Official US policy is so activist in downturns (regardless of its effectiveness) partly because unemployment is so costly to workers – who have little savings, unemployment benefits that run out quickly, and health care that is often tied to a job. A stronger safety net for individuals might allow politicians to accept more corporate or financial-sector distress, and help bolster their claim that next time really will be different.
最后，如果民众个人能加入基本的社会安全网络的话，那些要求政府干涉的压力也会得到缓解。美国官方政策之所以在经济不景时如此活跃，某种程度上就是因为劳动阶层对失业极为敏感——他们没有储蓄，失业救济也很快花光，而医疗往往又和工作挂钩。一个更强大的个人社会安全网将使得政治家能容许企业和金融部门承担更大的压力，并帮助他们实现“下回真的跟以往不一样”的诺言。