blog post Student Homelessness Rises to Pre-Pandemic Levels By Brett Guinan, Julien Lafortune Feb 26, 2024 Nearly a quarter million K–12 students in California experienced homelessness at some point during the 2022–23 school year. After three years of declines, the state's homeless student population has returned to pre-COVID levels.
blog post Falling Jail Populations Have Eased Overcrowding in Most County Jails By Brandon Martin, Magnus Lofstrom Feb 15, 2024 California jails have historically faced capacity issues that required counties to release people early. However, a close look at jail populations in the wake of the pandemic shows that overcrowding is now an issue in just a handful of counties.
blog post Video: Eel River—Reconnecting Salmon and People By Sarah Bardeen, Cameron Nielsen Feb 12, 2024 The Eel River once hosted one of California’s great salmon runs, but a combination of factors decimated those populations. Now, planned dam removals might help restore salmon—but how will these changes affect river communities? Filmmaker Cameron Nielsen spoke to people on all sides of the issue in this visually arresting short documentary
blog post Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In? By Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee Feb 7, 2024 The primary driver of California's population loss over the past few years has been residents moving to other states. We examine the latest demographic data for those moving out of and into our state and discuss factors that underlie these decisions.
blog post Were December’s Coastal Floods a Harbinger of Things to Come? By Sarah Bardeen Feb 6, 2024 California was surprised by heavy coastal flooding back in December, with communities from Ventura northwards experiencing flooding in low-lying shoreline areas. Is this a harbinger of things to come as sea levels rise?
blog post Introducing the PPIC Economic Policy Center By Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Sarah Bohn Feb 5, 2024 We are pleased to announce the establishment of the PPIC Economic Policy Center. The center’s mission: inspiring practical policy solutions that promote a robust, resilient economy—improving the prospects of workers, families, and businesses statewide.
blog post Video: A Conversation with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas By Stephanie Barton Feb 2, 2024 Speaker Robert Rivas talks with PPIC president and CEO Tani Cantil-Sakauye about his approach to leadership, some key legislative priorities, and how his personal history has shaped his views on public policy.
blog post Testimony: Retail Theft in California By Magnus Lofstrom Jan 25, 2024 At a hearing of the Little Hoover Commission, PPIC policy director and senior fellow Magnus Lofstrom discussed trends in shoplifting and commercial burglary, including geographic variation across the state.
blog post Reconciling Signs of a Strong Economy with California’s Budgetary Woes By Julien Lafortune, Jenny Duan, Sarah Bohn Jan 24, 2024 Even as the state faces a sizeable budget deficit, job growth and low unemployment suggest a resilient state economy. Still, two areas of concern in the labor market data are worth monitoring.
blog post What’s in Store for California’s Economy? By Sarah Bohn Jan 10, 2024 California starts the year with low unemployment, rising wages, and falling inflation—but also with residents expressing pessimism about the state's economic outlook. We look at what's ahead for the California economy.
