[robswc]

It is frustrating, to be sure... but I think 18k jobs for 2 years is a net-positive for society.

We wouldn't be here discussing this if the economy had not done so poorly.

What if on average, you hire 10 people a year. Each year, there's a 10% chance of having to lay off 10 people. Details of profit/loss aside, what is the optimal move? Never hire so you never have to lay anyone off? Hire only 5 people a year so the impact is not so large?