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
View All →Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Financing California’s Public Schools
Julien Lafortune, Joseph Herrera
Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Julien Lafortune
Policy Brief: Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Julien Lafortune, Stephanie Barton
Native American Students May Gain Better Access to UC with New Aid Program
Kevin Cook, Laura Hill
Video: Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Vicki Hsieh
California’s Housing Divide
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune
Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Laura Hill, Emmanuel Prunty
Policy Brief: Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Laura Hill, Emmanuel Prunty, Vicki Hsieh
Will Infrastructure Investments Mean Better Jobs for Californians?
Daniel Payares-Montoya, Shannon McConville, Sarah Bohn
Many California Renters Fear Eviction Despite Increased Aid
Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
Views on Homelessness Have Shifted in Some California Regions
Deja Thomas
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about Education?
Mary Severance
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about Ensuring an Equitable Recovery?
Vicki Hsieh
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about the Economy?
Vicki Hsieh
High Prices Causing Financial Hardships for Many Californians
Rachel Lawler
Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In?
Hans Johnson
Gas Prices Stretch Family Budgets
Sarah Bohn, Daniel Payares-Montoya
Video: Two Years of COVID in California
Ashlyn Perri
“When You Know Better, Do Better”: A Water Agency’s Journey Through the Pandemic
Sarah Bardeen
How Did the Pandemic Transform California’s Safety Net?
Caroline Danielson
A Snapshot of Homeless Californians in Shelters
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Joseph Herrera
Medi-Cal Expansion Has Reduced Financial Barriers to Needed Health Care
Paulette Cha
Half of Californians Predict Bad Economic Times in the Coming Year
Deja Thomas
How Are Wage Gains and Government Programs Helping Families Confront Rising Prices?
Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune, Patricia Malagon
Building a Community-Owned Broadband Network in Imperial County
Joseph Hayes, Mary Severance, Niu Gao
Delivering on an Equitable Recovery for Californians
Sarah Bohn, Shannon McConville, Daniel Payares-Montoya
Starting the Year with Less (Real) Money
Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune
Californians and the American Dream
Dean Bonner
Commentary: Narrowing the Digital Divide with Pandemic Benefits
Joseph Hayes, Darriya Starr, Niu Gao
2021 Year in Review
Mark Baldassare
Work Is Satisfying for Many but Views on Discrimination Persist
Deja Thomas
Californians’ Financial Worries and Woes
Rachel Lawler
Geography of College Aid in California
Cesar Alesi Perez, Kevin Cook, Vicki Hsieh
Californians See a Widening Economic Divide
Dean Bonner
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 in California
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
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