US Dept of labor statistics as reported by Abbott and Costello
Costello: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America.
Abbott: Good subject, terrible times, it's 9%.
Costello: That many people are out of work.
Abbott: No that's 17%.
Costello: You just said 9%.
Abbott: 9% unemployed.
Costello: Right 9% out of work.
Abbott: No that's 17%.
Costello: Okay so it's 17% unemployed?
Abbott: No that's 9%.
Costello: Wait a minute, is it 9% or 17%?
Abbott: 9% are unemployed.
17% are out of work.
Costello: If you're out of work you are unemployed.
Abbott: No you can't count the out-of-work as the unemployed. You have to look for work to be unemployed.
Costello: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!
Abbott: No, you miss the point.
Costello: What point?
Abbott: Some one who doesn't look for work can't be counted with those who look for work, it wouldn't be fair.
Costello: To who?
Abbott: The Unemployed.
Costello: But they are all out of work.
Abbott: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work ... those who are out of work stopped looking. They gave up, and if you give up you are no longer in the ranks of the unemployed.
Costello: So if you're off the unemployment role, that would count as less unemployment?
Abbott: Unemployment would go down, Absolutely!
Costello: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for work?
Abbott: Absolutely it goes down that's how you get 9%, otherwise it would be 17%. You don't want to read about 17% unemployment do ya?
Costello: That would be frightening.
Abbott: Absolutely.
Costello: Wait, I got a question for you, that means that they're two ways to bring down the unemployment number?
Abbott: Two ways is correct.
Costello: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?
Abbott: Correct.
Costello: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?
Abbott: Bingo.
Costello: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to just stop looking for work.
Abbott: Now you're thinking like an economist.
Costello: I don't even know what the hell I just said!
