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AS and A2 Macro: Will Obama’s jobs plan work?

Ben Christopher

18th September 2011

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Great graphic below and found here exploring the detail of President Obama’s $447 billion plan that he said will get the economy moving and create jobs - “the proposal would cost a little more than half of the 2009 stimulus package and, according to Obama, be paid for by additional deficit reduction that he will outline Sept. 19”. It looks like the plan consists of a combination of demand (infrastructure and local aid and tax cuts) and supply side policies (employer tax cuts) designed to get people spending (some commentators have argued recently that consumer spending accounts for as much as 70% of US GDP) and firms hiring.

Of course there are arguments for and against the plan and I’ve included both sides in the two articles below. Who’d you believe - the academics or the real, bona fide people who actually do the hiring? Great examples to help AS and A2 students with evaluation.

Many economists say Obama jobs plan will help
Employers Say Jobs Plan Won’t Lead to Hiring Spur

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Ben Christopher

Now teaching in Dubai.