Unemployment Soars High by Amelia Scott

Unemployment Soars High examines the devastating economic crisis of the 1930s, focusing on the unprecedented 25% unemployment rate during the Great Depression. It dissects the era's governmental policies, international pressures, and economic weaknesses to understand why joblessness reached such extreme levels. This exploration enables readers to understand the anatomy of an economic crisis and avoid repeating history. One intriguing fact is the role of speculative bubbles during the Roaring Twenties, which preceded the crash, and how they masked underlying vulnerabilities. The book progresses through three major sections, starting with the pre-Depression landscape, then detailing the Depression years with labor statistics, and finally analyzing long-term consequences like the rise of labor unions. The approach combines meticulous statistical detail with historical context, making it accessible to a broad audience. It highlights often-overlooked aspects, such as how banking collapses and international trade dynamics exacerbated joblessness. The goal is to provide readers with the knowledge to critically assess modern economic challenges and policy proposals.