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Jobs report: 3 views on the best way to create jobs in the US

The Labor Department reported Friday that the economy added 171,000 jobs in October, while unemployment rose to 7.9 percent. As the eighth and final installment of our One Minute Debate series for election 2012, three writers give their brief take on the best way to create jobs in the United States.

2. Supply side: Extend Bush-era tax cuts to spur economy. Cut spending to curb growth-crushing debt and deficit.

There is a sharp contrast between the Republican and Democratic views when it comes to the issue of job creation.

Upon taking office in 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was predicted to provide a Keynesian or demand-side stimulus to the economy, spurring growth and job creation. 

One could argue endlessly about whether the $814 billion injection into the economy created or saved millions of jobs. The fact is that three years down the line, the lofty prediction that the Recovery Act would result in average unemployment rates of 6 percent or less has not worked out. It’s time to try a different approach.

Supply-side economics makes several common-sense predictions about ways to stimulate economic growth and job creation. Tax cuts are important for businesses of all sizes – large and small – and for individuals. Lower tax burdens mean everyone has more money to spend, invest, and expand the economy. If that logic holds for those earning less than $250,000, why wouldn’t it hold for those making more than that arbitrarily picked amount?

Both sides should agree to extend for all income classes the Bush-era tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year. This would lead to a cycle of investment, hiring, and economic growth that would end up increasing government tax revenue (more earners making more money), thus reducing the deficit and debt. At the same time, it would also resolve the growth-crushing uncertainty about tax rates currently facing businesses and consumers.

Spending cuts are also important to get skyrocketing debt and deficits under control and to assure businesses and consumers that they won’t face future tax hikes to finance government operations.

In August 2009, Mr. Obama warned against raising taxes in an economic downturn since it “would just ... take more demand out of the economy and put business further in a hole.” Now, he must heed his own advice.

Aparna Mathur is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, where her work focuses on taxes and wages.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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