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The '''misery index''' is an economic indicator, created by economist Arthur Okun. It is the unemployment rate added to the inflation rate. It is assumed that both a higher rate of unemployment and a worsening of inflation both create economic and social costs for a country. A combination of rising inflation and more people of out of work implies a deterioration in economic performance and a rise in the misery index.

The '''misery index''' is an economic indicator that adds the [[unemployment]] rate to the [[inflation]] rate. Created by economist [[Arthur Okun]], the index is based on the assumption that both a higher rate of unemployment and a worsening of inflation both create economic and social costs for a country. A combination of rising inflation and more people of out of work implies a deterioration in economic performance and a rise in the misery index.

During the Presidential campaign of 1976, [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate, [[Jimmy Carter]], made frequent references to the misery index, which by the summer of 1976 was at 13.57%. Carter stated that no man responsible for giving a country a misery index that high, had a right to even ask to be [[President of the United States]]. He won the 1976 election. However, by 1980, when President Carter was running for re-election against [[Ronald Reagan]], the misery index had reached an all-time high of 21.98%. Carter lost the election to Reagan in a landslide.

During the [[United States presidential election, 1976|Presidential campaign of 1976]], [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate, [[Jimmy Carter]], made frequent references to the misery index, which by the summer of 1976 was at 13.57%. Carter stated that no man responsible for giving a country a misery index that high, had a right to even ask to be [[President of the United States]]. He won the 1976 election. However, by 1980, when President Carter was running for re-election against [[Ronald Reagan]], the misery index had reached an all-time high of 21.98%. Carter lost the election to Reagan in a landslide.

==Trivia==

==Trivia==

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/tguide/ PBS.org Teachers Guide: Jimmy Carter and the Misery Index]

* [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/tguide/ PBS.org Teachers Guide: Jimmy Carter and the Misery Index]

* [http://www.factcheck.org/article170.html Kerry's "Misery Index" Accentuates the Negative]

* [https://www.factcheck.org/article170.html Kerry's "Misery Index" Accentuates the Negative]

* [http://www.nationalreview.com/mgraham/graham200404140856.asp Misery Loves Kerry]

* [https://www.nationalreview.com/mgraham/graham200404140856.asp Misery Loves Kerry]

* [http://www.miseryindex.us/ US Misery Index]

[[Category:Economics]]

[[Category:Economics]]