More than one in three Californians live in or near poverty, and the longstanding divide between rich and poor poses a major challenge for our state and nation. PPIC builds understanding of what economic disparities mean for households and communities, while highlighting policies that can broaden opportunity and increase well-being.
Recent Content
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Video: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Vicki Hsieh
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
Improving COVID Vaccine Equity in California
Shannon McConville
Expansions to Food Assistance Could Reduce Child Poverty
Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman
Pandemic Aid Helped Lower Poverty in California
Caroline Danielson
Unhealthy Air May Threaten Educational Outcomes
Laurel Abowd, Julien Lafortune, Paulette Cha
California’s High Housing Costs Increase Poverty
Patricia Malagon, Caroline Danielson
The Digital Divide Has Narrowed but Still Affects California’s Children
Paulette Cha, Niu Gao
Poverty in California
Sarah Bohn, Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon
In El Dorado County, Early Preparation and Communication Were Key to the Return to School
Laura Hill, Mary Severance
Californians Want Policies that Close the Gap between Rich and Poor
Dean Bonner
Tax Hurdles May Limit Impact of the Expanded Child Tax Credit
Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman
Geography of College Readiness in California
Cesar Alesi Perez, Hans Johnson, Vicki Hsieh, Niu Gao
Video: California’s Safety Net in Recession and Recovery
Mary Severance
Health Coverage and Care for Undocumented Immigrants: An Update
Paulette Cha, Shannon McConville
Ensuring Safe Drinking Water for California’s Native American Communities
Joy Collins, Caitrin Chappelle
Video: Reopening California—A Conversation with HHS Secretary Mark Ghaly
Mary Severance
Commentary: How Better Data Can Help California Avoid a Drinking Water Crisis
Alvar Escriva-Bou, Rich Pauloo
How Are Unemployed Californians Faring on the Road to Recovery?
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
California’s Safety Net in Recession and Recovery
Caroline Danielson
Video: Californians and Their Government
Stephanie Barton
Water Affordability
Caitrin Chappelle, Ellen Hanak
Food Insufficiency and School Meals during COVID-19
Caroline Danielson, Niu Gao, Patricia Malagon
A Look at California’s Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Gaps
Caitrin Chappelle
A Year into Distance Learning, California’s Digital Divide Persists
Niu Gao, Julien Lafortune, Laura Hill
How Telehealth Can Bring Equity to Health Care
Paulette Cha
Video: Californians and Education
Vicki Hsieh
Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In?
Hans Johnson
Bay Area Recovery May Lag without Onsite Tech Workers
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
Video: A Conversation with US Senator Alex Padilla
Vicki Hsieh
One Year Later, Is California on the Road to Recovery?
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
The Pandemic Has Highlighted the Needs of California’s Youth
Caroline Danielson, Mary Severance
How the Expanded Child Tax Credit Reduces Child Poverty
Tess Thorman, Patricia Malagon
Testimony: Access to Anti-Poverty Programs for Californians in Need
Sarah Bohn
Multiple Challenges for Women in the COVID-19 Economy
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
To Speed Up Vaccine Distribution, Improve Broadband Access among Seniors
Niu Gao, Joseph Hayes
Black Californians Struggle within a Challenging Job Market
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
How Many Districts Have Been Providing In-person Instruction?
Laura Hill, Niu Gao, Julien Lafortune
California’s Digital Divide
Niu Gao, Joseph Hayes
The Digital Divide in Education
Niu Gao, Joseph Hayes
Views of California’s Economy Vary by Race and Income
Rachel Lawler
Video: A Conversation with Leon Panetta
Mary Severance
California’s Recovery Backslides
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
Assessing Teen Well-Being and Mental Health after the Medi-Cal Expansion
Paulette Cha
Are Students Spending Enough Time on School during the Pandemic?
Niu Gao, Laura Hill, Julien Lafortune
Commentary: An Equitable Recovery for California Requires Two Key Strategies
Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh
Looking Ahead to California’s 2021 Labor Market
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
Creating a Safety Net for Immigrant Communities
Shannon McConville
California’s Future
Ellen Hanak, Laura Hill, Hans Johnson, Caroline Danielson ...
