Opinion pieces and speeches by EPI staff and associates.

Viewpoints Archive
Living Standards and Labor Markets

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Living Standards and Labor Markets

If the Economy’s so Bad, Why Is the Unemployment Rate so Low?
By Rebecca Blank
[ THIS TESTIMONY WAS GIVEN ON MARCH 7, 2008. ]

Even measured by family size, median incomes still fell
By Jared Bernstein
[ POSTED TO VIEWPOINTS ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2007. ]

Much work to do to ensure future Labor Days brighter: Post-WW II gains for all workers must be reclaimed
By Ross Eisenbrey
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2007. ]

Living on the crumbs: While fat cats feast on income gains, working stiffs settle for less of the pie
By Jared Bernstein
[ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2007.]

Book would make bad policy: WVU professor comes up short on economics
By Ross Eisenbrey
[THIS OP-ED ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE ON AUGUST 12, 2007]

More Jobs, Good Jobs
By Rep. Barney Frank
[THIS WRITTEN TRANSCRIPT IS FROM MORE JOBS, GOOD JOBS, AN AGENDA FOR SHARED PROSPERITY EVENT HELD ON JUNE 22, 2007.]

Americans' ambivalence about the economy: Beyond Rose's rosy scenario
By Lawrence Mishel, David Kusnet, and Ruy Teixeira
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN HUFFINGTONPOST.COM ON JUNE 22, 2007. ]

The best theory money can buy
By Max Sawicky
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TPM CAFE ON JUNE 3, 2007. ]

The trouble with economics
By Max Sawicky
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TPM CAFE ON MAY 31, 2007. ]

 

 

Straw men and low bars
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TPM CAFE ON MAY 31, 2007. ]

Bada bing! Equilibrium!
By Max Sawicky
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TPM CAFE ON MAY 29, 2007. ]

Old Europe works
By Max Sawicky
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN PAJAMASMEDIA.COM BLOG ON MAY 24, 2007. ]

Uh-Oh
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TPM CAFE ON MAY 11, 2007. ]

France: One step forward, two steps back
By Max Sawicky
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN PAJAMASMEDIA.COM BLOG ON MAY 7, 2007. ] 

The Post Gets It Wrong: Edwards' poverty policy is just what’s needed
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TMP CAFE BLOG ON MAY 7, 2007. ]

Subsidizing Downward Mobility: The problem with the Democrats' proposed wage insurance program
By Ross Eisenbrey
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE AMERICAN PROSPECT ON APRIL 18, 2007. ]

The Health-Finance Debate Reaches a Fever Pitch
By Elise Gould
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION ON APRIL 13, 2007. ]

The Right to Organize, Freedom and the Middle Class Squeeze
By Lawrence Mishel
[ THIS TESTIMONY WAS GIVEN ON MARCH 27, 2007. ]

Tax Credits or Minimum Wages? We Need Both
By Jared Bernstein and Elaine Maag
[ POSTED TO VIEWPONTS ON MARCH 15, 2007. ]

Politics, Policy, & Inequality
B y Paul Krugman
[ THIS WRITTEN TRANSCRIPT IS FROM "WORK THAT WORKS," AN AGENDA FOR SHARED PROSPERITY EVENT HELD ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. ]

Minimum Wage, Maximum Pork: The breaks could just as easily benefit owners not affected by the wage increase
By Max B. Sawicky
[ THIS OP-ED ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE FEBURUARY 19, 2007 ONLINE ISSUE OF BUSINESS WEEK. ]

Testimony before the Labor-HHS Education Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives
By Lawrence Mishel
[ THIS TESTIMONY WAS GIVEN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2007. ]

Economic Opportunity and Poverty in America
By Jared Bernstein
[ THIS TESTIMONY WAS GIVEN BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INCOME SECURITY AND FAMILY SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON FEBRUARY 13, 2007.]

