(Problem 8a) With its tradition of a job for life for most citizens, Japan once had a much lower unemployment rate than that of the United States; from 1960 to 1995, the unemployment rate in Japan exceeded 3% only once. However, since the crash of its stock market in 1989 and slow economic growth in the 1990s, the job-for-life system has broken down and unemployment has risen to more than 5% in 2003. One effect of these recent changes in Japan is in the Japanese natural rate of unemployment. an increase a decrease 11. Analysts believe that generous unemployment benefits in Europe are associated with: relatively constant levels of unemployment in Europe. low unemployment rates in Europe. weak labor unions in Europe. high unemployment rates in Europe. 12. If wages grew at 5% last year and average prices grew at 3%, then the average worker: is better off. is unaffected. has lost purchasing power. is worse off.