California’s Future: Economy
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
California’s Future: Education
Laura Hill, Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Niu Gao ...
California’s Future: Safety Net
Caroline Danielson, Shannon McConville, Paulette Cha
California’s Future: Water and a Changing Climate
Ellen Hanak, Caitrin Chappelle, Lori Pottinger, Jeffrey Mount
Where We Stand
Mark Baldassare
Commentary: To Help Address Learning Disparities, Boost Internet Access for Low-Income Students
Niu Gao, Julien Lafortune, Laura Hill
Looking Forward
Mark Baldassare
Video: A Conversation with Cabinet Secretary Ana Matosantos
Stephanie Barton
Video: Income Inequality and Economic Opportunity in California
Mary Severance
Californians’ Outlook Is Bleak as Low-Income Families Struggle
Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh
Broad Support for Job Training and Child Care to Boost Recovery
Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh
Federal Action—or Inaction—Will Shape California’s Recovery
Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune ...
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Alyssa Dykman
Income Inequality and Economic Opportunity
Sarah Bohn
Tackling Regional Disparities in Economic Opportunity
Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune ...
The Economic Toll of COVID-19 on Women
Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune ...
Income Inequality and Economic Opportunity in California
Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Julien Lafortune, Tess Thorman
Will This Recession Deepen California’s Economic Divide?
Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune ...
What Lessons Can Be Learned from Project Roomkey?
Shannon McConville
The Importance of CalFresh and CalWORKs in Children’s Early Years
Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman, Sarah Bohn
Addressing Water Affordability in Urban California
Caitrin Chappelle
CalFresh during the Pandemic
Caroline Danielson
Ensuring Water Equity and Utility Solvency: Lessons from Phoenix
Caitrin Chappelle
Renter Protections and Foreclosure Risk in the Era of COVID-19
Daniel Tan
COVID-19’s Toll on Mental Health
Daniel Tan
Providing Meals for School Children as COVID-19 Persists
Niu Gao, Caroline Danielson
The CalFresh Food Assistance Program
Caroline Danielson, Daniel Tan
When a Lack of Air Conditioning is a Public Health Threat
Lori Pottinger
How COVID-19 Could Deepen California’s Housing Crisis
Daniel Tan
For California’s Homeless, CalFresh Is Essential Part of Safety Net
Caroline Danielson
Racial Disparities Are Widespread in California
Sarah Bohn, Magnus Lofstrom, Lynette Ubois
Tackling Food Insecurity among K–12 Students during COVID-19
Caroline Danielson, Niu Gao
Overcrowded Housing and COVID-19 Risk among Essential Workers
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Paulette Cha
Many Low-Income Families Left Out of Federal Stimulus Benefits
Tess Thorman, Caroline Danielson, Sarah Bohn
Race, Health, and the Risk of COVID-19 Complications
Daniel Tan, Paulette Cha
Essential Workers and COVID-19
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
Feeding Children When Schools Are Closed for COVID-19
Caroline Danielson, Niu Gao
How Will the Coronavirus Affect California’s Economy?
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
The COVID-19 Crisis Is Affecting Low-Income Workers
Caroline Danielson
Interactive: Many Californians Live in or Near Poverty
Tess Thorman
Concerns about Poverty and Income Inequality Are Running High
Rachel Lawler, Lynette Ubois
Income Inequality in California
Sarah Bohn, Tess Thorman
For Many Californians, Poverty Is One Minor Expense Away
Tess Thorman
Interactive: Californians’ Views on Homelessness
Alyssa Dykman, Vicki Hsieh
Addressing Inequality in Flood Risk
Lori Pottinger
Video: Poverty and Opportunity in California
Steven Bliss
Video: Understanding Poverty in California
Tess Thorman, Jenny Miyasaki
The Impact of Expanding Public Preschool on Child Poverty in California
Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman
Leveling the Playing Field in College Admissions
Hans Johnson, Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia
A Snapshot of Homelessness in California
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Vicki Hsieh