Political decisions by elected officials are largely responsible for a “collapse in pay for the bottom 90 percent” of the labor market since 1979, according to a new analysis of wage stagnation by the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank. (Whole story)
Washington Post
December 17, 2018
Average weekly earnings for these retail workers “would decline by as much as 7 percent” and between 1 percent and 3 percent “in the bulk” of the markets affected by the merger, the report released by the Economic Policy Institute and the Roosevelt Institute said. (Whole story)
Kansas City Star
December 17, 2018
Robert E. Scott, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, discusses a report on the impact of President Donald Trump’s metal tariffs on the domestic aluminum industry. He speaks with Bloomberg’s Joe Weisenthal and Romaine Bostick on “What’d You Miss?”
Bloomberg
December 17, 2018
The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) released new research that shows after Section 232 tariffs were imposed on aluminum (and steel) in March 2018, the domestic producers of both primary and downstream aluminum products have made commitments to create over 3,000 jobs. At the same time, these domestic producers should generate over $3.4 billion in new investments and substantially increase domestic production of aluminum. Robert Scott, director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Research, explains that in early 2017, the U.S. primary aluminum industry had almost disappeared completely. Between 2010 and 2017, 18 of 23 aluminum smelters shut down, eliminating roughly 13,000 jobs. In 2016, there were three alumina refineries supplying U.S. smelters, and by 2017, only one remained in operation. (whole story)
24/7 Wall St.
December 17, 2018
Aluminum sector doing just fine with tariffs, according to one study…The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) “released a new economic study on the impact the aluminum tariffs have had on the aluminum industry, which shows conclusively that the tariffs are helping boost aluminum production and create jobs,” according to the Hellenic Shipping News. “The EPI study points out that as a result of the aluminum tariffs twenty-two new and expansion projects have been announced in downstream aluminum industries producing extruded (rod and bar, pipe and tube and extruded shapes) and rolled (sheet and plate) products.” Full article here.
Metal Miner
December 17, 2018
Tariffs on steel and aluminum have created many uncertainties within the glass and glazing industry and the general U.S. market. However, a new report claims the tariffs have been effective at increasing jobs and aluminum production in the U.S. The National Press Club recently held an event called, “The Real Economic Effects of President’s Trump’s 232 Aluminum and Steel Tariff,” aimed at answering questions about the tariffs’ impact on the U.S. economy throughout the past nine months. Robert E. Scott, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, released a report that says the “aluminum tariffs have led to a strong recovery in employment, production and investment in primary aluminum and downstream industries.” The report set the tone for much of the panel discussion. Scott was joined on the panel by former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN); Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing; Jesse Gary, executive vice president and general counsel at Century Aluminum; and Jeff Ferry, research director at the Coalition for a Prosperous America. (whole story about event)
USGlass News Network
December 17, 2018
The Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank that made that submission, said data from 2017 shows contracting firms and temporary help agencies employed 2.3 million workers who would be harmed by the current proposal.
Bloomberg BNA
December 17, 2018
- Industry consolidation is putting a squeeze on suppliers competing for contracts with large companies, which in turn has negative effects on the suppliers’ employees, panelists said at an event hosted by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and Open Markets Institute in Washington, D.C., Wednesday.
- An EPI report presented at the event described an erosion of worker power, caused by policy changes such as deregulation and growth of an independent contractor model.
Panelists called for a reinstatement of worker collaboration, including unionization and bargaining rights, to restore the balance of power between employers and employees. (whole story)
Supply Chain Drive
December 17, 2018
ALUMINUM REPORT GIVES BOOST TO TARIFFS: Supporters of Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum are now armed with a report saying the trade barriers haven’t led to the economic woes that critics warned of. The American Primary Aluminum Association and Economic Policy Institute unveiled a report on Tuesday authored by EPI’s Robert Scott that argues that the tariffs on aluminum have had minimal effect on downstream industries and have been a boon to the primary aluminum industry. That includes a projected 67 percent increase in primary production between 2017 and the end of 2018 and 22 expansion projects in downstream companies that produce extruded and rolled aluminum products. The report takes aim at a study from the Trade Partnership that projected the loss of over 400,000 jobs. “There is absolutely no evidence there have been broad or negative effects on employment either in using industries like autos and parts or in manufacturing as a whole or in the overall economy,” Scott said at an event Tuesday.
Politico Pro
December 17, 2018