Farewell to a progressive crusader
August 26, 2009
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EPI mourns a friendFrom securing a decent minimum wage to fighting for universal health care, Edward Kennedy believed in a future in which all Americans could prosper. |
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Big profits for many health insurersMedical costs are on the rise and more Americans are losing their health insurance due to layoffs or other cutbacks. But major health insurers are posting strong profits. |
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July unemployment rises in 26 statesAlthough the national unemployment rate dipped slightly in July, 26 states saw jobless levels rise. |
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Why the U.S. needs a public health insurance optionAs the debate intensifies over the need for a public health insurance option, EPI research shows why it is a critical piece of meaningful health care reform that would drive down costs and improve access. |
Latest Research
The 2009 budget deficit: How did we get here?
August 20, 2009
Stimulus spending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been a very small factor in the expansion of the federal budget deficit in 2009. Many policies that pre-date the Obama Administration, including Bush-era spending on the wars in Iran and Afghanistan, are key contributors to the growing deficit.
The recovery package in action
August 13, 2009
An analysis of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is creating jobs, restoring confidence and easing the severity of the recession.
Nearly six unemployed workers per job but ratio does not worsen
August 12, 2009
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for June is unchanged from May -- the first time in over a year that the ratio of job seekers to job openings has not increased.
Jobs Picture
August 7, 2009
Some 247,000 jobs were lost in July as the unemployment rate dipped to 9.4% from 9.5% in June. The number of long-term unemployed -- who have been out of work for more than six months -- also swelled by 584,000 to 5 million. More than one-third of this country's 14.5 million unemployed workers are now long-term unemployed.
Health reform could help cover 13 million uninsured young adults
August 7, 2009
Comprehensive health reform proposals now before Congress could help bring health coverage to the more than 13 million uninsured young adults, ages 19 to 29, who currently lack it, a new report finds. For those young adults who now have coverage, the reforms could also help keep them from losing it.
Analysis & Opinion
GAO report highlights EPI’s retirement proposals
August 25, 2009
A new report from the Government Accountability Office says U.S. workers need a better system for building retirement savings. Read More
Reform we can afford
August 24, 2009
EPI’s Josh Bivens explains why efforts to block health care reform out of fear of adding to the federal budget deficit are misguided. Read More
Roots of deficit pre-date Obama
August 20, 2009
Current federal budget deficit revised down. Deficit results largely from recession and policies put in place before 2009. Read More
Health insurance providers find ways to prosper as more people lose coverage
August 19, 2009
Medical costs are on the rise and more Americans are losing their health insurance due to layoffs or other cutbacks. But major health insurers are posting strong profits. Read More
RSS
EconWire
- World’s best health care New York Times — August 26, 2009 Read More
- The foreclosure rescue mirage Mother Jones — August 26, 2009 Read More
- A fitting memorial to the Kennedy passing: pass health care bill San Francisco Chronicle — August 26, 2009 Read More
- Bonfire of the insanities Huffington Post — August 25, 2009 Read More
- The CEO of UnitedHealth Group is making about $102,000 per hour Pakistan Daily — August 25, 2009 Read More
- About your 401(k) New York Times — August 24, 2009 Read More
- Roubini sees increasing risk of double-dip recession Bloomberg — August 24, 2009 Read More
- Millions face shrinking social security payments Associated Press — August 24, 2009 Read More
- Ad: Health insurance companies are death panels U.S. News — August 21, 2009 Read More
- The truth about record-setting U.S. life expectancy LiveScience.com — August 20, 2009 Read More
- See More EconWire
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Economic downturn largest contributor to deficit woes
Recovery Act spending amounts to a small slice of the budget deficit pie. Read More
New deficit numbers underscore the depth of the downturn
August 25, 10:07am
The While House on August 25 released an updated estimate of the federal budget deficit, which shows it now totals $1.6 trillion or 11.2% of gross domestic product. This is $262 billion less than what was estimated in May. The Congressional Budget Office showed a smaller improvement. The new numbers confirm earlier EPI research showing that the recession is the main cause of the deficit deterioration. Lower incomes, higher unemployment, and reduced business activity have all combined to produce the lowest level of federal revenues – as a portion of GDP – in more than 50 years. Policy measures aimed at stabilizing the economy have also added to the deficit, though to a much smaller extent: Stimulus investments made under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act accounts for only about one-eighth of the deterioration in the 2009 deficit relative to pre-recession estimates.
Some will use this report as an opportunity to call for immediate action to reduce the deficit, or to suggest that we need to abandon or delay major policy initiatives, like health care reform. But given that the current deficit is largely caused by the recession, any near-term deficit reduction would choke off the recovery and, in the end, would be both irresponsible and self-defeating. –John Irons
Archive
The State of Working America
A comprehensive look at the U.S. labor market and trends in income and employment levels, wages, poverty and healthcare coverage for American families
Economic Analysis and Research Network
Improving workers' lives through state and local research and advocacy
The Broader, Bolder Approach to Education
Policies to overcome the link between social and economic status and achievement
