Intergovernmental Relations and Employment Policy: The United States Experience

Christopher O'Leary and Robert Straits

No 00-60, Upjohn Working Papers from W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Abstract: Policies to regulate and support labor markets in the United States have mainly been an initiative of the federal government. Historically, states and localities were reluctant to act independently to build up worker rights and protections for fear of competitively disadvantaging resident industries with added costs. Federal constitutional authority to raise revenue and control commerce among the states governed development of labor market policy in the United States. Labor market support initiatives usually have been forged in difficult economic times with contributions and compromise from the full political spectrum. This paper examines the development of employment policy in the twentieth century by viewing the interplay of federal, state, and local partners. The programs considered include unemployment insurance, training, youth programs, and the employment service. Some attention is also given to governmental policy that influences the geographic mobility of labor. Intergovernmental relations in labor market policy have resulted in a system that performs a wide variety of functions, varies greatly at the local and state levels, but maintains important federal standards nationwide.

Keywords: unemployment; intergovernmental; relations; employment; policy; O'Leary; Straits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J0 J6 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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