In appreciation -- George Becker, 1929 – 2007: So long, George
By Jeff Faux
[ THIS PIECE WAS WRITTEN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2007. ]

Bush's Whitewashed Economic Report
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TOMPAINE.COM ON JANUARY 23, 2007. ]

Keep it Clean: There's no good reason to lard the coming minimum wage bill with extraneous new tax cuts
By Jared Bernstein and Lawrence Mishel
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE AMERICAN PROSPECT ONLINE ON JANUARY 3, 2007. ]

 

Don't blame black culture
By Jared Bernstein and Algernon Austin
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE BALTIMORE SUN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. ]

The declining rights of workers
By Ross Eisenbrey
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE SACRAMENTO BEE ON OCTOBER 26, 2006. ]

The U.S. economy's on the table
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE AND THE JACKSON (MS) CLARION-LEDGER ON OCTOBER 19, 2006. ]

The Catch-Up Economy
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TOMPAINE.COM ON AUGUST 22, 2006. ]

Prevailing wage data complicates immigration debate
By Monique Morrissey
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE ALLENTOWN (PA) MORNING CALL ON AUGUST 2, 2006. ]

The real cut-and-runners
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TOMPAINE.COM ON JULY 20, 2006. ]

A day in the life of econo-therapist
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN DMIBLOG.NET ON JULY 17, 2006. ]

Wal-Mart could pay workers more without big price hikes
By Jared Bernstein and Josh Bivens
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES ON JULY 8, 2006. ]

Path to citizenship and out of poverty
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL-BULLETIN ON JUNE 26, 2006. ]

The Shift in Risk
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE DAILY KOS ON JUNE 7, 2006. ]

You know how to add, don't you?
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ON MAY 8, 2006. ]

Immigrants no danger to jobs in U.S.
By Jared Bernstein
[ THIS OP-ED FIRST APPEARED IN THE ATHENS (GA) BANNER-HERALD ON APRIL 23, 2006. ]

A Plan to End Child Poverty: Britain's Initiative Has Helped 700,000 Kids. Why Don't We Have a Goal, Too?
By Jared Bernstein and Mark Greenberg
[ POSTED TO VIEWPOINTS ON APRIL 3, 2006. ]

New trade deals that could cripple Ohio
By Ross Eisenbrey
[ ORIGINALLY APPREARED IN THE ACRON BEACON JOURNAL ON MARCH 20, 2006. ]

What's wedged between productivity and living standards?
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL BULLETIN ON FEBRUARY 28, 2006. ]

Bush's stealth attack on Social Security
By William E. Spriggs
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS ON JANUARY 3, 2006. ]

The American automobile industry in crisis: Threats to middle-class jobs, wages, health care, and pensions
By Sylvia Allegretto
[ TESTIMONY PRESENTED BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE ON JANUARY 3, 2006. ]

Help with health care costs, factory changes would save jobs
By Ross Eisenbrey
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ON DECEMBER 4, 2005. ]

Union declines hurt all workers
By Lawrence Mishel and Ross Eisenbrey
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN SALT LAKE TRIBUNE ON DECEMBER 12, 2005. ]

America must think twice about the automobile manufacturing situation
By William E. Spriggs
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE FLINT JOURNAL ON DECEMBER 4, 2005. ]

Job Slayers or Fact Slayers? The Wall Street Journal's flawed argument against raising the minimum wage
By Jeff Chapman
[POSTED TO VIEWPOINTS ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005.]

Family and Medical Leave Act under assault: New restrictions, narrower definition of 'serious illness' pushed by business groups
By Ross Eisenbrey
[THIS OP-ED ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL ON AUGUST 4, 2005.]

The 21st century workplace: Preparing for tomorrow’s employment trends today
By Jared Bernstein
[ PRESENTED BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS ON MAY 26, 2005 ]

Policymakers ignore job-growth issues
By Jared Bernstein
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN DULUTH NEWS TRIBUNE ON FEBRUARY 23, 2005 ]

Setting the wrong course: Personal Reemployment Accounts fail to address the real needs of jobless workers
By Amy Chasanov and Andrew Stettner
[ FIRST APPEARED IN VIEWPOINTS ON FEBRUARY 15, 2005 ]

Testimony on a proposal to raise the Maryland minimum wage SB 89
By Jeff Chapman
[ TESTIMONY BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE MARYLAND STATE SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, 2005 ]

The State of Working America: Co-author Jared Bernstein featured on NPR's Fresh Air
By Jared Bernstein
[ POSTED TO VIEWPOINTS ON JANUARY 13, 2005 ]

Workers, budget got bum deal from 'Stimulus'
By William Spriggs
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE FORT LAUDERDALE SUN-SENTINEL ON OCTOBER 27, 2004 ]

