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May 13, 2011

How To Create a Job

It seems like every politician has a plan for putting people back to work. But we and the Planet Money team couldn’t help but wonder…how do you create a job? Can politicians truly create many jobs? Is it possible the whole thing is just well-intentioned hot air?

Prologue

Host Ira Glass talks to Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri on a press conference he held to announce the creation of just one job. (4 minutes)
Act One

Can the Government Move My Cheese?

Chana Joffe-Walt visits a governor who first became famous for promising his state he'd create jobs: Scott Walker of Wisconsin. (Yes, he's famous for some other things since.) Walker promised 250,000 new jobs and 10,000 new business in his state by the end of his first term. Chana tries to figure out how he's doing. And whether he can really take credit for the new jobs that've been created in Wisconsin. (19 minutes)
Act Four

Be Cool, Stay in School

Unemployment is 9 percent, but it's worst among high school dropouts and people with only a high school education. Adam went to a place that's trying to help them find jobs: an organization called Pathstone, in Rochester, NY. (8 minutes)