Does unemployment mean people want to work less?

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/24/are-employers-unwilling-to-hire-or-are-workers-unwilling-to-work/

I am not convinced at all. I would say that the burden of proof is on the side of those arguing that unemployment in the current recession is coming from the supply side (workers not wanting to work). Given the importance of the issue, the evidence presented by Casey Mulligan is, in my opinion, circumstancial.

Further evidence:

http://www.nber.org/papers/w17584

Thoughts?

Casey Mulligan on unemployment benefits

I like the style of Prof. Mulligan. The evidence is clearly stated and the argumentation is not misleading.

My caveat to his reasoning is: wouldn't we want to wait until bad times are passed to return to pre recession uemployment benefits?

Or is his argumentation deeper than what is exposed in the post and I have not realized?


Supply and Demand (in that order): Millions Caught by the Social Safety Net: Copyright, The New York Times Company Despite the severe recession, relatively few people saw their living standards fall into poverty, th...