The buck doesn't have to stop here
By Amy Chasanov
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN TOMPAINE.COM ON OCTOBER 6, 2004 ]

Phony 'flextime'
By Lonnie Golden
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE MONTEREY COUNTY HERALD ON OCTOBER 4, 2004 ]

Millions to lose overtime pay
By Ross Eisenbrey
[ ORIGINALLY ARREARED IN THE MONTANA STANDARD ON AUGUST 17, 2004 ]

Minimum wage can stand some maximizing
By Amy Chasanov
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN THE HILL ON JULY 14, 2004 ]

The Wall Street Journal is wrong on job quality
By Jared Bernstein
[ POSTED TO VIEWPOINTS ON JUNE 17, 2004 ]

Missing the mark: "Personal Reemployment Account" pilot program fails to address real needs of jobless workers
By Amy Chasanov and Rick McHugh
[ POSTED TO VIEWPOINTS ON JUNE 1, 2004 ]

A closer examination of the Department of Labor's final overtime regulations
By Ross Eisenbrey
[ TESTIMONY PRESENTED BEFORE THE WORKFORCE, EMPOWERMENT, AND GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS ON MAY 20, 2004 ]

Fair pay facts: The Department of Labor's misrepresentations about its Overtime Rule
By Ross Eisenbrey
[ POSTED TO VIEWPOINTS ON MAY 11, 2004 ]

On the Department of Labors Final Overtime Regulations: Preliminary Analysis of DOLs Final Rule on Overtime Exemptions
By Ross Eisenbrey [ MAY 4, 2004. ]

Minimum wage and its effects on small business
By Jared Bernstein [ APRIL 29, 2004 ]

The limits of more education
By Jared Bernstein and Amy Chasanov
[ ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN ARIZONA DAILY STAR ON APRIL 1, 2004 ]

Reed Act distributions wont provide unemployment insurance benefit extensions to workers
By Amy Chasanov [ MARCH 30, 2004 ]

Saying goodbye to overtime checks
By Ross Eisenbrey [ MARCH 21, 2004 ]

Bush officials try to cherry-pick statistics; it's still worst job creation record in 60 years: Employment numbers create a fight about 'jobless recovery'
By Elise Gould [ MARCH 21, 2004 ]

The longest sustained labor slump since the Great Depression is taking a toll on working families
By Lee Price [ MARCH 10, 2004 ]

The real state of the union: Sometimes, what's not said speaks volumes
by Jared Bernstein [ JANUARY 21, 2004 ]

On the Department of Labor's proposed rule on overtime pay
by Jared Bernstein [ JANUARY 20, 2004 ]

A tale of two economies
by Lawrence Mishel [ JANUARY 11, 2004 ]

Rose-colored glasses don't help the jobless
Ross Eisenbrey [ JANUARY 2, 2004 ]

On the Department of Labor's proposed overtime regulations
by Ross Eisenbrey [ DECEMBER 11, 2003 ]

A loss of overtime pay for some
by Jared Bernstein and Ross Eisenbrey [ DECEMBER 5, 2003 ]

Extend unemployment benefits
by Ross Eisenbrey [ OCTOBER 26, 2003 ]

Federal action on unemployment benefits: Needed in March 2002, needed even more today
by Sylvia Allegretto and Lee Price [ OCTOBER 17, 2003 ]

Who's poor? Don't ask the Census Bureau
by Jared Bernstein [ SEPTEMBER 26, 2003 ]

Testimony on the Department of Labor's proposed overtime regulations
by Ross Eisenbrey [ JULY 31, 2003 ]

Beware allowing employers to reduce benefits and break promises about future payments
by Christian Weller [ AUGUST 17, 2003 ]

Eight million workers to lose overtime
by Ross Eisenbrey [ JULY 14, 2003 ]

Testimony on Bush Administration's proposal to change funding rules for pension plans
by Christian Weller [ JULY 15, 2003 ]

Work-flex bills don't help the workers
by Lonnie Golden [ JUNE 19, 2002 ]

Another Way for Business to Abuse Workers
by Ross Eisenbrey [ MAY 4, 2003 ]

Paul Wellstone - In Solidarity
by Jeff Faux [ OCTOBER 29, 2002 ]

Forget Dip or Dow; Problem is Joblessness
by Jared Bernsten [ SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 ]

