press release If Recreational Marijuana is Legalized, State Should Develop Tightly Controlled Market Apr 6, 2016
Report Will California Run Out of College Graduates? By Hans Johnson, Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Oct 12, 2015 California’s higher education system is a critical driver of the state’s economic progress. As the state’s economy continues to change, will its workforce be ready for the jobs of tomorrow? This report updates and extends projections of California’s workforce skills through 2030, focusing on the supply and demand for workers with a bachelor’s degree. We find that the state will fall about 1.1 million college graduates short of economic demand if current trends persist—a problem we call the workforce skills gap. Even the arrival of highly educated workers from elsewhere is unlikely to be large enough to fill this gap. Today’s college graduates have better economic outcomes than those who do not hold a bachelor’s degree. Over time, college graduates have seen lower rates of unemployment and higher wages than other workers—even through the Great Recession—suggesting that college degrees have become increasingly valuable in California’s labor market. The future workforce skills gap looms large. But California and its higher education institutions can take several practical steps to close it. The core of a new plan for higher education should include increasing access to the state’s four-year institutions, improving college completion rates, expanding transfer pathways from community colleges, and being smart about aid programs.
press release Likely Voters Divided on Temporary Extension of Proposition 30—Most Support Cigarette Tax Sep 30, 2015
blog post Tax Increases and Voter Distrust By Mark Baldassare Jul 7, 2015 Lawmakers and advocates are considering several new taxes for Californians. What do voters think about these plans?
Report Parcel Taxes as a Local Revenue Source in California By Jon Sonstelie Apr 15, 2015 Local government authority is growing in corrections, school funding, and other areas in California, putting pressure on localities to diversify revenue sources. As a result, the parcel tax may become an increasingly important fiscal tool in the state. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Donald Bren Foundation.
blog post The Debate Over Extending Proposition 30 By Mark Baldassare Feb 3, 2015 A slim majority of support for extending Proposition 30 suggests that a tax extension is in the realm of the possible but far from a sure thing.
