Report Higher Education and Economic Opportunity in California By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Nov 4, 2020 The pandemic and its economic impact have highlighted longstanding social inequities: low-income and less-educated workers are bearing the brunt of both the virus and the downturn. Now more than ever, policymakers and higher education leaders must find avenues for low income and underrepresented students to access the benefits of a college degree.
California Counts, Report Population Mobility and Income Inequality in California By Deborah Reed, Mary C. Daly, Heather N. Royer May 1, 2001 Examines trends in family income inequality through 1999, focusing in particular on the relationship between inequality and population movement into and out of California. Finds that international immigration explains about one-third of California's growing inequality over the past three decades, while the substantial exodus from the state in the 1990s had little effect, since out-migrants tended to be in families at all levels of the income distribution.
Explainer Making Sense of California’s Economy By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Vicki Hsieh Jan 16, 2024 We take a look at where California's economy has been, where it might be headed, and how we can better insulate Californians against future upheavals.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Alyssa Dykman Dec 9, 2020 Key findings from the current survey include six in ten Californians think that when today’s children grow up, they will be worse off financially than their parents. About seven in ten Californians are still either very or somewhat worried that someone in their family will get sick from coronavirus, while two in three worry that the pandemic will hurt their finances. In the past year, 43 percent of households with incomes under $40,000 had someone with reduced work hours or pay. A majority of Democrats and most Republicans support increased public funding for job training so that more workers have the skills needed for today’s jobs.
blog post Testimony: Enhancing California’s Wage Data Can Help Improve Its Economic Future By Sarah Bohn Apr 30, 2024 At a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Career Technology and the New Economy, PPIC researcher Sarah Bohn discussed how improvements in the state's collection of wage data could inform strategies for promoting economic growth and opportunity.
blog post Tackling Regional Disparities in Economic Opportunity By Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune Dec 8, 2020 Economic opportunity varies across California, and COVID-19 could worsen these disparities. Public policies that aim to increase opportunity should seek to address differing conditions and needs across regions.
blog post Will This Recession Deepen California’s Economic Divide? By Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune Dec 7, 2020 The current downturn is having a disproportionate impact on low-income Californians and communities of color. Deliberate policy action can help create an equitable recovery and broaden long-term economic opportunity.
Explainer Is College Worth It? By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez, Vicki Hsieh, Hans Johnson Mar 8, 2023 Rising college costs and a reluctance to take on debt lead many students and families to wonder if college will actually yield a brighter future with higher earnings and better jobs. In this explainer, we explore whether the benefits of a college degree outweigh the costs.
