The classical view on unemployment says that there are only unemployed people who are not able and willing to work at the going wage rate. So if people would accept a lower wage they would find jobs. In this view all unemployment is a short-term problem and the best solution is laissez faire – leave the market to find equilibrium to resolve the issue of unemployment.

If people accept lower wages then the costs of living will fall as firms do not need to charge such high prices, so in fact workers will find the lower wages are acceptable once they start work. [...]