Tax Credits for Employment Rather than Investment, by Berndt, Kesselman and Williamson, 1975, from: Institute for Research on Poverty· University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53715 Present subsidies to large-scale, capitaland energy-intensive inClustry are substantial and contribute to both unemployment and overproductio·n of goods in an era of limited resources. Employment tax credits rather than investment tax credits assist substitution of employment for capital and energy, while the removal of all tax credits results in less promotion of unnecessary production. This study finds that removal of investment credits lessens capital demand and probably causes a net increase in employment as well as a shift to greater blue-collar employment. Various employment credits with the same cost as present investment credits ~ould provide 0. 5 to 1% increases in employment, 1 to 6% less need for capital and 0. 5% increase in prices of output (which would be more than balanced by lower unemployment costs). The Energy Dilemma-What It Means to jobs, R. Denny Scott, 1976 Departmen~ of Research International Woodwo:ker-: of America 1622 N. Lombard Portland, OR 97217 It's encouraging to see such good things coming from labor unions. This union is one of the best and knows what's coming down the road for·us. This paper · refutes claims made that unemployment will result if increased energy supplies are not obtained, examines effects of automation in reducing employment and explores the myth that energy and GNP and well-being are closely linked. It concludes that economic and employment growth can occur in sufficient quantity to accommodate an expanding workforce without a corresponding historical increase in energy consumption: Electricity Consumption and Investment Finance in California, W. R. Z. Willey, May 1976, from: Environmental Defense Fund 2728 Durant Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 Willey explores the investment impacts of alternative means of matching California's future electrical needs and sup- . plies and shows that current projections are economically irrational and environmentally destructive. Improved end-use efficiency would reduce by one-third· the investment needed for supply electricity, anp a scenario where investment is shifted vom the supply to the demand side of the electricity market explores the social and economic impacts of such actions. Energy conservation in end use 1 of electricity is shown to be a lucrative opportunity to the energy investor when compared to the investment opportunities in generation (better show this to your P.U.C. and your local bank), to provide increased employment and a redistributive economic effec't. The Impact of Solar and Conservation Technologies Upon Labor Demand, Skip Latimer, May 1976, from: Public Citizen P.O. Box 19404 Washington, DC 20036 An excellent and well-referenced analy sis of the employment benefits of alternatives to conventional power generation. Puts to rest the whole debate about energy and jobs with Herman Daly's well-founded remark that the whole purpose of using non-human energy has always been to replace human labor. Goes on to clarify many issues and show employment increases generated through more efficient appliances, comparative job intensiti_es of nuclear and solar resources (solar technologies provide roughly 2.5 times more jobs per unit of energy than will nuclear), and capital savi_ngs of solar industries. Every union and every congressperson should see this. Public Pension Funds as a Source of Capital for job Creation, Ed Kirshner, Kenneth Baar and Eve Bach, 1975, $2 from: Community Ownership Organizing Project 349 62nd Street Oakland, CA 94618 Piece-by-piece we discover how pervasively our beliefs in corporate power have focussed alrof the energy in our society into their growth. Public pen- · sion funds as well as many other major chunks of wealth floating around our society are unquestioningly invested in corporate stock. This paper analyzes the economic and social implications of alternative investment patterns. Investing pension funds in housing (heresy!) rather than stocks is shown to be less risky, to give greater economic return and to have more positive social impacts. COOP also puts out a good quarterly newsletter called The Public Works, which covers many of their activities (free). The Cities' Wealth by the Community .Ownership·Organizing Project, 1976, $2.50 ($5 for institutions) from: Conference on Alternative State and Local Public Policies 1901 Q Street N.W. Washington, DC 20009 The comprehensive programs proposed, fought for and to a degree enacted by the community activist coalition in Berkeley since 1967 provide an important example for other communities. Good programs, the real-live politics of getting changes implemented·,.t'he information pried out of the city governrnent on how things have actually been don~ are all extremely useful. They bring to-· gether an exciting picture of how an awakened citizenry has decided they want their city to be. The difficult questions of the city as employercutting excessive costs while working for better cpnditions f6r the employees on the bottom-are dealt with and examples given of red tape changes that have been made in the bureaucracy itself. The Bell System and Community Telephones, Thomas Brom and Ed Kirshner, 1974, $1.50 from: The Community Ownership Organizing Project · 349 62nd Street Oakland, CA 94618 This was a real eye-opener i:o me. It made clear why I've felt more than vaguely uneasy about Ma Bell and her minions and their incessant demands on our pocketbooks. It describes the effective and economic operation of the few remaining municipally-owned phone systems-Edmonton, Alberta, for example, that earns 25% more revenue than comparable Bell-owned systems. It also explains some of the financial shell games played with the various Bell-owned "subsidiaries" which result in major overcharges to customers and subsidies of certain favored groups. For instance, Bell buys all its equipment at inflated prices from its subsidiary, Western Electric, since only Ma Bell's return
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