Investing in children yields exceptional returns
The problems for children and society that result from childhood poverty cry out for effective policy solutions. There is a strong consensus among the experts who have studied high-quality early childhood development (ECD) programs that these programs have significant payoffs. EPI's latest study—Exceptional Returns: Economic, Fiscal, and Social Benefits of Investment in Early Childhood Development, by EPI research associate Robert G. Lynch—demonstrates, for the first time, that providing all 20% of the nation's three- and four-year-old children who live in poverty with a high-quality ECD program would have a substantial payoff for governments and taxpayers in the future.

The budget arithmetic test
A truly effective budget policy will require difficult political compromises and coordinated fiscal choices. Issues such as health care entitlements and the retirement of the baby boom generation will soon begin to put a squeeze on the U.S. budget, and ill-conceived cuts in domestic spending and unnecessary obstacles to public investment will only exacerbate budget problems. EPI's latest Briefing Paper, The Budget Arithmetic Test: Repairing Federal Fiscal Policy, by EPI Research Director Lee Price and economist Max B. Sawicky provides a critical analysis of recent budget decisions and offers recommendations for more sensible budget policy.

Economists speak out for a higher minimum wage
The minimum wage helps to fight poverty and bolster the bargaining power of low-wage workers. It's been seven long years since the last increase.  That's why over 550 economists—including four Nobel Laureates—unanimously agree that increasing the minimum wage to $7.00 an hour would be beneficial to the labor market, workers, and the overall economy. They also support current efforts—such as those in Florida, Nevada, and New York—to make modest increases in state minimum wages. Read the statement and the list of signatories. 

The chronic problem of declining health coverage
The persistently weak labor market in tandem with sharply increasing health costs have led to a steady loss of employer-provided health coverage. EPI economist Elise Gould, examines the extent of this erosion in employer-based coverage since 2000 in the Institute's Issue Brief, The Chronic Problem of Declining Health Coverage.

• On October 6, an op-ed by EPI Deputy Director of Policy Amy Chasanov about the need for an increase in the minimum wage was published by Tompaine.com.
  
  
• EPI research associate Lonnie Golden's opinion piece about the Bush Administration's misleading "flextime" proposal appeared in the Monterey County Herald on October 1.
  
  
• On November 17, the Global Policy Network held a roundtable discussion at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on Argentina's economy, with a focus on how that country can avert another crisis and secure better and more jobs in its efforts to recover from the economic collapse it suffered in 2001. Listen to an audio recording of the event and view slides from the presentation in EPI's Audio Archive.
  
  
• On September 22, EPI economist Max Sawicky drafted a letter to House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner presenting a detailed view on why a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget would be ill-advised. To read the full text of Sawicky's letter, go to EPI Viewpoints.
  
  
• A September 23 article by EPI President Lawrence Mishel in The American Prospect online explains why a recent study purporting to show that charter schools are more effective than public schools relies on weak data to support its conclusions.

The State of Working America 2004/2005

Prepared biennially since 1988, EPI's flagship publication, The State of Working America 2004/2005, sums up the problems and challenges facing American workers, presenting a wide variety of data on family incomes, taxes, wages, unemployment, wealth, and poverty—data that enable the book's authors to closely examine the impact of the economy on the living standards of the American people. With over 300 tables and charts, The State of Working America 2004/2005 is an exhaustive reference work that will be welcomed by anyone eager for a comprehensive portrait of the economic well-being of the nation. Order a copy of the advance edition or pre-order the final edition to be released in January 2005 online at the EPI online bookstore.

EPI also works closely with dozens of state groups through the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN) to help them prepare and issue their own state-level reports. These groups provide a local perspective on economic trends facing working families in their particular states and offer a valuable supplement to the information contained in EPI's The State of Working America. Twenty-four states have released their own reports this year.

The mission of the Economic Policy Institute is to provide high-quality research and education in order to promote a prosperous, fair, and sustainable economy. The Institute stresses real world analysis and a concern for the living standards of working people, and it makes its findings accessible to the general public, the media, and policy makers.