>> Why should any of these people be considered "unemployed"?
There is no abstract reason, unless we're just talking about what the word unemployed "really" means. Pointless semantics.
The reason they should be considered unemployed is contextual. "Unemployment" is the measure used by journalists & politicians to gauge the labour market. In that context, it is very important to consider these people who have stopped expecting to work unemployed. They are part of the "slack." Their experience experience of the labour market is "i can't get a job."
If unemployment is lower than it was in year X because people stop applying or qualifying for some unemployment benefit... that doesn't mean the labour market is better.
Everything is contextual. People arguing for alternative unemployment measures aren't (generally) arguing semantics. Their arguing that the metric is misleading us.
There is no abstract reason, unless we're just talking about what the word unemployed "really" means. Pointless semantics.
The reason they should be considered unemployed is contextual. "Unemployment" is the measure used by journalists & politicians to gauge the labour market. In that context, it is very important to consider these people who have stopped expecting to work unemployed. They are part of the "slack." Their experience experience of the labour market is "i can't get a job."
If unemployment is lower than it was in year X because people stop applying or qualifying for some unemployment benefit... that doesn't mean the labour market is better.
Everything is contextual. People arguing for alternative unemployment measures aren't (generally) arguing semantics. Their arguing that the metric is misleading us.