Leon Levy Lecture - The Lot of the Unemployed

Alan B. Krueger, Leon Levy Foundation Member (2007-08) in the School of Social Science. Some economists view unemployment as a minor concern, while others argue that it is a serious malady. This Leon Levy Lecture presents new evidence on the lot of the unemployed, in the United States and other countries, including the psychological well-being of the unemployed and how the unemployed spend their time, with a particular focus on time spent searching for a new job. The effect of unemployment benefits on job search activity is considered from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective.