Although government spending has shrunk in recent years, the Swedish state is still large (51% of GDP last year), and it spends much more than Anglo-Saxon countries do on everything from early-childhood education to job search and training.

ECONOMIST: A bit more unequal, a lot more efficient

And traditional scholars worry that a badge economy would put too much emphasis on job training rather than the search for new ideas.

WSJ: Merit Badges for the Job Market

President Obama wants to create a Universal Displaced Worker Program to provide individuals with high-quality job-search assistance and access to critical skills training for high-growth industries.

WHITEHOUSE: Revamping Job Training with the American Job Center

And beyond the tax breaks that I mentioned, it also contains a number of other reforms -- from education and training to career counseling, to job search assistance.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Signs a Bill Offering Tax Credits to Business that Hire Veterans | The White House

The program is also funding statewide training for librarians so that they can provide job search, career development and technology assistance to patrons including many Latinos.

WHITEHOUSE: Driving Broadband Adoption in the Latino Community