After several months of research and consultation, the Labor government intro duced, in May 1994, with its publication of Working Nation, a set of labour market programmes targeted at the long-term unemployed. With the new Coalition government taking office in March 1996, we saw tbe end of Working Nation. Did Working Nation labour market programmes lead to a reduction in general unem ployment and a decline in long-term unemployment? This paper attempts to evoluate this particular aspect of its success by applying econometric methods to macroeconomic data. Our results suggest that although Working Nation had a very short life, it succeeded in helping the long-term unemployed: it was a valuable social and economic experiment.
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