Publications archive: Issue Briefs

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Issue Briefs

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

2008

Social Security: Here today, still here tomorrow: Why today’s young workers should be confident about the program’s future
by Alexander Hertel
August 12, 2008 | EPI Issue Brief #246

Trade, jobs, and wages: Are the public’s worries about globalization justified?
by L. Josh Bivens
May 6, 2008 | EPI Issue Brief #244

Reading the vital signs in the jobs report
by Jared Bernstein and Lawrence Mishel
April 3, 2008 | EPI Issue Brief #243

Real wages decline in 2007
by Jared Bernstein
January 16, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #240

2007

Updated CBO data reveal unprecedented increase in inequality
by Jared Bernstein
December 13, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #239

The marketing of economics history: Inflating the importance of trade liberalization
by L. Josh Bivens
December 17, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #238

Bush bragging on historically weak job growth
by Jared Bernstein
October 5, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #237

The Hidden Costs of Insourcing: Higher Trade Deficits and Job Losses for U.S. Workers
by Robert E. Scott
August 23, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #236

The Wal-Mart effect: Its Chinese imports have displaced nearly 200,000 U.S. jobs
by Robert E. Scott
June 26, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #235

Marketing the gains from trade
by L. Josh Bivens
June 19, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #233

What a new federal minimum wage means for the states
by Liana Fox
May 25, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #234

Like a fish needs a bicycle: Does a minimum wage increase require new business tax cuts?
by Max B. Sawicky
January 31, 2007 | EPI Issue Brief #231

2006

A tough recovery by any measure: New data show consumer expenditures lag for low- and middle-income families
by Jared Bernstein (EPI) and Jason Furman (CBPP)
November 28, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #230 (co-released with CBPP)

Increasing Missouri's minimum wage: An analysis
by Liana Fox and Jared Bernstein
September 7, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #228

Nine Years of Neglect: Federal Minimum Wage Remains Unchanged for Ninth Straight Year, Falls to Lowest Level in More than Half a Century
by Jared Bernstein and Isaac Shapiro
August 31, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #227

Guest worker programs should include strong wage protections for U.S. workers
by Ross Eisenbrey and Monique Morrissey
August 10, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #226

Supervisor in name only: Union rights of eight million workers at stake in Labor Board ruling
by Ross Eisenbrey and Lawrence Mishel
July 12, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #225

Buying power of minimum wage at 51-year low: Congress Could Break Record for Longest Period Without an Increase
by Jared Bernstein (EPI) and Isaac Shapiro (CBPP)
June 20, 2006 | Issue Brief #224

The Wal-Mart debate: A false choice between prices and wages
by Jared Bernstein and L. Josh Bivens
June 15, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #223

Poor measurement: New Census report on measuring poverty raises concerns
by Jared Bernstein (EPI) and Arloc Sherman (CBPP)
March 28, 2006 | EPI/CBPP co-release (EPI Issue Brief# 222)

Note to Fed: Don’t base the rate hike on capacity utilization
by Jared Bernstein and L. Josh Bivens
January 31, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #220

Why people are so dissatisfied with today's economy
by Lee Price
January 27, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #219

The wage squeeze and higher health care costs
by Sylvia Allegretto and Jared Bernstein
January 27, 2006 | EPI Issue Brief #218

2005

Reclaiming an economic future through democracy: A new direction for economic policy in the Americas
by L. Josh Bivens
October 25, 2005 | EPI Issue Brief #217

Losing Ground (a series)
September 12, 2005 | EPI Issue Brief #216 A-G

Unhappy anniversary: Federal minimum wage remains unchanged for eighth straight year, falls to 56-year low relative to the average wage
by Jared Bernstein (EPI) and Isaac Shapiro (CBPP)
September 1, 2005 | EPI/CBPP Issue Brief (EPI Issue Brief #215)

Shifting risk: Workers today near retirement more vulnerable and with lower pensions
by Lee Price
July 21, 2005 | Issue Brief #213

NAFTA's cautionary tale: Recent history suggests CAFTA could lead to further U.S. job displacement
by Robert E. Scott and David Ratner
July 20, 2005 | Issue Brief #214

