Abstract
This paper examines how, for over 20 years, workers have been faced with the dilemma of lack of job security, which has led to decreased productivity. Another major change that has affected productivity is American corporations' shift of focus away from making employees feel secure and appreciated, or providing them with ample pension and health care benefits plus wage increases to outpace inflation. The paper points out that, instead, the new focus of American corporations emphasizes the fiduciary responsibility to the stockholder and maximizing profits. The paper also adds that advanced technology, requiring less people but more skilled workers, and government labor policies, which removed trade barriers making it easier for American companies to outsource labor and relocate to countries with low labor costs, have had an adverse effect on American worker productivity and the American middle class. The paper concludes that the corporate/business paradigm shift from employee to stockholder is the most significant factor leading to reduced employee productivity and the erosion of the American middle class.

Outline:
Introduction
Hypothesis
Background Research
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Lack of job security is not a problem new to 2007, or even 2000, but one that has been on the rise since 1972. American companies have downsized dramatically since the late 1970s.
"In the first downsizing wave, 12% of the out placed workers left the workforce completely, 17% remained unemployed after two years. Of those finding new employment, 31% took a wage reduction of 25% or more and 32% of worker's wages were reduced by one to twenty-five percent while only 37% found no wage loss. These figures translate to 63% of people finding replacement jobs that are inferior to what they held prior to being downsized."

Tags:microeconomics, middle, class, corporation

Abstract
This paper asserts that there are a host of policies that have impacted erosion of substantial employment opportunities within the United States over the past forty years. The research for this paper finds that workers for the past 20 plus years have been faced with a dilemma - their fear of job security or lack of - leads to decreased productivity.

From the Paper
"There are a host of policies that have impacted erosion of substantial employment opportunities within the United States over the past forty years. The research for this paper finds that workers for the past 20 plus years have been faced with a dilemma - their fear of job security or lack of - leads to decreased productivity. While it is easy to point to external policies like NAFTA and GIATA, the declining productivity goes back to 1972, when the average American wage ..."

Tags:labor, policies, productivity

Abstract
This paper elaborates a model showing that outsourcing can benefit a country through higher productivity growth and increased employment. Part I discusses the problems regarding the precise definition of outsourcing and presents a case for using the definition adopted in this paper. Part II provides an overview of literature presenting both theoretical and empirical data related to the subject. Part III of this paper creates a model of the economy that engages in outsourcing with all theoretical assumptions and conclusions stemming from it. Part IV bases on this theoretical framework to determine which groups are expected to gain, which groups are expected to lose, and what needs to be done to turn losers into gainers. Part V is a case study of outsourcing from the European Union as a test of the paper's theoretical framework. The paper examines whether the implications of the model hold true in the case of the European Union and sees if the model can explain why certain implications do not hold in real life. Finally, in Part VI the paper gives a brief discussion on economic restructuring policies that are to be adopted in the European Union in order for it to maximize its gains from outsourcing.

From the Paper
"Perhaps the main reason for the broadness of the definition of outsourcing is that the concept had changed over time. Up to the early eighties, and dating back to the nineteenth century, outsourcing has been understood as a firm's purchase of intermediate inputs from outside, whether domestically or abroad. Such, the American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "The procuring of services or products ... from an outside supplier ... in order to cut costs." In such a case, a car manufacturing company in the U.S. that purchases car tires from another firm is said to outsource its tire production. However, with the development of foreign trade, economists became to refer more and more often to "an outside supplier" as the one outside the country, speaking of outsourcing as specifically purchasing intermediate inputs from abroad."

Tags:capital, offshoring, ohlin, productivity, protectionism

Abstract
This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes Melvyn Dubofsky's book, "The State and Labor in Modern America". The paper relates that, in the book, Dubofsky details the history of how the state in America has addressed issues involving employers and employees and how the state has shaped labor policy. The paper reviews the validity of Dubofsky's analyses and draws conclusions about the book's worth as a historical book.

From the Paper
"In the next few years, membership in the AFL declined. The steel strike of 1919 ended in failure, and business showed increasing hostility to labor through the "American Plan," essentially an antiunion, open-shop program that dominated the 1920s. The only substantial victory for labor during this period was the Railway Labor Act of 1926, but even this was only a qualified victory because it was a weak compromise of provisions that had been agreed to by rail labor and management."
"The role of labor would come to the fore once more with the New Deal, a series of regulations passed and agencies created to overcome the problems of the Great Depression. These acts brought the federal government more directly into many areas of American life, and especially into economic relations in an effort to restore confidence and solve some of the problems brought about by widespread unemployment, bank failures, and the like."

Tags:regulations, unions, employees

Abstract
This paper examines the differences between monetary policies and fiscal policies and explains why it was thought that after September 11, fiscal policies were the only tools that could help regularize the markets and control the slowing economy. The paper looks at some of these policies which indirectly control the financial markets and also help in accelerating business activities in the country.

From the Paper
"The two important fiscal measures are tax reduction and lower interest rates. When businesses stop producing adequate amount of goods and services, government encourages them by offering attractive incentives mostly in the form of lower interest rates. These rates make borrowing easier and induce producers to invest more in business to increase production level. However the important reason why producers stop producing during tough economic times is because of lack of consumer interest. Consumer spending shrinks dramatically and less is spent on goods and services, which automatically results in lower production. This is a simple demand and supply concept which becomes more pronounced during bad economic times."

