For recent publications, please see FPI's home page.

For publications from other years, go to the publications archive.

September 16, 2008.  Unions Lift Wages for New York's Hispanics: Unionization doubles health care and pension coverage. A new report from the Center on Economic and Policy Research, Unions and Upward Mobility for Latino Workers, shows that the median wage in New York State for unionized worker is $16.46 per hour, compared to a median of $12.00 per hour for nonunion. Press release including New York-specific data.

September 15, 2008.  Testimony of James A. Parrott before the New York State Commission on MTA Financing. Albany will have to make some tough choices to align the MTA's recurring spending needs with recurring revenues. It will not be easy to do this during a downturn, but it is imperative that the State and the City put in place a phased-in approach that stabilizes MTA finances for the long term.

September 12, 2008.  Brooklyn Labor Market Review. Commissioned by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, this review finds that Brooklyn will experience a weaker labor market, and slower wage and income growth in 2008 and through the first half of 2009. However - attesting to the diversity and resiliency of Brooklyn's economic base - the borough's job decline will be far less than New York City's, just as in the previous slowdown of 2001-03. Press release, full report.

September 8, 2008.  Bush Administration Rule Would Force Health Centers to Close: Congress Urged to Block Hostile Rule and Provide Temporary Fiscal Relief Through Medicaid. FPI and others point out the wide-ranging negative impacts of the new rule, and ask for support for a one-year moratorium and for inclusion of a temporary increase to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in the second emergency supplemental stimulus package. Press release, letter to members of Congress.

August 28, 2008.  Job losses rise, straining state unemployment insurance: Unemployment up by 56,000 in the first half of 2008; In 25 counties, increase is over 20 percent. New York’s projected budget gaps have received considerable attention in Albany. The state’s growing unemployment is the other crisis to which Albany must also turn its attention. Press release, full report.

August 26, 2008. New York has the highest poverty rate of all northern states.  No progress on poverty and family incomes since the 2001 recession.  Fewer New Yorkers are now uninsured but 2.5 million still lack health insurance. FPI's look at new Census data for New York. Includes figures for larger counties, cities and towns, as well as New York's standing among the 50 states.

August 25, 2008.  Transitional Jobs: Return on Investment Study. This analysis has shows that a statewide Transitional Jobs initiative in New York could clearly pay for itself in just three years in primary public cost savings if it is able to increase employment rates by more than 26% for public assistance recipients and by more than 35% for formerly incarcerated participants. The actual public cost savings would likely be even greater once the impact on child support payments and justice system costs is factored in.

August 15, 2008.  Short Term Tax Relief and Long Term Tax Reform: An Omnibus Bill Approach. Although the current property tax debate is profoundly concerned with tax fairness, tax reform options are receiving little attention as elected officials, the media, advocates and the general public look for ways to deliver to tax relief. The immediate priority is best treated by a circuit-breaker; longer term, in order to ease pressure on the local property tax base in a geographically balanced way, the state should take over $6 billion of school costs and assume $3 billion of revenue sharing.

August 14, 2008.  Déjà Vu All Over Again – Budget Balancing in Bad Times: Raising Revenue Needs to be Part of the Solution, Lessons From the Last Two Recessions.

August 6, 2008.  Latest IRS Data Reveal Fundamental Mismatch Between New York's Income Distribution and Its Tax System.   

July 31, 2008.  Working for a Better Life: A Profile of Immigrants in the New York State Economy. A presentation by senior fellow David Dyssegaard Kallick to Teaching Hudson Valley, an annual summer institute for teachers, librarians, and others who work with children to focus on the culture, ecosystems, and history of the Hudson Valley.

July 22, 2008.  Increase in minimum wage doesn't affect New Yorkers: Nearly 300,000 could be helped by state legislation. Although the federal minimum wage is set to increase on July 24, New York needs state legislation to move the purchasing power of the minimum wage closer to historic levels - and to a level that can keep a family of three out of poverty. By increasing the minimum wage, New York would improve the lot of workers without disrupting the labor market. Press release, full report.

July 10, 2008.  Restoring the Purchasing Power of New York State’s Minimum Wage. A look at recent efforts to increase the minimum wage - in New York and nationally - reveals that the current minimum wage falls far short of historic levels, and cannot keep a family of three out of poverty. By increasing the minimum wage, New York would improve the lot of workers without disrupting the labor market.

June 11, 2008.  Thirty Percent of New Yorkers in Working Families Can’t Cover Basic Needs with Their Wages: Work Supports Can Make a Difference, But More Must Be Done. This report analyzes the effectiveness of "work support programs" (such as food stamps, Child Health Plus and the Earned Income Tax Credit) in bridging the hardship gap experienced by 5.7 million New Yorkers - that is, the gap between family wages and a basic family budget standard. Press release, full report.

June 2, 2008.  Testimony on Proposed Legislation Addressing Real Property Taxation Issues. Presented by FPI Executive Director Frank Mauro to the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government and Assembly Standing Committee on Real Property Taxation. The Middle Class STAR rebate program is better targeted than the original STAR program in that in takes income into consideration. However, Middle Class STAR is still not efficient and equitable property tax relief, since it does not take the size of a homeowner’s property tax bill into consideration and it is still based on county and school district average of important variables. A circuit breaker like S.1053-a/A.1575-a would address both of these shortcomings. The bill would be improved by a broader definition of income.

