Make-work job
Encyclopedia
A make-work job is a job that has less final benefit than the job costs to support. Make-work jobs are similar to workfare
but are publicly offered on the job market and have otherwise normal employment requirements (workfare jobs, in contrast, may be handed out to a randomly selected applicant or have special requirements such as continuing to search for a non-workfare job).
A classic example of make-work is "digging a hole and then filling it in."
Make-work jobs are generally considered to be harmful to the economy as they take people out of the job market and pay them more than their job produces. However, under certain circumstances, it is understood that make-work jobs can be a good thing such as during a depression
, make-work jobs can be a less economically harmful alternative to welfare.
In a socialist nationalised economy, several of the nationalised sectors of work can be considered as make work jobs, whereby the industry being worked in does not necessarily make a profit, but is considered essential to the national interest. In practice, however, the phrase "make-work" is more commonly only used for work that is both of negative financial benefit and also not considered to be of any other particular benefit to the national interest.
Workfare
Workfare is an alternative model to conventional social welfare systems. The term was first introduced by civil rights leader James Charles Evers in 1968; however, it was popularized by Richard Nixon in a televised speech August 1969...
but are publicly offered on the job market and have otherwise normal employment requirements (workfare jobs, in contrast, may be handed out to a randomly selected applicant or have special requirements such as continuing to search for a non-workfare job).
A classic example of make-work is "digging a hole and then filling it in."
Make-work jobs are generally considered to be harmful to the economy as they take people out of the job market and pay them more than their job produces. However, under certain circumstances, it is understood that make-work jobs can be a good thing such as during a depression
Depression (economics)
In economics, a depression is a sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It is a more severe downturn than a recession, which is seen by some economists as part of the modern business cycle....
, make-work jobs can be a less economically harmful alternative to welfare.
In a socialist nationalised economy, several of the nationalised sectors of work can be considered as make work jobs, whereby the industry being worked in does not necessarily make a profit, but is considered essential to the national interest. In practice, however, the phrase "make-work" is more commonly only used for work that is both of negative financial benefit and also not considered to be of any other particular benefit to the national interest.