Bulgaria “The Positive Experience of Bulgaria in Curbing Unemployment”VIEW: PowerPoint
2:30–4:00 p.m.	SESSION 6 – COUNTRY EXPERIENCES: SOUTH AFRICA, SRI LANKA, BANGLADESH
2:30–4:00 p.m.	CHAIR: Ramaa Vasuvedan, Barnard College; GEM-IWG“Public Works Program, Unpaid Care Work and HIV/AIDS” Olagoke Akintola, University of KwaZulu-Natal VIEW: PowerPoint“The Impact of Sri Lanka’s ‘Employer of Last Resort’ Policy on Educational Incentives: A Cautionary Tale” Sanjaya DeSilva, Bard College VIEW: PowerPoint “The Bangladesh Rural Maintenance Programme: Can it Ensure Employment for All” Mehnaz Rabbani, BRAC, Bangladesh; GEM-IWG VIEW: PowerPoint COMMENTS: Bola Akanji, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research; GEM-IWG
4:00–4:30 p.m.	COFFEE BREAK
4:30–6:00 p.m.	SESSION 7 – ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
4:30–6:00 p.m.	Moderator: Dimitri B. Papadimitriou, The Levy Economics Institute Amit Bhaduri, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and University of Pavia Rania Antonopoulos, The Levy Economics Institute Steven Miller, International Labour Organization Rathin Roy, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Hind Jalal, GEM-IWG; Ministry of Economy and Finance, Rabat
6:00–6:30 p.m.	RECEPTION
6:30 p.m.	DINNER

PARTICIPANTS
Bola Akanji, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research; GEM-IWG Email: [email protected], bola.aet.com kanji@skannOlagoke Akintola, University of KwaZulu-Natal Email: [email protected]Rania Antonopoulos, The Levy Economics Institute Email: [email protected] Amit Bhaduri, Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Pavia Email: [email protected] Sanjaya DeSilva, Bard College Email: [email protected] Ahmed El Bouazzaoui, Tax Analyst, Ministry of Finance, Morocco; GEM-IWG Email: [email protected] Valeria Renata Esquivel, Universìdad Nacional De General Sarmiento; GEM-IWG Email: [email protected] Marzia Fontana, The Levy Economics Institute and IDS Email: [email protected] Mathew Forstater, University of Missouri-Kansas City and The Levy Economics Institute Email: [email protected] Scott T. Fullwiler, Wartburg College Email: [email protected] James K. Galbraith, University of Texas-Austin and The Levy Economics Institute Email: [email protected] Rebeca Grynspan, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Email: [email protected] Philip Harvey, Rutgers University School of Law Email: [email protected] Indira Hirway, Center for Development Alternatives and The Levy Economics Institute; GEM-IWG Email: [email protected], [email protected] Hind Jalal, GEM-IWG; Ministry of Economy and Finance, Rabat Email: [email protected] Fadhel Kaboub, Drew University Email: [email protected] Daniel Kostzer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Email: [email protected] Jan Kregel, University of Missouri-Kansas City Email: [email protected] Santosh Mehrotra, Planning Commission of the Government of India Email: [email protected] Martha Melesse, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Email: [email protected] Steven Miller, International Labour Organization Email: [email protected] Dimitri B. Papadimitriou, The Levy Economics Institute Email: [email protected] Corinne Pastoret, University of Missouri-Kansas City Email: [email protected] Hamidou Poufon, Cameroon School of Public Administration (ENAM); GEM-IWG Email: [email protected] Mehnaz Rabbani, BRAC, Bangladesh; GEM-IWG Email: [email protected] Rathin Roy, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Email: [email protected] Lydia Santova Shouleva, Member, 40th National Assembly and Observer in European Parliament, Bulgaria Email: [email protected] Pavlina R. Tcherneva, Bard College Email: [email protected] Martha Tepepa, University of Missouri-Kansas City Email: [email protected] Ramaa Vasuvedan, Barnard College; GEM-IWG Email: [email protected], [email protected] Saul Weisleder, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations Email: [email protected] L. Randall Wray, University of Missouri-Kansas City and The Levy Economics Institute Email: [email protected]

Acknowledgment: the International Working Group On Gender, Macroeconomics And International Economics (GEM-IWG), a global knowledge sharing and capacity building network, has generously provided support in securing participation and contributions of several of its members (www.genderandmacro.org).