May 29, 2008.  Community Development Done Right. A column by David Dyssegaard Kallick, New York Metro.

May 20, 2008.  The Economics of Low Income Energy Assistance in New York: No Wonder They Call Economics the "Dismal" Science. A presentation by FPI senior economist Trudi Renwick and Gerald Norlander of the Public Utility Law Project of New York, prepared for NYSERDA's 2008 Low-Income Forum on Energy (LIFE). With prices for power and heating fuel rising faster than wages or assistance - against a backdrop of widespread poverty in upstate cities, the situation is grim for low-income families. Renwick and Norlander lay out specific standards for reform of assistance programs.

May 19, 2008.  The Role of Worker Notification in a New Economic Strategy for New York. In response to the plant closures and mass layoffs of the 1980s, Congress enacted the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. However, the legislation covers only larger businesses, and lacks an enforcement mechanism. Several states (CA, IL, NJ) have adopted their own WARN legislation. Such legislation in New York would benefit not only the upstate economy but also the downstate economy now being buffeted by massive layoffs in the financial sector.

May 15, 2008.  Unions Make a Big Difference for Low-Wage Workers. A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research analyzes Current Population Survey data from the Census Bureau and finds that workers represented by a union have higher wages, especially at the low end of the scale. Press release, report.

"Too often, people think there’s not much we can do to reverse polarization in our economy. Here’s clear evidence that unionization helps: it raises wages for all workers, and it raises them especially among lower-wage workers."
                - David Dyssegaard Kallick, FPI Senior Fellow

May 14, 2008.  How Will the Economic Downturn Affect New York City’s Nonprofit Sector? As public funds and private donations come under strain, and uncertainty clouds the horizon, New York's nonprofits can respond not only by cutting costs, but also by presenting cogent facts about the impact of recession on society. Presented by senior fellow David Dyssegaard Kallick at Brooklyn Nonprofit Day: Proactive Responses to the Economic Downturn. Sponsored by the Nonprofit Connection and Citi Foundation. Brochure. Additional presentations were given in Manhattan (May 1) and Queens (May 7).

May 7, 2008.  How Will the Economic Downturn Affect New York City’s Nonprofit Sector? As public funds and private donations come under strain, and uncertainty clouds the horizon, New York's nonprofits can respond not only by cutting costs, but also by presenting cogent facts about the impact of recession on society. Presented by chief economist James Parrott at Queens Nonprofit Day: Proactive Responses to the Economic Downturn. Sponsored by the Nonprofit Connection and Citi Foundation. Brochure. Additional presentations were given in Manhattan (May 1) and Brooklyn (May 14).

May 6, 2008.  New Report: Fed Directive Threatens to Cut Funds for New York Children’s Health Coverage. A report from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University shows that the Bush administration bypassed Congress to issue a directive that will cut children's health insurance funding in New York - at a time when residents and taxpayers can ill afford it. Report co-released by FPI, New York Children's Action Network and Medicaid Matters New York.

May 2, 2008.  Testimony on the The Economic Situation of New York City's Low- and Moderate-Income Households. Presented by chief economist James Parrott to the Rent Guidelines Board. A picture of a shallow recovery, high housing cost burdens and a shrinking middle class - plus a local economy in recession.

May 1, 2008.  How Will the Economic Downturn Affect New York City’s Nonprofit Sector? As public funds and private donations come under strain, and uncertainty clouds the horizon, New York's nonprofits can respond not only by cutting costs, but also by presenting cogent facts about the impact of recession on society. Presented by chief economist James Parrott at 2008 Nonprofit Day: Proactive Responses to the Economic Downturn, for Manhattan, Bronx & Westchester. Sponsored by the Nonprofit Connection and Citi Foundation. Brochure. Additional presentations were given in Queens (May 7) and Brooklyn (May 14).

April 21, 2008.  New Jersey town offers immigration insights. A column by FPI senior fellow David Dyssegaard Kallick, Newsday.

April 15, 2008.  City Could Raise Revenues and Level Playing Field for Business. FPI examines the business tax treatment of "carried interest" earned by private equity fund and hedge fund managers, and finds that closing the carried interest loophole could raise $160-$225 million in new revenue for New York City - while leveling the playing field for New York businesses. Press release, full report.

April 9, 2008.  Pulling Apart in New York: An Analysis of Income Trends in New York State. New York has the dubious distinction of having the widest income gap between the rich and the poor of all 50 states, according to this report released by FPI in conjunction with a national study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute. The report also shows that inequality in New York City is even more extreme than in the state as a whole. Press release, full report. CBPP/EPI’s full report, press release and state fact sheets are available at www.cbpp.org.

April 1, 2008.  Is America becoming a lottery society? An op ed by FPI senior fellow David Dyssegaard Kallick, New York Metro.

