Arindrajit Dube, economics, writes a column where he says the tightening job market along with increases in the minimum wage adopted by states and some cities are pushing wages up. He also says the dropping poverty rate suggests that the U.S. job market is getting healthier. (New York Times, 9/29/16)
Day: October 5, 2016
Robert N. Pollin, Distinguished Professor in economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute, says Americans could learn how to succeed in the era of globalization by using Germany as an example. He says despite its high wages, Germany is “an export powerhouse. They achieved this success through aggressive industrial policy.” Pollin is commenting in an analysis of the presidential campaign and the issues that are resonating with voters. (The Nation, 9/30/16)
M.V. Lee Badgett, economics, says she recently ran an economic model that showed that raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour would reduce poverty by one third for male same-sex couples and by nearly half for female same-sex couples. She says, “As a policy strategy, it would make a big difference.” (NBC News, 10/3/16)