EPI Research (Page 9 )

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  The Teen Employment Crisis: The Effects of the 2007 – 2009 Federal Minimum Wage Increases on Teen Employment

  July 2010

  On May 24, 2007, Congress passed legislation to increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi captured the general mood in Washington when she exclaimed that “millions of hardworking Americans will be getting a raise.” The public was also supportive, with polls showing broad approval of Congress’ efforts to raise the minimum wage.

  This enthusiasm was not universal.…

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  Literacy and the Entry-Level Workforce: The Role of Literacy and Policy in Labor Market Success

  June 2010

  The 2008–09 economic recession, our country’s worst since the Great Depression, did not impact all Americans equally. While unemployment for the nation peaked at 10.1 percent, it was considerably higher for specific demographics. For instance, adults with less than a high school diploma had a 15 percent unemployment rate, and teenage unemployment rose above 27 percent.

  Across the board, those who were less skilled…

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  What’s Best At Reducing Poverty? An Examination of the Effectiveness of the 2007 Minimum Wage Increase

  March 2010

  On July 24th, 2009, the federal minimum was raised to $7.25 an hour. This was the last of three 70-cent increases which began in July 2007, and were mandated by the Fair Minimum Wage Act (FMWA) of 2007. In an op-ed published that same day, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis praised the increase for helping “put between 3 million and 5 million Americans a step…

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  Who are the Uninsured? An Analysis of America’s Uninsured Population, Their Characteristics and Their Health

  June 2009

  When reformers talk about our healthcare system, they repeatedly cite the number of uninsured Americans as one of the primary problems in need of a solution. In 2006, the Census Bureau estimates of the uninsured reached 47 million, representing approximately 16 percent of the population. While this number has dominated nearly all healthcare policy debates, it unfortunately remains a relatively coarse measurement and provides little…

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  Impact of Minimum Wage Indexing on Employment and Wages: Evidence from Oregon and Washington

  April 2009

  Minimum wage increases are a hot-button issue in many states. On the one hand, the minimum wage is often cited as a textbook example of how price floors create surpluses in which too many workers chase too few jobs, especially among those applicants with the fewest skills. On the other hand, proponents of raising the minimum wage suggest that increases are virtually painless. Because minimum…

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  Indexing the Minimum Wage: A Vise on Entry-Level Wages

  April 2009

  Policies that index the minimum wage to inflation are becoming politically popular. Whether enacted through ballot initiatives or added as provisions on traditional minimum wage proposals, advocates have stepped up their efforts in recent years to tie wage hikes to specific economic indicators, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). President Barack Obama’s proposals to combat poverty include mandating a $9.50 minimum wage by 2011…