Brief #84—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
Many feel work to be a citizen’s right as well as a personal source of income and satisfaction. Recently US unemployment has been as high as 14.7% though some experts estimate it actually may be as high as 20%.
Brief #83—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
There are more women working today than not though the peak year of labor force for women was 2000 (59.9%) down to 57.9% in January 2020.
Brief #82—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
Fair wages, universal healthcare, paid parental leave, paid sick leave, paid annual leave. These should be the minimal components of employment. It is not rocket science. These things are attainable and would help both the employer and the employee.
Brief #82—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
Fair wages, universal healthcare, paid parental leave, paid sick leave, paid annual leave. These should be the minimal components of employment. It is not rocket science. These things are attainable and would help both the employer and the employee.
Brief #80—Economics
ByRosalind Gottfried
The idea of a minimum guaranteed income (MGI) dates back to Thomas Paine and the 18th century and has been promoted by such diverse people as Martin Luther King, Jr, President Nixon, economist Milton Friedman, and recent presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Nancy Pelosi has suggested that such a program should exist, at least till the end of the current pandemic, and two thirds of the House Democratic Caucus agrees.
Brief #79—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
The effectiveness of the late March 2.3 trillion dollar Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES), Act remains hotly debated. It is the most comprehensive act of government support since the depression, and its cost is similar to expenditures characterizing wartime.
Brief #78—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
In recent years gig workers, acting as independent contractors, entered the gig economy as a means to supplement income, promote flexibility, and even be a secure alternative to regular employment.
Brief #77—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
In every measure contributing to well-being African Americans experience significant deprivations.
Brief #76—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
Green jobs are the future in spite of heavy layoffs during this period of labor market contraction. Clean energy lost well over a half a million jobs since the virus hit the economy.
Brief #75—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
The economic outlook is bleak for new workers and for millennials who entered the labor force after the 2008 economic crisis. The employment rate for 20-24 year olds is down 25% from March to April and down 16% for 20-29 year olds.
Brief #73—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
The dramatic surge in unemployment in the April BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) data comes with little surprise. The current rate of 14.7% is the worst since the 1933 high of 25%.
Brief #72—Economics
By Rosalind Gottfried
The economic conditions preceding the pandemic, aggravated by the likelihood of extended unemployment, could bring the poverty level to 25% or higher, especially for nonwhites. By some projections, from a Columbia University study, the unemployment rate could reach 30% resulting in 15.4% falling into poverty.