(MoneyWatch) How much can the government do to help boost the number of jobs? The answer to that question depends on why labor markets are struggling.
Here's one scenario: A recession causes a corresponding drop in demand for goods and services. In such a cyclical downturn, policymakers can help by replacing the lost demand. But if the changes are structural, such as when unemployment is due to skill mismatches, technological advances, or changes in what people purchase that require resources to be reallocated, policymakers are far less able to help.
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