James J. Hughes

The economics of unemployment : a comparative analysis of Britain and the United States

The problems and issues of unemployment are given comprehensive coverage through discussions of measurement, theory and policy which are backed up with empirical evidence drawn from postwar experience in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The differential impact of unemployment insurance on unemployment duration by income level

While there is a vast literature on the effect of unemployment insurance on unemployment duration, in almost all of these studies the replacement ratio is the key explanatory variable. Does not contest the almost universal findings that the higher the ratio of unemployment income to that of previous earnings, the longer is unemployment duration, but finds that when pre‐unemployment income itself is considered, duration is positively related to that income. Supports the positive view of the merits of unemployment insurance. While past studies emphasize the leisure aspect, unemployment insurance incorporates the ability to improve search through the use of unemployment insurance funds. This use of funds is particularly applicable to high income recipients.

The Greenbury Report on directors’ remuneration

Discusses the recommendations of the Greenbury Committee on the remuneration of directors in public companies. Specifically comments on the following issues: the establishment, membership and status of remuneration committees in public companies; the determination of remuneration policy for executive directors; the disclosure and approval of the details of remuneration policy; the length of service contracts and the determination of compensation when these are terminated. Suggests that progress in implementing them should be monitored, given the importance of the Greenbury proposals.