Iden, George. 1967. "Unemployment Classification of Major Labor Areas, 1950-65." Journal of Human Resources 2(3):375-391.

In this paper, the area dimension of unemployment in major labor areas during the period 1950-65 is discussed. The method is to take a historical look at unemployment in major labor areas, to classify the areas on the basis of their unemployment records, and to identify the characteristics of areas with differing unemployment experiences. Attention is focused on areas of persistent high unemployment. The paper focuses on the entry and exit of particular areas from a classification instead of the question whether the distribution of unemployment has become more or less even. Since the present unemployment classification of areas has taken on increased significance because of new legislation, it is found to be overly simplified and does not distinguish among differing needs. More specifically, it does not distinguish between cyclical and secular unemployment, nor between areas of expanding and declining employment.

Staff Economist, The Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress. This article is based on a part of the author's Ph.D. dissertation, "The Determinants of Persistent High Unemployment in Major Labor Market Areas," unpublished (Harvard University, Department of Economics, 1966). The author gratefully acknowledges the many helpful comments on the thesis by his advisor, Professor Simon Kuznets.

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