March 31, 2008.  Honoring Dr. King’s Commitment to Unions: 40th Anniversary of Assassination in Memphis while Supporting Strike. To commemorate Dr. King’s commitment to unionization, FPI and the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) are releasing new data about unionization among blacks in the nation and in New York State. Press release and data tables (unionization rates and union membership by race, 50 states).

March 27, 2008.  State Budget Experts Present Ideas on the State Budget.

March 26, 2008.  Over 100 Organizations Call Upon Leaders to Listen to the Public and Support the Millionaires’ Tax. FPI is a member of the Better Choice Budget Campaign. Additional materials from the press conference: Op Ed on Better Choices by Ron Deutsch; Siena poll showing overwhelming public support for millionaires' tax (question 23); Fact Sheet from New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness laying out short and long term solutions to burgeoning property taxes. Also, the new Tough Times radio ad from New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness - blogged by Liz Benjamin.

March 19, 2008.  Ten Reasons We Don't Have the Economy We Thought We Had. By James Parrott, FPI's deputy director and chief economist, who writes regularly for Gotham Gazette's Economy section.

March 12, 2008.  New York’s unemployment insurance system: A vital safety net for New York workers and their families during economic downturns. The unemployment insurance system serves as government’s first responder to economic problems. In a volatile economy with frequent layoffs and job changes, a strengthened unemployment insurance program will help boost the economy of every county in the state.

February 29, 2008.  What's wrong with the CGR critique of prevailing wage requirements. In a letter to the editor of the Long Island Business News, FPI deputy director and chief economist James A. Parrott explains what's wrong with the recent report on prevailing wage requirements by the Rochester-based Center for Governmental Research.

February 27, 2008.  Presentation by FPI Deputy Director and Chief Economist James Parrott before the New York State Economic and Revenue Consensus Forecasting Conference.  Parrott was one of five economists invited to speak at the conference, which gave Budget Director Laura Anglin and leaders of the Senate and Assembly fiscal committees the opportunity to hear testimony from leading state and national economic experts. By March 1, the legislature and governor must issue a joint report containing the consensus economic forecast and estimates of receipts for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

February 20, 2008.  President’s budget reflects wrong priorities for New York. FPI's release showing the detailed impact of President Bush’s $1.7 billion cut to New York for 2008-09.

February 19, 2008.  Pay fair wages, get quality work. A column about IDA reform by FPI chief economist James Parrott and Jesse Lenney of Metro Justice, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

February 14, 2008.  Testimony on the Cost of Affordable Housing Construction in New York City. Presented by FPI chief economist James Parrott to the Assembly Committee on Housing. Significant fiscal costs arise from the rampant practice in affordable housing construction of illegally misclassifying workers as independent contractors or off the books. Also, paying prevailing wage can actually decrease costs, by attracting more productive workers.

February 14, 2008.  Paying good wages shields taxpayers from waste. A column about IDA reform by FPI executive director Frank Mauro and Micaela Shapiro-Shellaby of the Coalition for Economic Justice, Buffalo News.

February 14, 2008.  Will Education Funding Promises be Broken? FPI prepared the data for this report from the Alliance for Quality Education - showing that the proposed cuts in foundation aid in the executive budget disproportionately hurt students from poor households. The districts outside of New York City with the highest proportion of poverty (districts in which, on average, 60 percent of students live in poverty) face 20 percent of the proposed cuts despite having only 15 percent of all students in the state. New York City students (of whom 76 percent live in poverty) face 53 percent of all cuts in foundation aid despite representing only 36 percent of all students in the state.

February 11, 2008.  Testimony on the 2008-2009 Executive Budget - Economic Development and Taxes. Submitted by FPI executive director Frank Mauro to the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees. Given the many signs that we are in a recession, state leaders must be especially careful about the way they close the state budget gap. Some gap-closing strategies could actually exacerbate the downturn.

February 11, 2008.  Getting bang for our buck: Economic development in New York State. Despite the billions currently spent on economic development, we have relatively little to show for it. The appropriate guiding principle is building the middle class - thus increasing the already impressive productivity of New York workers. Logical next steps include scrapping Empire Zones, reforming IDAs and more.

February 11, 2008.  Property Taxes in New York: A State Problem Calling for a State Solution. Why are property taxes so high in New York? State fiscal policies have created the bind. A look at four reforms that would help - and could be funded in a way that makes the overall tax system fairer. In the meantime, a middle class circuit breaker would ease the pressure on the property tax much more effectively that the Middle Class STAR program.

February 6, 2008.  New York’s unemployment insurance system: A vital safety net for New York workers and their families during economic downturns. [FPI updated this report with new data on March 12, 2008. New report.]

February 5, 2008.  Testimony on the 2008-09 Executive Budget - Human Services. Submitted by FPI senior economist Trudi Renwick to the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means Committees. Renwick explains several important policy opportunities for New York: increase the basic welfare grant; liberalize the earned income disregard; finance the Earned Income Tax Credit from the General Fund; and take child care funding out of the Flexible Fund for Family Services (FFFS), to ensure that adequate resources go for this essential work support. Renwick includes a series of charts and tables describing TANF spending in New York.