Two Steps Back: African Americans and Latinos will lose ground under Social Security "reform"
by Ross Eisenbrey and William Spriggs
July 14, 2005 | Issue Brief #212

Social Security's cruelest cut: Bush's proposal slashes benefits for family members of workers who die before retirement
by William Spriggs and David Ratner
July 7, 2005 | Issue Brief #211

Will CAFTA be a boon to farmers and the food industry? NAFTA's failed promises are doomed to be repeated
by Robert E. Scott
June 2, 2005 | Issue Brief #210

Social Security price indexing proposal means benefit cuts for workers
by William E. Spriggs and David Ratner
June 1, 2005 | Issue Brief #209

Productivity growth and Social Security's future
by William E. Spriggs and Lee Price
May 11, 2005 | Issue Brief #208

Social Security's fixable financing issues: Shortfall in funds is not inevitable
by L. Josh Bivens
April 26, 2005 | Issue Brief #207

Social Security and the income of the elderly
by Michael Ettlinger and Jeff Chapman
March 23, 2005 | Issue Brief #206

Finding the better fit: Receiving unemployment insurance increases likelihood of re-employment with health insurance
by Heather Boushey and Jeffrey Wenger
April 14, 2005 | Issue Brief #205

2004

Debt and the dollar: The United States damages future living standards by borrowing itself into a deceptively deep hole
by L. Josh Bivens
December 14, 2004 | Issue Brief #203

The chronic problem of declining health coverage: Employer-provided health insurance falls for third consecutive year
by Elise Gould
September 16, 2004 | Issue Brief #202

The Who and Why of the Minimum Wage: Raising the wage floor is an essential part of a strategy to support working families
by Jeff Chapman and Michael Ettlinger
August 6, 2004 | Issue Brief #201

Assessing Job Quality: How Factcheck.org got it wrong
by Elise Gould, Lawrence Mishel, Jared Bernstein, and Lee Price
July 27, 2004 | Issue Brief #200

The urgent need for reform of wholesale telecommunications regulation in California
by G. Mitchell Wilk and Carl R. Danner
September 20, 2004 | Issue Brief #199

Educated, experienced, and out of work: Long-term joblessness continues to plague the unemployed
by Sylvia Allegretto (EPI) and Andy Stettner (National Employment Law Project)
March 4, 2004 | Issue Brief # 198

Missing the moving target: Meager job growth and the poor track record of the administration's job forecasts
by Jared Bernstein, Lee Price, and Isaac Shapiro
February 12, 2004 | Issue Brief #197

Weak recovery claims new victim: Workers' wages
by Jared Bernstein and Lawrence Mishel
February 5, 2004 | Issue Brief #196

2003

States move on minimum wage: Federal inaction forces states to raise wage floor to protect low-wage workers
by Jeff Chapman
June 11, 2003 | Issue Brief #195

The broad reach of long-term unemployment
by Andrew Stettner (National Employment Law Project) and Jeffrey Wenger (EPI)
May 15, 2003 | Issue Brief #194

Jobless recovery catches up with wages, stifles growth
by Jared Bernstein and Lawrence Mishel
May 6, 2003 | Issue Brief #193

Rights make might: Ensuring workers' rights as a strategy for economic growth
by Josh Bivens and Christian Weller
April 9, 2003 | Issue Brief #192

Falling through the safety net: Low-income single mothers in the jobless recovery
by Jeff Chapman and Jared Bernstein
April 11, 2003 | Issue Brief #191

The naked truth about comp time: Current proposal is like emperor's new clothes: there's nothing there for workers
by Ross Eisenbrey
March 31, 2003 | Issue Brief #190

Retirement made riskier: House pension bill, Treasury proposal ignore the real problems
by Sarah Harding and Christian Weller
April 9, 2003 | Issue Brief #189

The wrong way to get the job done: Personal reemployment accounts are not the answer for unemployed workers
by Sarah Harding and Jeffrey Wenger
March 10, 2003 | Issue Brief #188

Altered states: How the federal government can ease the states’ fiscal crisis
by Max B. Sawicky
February 26, 2003 | Issue Brief #187

