Full Employment, Social Welfare, and Equity

Founded
1987
Seminar Number
613

The seminar focuses on the analytical and policy issues related to full employment, social welfare, and equity. These include crossnational perspectives, primarily in other industrialized economies. The purpose is to identify and clarify the more difficult and central intellectual questions which relate to and affect the national commitment and capability to assure full employment, social welfare, and equity over long periods.

Co-Chairs
Dr. Sheila Collins
sheila.collins65@verizon.net

Dr. Helen Lachs Ginsburg
helenginsburg@yahoo.com

Dr. Gertrude S. Goldberg
trudygoldberg@msn.com

Rapporteur
Aggie Meiping Sun
ms4196@columbia.edu

Meeting dates and locations are subject to change. Please confirm details with the seminar rapporteur.

Welcome

Meetings

09/19/2016	Faculty House, Columbia University 7:15 PM	Employment and Income Guarantees: Which Will Do the Better Job? Gertrude Schaffner Goldberg, Professor Emerita of Social Work, Adelphi University Abstract Abstract These two strategies to reduce unemployment, poverty, and economic inequality, once seriously considered by lawmakers and candidates for the presidency, are not currently on the agenda in the United States. Indeed, neither was proposed by either Secretary Clinton or Senator Sanders. Yet, they are not completely eclipsed. The author discusses current proposals for both guarantees and how they are being conceptualized and advocated by their proponents. Both recognize that economic growth alone will not solve the problems of either unemployment or poverty and that such an effort would be detrimental to the environment. Whereas one strategy rejects full employment, the other proposes a 21st century full employment policy in which an updated model of New Deal job creations is the major means of providing living-wage jobs for all who are able to work and income guarantees to those who are not. The strategies are compared with regard to the achievement of economic justice goals, cost, benefits to specific economically-vulnerable groups, and political prospects. The presentation will give some attentions to an important question: why both strategies were bypassed by Democratic contenders for the Democratic nomination. The question arises particularly in relation to Sanders whose campaign focused on growing, egregious economic inequality.
		Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Globalization, Labor, and Popular Struggles
10/17/2016	Faculty House, Columbia University 7:15 PM	Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal Gerald Markowitz, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY Abstract Abstract Professor Markowitz's narrative and slideshow is of particular relevance to current full-employment proposals that feature updated models of New Deal job creation programs and what they can accomplish for both jobless workers and the public.
		Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Globalization, Labor, and Popular Struggles
11/14/2016	Faculty House, Columbia University 7:15 PM	After the Elections: Where Does the Progressive Movement Go From Here? Mark Weisbrot, Center for Economic and Policy Research Liz Krueger, State Senator
		Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Globalization, Labor, and Popular Struggles
12/19/2016	Faculty House, Columbia University 7:15 PM	,

02/20/2017	Faculty House, Columbia University 7:15 PM	Electoral Strategies and Movement Organizing in the Trump Era Moderator: Trudy Goldberg, Adelphi University and the National Jobs for All Coalition Jeff Gold, Institute for Rational Mobility, NY Health Care for All, and the Working Families Party Jill Greenberg, Meridian Environmental Resources and the Working Families Party Joshua Mason, John Jay College, CUNY and the Working Families Party Abstract Abstract Since the election there has been an explosion of organizing. What are the groups that now populate this expanding horizon of organizational activity? What strategies and tactics are being used and which are likely to be most effective? What can we learn from the history of organizing in other eras? Since this topic will be of interest to everyone, each speaker will talk for approximately seven minutes to kick off a general discussion.
		Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Globalization, Labor, and Popular Struggles
03/27/2017	Faculty House, Columbia University 7:15 PM	Labor Protections for Guestworkers Jennifer (JJ) Rosenbaum, Yale Law School and National Guestworker Alliance Abstract Abstract New Research shows that there were 1.42 million temporary foreign workers in the U.S. in 2013 and that number continues to grow. Temporary foreign workers make up an increasing percentage of the U.S. workforce and circular migration is promoted globally as a model for linking labor markets raising new questions about how to advance labor rights and worker voice in sectors where they are found. In the U.S. and the Middle East, there are well-documented cases of employers deporting workers as retaliation in labor disputes. What strategies and tactics have workers used to organize? What can we learn from successful worker lead campaigns? What governance structures at the national and international level protect migrant workers in labor supply chains?

05/01/2017	Faculty House, Columbia University 7:15 PM	,
		Notes: Joint Meeting with the Seminar on Globalization, Labor, and Popular Struggles

2nd Floor, Faculty House, 64 Morningside Drive, MC 2302 New York, NY 10027

Phone: 212.854.2389 | Fax: 212.854.8248 | Email: univ.seminars@columbia.edu

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Full Employment, Social Welfare, and Equity

Meetings

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Additional Resources