A news story analyzing how subcontracting and outsourcing jobs has had a large impact on service workers and their pay cites a study co-authored by Arindrajit Dube, economics, in 2008 that found there was a 7 percent wage penalty for janitors and up to a 24 percent penalty for security guards whose jobs were outsourced. (New York Times, 2/28/17)
Author: sgilroy
Gerald A. Epstein, economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute, is interviewed about how political and economic progressives should respond to the administration of Donald Trump. Epstein argues that Trump and his advisors are using the power of racist, nativist and xenophobic ideologies to accomplish their own political goals. (Salon, 2/26/17)
The book “How Did Employee Ownership Firms Weather the Last Two Recessions?” co-authored by Fidan Ana Kurtulus, economics, and Douglas Kruse, is reviewed. They conclude that employee ownership is associated with higher productivity and that employee-owned companies tend to value the long-term connections to their workers, believing they will pay off over time. (Bloomberg, 2/23/17)
See article by Mark Paul in Huffington Post blog “The Dakota Access Pipeline Doesn’t Make Economic Sense.”
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)