Date of Submission

Spring 2022

Academic Program

Economics

Project Advisor 1

Pavlina Tcherneva

Abstract/Artist's Statement

We accept unemployment as an inevitability in our capitalist economy even when it is purportedly functioning at full capacity. Some economists propose that the government could directly intervene in the labor market to meet the peoples’ demand for jobs. Work in modern America is a central aspect of participation in society that directly impacts individuals’ identities. Unemployment is, therefore, a key mechanism of social exclusion. The Federal Job Guarantee seeks to provide work directly for the unemployed with work that serves the public good.

People with disabilities disproportionately suffer from unemployment, underemployment, and often leave the workforce entirely. The majority of foreclosures and bankruptcies result from costs associated with a disability. A variety of social programs exist to support the livelihoods of people with disabilities, from supplemental income and medicare, to vocational rehabilitation services. To qualify for these benefits, people with disabilities must demonstrate their inability to work. Working can jeopardize their financial stability and access to affordable care. Advancing the rights of people with disabilities in the workplace is of great concern.

Writing on the Job Guarantee has not previously investigated the impact of this sweeping labor policy on people with disabilities. This research addresses the potential impact of the Job Guarantee on people with disabilities of all kinds and people in the disability community like caregivers. Interviews of eight people with disabilities and a number of professionals at the intersection of employment and disability helped craft recommendations for the design, implementation, and maintenance of a Job Guarantee.

Open Access Agreement

Open Access

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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