Australia's 'Employment Approach' to International Postwar Reconstruction: Calling the Bluff of Multilateralism (Essay‪)‬

Abstract: In the 1940s Australian economists sought an international agreement that would bind countries to the pursuit of full employment. Seen as a necessary prerequisite to agreements on monetary and commercial policy, the 'employment approach' was advanced with a 'crusading zeal' before the great international conferences concerned with postwar reconstruction. Sometimes regarded as Australian posturing, the employment approach was based on a sound understanding of contemporary economic theory. The purpose of this paper is to reappraise the employment approach in terms of this theory. It concludes that the Australian economists were correct in their advocacy; their actions are a timely reminder of a period when Australia sought to positively engage the international community. '... we have had our final banquet and celebration. The love feast was completed by the two black sheep, the Australians and the Russians, receiving their telegrams in time ... amidst loud and continued applause, and embraces all round, the erring sheep were received into the fold' (Keynes 1980, p. 112).