The jobless recovery: Suffering from the recession’s aftershocks, labor market conditions continue to worsen
by Jared Bernstein
January 24, 2003 | Issue Brief #186

Time's up for the unemployed: Congress should use the unemployment insurance trust funds for their intended purpose
by Ross Eisenbrey and Jeffrey Wenger
January 6, 2003 | Issue Brief #185

2002

Phony accounting and U.S. trade policy: Is Bush using Enron-like tactics to sell trade deals to the public?
by Robert E. Scott
October 23, 2002 | Issue Brief #184

Where the money isn't: Misplaced focus of tax enforcement could be remedied by simplifying credits for children
by Max B. Sawicky
October 15, 2002 | Issue Brief #183

How not to stimulate the economy: Bush proposal fails tests any successful stimulus package should pass
by Christian E. Weller and Laura Singleton
October 2, 2002 | Issue Brief #182

U.S. cities face fiscal crunch: Federal and state policies exacerbate local governments' budget shortfalls
by Max B. Sawicky
June 13, 2002 | Issue Brief #181

Time to repair the wage floor: Raising the minimum wage to $6.65 will prevent further erosion of its value
by Jared Bernstein and Jeff Chapman
May 22, 2002 | Issue Brief #180

Pensions under assault: House-passed 'reform' jeopardizes workers' retirement plans
by Ross Eisenbrey
May 28, 2002 | Issue Brief #179

Banking on multinationals: Increased competition from large foreign lenders threatens domestic banks, raises financial instability
by Christian E. Weller and Adam S. Hersh
April 16, 2002 | Issue Brief #178

Social Security shortfall long way off: Improved long-term outlook makes privatization push even less relevant
by Christian Weller
March 27, 2002 | Issue Brief #177

The high road to low unemployment: How short-term deficits can create a high-employment budget
by Max B. Sawicky
April 8, 2002 | Issue Brief #176

Budgeting beyond the Beltway: How the federal budget imperils state and local finances
by Max B. Sawicky
February 14, 2002 | Issue Brief #175

No More Enrons: Protecting 401(k) plans for a safe retirement
by Christian E. Weller and Ross Eisenbrey
February 7, 2002 | Issue Brief #174

2001

Making work pay with tax reform
by Max B. Sawicky and Robert Cherry
December 21, 2001 | Issue Brief #173

Undermining Social Security with private accounts: Commission's final proposals would lower living standards without fixing shortfall
by Christian E. Weller
December 11, 2001 | Issue Brief #172

Last hired, first fired: Job losses plague former TANF recipients
by Heather Boushey
December 12, 2001 | Issue Brief #171

Fast track to trade deficits: Mushrooming foreign debt begs for strategic pause before approving new agreements
by Jeff Faux
November 27, 2001 | Issue Brief #170

Coming up short: Current unemployment insurance benefits fail to meet basic family needs
by Heather Boushey and Jeffrey Wenger
October 31, 2001 | Issue Brief #169

Where the jobs aren't: Particular industries and states bear brunt of dislocations wrought by trade agreements
by Robert E. Scott
October 30, 2001 | Issue Brief #168

Putting school renovation on a fast track
by Max B. Sawicky and Doug Harris
November 2, 2001 | Issue Brief #167

Prosperity wasn't just around the corner: Signs indicate weakening economic performance before September 11 attacks
by Christian E. Weller and Laura Singleton
October 4, 2001 | Issue Brief #166

Mending unemployment insurance with the minimum wage
by Jeffrey Wenger
September 12, 2001 | Issue Brief #163

Shortchanging the next generation: Proposed Social Security cut would index benefits to 2006 living standards level, eroding retirement income for everyone thereafter
by Christian E. Weller
September 4, 2001 | Issue Brief #162

You're in good hands with Social Security: But privatization proposals would unravel its ability to insure against loss of income, disability, and death
by Christian E. Weller and Michelle Bragg
July 27, 2001 | Issue Brief #161

The commission's straw man: Social Security well prepared for retirement of baby boomers in 2016
by Christian Weller
July 19, 2001 | Issue Brief #159

Distorting the record: NAFTA's promoters play fast and loose with facts
by Robert E. Scott
July 13, 2001 | Issue Brief #158