Adressing the Unemployment Problem
by Larry Mishel [ SEPTEMBER 12, 2002 ]

Welfare Reform Has to Work for Moms
by Heather Boushey [ JULY 19, 2002 ]

'Baby Panic' Book Skews Data; Misses Actual Issue
by Heather Boushey [ JULY 8, 2002 ]

Who Gets to Retire? A Republican pension plan could mean seniors will spend their golden years working under the Golden Arches
by Jeff Faux [ JUNE 5, 2002 ]

The Needs of the Working Poor: Helping Working Families Make Ends Meet
by Heather Boushey [ FEBRUARY 14, 2002 ]

Doing Well for the Economy by Doing Good For the Unemployed
by Jeffrey Wenger [ NOVEMBER 26, 2001 ]

What the Grown-ups Should Do About Social Security
by Christian Weller [ OCTOBER 23, 2001 ]

The effects of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act on working families
by Heather Boushey [ SEPTEMBER 20, 2001]

Three things we learned
by Jeff Faux [ SEPTEMBER 18, 2001 ]

Unemployment Insurance Systems Could Falter As Joblessness Spreads
by Jeffrey Wenger [ SEPTEMBER 3, 2001 ]

Pay Laws Making a Difference Across U.S
by Chauna Brocht [ SEPTEMBER 2, 2001 ]

Congress Must Do More to Support Mothers
by Heather Boushey [ AUGUST 22, 2001 ]

Families' hardships must be softened
by Heather Boushey [ AUGUST 20, 2001 ]

Give workers a living wage
by Jared Bernstein [ AUGUST 6, 2001 ]

Closing the Wage Gap
by Heather Boushey [ APRIL 8, 2001 ]

The Information Economy: New Paradigm or Old Fashion?
Larry Mishel's speech [ DECEMBER 12, 2000 ]

Bush's numbers are way out of balance
By Max Sawicky [ OCTOBER 29, 2000 ]

Marriage tax bill not that helpful
By Max Sawicky [ SEPTEMBER 18, 2000 ]

How does he want to pay for it?
By Christian Weller [ OCTOBER 17, 2000 ]

Demand drives US jobs success
by John Schmitt [ SEPTEMBER 4, 2000 ]

Gore and Bush's plans for Social Security: people v. power
By Edie Rasell [ JULY 14, 2000 ]

Widening gap a threat to future
by Jared Bernstein [ FEBRUARY 14. 2000 ]

Taking the risks of telecommuting seriously
By Eileen Appelbaum [ JANUARY 2000 ]

Economic "boom" of the 1990s is a bust for the middle class
by John Schmitt [ SEPTEMBER 6, 1999 ]

Debunking the Social Security Myth
by John Burbank and Edith Rasell [ AUGUST 15, 1999 ]

Montgomery County Stands to Benefit From a Living Wage
by Jared Bernstein and Chauna Brocht [ JULY 23, 1999 ]

The Living Wage Movement: Pointing the Way Toward the High Road
by Jared Bernstein [ SPRING 1999 ]

American labor's stake in Cuba's future
by Jeff Faux [ JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1999 ]

Inflation: The Phantom Menace
by Jared Bernstein [ JUNE 29, 1999 ]

Boeing's Prospective Layoffs
by Ann Markusen Laura Powers [ JUNE 21, 1999 ]

Demise of Old-Line Steel Companies Would Be Costly to U.S. Economy
by Eileen Appelbaum [ JULY 8, 1999 ]

Low-Wage Workers Deserve Pay Raise
by Thomas R. Michl [ MAY 21, 1999 ]

Did Lack of Respect Lead to a Growing Labor Shortage?
by David Kusnet [ MAY 2, 1999 ]

Memo to Greenspan: The Facts Support a Minimum Wage Raise
by Jared Bernstein [ MAY 10, 1999 ]

Minimum Wages and Poverty
by Jared Bernstein [ APRIL 29, 1999 ]

U.S. Consumer Spending -- A Detour to Prosperity?
by Eileen Appelbaum [ APRIL 5, 1999 ]

Dr. King and the Dream of Full Employment
by Jared Bernstein [ MARCH 8, 1999]

Poverty and Community
by Jeff Faux [ MAY 1, 1998 ]

Out of date on the minimum wage
by John Schmitt & Jared Bernstein [ JUNE 5, 1996 ]