Tags:interest, consumer, monetary, spending

Abstract
The student relates that this graduate program in labor and policy studies will assist him in obtaining his goals in relation to education. The student further relates that in the future, he aspires to become an administrator in the educational system, and he believes that a strong emphasis on labor and policy studies will assist his work in several ways. The student explains that he believes that in the current educational system there are few administrators who actually understand the intricacies of labor and policy, which leaves a significant gap in the team effort that is supposed to exist among all members of the educational system.

From the Paper
"The graduate program in Labor and Policy Studies will assist me in obtaining my goals in relation to education. In the future I aspire to become an administrator in the educational system and believe that a strong emphasis on labor and policy studies will assist my work in several ways. I further believe that in the current educational system there are few administrators that actually understand the intricacies of labor and policy, which leaves a significant gap in the team effort that is supposed to exist among all members of the educational system. Additionally, I want to be capable of providing clear advanced knowledge about labor and..."

Tags:labor, policy, education

Abstract
The Federal Reserve's monetary policy effects both the production of the economy and the employment rate differently. This paper suggests that by increasing the cost and availability of money and credit, the Federal Reserve directly affects the the economy by providing capital for investments (labor, software & equipment, real estate, factories, etc.). By conducting monetary policy aimed at keeping inflation low, the Federal Reserve reduces business and consumer uncertainty while boosting both consumer and investment spending, leading to even further increases in production and employment (labor, the economy and monetary policy).

From the Paper
"The United States Central Bank, the Federal Reserve, controls and influences the money supply in the economy. The Federal Reserve was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system (The Federal Reserve System Purposes and Functions, 2009). Money Supply and Demand can be influenced by the Fed to expand or constrict the supply of money circulating in the economy. The Fed uses Open Market Operations to do this. Open Market Operations are the process of buying or selling securities in the open market to control monetary growth or interest rates (Glossary of Economic Terms, n.d.). This process is overseen by the Federal Open Market Operations Committee (FOMC) which is made up of the 7 members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and 5 of the twelve Federal Reserve Bank Presidents. The FOMC purchases and sells government bonds to either increase or decrease the supply of money in the hands of the public. If the Fed wanted to increase the money supply, the Department of The Treasury would authorize the printing of more money to fund the public purchase from the bond market. The newly printed money would now be in the hands of the public and the money supply curve would shift to the right (Mankiw, 2007). "

Tags:federal reserve, monetary policy, fiscal policy, federal open market operations committee

Abstract
The paper discusses how productivity advances in Europe and the U.S. have affected growth and how population discrepancies will exacerbate the already significant differences in economic growth between the US and Europe. The paper compares innovation policy, competition, demographics and labor market flexibility differences and the effects of fiscal policy, macroeconomic cost management and monetary policy. The paper also looks at future trends in unemployment levels and production in both regions. The paper includes several graphs and tables.

Outline:
Introduction
Labor Freedom of Movement
Resisting New Labor Entrants
Forecasting the Future: Europe and the United States
Summary

From the Paper
"Why is there such a difference in income between the two economic areas? Some of the difference is due to unemployment differences between the two areas. Most major western European nations have dealt with high levels of chronic unemployment for the past 25 years. Although current rates are declining, only the UK has demonstrated a consistent unemployment level below seven percent (Economist). Since 1996, the average unemployment rate in Germany has averaged 9.1%, while France has averaged 10.7% and Italy 10.3%. These figures tend to underestimate the actual level of unemployment, as those who are in job-creation and -training schemes, such as Germany's ABM (Arbeitsbeschaffungsmassnahme) are not counted in official unemployment statistics. Counting those programs, the actual unemployment rate may be closer to 15% for these countries (BLS)."

Tags:innovation, monetary, policy, competition, demographics, labor, market

Abstract
This paper describes the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows on the development of the economy of emerging markets. The focus will be on the performance of Chinese locally owned firms.
Some of the topics covered in this paper include theories of the firm, globalization and economic development theories. This paper examines many aspects of China's economy, including economic and market reform policies, labor standards, capital market integration, foreign capital participation, productivity, risks and their correlated effects. It also looks at the role they play in shaping the level of economic development and market acceptance among investors.

Abstract
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Literature Review
Battle for Market Share
Role of FDI in China's Rapid Transformation
Post-1978 FDI in China
Economic Theories and OLI Paradigm
Benefits of FDI to China's Economy
Sources and Purposes of China's FDI
Case for Globalization
Arguments Against FDI in Emerging Economies
Future of China
Methodology
Statistical Analysis
Subject Population
Data Collection
Conclusion
Results
Discussion
The Resource-Based View of the Firm
The Characteristics of the Firm in Emerging Economies
FDI Characteristics
Recommendations
References

From the Paper
"Over the past several years, China has emerged as one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world and has become a major destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) (Bilston, 2004). Its population of 1.3 billion represents a huge market with endless potential and entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) has guaranteed a place in the global financial world. As a result, the Chinese economy is undergoing a major transformation. By addressing many of the historical challenges of entry with deregulation, privatization and economic liberalization, China is turning challenges into opportunities for foreign investment.

As leaders see the value of globalization, China has been actively seeking to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and technology to promote its modernization efforts and accelerate its export trade capabilities since it opened it doors to foreign countries in 1978 (Xiamen, 2000). The total amount of incoming FDI increased from almost zero in that year to a high of about $110 billion in 1993 and $320 billion in 1999. As a result, China has become the world's third largest recipient of FDI, and the largest recipient among emerging countries."

Tags:globalization, far, east, market, trade