A tale of two tax cuts: What recent history teaches about recessions and economic policy
by Michael A. Meeropol
May 7, 2001 | Issue Brief #157

What the crash means for your retirement
by Christian Weller
May 2, 2001 | Issue Brief #156

The continuing problems with part-time jobs
by Jeffrey Wenger
April 24, 2001 | Issue Brief #155

Bush's fuzzy surpluses: Tax cuts based on CBO's 10-year predictions are a gamble the economy can't risk
by Christian E. Weller
March 30, 2001 | Issue Brief #154

States win too with prosperity dividend: Economic stimulus would boost sales tax revenue along with consumer spending
by Eileen Appelbaum and Richard B. Freeman
March 23, 2001 | Issue Brief #153

Trust funds' rainy day postponed, again: Trustees' reports provide no justification for radical changes in Social Security and Medicare
by Edith Rasell and Christian E. Weller
March 19, 2001 | Issue Brief #152

Making Illinois taxes more family friendly
by Max B. Sawicky
February 22, 2001 | Issue Brief #151

Declare a prosperity dividend: A stimulating idea for the U.S. economy
by Eileen Appelbaum and Richard B. Freeman
February 9, 2001 | Issue Brief #150

Step up, not out: The case for raising the federal minimum wage for workers in every state
by Edith Rasell, Jared Bernstein, and Heather Boushey
February 7, 2001 | Issue Brief #149

Fed up: The Federal Reserve must lower interest rates now to avoid a recession, rising unemployment
by Robert E. Scott and Christian Weller
January 29, 2001 | Issue Brief #148

2000

Making Minnesota taxes more family friendly
by Max B. Sawicky
October 17, 2000 Issue Brief #147

The time bandit: What U.S. workers surrender to get greater flexibility in work schedules
by Lonnie Golden
September 21, 2000 | Issue Brief #146

The Perils of privatization: Bush's lethal plan for Social Security
by Edith Rasell and Christian E. Weller
May 18, 2000 | Issue Brief #145

50 Lost Opportunities: Commerce Department's state-level review of supposed gains from China trade betrays hollowness of claims of PNTR proponents
by Nick Trebat and Jeff Faux
May 17, 2000 | Issue Brief #144

Making green policies pay off: Responsible climate-change package can benefit environment, workforce
by Jim Barrett (EPI) and Andrew Hoerner (Center for a Sustainable Economy)
April 22, 2000 | Issue Brief #143

Banking on multinationals: Increased competition from large foreign lenders threatens domestic banks, raises financial instability
by Christian Weller
April 14, 2000 | Issue Brief #142

Meltzer report misses the mark: Commission's recommendations for World Bank, IMF need further consideration
by Christian Weller
April 13, 2000 | Issue Brief #141

Getting better all the time: Social Security's ever-improving future
by Christian Weller and Edie Rasell
March 30, 2000 | Issue Brief #140

The facts about trade and job creation
by Robert E. Scott
March 24, 2000 | Issue Brief #139

Unbalanced acts: A comparison of the proposed minimum wage and tax bills
by Jared Bernstein, Robert S. McIntyre, and Lawrence Mishel
March 8, 2000 | Issue Brief #138

The High Cost of the China-WTO Deal: Administration's own analysis suggests spiraling deficits, job losses
by Robert E. Scott
February 16, 2000 | Issue Brief #137

The Fed's unnecessary assault on wages
by Jeff Faux
March 2, 2000 | Issue Brief #136

The next step: The new minimum wage proposals and the old opposition
by Jared Bernstein and Chauna Brocht
March 8, 2000 | Issue Brief #130B

1999

Washington's deaf ear: Public opinion and the national budget debate
by Ruy Teixeira
September 22, 1999 | Issue Brief #135

Social investment and the budget debate
by Jeff Faux and Max B. Sawicky
September 22, 1999 Issue Brief #134

The minimum wage increase: A working woman's issue
by Jared Bernstein, Heidi Hartmann, and John Schmitt
September 16, 1999 Issue Brief #133

The Fed's phantom menace: False fears about wage growth threaten to slow expansion
by Jared Bernstein
June 25, 1999 | Issue Brief #132

