The article argues that the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike decision, while justifiable on inflation grounds, highlights a critical lack of an underlying, transparent policy framework. The core problem is that the Fed's decisions appear discretionary, leading to market uncertainty because the committee's judgment, rather than clear data, dictates policy shifts. The author proposes that the Fed adopt a formal monetary policy rule—an algebraic formula linking the target rate to indicators like inflation and unemployment—to replace subjective guidance. Implementing such a rule would provide market predictability, enhance transparency, and shield the Fed from political attacks by making deviations from the standard easily quantifiable.
Just Work: Access to Worker Protections in the Changing World of Work
English Summary
This RAND report argues that the U.S. worker protection system remains fundamentally tied to traditional employer-employee relationships, creating significant security gaps for the 10-20% of the workforce engaged in nonstandard work like gig employment and independent contracting. Using a taxonomy of risks—unfair practices, work-related injuries, and life costs—the authors demonstrate how current classification rules systematically exclude freelancers from essential social insurance and employer-provided benefits. To address these inequities, the study recommends decoupling protections from specific employers through portable benefit systems and universal coverage mandates. Such reforms are increasingly critical as technological shifts and AI further disrupt traditional labor models and worker-firm dependencies.
中文摘要
這份蘭德（RAND）報告指出，美國的勞工保護制度基本上仍侷限於傳統的雇傭關係，導致 10% 至 20% 從事零工經濟或獨立合約等非典型就業的勞動力面臨顯著的保障缺口。作者透過風險分類法（涵蓋不公平待遇、工傷及生活成本），論證了現行分類規則如何系統性地將自由職業者排除在必要的社會保險與雇主福利之外。為了解決這些不平等，研究建議透過可攜式福利制度與全民覆蓋授權，將保護機制與特定雇主脫鉤。隨著科技變遷與人工智能進一步顛覆傳統勞動模式及勞資依賴關係，此類改革已變得至關重要。
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