From ABBA to Led Zeppelin: using music to teach economics
From ABBA to Led Zeppelin: using music to teach economics

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Unemployable - Pearl Jam

JEL: a j     

He's got a big gold ring what says "Jesus Saves"
And it's dented from the punch thrown at work that day
When he smashed the metal locker where he kept his things
After the big boss said, "You best be on your way"

...

Yeh
So this life is sacrifice

Oh yeh
To a stranger's bottom line

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Assignment:

What does it mean to be 'unemployable'? Is the person who is 'unemployable' more likely to be frictionally unemployed or structurally unemployed? The lyrics state that "this life is sacrifice ... to a stranger's bottom line." To what extent do you think this statement is generalizable? What makes some occupations more rewarding than others?

Full Lyrics


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