Adrienne — re the Unemployment rates, the problem is defining and measuring consistently across countries those who want to work but can’t find work. The EPOP rates (employment/population) are meaningful if you compare those of working age, obviously not if you include children and the elderly. A sharp change in an EPOP in a short period of time — say two percent since 2000 in the U.S. — raises a good question about what is happening in the labor market. It’s not as if suddenly two million people decided on a whim to take some time off or go to college.
“Prescribe” was not the best word. Yes I’d favor a Federal mandated minimum for paid leave (also sick days, maternity leave, wages, health care, etc.) Some prefer to work more, others prefer their employer be compelled to provide certain benefits. That’s why we have elections. Personally I’m not a big user of time off, but that’s just me. I don’t have to dig ditches for a living.
