The University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Friedman UMass Economics

Gerald Friedman says older workers who have been pushed out of the workforce can expect some help finding work in the new, tighter job market, but they are still at a disadvantage. 

Gerald Friedman says older workers who have been pushed out of the workforce can expect some help finding work in the new, tighter job market, but they are still at a disadvantage.  “Things will get a little better, but the benefits will be limited,” for over-50 job seekers, he says. Friedman says he is “reasonably pessimistic” on the outlook for older people looking for work. “These startups want to project youth,” he says. “They have Ping-Pong tables, kids eating pizza, they work all night. They want new college graduates, or even better, people who dropped out of MIT or Harvard. The want a young-looking workforce to attract other young people.” (Globe, 8/28/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

Gerald Epstein is interviewed about the growing U.S. economy and whether the recent tax cuts have had any visible impact on that growth.

Gerald Epstein is interviewed about the growing U.S. economy and whether the recent tax cuts have had any visible impact on that growth. He argues that the cuts benefit the wealthy and corporations but have not benefited ordinary people. (The Real News Network, 8/27/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

Gerald Epstein comments in a story about how swipe fees for using credit cards affect local businesses.

Gerald Epstein comments in a story about how swipe fees for using credit cards affect local businesses. Epstein says there isn’t enough competition in the credit card industry to hold fees down. He says this has the effect of making small local businesses support the large companies.  (Gazette, 8/26/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

A study conducted by Gerald Friedman that concludes Massachusetts could save up to $22 billion by implementing a single-payer health insurance system, was cited by Jo Comerford, a candidate for the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester seat in the Senate

A study conducted by Gerald Friedman that concludes Massachusetts could save up to $22 billion by implementing a single-payer health insurance system, was cited by Jo Comerford, a candidate for the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester seat in the Senate. Other candidates for the seat support variations on single-payer health insurance. (Gazette, 8/17/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

Gerald Friedman comments in a new story about the debate in Rhode Island whether the Affordable Care Act is working in that state and the overall debate about health care costs

Gerald Friedman comments in a new story about the debate in Rhode Island whether the Affordable Care Act is working in that state and the overall debate about health care costs prompted by a recent report that a top Blue Cross & Blue Shield executive just received a $1.5 million payout a year after he stepped down. Friedman says a single-payer system in Rhode Island would cost less and cover many more people, but he also recognizes it would face a tough sell politically. (RIfuture.org, 8/3/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

Gerald Friedman is mentioned in a news story about why wages aren’t increasing even though the economy is strong and unemployment is low.

Gerald Friedman is mentioned in a news story about why wages aren’t increasing even though the economy is strong and unemployment is low. He questioned an explanation from the International Monetary Fund that says slow wage growth is caused by a slower labor productivity and a decline in the share of income that goes to workers. Friedman says this explanation is “a little circular.” (Forbes, 7/21/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

Gerald Friedman’s advocacy for a single-payer health care system in New York is mentioned in a column in The Buffalo News.

Friedman’s advocacy for a single-payer health care system in New York is mentioned in a column in The Buffalo News. (The Buffalo News, 7/14/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

Gerald Friedman comments in a new story about the debate in Rhode Island whether the Affordable Care Act is working in that state.

Gerald Friedman comments in a new story about the debate in Rhode Island whether the Affordable Care Act is working in that state, and the overall debate about health care costs prompted by a recent report that a top Blue Cross & Blue Shield executive just received a $1.5 million payout a year after he stepped down. Friedman says a single-payer system in Rhode Island would cost less and cover many more people, but he also recognizes it would face a tough sell politically. (RIfuture.org, 8/3/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

Gerald Friedman comments in a news story about why some progressive economists agree with President Donald J. Trump’s policies on international trade.

Gerald C. Friedman, economics, comments in a news story about why some progressive economists agree with President Donald J. Trump’s policies on international trade. He says the current system of free trade does create winners, but they don’t, in turn, compensate the losers. Without that second step, Friedman says, “free trade becomes a weapon against labor.” Friedman says he would like to see a big push for public investment in the U.S. combines with a broad effort to get international capital flows under control.  (The Week, 7/16/18)

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Friedman UMass Economics

Continued national news coverage of analysis by Gerald Friedman on Bernie Sanders’ healthcare and tax policy proposals

There is continued national news coverage of the analysis done by Gerald C. Friedman, economics, on what would happen to the U.S. economy if Bernie Sanders’ proposals for spending, single-payer healthcare and tax policy were adopted. A number of left-leaning economists are challenging Friedman’s analysis. Other commentators note that Sanders’ plans call for increased government spending that could spur economic growth. There is also an opinion piece by Friedman and Mark Paul, a graduate student in economics, about why Sanders and his policies are appealing to young voters, especially African-American students.  (CNN Money, Slate, Dallas Morning News, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Dollars and Sense, 2/24/16)