See article by Mark Paul in Huffington Post blog “The Dakota Access Pipeline Doesn’t Make Economic Sense.”
Day: February 22, 2017
Gerald A. Epstein, economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute, is interviewed about how economists and politicians on the left should be dealing with the Donald Trump administration and the Republican Congress. He says progressives should respond to the new political landscape with a new approach and not act as if this is business as usual. (Dollars & Sense, 2/15/17)
A column arguing for a federal job guarantee as a way to democratize the U.S. economy notes that Robert N. Pollin, Distinguished Professor in economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute, says moving to a green economy will generate millions of new jobs in addition to helping clean the environment. (Jacobin magazine, 2/4/17)
A columnist writing about how to replace the Affordable Care Act says a bill sponsored by a Democratic congressman already exists and it calls for creating Medicare for all U.S. residents. The writer cites a study done in 2013 by Gerald C. Friedman, economics, that finds such a system would reduce health care costs for 95 percent of households. (Los Angeles Times, 2/3/17)
Léonce Ndikumana has been appointed honorary professor in the School of Economics at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, for five years, effective Jan. 1. The appointment recognizes his outstanding record in teaching and research.
His relationship with the University of Cape Town dates from 2003-2004, when he spent his sabbatical there teaching macroeconomics in the newly established course-based Ph.D. program sponsored by the African Economic Research Consortium.
“This is excellent recognition for professor Ndikumana’s extraordinary contributions to economic policy in Africa and around the world and it is an honor and source of pride for our department,” says UMass Amherst economics chair Michael Ash. Read more…..
A news story on how officials and legislators in New York are looking at alternatives to the Affordable Care Act in case the law is repealed notes that Gerald C. Friedman, economics, has done an analysis of a statewide health coverage plan that he estimates would reduce health costs by 25 percent, or $71 billion out of projected costs in 2019. (Village Voice, 1/31/17)
A study done by Gerald C. Friedman, economics, finds that if New York shifts to a single payer health care program that state would save $70 billion, including $26 billion in savings on insurance administration and profit, $16 billion in reduced drug and medical device prices and $5 billion in reduced fraud from overbilling. (The Public [N.Y.], 1/25/17)
M.V. Lee Badgett, economics, will lead a first-of-its-kind study looking at how federal contactors fare on gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination. A $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor will fund the research. (Gazette, 1/19/17)
Douglas Cliggott, economics, writes a commentary in Fortune where he says members of the U.S. Senate who will question Steven Mnuchin, the nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, should find out his views on how to boost labor productivity and how to reduce income inequality. (Fortune, 1/18/17)