Media clips
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There are many who think the structure of work is rapidly changing. The “gig economy,” they argue, is replacing the old economy; robots and artificial intelligence are displacing workers faster than ever. “The Future of Work” has become an angst-prone staple at conferences across the globe. It’s always possible that this time is different, and, in fact, some notable differences are in play. But after reading a new paper by the Economic Policy Institute’s Larry Mishel on the economics of labor at Uber, I’m convinced that the new thinking needs a rethink. The challenges facing the future of work are, in fact, steep, but they’re largely the same ones facing the present (and the past): Too many workers have too little bargaining clout, and they are exploited in jobs that lack a robust set of labor protections. In other words, this is neither a technology problem nor an evolution-of-work problem. It’s a political problem — one that could be solved by supportive policy. (whole story)
The Washington Post May 22, 2018 -
“Uber and the gig economy both exhibit a clear duality,” the Economic Policy Institute wrote this month. “On the one hand, these platforms engage many participants, though most do so for supplementary income on a very part-time basis and frequently for a limited time. On the other hand, these platforms have a core group who are full-time, and year-round workers who provide a large share of the services to consumers provided by these platforms.”
CNBC May 22, 2018 -
There’s an old saying where I’m from: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The recent report by the Economic Policy Institute comparing the economic records of Wisconsin and Minnesota since Governors Scott Walker and Mark Dayton took office in January 2011, is a case in point. It was seized upon by people, including a columnist for this news organization, who saw it as vindicating things they already believed. But just as you should never buy a car without checking under the hood, you should never trumpet an economic report as proving your case until you have checked the numbers for yourself. If the folks who saw proof in the EPI’s report that Governor Dayton’s policies were so much better than Governor Walker’s had done this, they would have found that on some important measures Wisconsin’s economy has actually outperformed Minnesota’s. (whole story)
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel May 22, 2018 -
The Economic Policy Institute, for instance, recently released a study in which it compared Wisconsin’s and Minnesota’s economies. Comparing the two states has long been a favorite topic of economists because of their remarkable similarities that date back to when the Norwegians and Germans began settling in the upper Midwest in the early- to mid-1800s.
The Cap Times May 22, 2018 -
According to a 2017 study by the Economic Policy Institute, the percentage of employees subject to mandatory arbitration clauses increased seven-fold between 1995 and 2017, with 56 percent of non-union private-sector workers now covered by these so-called agreements. The EPI has extrapolated from this data that more than 60 million American workers are barred from ever taking employment claims to open court. Given that women are 47 percent of the workforce, that means close to 30 million women cannot go to court if faced with sexual harassment.
The Washington Post May 21, 2018 -
Maximizing profits is important since ride-hailing drivers typically do not make much. A report last week by the Economic Policy Institute found that an Uber driver’s wage averages $9.21 an hour, subtracting fees, vehicle expenses and taxes.
Chicago Tribune May 21, 2018 -
This is how much Uber drivers really make [Marketwatch]
Sum and Substance: After expenses, Uber drivers don’t take much more than minimum wage home. Maybe driving for Uber isn’t so profitable. For the drivers, at least. When accounting for the ride-sharing company’s commissions and fees, vehicle expenses and a modest health insurance package, Uber drivers end up earning just $9.21 in hourly wages, according to a new study from the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning nonprofit think tank based in Washington, D.C… (re-post of story) … “My Take: Since that questionable MIT study came out a few months back with shockingly low after expenses hourly pay for Uber drivers, there have been a flurry of stories by major media outlets trying to settle once and for all what Uber / Lyft drivers make. The reality is that what a driver makes is all over the map depending on how and where you drive, when you drive, how smart you are and how lucky you are. Fair to say, in any event drivers make a lot less than Uber/Lyft wants them to believe.”
The Rideshare Guy May 21, 2018 -
The nation is making progress toward full employment, according to recent data, but don’t rush to attribute that to the so-called gig economy. A new report from the Economic Policy Institute shows the impact of tech companies such as Uber is overrated. Lawrence Mishel, a distinguished fellow with the institute, says widely publicized hourly earnings for Uber drivers frequently leave out expenses the independent contractors have to cover, including more than 30 percent in fees the company takes off the top, health insurance premiums, and significant wear and tear on their vehicles. (whole story)
Public News Service May 21, 2018 -
Another new study attempts to answer a perennial question about the gig economy: How much are drivers for ride-hailing apps like Uber actually making? In Seattle and elsewhere, policy makers have heard very different accounts from drivers about whether they’re able to make a living using rideshare apps. An analysis released this week from the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank based in Washington, D.C., finds that Uber drivers make between $9 and $12 an hour. (whole story)
The Stranger May 21, 2018 -
Despite a strengthening economy, the black unemployment rate is twice that of whites nationally, according to a new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). A breakdown of unemployment rates by race and ethnicity in the District and the 22 states for which black unemployment rates were available shows that in the first quarter of 2018, the African American unemployment rate was highest in D.C., at 12.9 percent. That’s a decrease from 13.7 percent at the end of 2017. For comparison, during the same period of time, the highest rate of white unemployment at the state level was 5.2 percent, in West Virginia. (whole story)
WAMU May 21, 2018