As we near the end of the month, we are nearing the expiration of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. This program issues a $600 weekly benefit for Americans that typically do not qualify for unemployment insurance. Those eligible include the individuals who are self-employed, part-time employees and others who do not have qualifying work … Continue reading
Category Archives: Economy
Who is Excluded from the Stimulus Package?
College students across the nation are angered by the stimulus package presented in the CARES act, specifically their exclusion from the $1,200 stimulus checks. As outlined in the bill, adults with incomes under $75,000 will receive a $1,200 check, couples filing jointly will receive $2,400, and those with children will receive $500 for each additional … Continue reading
Help Wanted: 5G Tower Climbers
On January 22, 2020, I was fortunate to attend a senate hearing administered by United States Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Roger Wicker. Wicker’s agenda of the hearing pertained to the installation of the Fifth Generation (5G) wireless communication across the U.S. The installation of this new technology … Continue reading
Will the Raise the Wage Act Work?
Small Businesses: the Forgotten of the Shutdown
The effects of the 35-day shutdown furloughed government employees, postponed many immigration cases and hindered the daily life of millions of Americans. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the global cost to be 11 billion dollars and GDP to fall 0.2 percent this quarter and 0.1 percent lower over the year. Yet, the case of … Continue reading
Understanding Universal Basic Income
Introduction In December 2018, Finland’s Social Insurance Institution, KELA, terminated their two-year Universal Basic Income (UBI) experiment that aimed to “increase employment and simplify the Social Security system” citing insignificant changes in the employment rate of participants. Despite this outcome, prominent U.S. figures–such as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg– and the California Democratic Party still … Continue reading
Trump’s H-1B Policies Are Neither Buying American Nor Hiring American
Three months after his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order enacting a trademark promise of his campaign: “Buy American, Hire American.” Among other things, the order directed his administration to review the current immigration system and determine policies for the United States to promote higher wages and employment for American workers. One the … Continue reading
Trump States Will Be Hit by Chinese Pork Tariffs
Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce imposed retaliatory tariffs on 128 U.S. products totaling $3 billion “in order to safeguard China’s interests and balance the losses caused by the U.S.” The tariffs, initially threatened in March, are the Chinese response to the Section 232 measures on steel and aluminum imposed by President Trump earlier that … Continue reading
Free Trade Works For Millennials
Photo courtesy of House Ways and Means Committee. By Rahee Jung and Finn D. Reynolds Executive Summary: Recent polls reveal that millennials support U.S. engagement in free trade agreements more than all other age demographics. Policymakers should take note of this trend, and further engage the United States in free trade agreements to grow the economy … Continue reading
How much can policymakers rely on performance metrics?
Most of us nowadays use Yelp, Urbanspoon, or something like those platforms to explore a restaurant. When browsing the Yelp website to find a good restaurant, I first filter out the neighborhoods and category, and then pick several restaurants based on star ratings, dollar signs, and number of reviews. Then I put a little extra … Continue reading