Cleaning up the Kyoto Protocol: Emission permit trading would let developing nations reap profits from green policies
by James Barrett
May 21, 1999 | Issue Brief #131

Wages gain ground: Workforce benefits in 1998 from tighter labor markets, higher minimum wage
by Jared Bernstein and Lawrence Mishel
February 2, 1999 | Issue Brief #129

1998

The Feldstein-Samwick 'Two Percent Solution:' New Social Security proposal is both inadequate and risky
by Edith Rasell
November 24, 1998 | Issue Brief #128

Finally, real wage gains: Lower unemployment, higher minimum wage spur recent wage growth
by Lawrence Mishel, Jared Bernstein, and John Schmitt
July 17, 1998 | Issue Brief #127

Cut U.S. interest rates now: How to support the yen and save U.S. jobs at the same time
by Robert E. Scott and Robert A. Blecker
June 29, 1998 | Issue Brief #126

America's golden years: Ensuring prosperity in an aging society
by Edith Rasell, Max Sawicky, and Dean Baker
April 3, 1998 | Issue Brief #125

Another modest minimum wage increase: Clinton proposal would help close gap between current and historic value
by Jared Bernstein
February 23, 1998 | Issue Brief #124

1997

Fast track and the global economy
by Jeff Faux
November 4, 1997 | Issue Brief #123

The cost of trade With China: Women and low-wage workers hit hardest by job increases in all 50 states
by Jesse Rothstein and Robert Scott
October 28, 1997 | Issue Brief #122

'Mercosur' trade: Hardly a case for fast track
by Jeff Faux
September 24, 1997 | Issue Brief #121

NAFTA's casualties: Employment effects on men, women, and minorities
by Jesse Rothstein and Robert E. Scott
September 19, 1997 | Issue Brief #120

NAFTA and the states: Job destruction is widespread
by Jesse Rothstein and Robert E. Scott
September 19, 1997 | Issue Brief #119

America's well-targeted raise: Data show benefits of minimum wage increase going to workers who need it most
by Jared Bernstein
September 2, 1997 | Issue Brief #118

The good-for-nothing budget: Clinton-GOP deal a boon to the wealthy, but not the economy
by Dean Baker, Jeff faux, Edith Rasell, and Max Sawicky
May 14, 1997 | Issue Brief #117

The challenge of moving from welfare to work: Depressed labor market awaits those leaving the rolls
by Jared Bernstein
March 14, 1997 | Issue Brief #116

1996

Going for broke: The fiscal implications of the Dole tax plan
by Dean Baker
September 20, 1996 | Issue Brief #115

Been there, done that, didn't work: The Dole economic plan
by Max Sawicky and Dean Baker
August 5, 1996 | Issue Brief #114

Anxiety over wages still justified
by Jared Bernstein
April 30, 1996 | Issue Brief #113

Privatizing Social Security: The Wall Street fix
by Dean Baker
July 1, 1996 | Issue Brief #112

The economic case for corporate responsibility to workers
by Eileen Appelbaum, Peter Berg, and Dean Baker
April 3, 1996 | Issue Brief #111

Falling flat: The dubious case for the flat tax
by Max Sawicky
January 17, 1996 | Issue Brief #110

Jump-starting wage growth: The high value of the minimum wage
by Lawrence Mishel and John Schmitt
Updated February 28, 1996 | Issue Brief #102

1995

The Republican proposal to fix Medicaid: Bad medicine
by Edith Rasell
November 8, 1995 | Issue Brief #109

The safety of the temple: Why do budget cutters spare the Federal Reserve?
by Dean Baker
Septemebr 12, 1995 | Issue Brief #108

Fatal vision: The budget resolutions of 1995
by Max Sawicky
May 23, 1995 | Issue Brief #106

Revising the Consumer Price Index: The changing-the-yardstick approach to deficit reduction
by Dean Baker
March 31, 1995 | Issue Brief #105

The illusory rewards of a capital gains tax cut
by Dean Baker
January 25, 1995 | Issue Brief #104

Balanced budget amendment imperils: Long-term health of U.S. economy
by Dean Baker
January 24, 1995 | Issue Brief #103

 

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