An article by Gary Burtless of the Brookings Institution noted, “From the perspective of workers, the U.S. unemployment insurance (UI) system is one of the least generous in the industrialized world. . . . The distinctive feature of the U.S. system is that benefits do not last very long.” 

a. What are the costs and benefits to the U.S. economy of paying unemployment benefits for only a few months compared with paying benefits for a longer period, as Canada and countries in Western Europe do? 

b. Are the costs and benefits you discussed in part (a) different during an economic expansion than during an economic recession? Briefly explain.