Two from "Division of Labour"

While it's not on my blog roll, I still check this site out on a regular basis. Today provides an argument for moving it up to the blog roll.

This first post links to a National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) paper that correlates employment protection and worker productivity. Specifically it looks at changes in absenteeism among probationary teachers after local principles were given greater flexibility to dismiss teachers in that category. The short version: incentives matter.

The second post offers some reason to believe in "job security" for those of us who teach economics. It looks at a recent Gallup poll asking people about economic concepts. At best, it seems that there's a certain level of confusion, misunderstanding, or lack of knowledge (pick one). The short version: keep plugging, there's work to be done.

I welcome your thoughts, both on the posts and whether I should add Division of Labour to the blog roll.