Donald Trump’s proposal to build a border wall to seal off Mexico and deport all undocumented immigrants has made immigration a top issue in the 2016 presidential campaign. Unfortunately, much of public policy discourse around immigration stems from misconceptions about how immigration affects wages and employment in the U.S. labor market. The concern that immigrants … Continue reading
In February of 2015, President Obama called on the Department of Labor (DOL) to update the rules and requirements for retirement advice. The administration stated that its goal would be to end loopholes that allow some advisors to put their own profits ahead of their clients’ best interests. In response to this request, the DOL … Continue reading
This past summer, the Department of Labor (DOL) unveiled a proposed rule that could provide almost five million new workers with overtime protections. Currently, overtime regulations apply only to those earning $455 or lower weekly. If implemented, this new rule would increase the salary threshold up to $970 a week. This threshold is equivalent to … Continue reading
For years, there has been concern over stagnant wages, unemployment, and the persistence of poverty across the United States. Many different remedies have been proposed, and at times implemented, in an effort to improve the U.S. labor market. One of the solutions most vehemently advocated for is the increase of the minimum wage, both on … Continue reading
It’s graduation season! And according to sources from both the White House and the Fed, the current unemployment rate of only 5.5 percent signals a wealth of opportunity for grads. Furthermore, the unemployment rate has been consistently declining. This means that all of us in Class of 2015 should breathe easy; the time has come … Continue reading
The U.S. agriculture sector is an important part of American culture and economy. In 2013, it contributed $789 billion to U.S. GDP. Especially in the Midwest, American agriculture relies heavily on immigrant laborers. In the ongoing debate over immigration reform, Midwest agriculture needs special consideration. Between 2000 and 2012 alone, U.S. consumption of fresh produce … Continue reading
In his State of the Union address, President Obama announced his proposal for mandatory paid sick leave. He is proposing that businesses be required to provide seven days of paid sick leave per year to each employee. Currently, many people are forced to choose between going to work sick and forgoing a much needed paycheck. … Continue reading
You may have noticed that you seem to be receiving fewer wedding invitations in recent years. Before you panic about whether or not you are a good dancer or eat too much cake, there may be another explanation for the lack of invitations. It simply turns out that fewer people are getting married today. According … Continue reading
Most experts would agree that a majority of people are not taking their retirement funds as seriously as they should. Data collected by the National Institute of Retirement Security (NIRS) shows that people today are not saving nearly enough to fund a long and healthy retirement. According to the NIRS, “92 percent of working households … Continue reading
Ever since the members of the U.S Business Roundtable presented their plan to gradually raise the retirement age to seventy last year, the political and economic realm has been on fire with both support and recrimination. This fervor has only intensified after a recently released report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) which stated that, holding … Continue reading
Policy Interns 
You must be logged in to post a comment.