Economic Policy Institute | Research and Ideas for Shared Prosperity

Time 2020-06-14 14:04:52

Web Name: Economic Policy Institute | Research and Ideas for Shared Prosperity

WebSite: http://www.epi.org

ID:904

Keywords:

Institute,Research,Economic,

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All of us at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) are angered and deeply saddened by the police murder of George Floyd, and so many other senseless deaths in the Black community—incidents rooted in a long history of anti-Blackness in our nation.This is a horrible moment for our nation—and a moment that challenges each of us to commit to lasting change. Read full statement.(Photo by munshots on Unsplash) Evidence to date suggests that black workers face much more economic and health insecurity from COVID-19 than white workers. Persistent racial disparities in health status, access to health care, wealth, employment, wages, housing, income, and poverty all contribute to greater susceptibility to the virus—both economically and physically. Read more Tying health insurance to employment is inefficient and magnifies the stress of losing a job. It is especially terrifying for workers to lose their health insurance during an ongoing pandemic. Read more Economic Policy Institute’s research and policy staff are providing ongoing data and analysis to help policymakers understand how we can mitigate the long-term effects of the crisis. See EPI’s coronavirus research series Importantly however, these individuals were in many ways already excluded from the dynamic growth that characterized the months—and years—preceding this latest crisis, magnifying systemic racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic injustice and inequity. The Economic Policy Institute studied wages and inequality over the past two decades and found constant and—and in some cases worsening—wage gaps by gender and race. The black–white gap was significantly larger in 2019 (14.9%) than it was in 2000 (10.2%). Further, many Americans who have returned to work face reduced hours and pay cuts—as well as uncertainty about how long their employment will last. People are coming back to work in jobs that are very different than they were three months ago, Robert Scott, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, told the Washington Post s Tony Romm and Jacob Bogage. They re very risky and there s a lot of uncertainty about what s to come, Scott said. “Older workers are less likely to have the kinds of jobs that allow telework in the first place,” says Monique Morrisey, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute, another D.C.think tank. “And they’re very steady and reliable; they tend to take less leave then younger workers.” For these reasons, she thinks employers should focus on bolstering workplace safety. She echoes Johnson’s call for stronger unemployment benefits for seniors until the virus plays itself out. But the Bipartisan Policy Center’s work revealed that African Americans were more likely to lose employment as a result of the crisis — in fact, according to the Economic Policy Institute, black women suffered the largest job losses of any group. And sadly, there is much evidence to show that the traditional American antipathy toward generous social welfare benefits is rooted not in our can-do, self-help beliefs, but in our attitudes toward race. It s clear that the pace of recovery is not even for all groups, Valerie Wilson — the director of the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute s program on race, ethnicity, and the economy — told Business Insider. Curt isn’t alone in his age cohort when it comes to lacking the ability to work from home if he chooses. According to a report from the Economic Policy Institute, only 6.7 percent of workers ages 15-24 are able to telework. It’s not necessarily surprising, given the type of jobs teenagers and people in their early 20s often land. It’s dangerous for them and their families because they risk getting infected and then infecting older members of their households.Examining the data on who can and can’t work from home paints a clear picture of who’s taking on risk and who isn’t. According to EPI, 80 percent of black workers and 84 percent of Hispanic workers can’t work from home, and high-wage workers are six times likelier to be able to work from home than low-wage workers. And those low-wage jobs often translate to fewer benefits. Recent research for the Center for Employment Equity out of the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that low-wage workers in Massachusetts have less safety gear, paid sick leave, and health insurance, and they report being less able to meet basic needs, like affording food. The patterns are consistently worse for black and Hispanic workers.“It magnifies the inequality and disparities we had before, economic and racial inequalities,” said Elise Gould, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute. She warned of a “divided world” of haves and have-nots, where people who keep their jobs and work from home are better able to respond. Valerie Wilson at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington points to the proliferation of viral videos on social media highlighting racial inequities a factor brought to the foreground amid a wave of social unrest sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.“Even though those aren’t explicitly economic issues, I think there’s something about seeing the blatant racism and inequality that continues to persist in this country that serves to elevate people’s consciousness about race, and racial inequality in a number of different aspects,” Wilson said. Tax & Spending ExplorerHow do taxes and spending work, and where do you fit in? ExploreData LibraryAuthoritative, up-to-date data on the living standards of American workers. State of Working America Data LibraryPolicy AgendaPolicy choices have tilted the playing field toward the rich and corporations. Here's how to tilt it back. View the agendaEARNA national network of research and policy groups improving economic conditions for working families. Visit EARNTrack EPI on Twitter Tweets by @EconomicPolicy EPI is an independent, nonprofit think tank that researches the impact of economic trends and policies on working people in the United States. EPI’s research helps policymakers, opinion leaders, advocates, journalists, and the public understand the bread-and-butter issues affecting ordinary Americans. Follow EPI 1225 Eye St. NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-775-8810 epi@epi.org 2020 Economic Policy Institute Privacy Policy Contact Us State of Working America Data Library Authoritative, up-to-date data on the living standards of American workers. Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy • PREE Exploring how race, ethnicity, and class intersect to affect economic outcomes in the United States. Policy Agenda Policy choices have tilted the playing field toward the rich and corporations. Here's how to tilt it back. Tax & Spending Explorer How do taxes and spending work, and where do you fit in? Inequality.is Interactive tools and videos bringing clarity to the national dialogue on economic inequality. Economic Analysis and Research Network • EARN A network of state and local organizations improving workers' lives through research and advocacy.

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