Basic economics = businesses who can't survive four weeks even with unprecendented wage subsidy should fail.
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That answer is a cop out. You would say that even without the COVID situation. So come on - put your money where your mouth is and come up with a COVID situation specific solution to back up your continual criticism of what the government is currently doing.
You are all talk and bluster.
Business need reliable workers and only the best, most skilled will do not the lowest end. And that's ok...there is not a position for everyone who happens to be U65 sorry to burst the bubble. So it's important to do welfare in the most efficient way possible which is a basic income and this will boost consumption too.
We are not talking highly skilled jobs here - but honest decent work like picking fruits, pruning fruit trees, stocking supermarket shelves during midnight, painting, car groomers, hotel cleaners etc.
Why are we using migrant workers for these jobs when those on benefits can be required to do those jobs? And if they don’t do them well intentionally, they get no payments
You haven’t answered the simple question though - why do you state that businesses have been compensated for the lockdown by the wage subsidy?
To be fair, more help for certain sectors is ingrained ideology for Labour, though I guess they need votes to be able to carry on implementing their plan. They certainly have money now to progress that plan.
Still Mr Robertson has said borrowing will be repaid through growing the economy. More and more on the sofa ain't going to cut it.
Same issue though. I'm sure recruiters will appreciate not being spammed with applications and employers having to manage these people and instead focus on their work using only highly talented people. For those who recieve the income micro-businesses and casual work becomes viable.
I answered this. The subsidy period = three months, lockdown = one month. Two extra months for nothing. :)Quote:
You haven’t answered the simple question though - why do you state that businesses have been compensated for the lockdown by the wage subsidy?
Maybe nothing at all would be better since that is the market approach some have supported in the past but are flexible on that these days. We have it pretty good here :)
Until the last couple of months we had pretty much full employment. Meaning that those on the Jobseeker benefit were less likely to be employed for various reasons - location, skills, attitude.
That has changed now, many of those on welfare will be desperate to work. If there are jobs available, and that is highly problematic in the short to medium term.
Yesterday I spent time in Wellington CBD. A lot of closed premises. Nice restaurant for lunch - four customers where normally it would be buzzing. I asked how they were doing evenings, sad looks from the staff, not surprising if they close.
I have asked you several times now to please tell us exactly what it is you expect the government to do to help businesses right now, and still you refuse to provide an answer. Your comments re beneficiaries have nothing whatsoever to do with the question I asked you. As usual you are trying to deflect.
I will ask again - what exactly do you expect the government to do for businesses? You keep saying they have done nothing, but you have not given even one example of what you believe they should be doing.
It’s a pretty straightforward and simple question, so have the balls to back your argument and answer the damned question.
It is not realistic to expect individuals to provide exact solutions to wide ranging macro problems in an economy. That is up to the government of the day, and people and Opposition can then agree or disagree, not only when solutions are announced but as results become available.
However, some, including various experts, have made suggestions. For example, the Business Advisory Council, appointed by the Prime Minister, has issued a wake up call for a reset, to include serious input from the business sector.
Will the government take note? So far there looks like a new group coming comprising academics, unions, officials, NGOs and yes, business. Good luck with that.
Also keep in mind that business sector has their own slice of the economy they want to see improve. In Australia their advisory council recommended price floors and welfare for gas exploration. dreadful. Those on these panels need to be objective and independent in their advice wherever they happen to come from. So, advice from all groups is probably a better outcome since we live in a democracy.