Protecting the Few at the Expense of Many

Protecting the Few at the Expense of Many (PDF):

Olsen debunks a number of myths regarding labor reforms. These myths include: making it easier to fire people will increase unemployment; high unemployment rates will fall when the economy recovers and high levels of labor flexibility will lead to lack of protection for workers.

1. Making it easier to fire people will only increase unemployment.
2. The high unemployment rate is only a feature of the current recession, and will fall when the economies recover.
3. Higher flexibility would equal “American”-style lack of protection for the workers.
4. The Mediterranean culture and regulation stymies entrepreneurship and how are we supposed to compete with the Chinese?
5. Unemployment actually is not that high as a lot of people work in the unofficial sector.
6. If wages were lower, people would be poorer and Southern Europe would be poorer.
7. The Germans want everybody to become like them.