wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Unemployment (% Labor Force)
Year Lebergott Darby[27]
1933 24.9 20.6
1934 21.7 16.0
1935 20.1 14.2
1936 16.9 9.9
1937 14.3 9.1
1938 19.0 12.5
1939 17.2 11.3
1940 14.6 9.5
1941 9.9 8.0
1942 4.7 4.7
1943 1.9 1.9
1944 1.2 1.2
1945 1.9 1.9

I would have to argue that the New Deal cut in the unemployment rate by a third from 1933 to 1940 the unemployment rate dropped from 25% to 15%. While Amity is correct that the war further lowered the unemployment, our nation was on the road to recovery through public works.

Ms. Shales seems to forget that most of governments actions, prior to Roosevelt, were taken at the behest of business, including tarifs. In a similar fashion, the desire for free trade is again driven by business, while most people desire something different. Government does not exist in a vacuum. It often takes it cue from the campaign check writers.