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UMass Economics

Arindrajit Dube, economics, says a new report that finds a link between increasing the minimum wage and decreases in the suicide rate, provides valuable new information.

Arindrajit Dube, economics, says a new report that finds a link between increasing the minimum wage and decreases in the suicide rate, provides valuable new information. He called it, “important additional evidence on the possible impact of a higher minimum wage on the standard of living – or living at all.” (Deseret News [Utah], 5/5/19)

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UMass Economics

Arnidrajit Dube, economics, say there is a lot of interest in seeing how high a minimum wage can be set before it begins to create negative impacts on the job market.

Arnidrajit Dube, economics, say there is a lot of interest in seeing how high a minimum wage can be set before it begins to create negative impacts on the job market. He suggests setting a minimum wage at around 50 percent or 60 percent of the median pay is in line with what many countries are doing. He says there is also interest in trying to push that a little bit higher. (Wall Street Journal, 5/4/19)

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An article discussing promises made by some Democratic presidential candidates to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour cites an upcoming paper by Arindrajit Dube, economics.

An article discussing promises made by some Democratic presidential candidates to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour cites an upcoming paper by Arindrajit Dube, economics, which says raising the minimum wage significantly reduces the number of families living in poverty. (Vox,  4/30/19)

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A piece on ongoing parliamentary elections in India by Deepankar Basu, economics and Debarshi Das, states that past voting trends points that though the Mahagathbandhan will not decrease the BJP’s vote share, its seat tally will fall dramatically.

A piece on ongoing parliamentary elections in India by Deepankar Basu, economics and Debarshi Das, states that past voting trends points that though the Mahagathbandhan will not decrease the BJP’s vote share, its seat tally will fall dramatically. This article attempts to predict the BJP’s performance in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections using past voting trends – both from the assembly election in 2017 and the previous Lok Sabha elections. (Wire, 4/28/19)

 

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Deepankar Basu, economics, has co-authored an article about the 2019 general election in India.

Deepankar Basu, economics, has co-authored an article about the 2019 general election in India, that predicts the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) performance in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, using past voting trends. (The Wire [India])

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A new research paper co-authored by Arindrajit Dube, economics, and graduate student Doruk Cengiz, finds that minimum wage increases taking place over more than three-and-a-half decades have resulted in higher wages for low-skilled workers.

A new research paper co-authored by Arindrajit Dube, economics, and graduate student Doruk Cengiz, finds that minimum wage increases taking place over more than three-and-a-half decades have resulted in higher wages for low-skilled workers. They have also found that higher minimum wages have not caused higher unemployment or damage to the economy and have not caused a reduction in low-wage workers. The study also says most of the benefits go to workers who were employed before the minimum wage was raised. The authors say these findings hold for minimum wages that are up to about 60 percent of the prevailing median wage. (City Lab, 4/26/19)

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Vamsi Vakulabharanam, economics, questions assertions made by Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Vamsi Vakulabharanam, economics, questions assertions made by Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that the number of Indians living in poverty will drop below 15 percent in the next three years. (Deutsche Well, 4/26/19)

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Robert N. Pollin, Distinguished Professor in economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute, estimates that a tax on financial transactions to pay for tuition-free public higher education would raise $300 billion per year.

A news story about how Democratic presidential candidates are proposing to deal with student debt includes mention that Robert N. Pollin, Distinguished Professor in economics and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute, estimates that a tax on financial transactions to pay for tuition-free public higher education would raise $300 billion per year. (WBUR, 4/25/19)

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Gerald C. Friedman, economics, has estimated that the Medicare for All health insurance program being promoted by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders would reduce national health care spending.

Gerald C. Friedman, economics, has estimated that the Medicare for All health insurance program being promoted by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders would reduce national health care spending by $6.3 trillion over 10 years and new government spending would amount to $13.8 trillion over 10 years. Friedman’s calculations are included in a national news story looking at how the Sanders’ proposal would change health care for Americans. (NBC 10 [Boston], 4/24/19)

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A story about national minimum wage proposals references research by Arindrajit Dube, economics, and colleagues that found raising the minimum wage is not a disincentive in hiring.

A story about national minimum wage proposals references research by Arindrajit Dube, economics, and colleagues that found raising the minimum wage is not a disincentive in hiring. (NPR, 4/23/19)