An NPR article and a Marketplace piece, which feature Milwaukee fast-food workers, highlight a hidden issue among low-wage jobs — many have such random work schedules, they can’t even get a second job to supplement their income. A new NELP report highlights   “Taking the Low Road: How the Federal Government Promotes Poverty-Wage Jobs Through its […]

The recent Good Jobs First report Megadeals is the most detailed compilation to date of the largest economic development incentive packages ever given by state and local governments. Defined as incentive packages of $75 million or more in nominal value, these deals have multiplied in both number and value in recent years as governments compete […]

by Tom aka Rusty Rustbelt Health Care Thoughts: Obesity Again According to NBC News this week up to 5000 air ambulance flights (out of about 600,000 per year) are being cancelled because the patient is too large to fit in the copter and/or too heavy for safe flying. Typically some of the medical specialists will […]

Today Paul Krugman wrote a piece (and a blog post) about China’s high level of investment in the face of low domestic consumption. It is obvious to me that he is making headway in understanding the importance of low labor share of income. Remember low labor share means high capital share. Capital income is dedicated […]

Paul Krugman writes in Hunger Games USA. Facts and figures at his column. To fully appreciate what just went down, listen to the rhetoric conservatives often use to justify eliminating safety-net programs. It goes something like this: “You’re personally free to help the poor. But the government has no right to take people’s money” — […]

The subject of potential real GDP is important. As Paul Krugman had a post entitled, “Potential Mistakes”. Today Dean Baker had a post entitled, “GDP Growth Remains Below Potential Growth”. Paul Krugman said, “It is important to have an idea of how much the economy could and should be producing, and also of how low […]

Partnering with Visa, McDonalds’ Suggests a Budget for Employees which Ironically Shows in the End Just How Impossible It is to Get by on the Minimum Wage. The budget does not include gasoline, food, or heating expenses and incorporates $20/month for Healthcare Insurance. Besides skipping certain expenses and skimping on others; to meet the income […]

Via Daily Kos It’s been quite a day for Elizabeth Warren. First, her CFPB finally gets its director, after Reid plus 50 finally show some cojones. Then she appears on CNBC’s The Squawk Box and responds to the hostile and ill-informed questioning of that crew… Video of Elizabeth Warren interview here.