Poverty, vilification, and social isolation. Unemployment causes untold damage to individuals, families and communities. You might think we would want to minimise these harms by minimising unemployment.

Since at least the 1940s we have known how to run an economy on genuine full employment (less than 2% unemployment). So why don't we?

We speak with Dr. Victor Quirk, about how this battle over full employment has played out in Australia, and involved all manner of shenanigans.

Shownotes

Political Aspects of Full Employment by Michael Kalecki
Political Quarterly, 1943
"obstinate ignorance is usually a manifestation of underlying political motives"

Full employment, the 'Right to Work' and the Job Guarantee (lecture)
Modern Money Australia featuring Dr. Victor Quirk
15 February, 2020
 

The Job Guarantee of 1848 (paper) by Dr Quirk
 

Theme Music

Pleading Ignorance, by Ed Kuepper, from the album Starstruck.
 

Additional Audio

Too Many Things, by Ed Kuepper, from the album Starstruck.

Brother Can You Spare A Dime? 
written by Jay Gorney & E. Y. Harburg
sung by Rudy Vallee, 1932
 

Upcoming Events

PMPG Online Lecture Series
“An economy that puts people & planet first: 
what it looks like and how to get there”
6:00-7:00pm, Tuesday 30 June, 2026
register for free
 

3CR Community Day Celebrating 50 Years on the Air
4pm, Saturday, 4th July 2026
Collingwood Town Hall. RSVP at humanitix.