Report Perceptions of Local Fiscal Stress During a State Budget Crisis By Max Neiman, Daniel Krimm Dec 21, 2009 City and county governments in California have been hit hard by the state’s budgetary and economic difficulties, which have meant high unemployment and cuts to public services. This research details just how local governments are dealing with these fiscal troubles, using a survey of local officials. Among the most common local responses: even more cuts in public services, hiring freezes, and reduced contributions to reserves. This research was supported with funding from the California State Association of Counties.
Report The Great Recession and Distribution of Income in California By Sarah Bohn, Eric Schiff Dec 7, 2011 In the Great Recession and its aftermath, family incomes in California declined across the spectrum. The percentage of Californians living in middle-income families fell to a new low of less than 50 percent. And the gap between the highest and lowest income families grew to its widest in 30 years. This report tracks these trends and considers the effects of unemployment on family income.
blog post A Tight Labor Market: Challenges for Business, Opportunities for Workers? By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune Nov 21, 2022 Last week’s jobs report indicated strong job growth and continued low unemployment in California. Under the right conditions, this could spell greater economic returns to both workers and businesses.
Report Balancing Budgets and Need during Recessions: California’s Safety Net Programs By Patrick Murphy, Caroline Danielson, Shannon McConville, Jennifer Paluch Dec 2, 2019 During economic downturns, the state faces falling revenues and rising demand for safety net programs. In the last recession, California cut programs significantly. Next time, what steps can policymakers take to support those in need, while still balancing the budget?
blog post Video: Poverty and Opportunity in California By Steven Bliss Oct 25, 2019 At an event in Sacramento, researcher Tess Thorman and an expert panel discuss the latest poverty figures and how public policy and community-based services can reduce economic hardship and broaden opportunity.
blog post Ukrainian Immigrants in California By Hans Johnson Mar 10, 2022 The Russian invasion of Ukraine has special relevance for California’s Ukrainian community, one of the largest in the country. About one in six Ukrainian immigrants in the US lives in California.
blog post Poverty Varies across California’s Regions By Patricia Malagon Feb 23, 2023 The expansion of the social safety net during COVID-19 contributed to a decline in statewide poverty between 2019 and fall 2021, according to the most recent California Poverty Measure (CPM). However, poverty rates vary widely across counties and legislative districts.
blog post Hidden Risk of Domestic Violence during COVID-19 By Joseph Hayes, Heather Harris Jul 21, 2020 Although police reports of domestic violence do not seem to have increased during shelter-in-place, data from hotlines and service providers suggest a troubling upward trend.
