Areas of expertise
Poverty • State labor markets • Economic inequality and social mobility • Minimum wage • Wage theft
Biography
David Cooper conducts both national and state-level research, with a focus on the minimum wage, wage theft, employment and unemployment, poverty, and wage and income trends. He also coordinates and provides technical support to the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN), a national network of over 60 state-level policy research and advocacy organizations.
David’s analyses on the impact of minimum wage laws have been used by policymakers and advocates in city halls and statehouses across the country, as well as in Congress and the White House. He has testified in many states and cities on the challenges facing low-wage workers and their families, and has been interviewed and cited by numerous local and national media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and NPR.
Education
Master of Public Policy, Georgetown University
Bachelor of Arts, English and Government, Georgetown University
By Content:
By Area of Research:
By Type:
-
Cutting unemployment insurance benefits did not boost job growth: July state jobs data show a widespread recovery
-
There is no justification for cutting federal unemployment benefits: The latest state jobs data show the economy has not fully recovered
-
Calls to establish a regionally adjusted federal minimum wage are dangerously misguided
-
Raising the Delaware minimum wage to $15 by 2025 would raise wages for nearly 120,000 workers and strengthen the state’s economic recovery: Testimony of David Cooper in support of SB 15 before the Delaware Senate Labor Committee
-
The American Rescue Plan clears a path to recovery for state and local governments and the communities they serve
-
Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025 would lift the pay of 32 million workers: A demographic breakdown of affected workers and the impact on poverty, wages, and inequality
-
Strong wage standards are especially important for heightened-security job sites: Testimony in support of HB685, the Secure Maryland Wage Act of 2021
-
CBO analysis confirms that a $15 minimum wage raises earnings of low-wage workers, reduces inequality, and has significant and direct fiscal effects: Large progressive redistribution of income caused by higher minimum wage leads to significant and cross-cutting fiscal effects
-
A $15 minimum wage would have significant and direct effects on the federal budget
-
Twenty states raised their minimum wages on New Year’s Day: Federal action is still needed
-
Voters chose more than just the president: A review of important state ballot initiative outcomes
-
Preempting progress: State interference in local policymaking prevents people of color, women, and low-income workers from making ends meet in the South
-
Cuts to the state and local public sector will disproportionately harm women and Black workers
-
Now is still a good time to raise the minimum wage
-
Updated state unemployment numbers: In 10 states, more than one in six workers are receiving or have filed for regular unemployment
-
Without federal aid to state and local governments, 5.3 million workers will likely lose their jobs by the end of 2021: See estimated job losses by state
-
Without federal aid, many state and local governments could make the same budget cuts that hampered the last economic recovery
-
Every state in the country reported its highest initial unemployment claims ever either last week or the week before
-
Nearly 20 million workers will likely be laid off or furloughed by July: Updated state numbers project further job losses due to the coronavirus
-
Early state unemployment insurance data foreshadow the massive shock the coronavirus is having on state labor markets: The real surge will be seen in next week’s data
-
States are projected to lose more jobs due to the coronavirus: 14 million jobs could be lost by summer
-
Every state will lose jobs as a result of the coronavirus: Policymakers must take action
-
The coronavirus pandemic requires state and local policymakers to act, in addition to demanding a strong federal response
-
COVID-19 pandemic makes clear that we need national paid sick leave legislation
-
Strong wage standards are especially important for heightened-security job sites: Testimony in support of HB1410, the Secure Maryland Wage Act
-
Strong wage standards are especially important for heightened-security job sites: Testimony in support of SB62, the Secure Maryland Wage Act
-
EPI comments on Colorado Overtime & Minimum Pay Standards Order (COMPS) Order #36
-
Nearly 7 million workers will start the new year with higher wages
-
Workers will lose more than $700 million annually under proposed DOL rule