Economic Studies
Joint Center Convenes Black Organizations for COVID-19 Discussion with CBC Chair Karen Bass
On Thursday, March 26, the Joint Center convened several leading organizations that serve Black communities for an online policy discussion with CBC Chair Karen Bass (D-CA) on the implications of congressional responses to COVID-19 on Black communities. We discussed: 1) where the COVID-19 stimulus bills have likely succeeded and fallen short with regard to Black…
Joint Center President Joins AARP’s Panel on ‘Equity, Inclusion, and a New World of Work’ at The Atlantic Festival
Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined AARP’s panel, Equity, Inclusion, and a New World of Work, at the virtual Atlantic Festival. During the discussion, Spencer spoke about digital technologies that are transforming work, increased utilization of autonomous robots, and the significance of digital skills and remote work especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other panelists included…
Watch Joint Center Vice President on the ‘Social Security & Civil Rights: A Social Contract’ Panel
Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton joined the panel, Social Security & Civil Rights: A Social Contract, at AARP and Latinos for a Secure Retirement’s 9th Annual Retiring with Dignity Summit. During the discussion, Jessica talked about the importance of having universal retirement security programs to ensure Black communities aren’t counted out. She also pointed…
Joint Center Hosts ‘Pandemic Relief Priorities for Black Workers’ Twitter Chat with Experts
On September 11, the Joint Center hosted a Twitter chat with experts on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Black workers, and what should be doing about it. The experts included Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton, Groundwork Collaborative Managing Director of Policy & Research Janelle Jones, Center for American Progress Senior Economist Gbenga Ajilore,…
August 5 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Congress and Administration Continue to Negotiate Coronavirus Relief Democrats and the Trump Administration continued their negotiations in the wake of an economic crisis fueled by the July 31 expiration the $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit enjoyed by millions of Americans, the July 24 expiration of the federal moratorium on evictions, and new spikes in unemployment…
Expand Internet Access Among Black Households
As the pandemic forces many students, workers, and patients to turn to broadband for virtual learning, telework, job applications and interviews, government assistance applications, and medical services, millions of African Americans remain disconnected. In the United States, 34% of Black adults do not have home broadband,1 and 30.6% of Black households with one or more…
Sustain Black Businesses
Black businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 26% decline in the number of active Black business owners between February and May 2020.1 The federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program—which issues forgivable loans to keep businesses open and employees on payrolls—failed to adequately support Black businesses, in part through its design. Policymakers…
Pandemic Relief Priorities for Black Communities
By LaShonda Brenson Ph.D., Jessica Fulton, and Spencer Overton While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionately harm Black communities in the United States, Congress and the Trump Administration have failed to come to an agreement on a fourth legislative package that will bring relief to millions in our nation.1 Granted, the relief package should direct…
Provide Financial Support for Black Workers
Black workers are over-represented in public transit, childcare and social services, health care, trucking, warehouse, and postal service, and many other frontline occupations deemed “essential.”1 Despite this work, Black communities have experienced high rates of both job and income loss. In June 2020, 15.4% of Black workers were looking for but unable to find work.2…
Investing in Black Economists and Centering Black Communities in Economic Policy
The pandemic and the killing of George Floyd and many others have highlighted racial inequity. Even if we develop a vaccine soon and enact effective policing reform, however, systemic challenges will persist. Addressing systemic anti-Blackness in economics is of the entire effort to dismantle systemic racism. First, we need to invest more in supporting and…
Questions on Market Power & Discrimination for Tech CEOs Testifying Before Congress
On July 29, the CEOs of four major tech companies—Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Apple’s Tim Cook, Google/Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai, and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg—will testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee to discuss the market power of online platforms. Of the subcommittee’s 13 Members, four belong to the Congressional Black Caucus (including subcommittee Vice Chair Joe…