Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Nov 9, 2022 Amid rising prices and economic uncertainty, more than two in three Californians are pessimistic about how the state’s economy will do over the next year. An overwhelming majority of employed Californians are at least somewhat satisfied with their jobs, but satisfaction declines among lower-income residents.
blog post Inflation Squeezes Californians’ Budgets, despite Wage Growth By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune Nov 3, 2022 Wages have risen steadily in California since the beginning of 2020 amid a historically tight labor market. But after adjusting for inflation, average wages are down slightly compared to January 2020.
Report How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy By Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven Sep 19, 2022 Discharge data from emergency departments provide information on where people experiencing homelessness go for hospital care and on the conditions for which they are treated. If linked with data from homeless assistance programs and safety net services, this information can help policymakers make targeted investments and evaluate outcomes.
Report Storing Water for the Environment By Sarah Null, Jeffrey Mount, Brian Gray, Kristen Dybala ... Aug 22, 2022 Large reservoirs are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate—but over the years, the construction and operation of these reservoirs have had significant environmental costs. Our new research outlines how reservoir operations could be changed to improve the health of the state’s fragile freshwater ecosystems.
Report Land Transitions and Dust in the San Joaquin Valley By Andrew Ayres, Jaymin Kwon, Joy Collins Jul 20, 2022 Agricultural operations and wind erosion are two of the largest sources of dust in the San Joaquin Valley, and the valley’s air quality may decline with increased farmland fallowing and a warmer, drier climate. This will impact low-income, rural communities first and foremost, but proactive management can help identify high-risk areas and direct funding to cost-effective interventions.
blog post How Is California’s Child Care Sector Faring? By Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune Jul 7, 2022 Parents are back to work, with the share of employed mothers even higher than it was pre-COVID. But job recovery in the child care sector markedly lags that of the economy overall.
blog post Video: Health Care Access among California’s Farmworkers By Stephanie Barton Jun 29, 2022 PPIC’s Paulette Cha presents new research on how recent policy changes affected insurance coverage and access to health care for farmworkers, and discusses farmworker health with an expert panel.
event Health Care Access among California’s Farmworkers Jun 23, 2022 Farmworkers are a key link in the food supply chain and important contributors to California’s economy. As farmworkers age and settle with family, their health care needs are changing—and cost and lack of insurance are often barriers to care. PPIC researcher Paulette Cha will present findings from a recent report and moderate a panel discussion on policies that could insure more farmworkers, and on health concerns farmworkers faced with COVID-19.
blog post Health Risks Persist for Older Farmworkers as COVID Lingers By Paulette Cha Jun 16, 2022 The aging of California’s farmworker population means greater health care needs, especially as the pandemic continues. Low-income farmworkers who are undocumented immigrants may lack access to essential services.
