美國振興經濟計畫中創造與維持就業措施評析

A Critical Analysis of the Projects of Creating and Maintaining Jobs in the U.S. Economic Recovery Plan

10.29744/TLR.200906.0003

許繼峰(Chi-Feng Joseph Hsu)

美國經濟復甦與再投資法 ； 凱因斯學派 ； 積極的勞動市場政策 ； active labor market policy ； American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ； Keynesian School

台灣勞動評論

1卷1期（2009 / 06 / 01）

48 - 66

繁體中文

美國總統歐巴馬於2009年2月公布7,870億美元的振興經濟計畫，以擴大政府支出與減稅，試圖維持與創造工作，並且促進經濟復甦。本研究透過檢視振興經濟計畫的內容以及政府網站資料，評析此計畫中維持與創造就業的各項措施。研究發現，這次經濟危機並不如大蕭條時代嚴峻，因此，許多經濟學家不同意這種凱因斯式的財政刺激行動。從振興經濟計畫的實質內容來看，此項計畫宣稱可以創造300至400萬個工作，實過於樂觀。試圖維持與創造就業的積極性就業方案集中在成人與失業勞工的就業服務與訓練、老年人社區服務就業、青年人教育訓練與暑期僱用等三大領域，這些都是已經在執行的方案，政府是透過額外的撥款增加它們的容量。比較值得稱許的是「青年發展方案」，將青年人教育訓練與美國未來產業發展的方向結合，鼓勵青年人參與社區服務與「公民接觸」，提供多元教育渠道，這些方案有助於培養青年人未來的就業能力。避免造成這次嚴重失業的事件再次發生，美國應該從改進規範、加強公司治理、對抗腐敗下手。

The U.S. President Obama announced his Economic Recovery Plan in February, 2009, attempting to recover the economy and create jobs. This plan will spend 787 billion dollars in the next few years mostly on reconstructing infrastructure and cutting tax. This research critically analyzes the projects regarding saving and creating job in this plan. It is argued that the economic crisis is not as severe as that during the Great Depression in the 1930s, and hence many economists do not fully support Obama’s Keynesian stimulus scheme in ways of expanding government spending. Exploring the substantive contents of the plan, the following points are made. It is over optimistic that Obama claimed 3-4 million jobs would be created and saved after implementing this plan. Particularly, those jobs created through a variety of projects might not last long enough. Active labor market measures focus on expanding three existing programs: The Adult and Dislocated Worker Program, YouthBuild Activities, and Community Service Employment for Older Americans. Among them, YouthBuild Activities are creative and future-oriented. In order to eliminate the causes having led to the economic crisis and unemployment, and prevent their recurrence, it is suggested that the Obama administration should take initiatives in improving regulation, strengthening corporate governance, and fighting corruption.