Adam is going to be talking on All Things Considered tonight about how hard it is to measure something as seemingly simple as the unemployment rate.

You get a sense for things when you look at one of the surveys the labor department uses. Here's one of many questions it asks:

Q20B-1. What was the main reason you were absent from work LAST WEEK?
ABSRSN
On layoff (temporary or indefinite) .................... 0 (Skip to Q21)
Slack work/business conditions........................0 (Skip to Q21)
Waiting for new job to begin .............................0 (Skip to Q22)
Vacation/personal days....................................0
Own illness/injury/medical problems..................0
Child care problems.........................................0
Other family/personal obligation........................0 (Go to Q20B-1CK)
Maternity or paternity leave .............................0
Labor dispute .................................................0
Weather affected job.......................................0
School/training...............................................0
Civic/military duty...........................................0
Does not work in the business ........................0 (Skip to Q22)
ABSPC Other (Specify) ..................................0 (Go to Q20B-1CK)
[blind] Don't know............................................0 (Go to Q20B-1CK)
[blind] Refused ...............................................0 (Go to Q20B-1CK)

categories: Fun With Economics

11:59 - January 8, 2009

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