Economy - Public Policy Institute of California

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Poverty in California July 2021 Sarah Bohn, Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon

Nearly one in six Californians lack enough resources to meet basic needs. Altogether, more than a third of Californians are living in or near poverty.

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California Is Inching toward a Jobs Recovery July 22 2021Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune

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Enrollment Increases Will Require More Housing for UC and CSU Students July 14 2021Hans Johnson

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How Wood Products Could Lower the Cost of Forest Management July 12 2021Henry McCann, Van Butsic

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Californians Want Policies that Close the Gap between Rich and Poor July 8 2021Dean Bonner

Events

Spring season in the Mojave Desert of California with Joshua Trees and yellow wildflowers

July 29, 2021 Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment

Event Video

A young girl looks at her doctor with a smile while sitting on the examination table.

June 24, 2021 Health Coverage and Care for Undocumented Immigrants in California

Event Video

June 16, 2021 California’s Safety Net in Recession and Recovery

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June 11, 2021 Reopening California: A Conversation with HHS Secretary Mark Ghaly

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Economy Chart: Unemployment is at a Long-Term Low in California

BY THE NUMBERS

Recent recessions have hit California hard, but job losses in 2020 were unprecedented

The California economy generally moves with the US economy, but tends to swing more widely in recessions. For example, unemployment rose more dramatically in California than in all but two other states during 2020.