California Economic Policy, Report A Decade of Living Wages: What Have We Learned? By David Neumark, Scott Adams Jul 1, 2005 Living wages seek to raise the income of low-wage workers by mandating higher wages. However, such wage increases may also have adverse employment effects, leading employers to reduce employment of less-skilled labor. This study notes that although living wages deliver some benefits to low-income families, additional policies are needed to help the most disadvantaged.
Occasional Paper, Report Sizing Up the Challenge: California’s Infrastructure Needs and Tradeoffs By Ellen Hanak, Elisa Barbour Jun 1, 2005 This Occasional Paper is part of the California 2025 project Technical Report series. The series provides more information on topics discussed in chapters of the project’s major report, California 2025: Taking on the Future (Hanak and Baldassare, eds., PPIC, 2005).
Occasional Paper, Report California’s Economic Future and Infrastructure Challenges By David Neumark Jun 1, 2005 This Occasional Paper is part of the California 2025 project Technical Report series. The series provides more information on topics discussed in chapters of the project’s major report, California 2025: Taking on the Future (Hanak and Baldassare, eds., PPIC, 2005).
Report The Dynamics of California’s Biotechnology Industry By Nikesh Patel, Junfu Zhang Apr 27, 2005 California is the birthplace of the U.S. biotechnology industry and home to a large share of the industry. The state accounts for 47 percent of national R&D spending on biotechnology and generates 53 percent of the nation’s biotech revenues. In this volume, the authors provide a detailed examination of the biotech industry in California. They look in particular at the relationship between venture capital and the formation of new firms, the entrepreneurs who start these firms, and the extent to which biotech firms are leaving California. Although more biotech establishments have moved out of California than have moved into the state, the authors point out that California’s strength in research, as well as its large share of the U.S. biotech industry, will continue to make it one of the most attractive places to form biotech companies. The state’s strong research capacity, long tradition of venture capital investment, and high quality labor pool already provide the necessary ingredients for a highly successful biotech economy.
California Economic Policy, Report Recent Trends in Exports of California’s information Technology Products By Jon D. Haveman, Howard J. Shatz Apr 13, 2005 Documents changing patterns in California’s manufactured information technology exports during the recent boom and bust period (1997-2003). Finds that much of the decline in the total value of exports (which dropped by $25 billion or 42% between 2000 and 2003) stemmed from lower purchases of California commodities worldwide. Concludes that the vast majority of the drop-off in California’s share of U.S exports stems from redirection of purchases away from California to other states. Explores possible reasons why this has occurred.
Occasional Paper, Report California and the Global Economy: Recent Facts and Figures By Jon D. Haveman, Howard J. Shatz, Greg Wright Feb 23, 2005 Prepared for the California Trade Education Center for presentation at the California Council for International Trade's 7th Annual California Trade Policy Forum, in San Diego, California, on February 23-25, 2005.
California Economic Policy, Report The Workers’ Compensation Crisis in California: A Primer By David Neumark Jan 13, 2005 This issue of California Economic Policy examines why California’s workers’ compensation costs have soared over the past four years, far exceeding premium increases in the rest of the country. It finds that the two most important contributors to the cost run-ups are rising medical costs and increasing numbers of major permanent partial disability cases. Recent legislative reforms may help resolve the situation, but more research and evaluation is needed.
California Counts, Report Women, Work, and Family in California By Deborah Reed Nov 23, 2004 Explores trends in the work participation, earnings, and occupations of California women. Finds that while less than half of California's working-age women were in the labor market in the late 1960s, over 70 percent are working today. Their annual incomes are about 75 percent higher than in the late 1960s because they are working more hours, earning more per hour, and entering higher-paying occupations. The salaries of married women have been the main source of growth in family income over the past 20 years.