Fiscal Policy Institute - Social and Economic Conditions








 

 

 

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Social & Economic Conditions

   
  Click here for the archives of FPI's report on the State of Working New York from 1999 on.
 

 

     
 

November 29, 2011.  Great Recession takes a $31 billion toll on New Yorkers. New data show that New York families face smaller incomes, fewer opportunities, more hardship. The Fiscal Policy Institute's 2011 annual edition of the State of Working New York examines how bad the Great Recession and the not-so-great "recovery" have been for the wages and incomes of typical New Yorkers. Of the 504,000 jobs lost, 80 percent are wage and salary positions, and  about 20 percent represent fledgling businesses that haven’t been started because of the difficult economic climate. Median household incomes in New York State fell by 3.2 percent from 2007 to 2010, and weekly earnings have fallen for New York workers in the bottom half of the pay spectrum. Press release and report >>

August 31, 2011.  One in seven New Yorkers out of work two years into "recovery." FPI's 2011 annual edition of the State of Working New York documents New York's continuing unemployment crisis in the context of the weak national economic recovery. Two years into the "recovery" from the Great Recession of 2008-2009, one in seven New York workers is unemployed, under-employed or has given up looking for work - a total of 1.4 million New Yorkers. Long-term unemployment is at record levels. Half of the unemployed have been out of work for more than six months, and 29 percent have been jobless for a year or more. Press release and report >>

 

July 20, 2011.  Scant recovery for workers in NYC: Young workers see gains, but unemployment worsens for older workers. This report, the latest on "The State of Working NYC," finds several crosscurrents in the first year after the job market bottomed out in NYC. Young workers (ages 16-21 and 22-27) gained in the recovery, contrary to the national trend of decreasing employment rates for these age groups. Unfortunately, older workers too bucked the trend: nationally they made small gains, but in NYC they fared worst of all age groups. While NYC's job growth outpaced the nation's early in the recovery, in recent months the city's job growth has slowed and now lags the nation. Two years after the national recession officially ended, New York still faces soberingly high unemployment and fundamental economic and job market challenges. Press release >> Report >>

September 16, 2010.  Poverty on the Rise in New York and Nation in 2009: Federal Assistance Lessened Recession's Impact. The Census Bureau today released state-level data showing that the poverty rate in New York State rose dramatically from 14.2 percent in 2008 to 15.8 percent in 2009. The number of New Yorkers in poverty jumped by 284,000 to a little over three million. Only once since 1980 - from 1989 to 1990 - has the poverty rate risen more than it did in 2009. The new data also show that 2009 brought a large increase in the national poverty rate, which jumped to 14.3 percent from 13.2 percent in 2008.

June 29, 2010.  The Self Sufficiency Standard for New York 2010. The Self Sufficiency Standard defines the income that working adults in New York need to meet their families' basic needs for housing, food, transportation, child care, medical care and taxes. The Self-Sufficiency Standard for 2010 shows that for most workers - across the state and in New York City - earnings well above the official Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are nevertheless far below what is needed to meet families' basic needs. Detailed information provided for a range of family profiles, for each county and New York City borough. More >>

March 10, 2010.  New York's Unemployment Crisis. In January 2010,  852,000 New Yorkers were unemployed, including 413,000 New York City residents. This fact sheet includes data on New York unemployment rates and payroll job losses, including FPI estimates of unemployment by gender, race, and ethnicity, and long-term unemployment.

December 21, 2009.  New York City in the Great Recession: Divergent Fates by Neighborhood and Race and Ethnicity. Current unemployment rates at a neighborhood level for New York City, and estimates of the unemployment rate by race/ethnicity and gender: the numbers show huge variations from neighborhood to neighborhood and also within neighborhoods. For example, while the overall unemployment rate in New York City was 10.1 percent in the third quarter of 2009, unemployment was 5.1 percent on Manhattan's Upper East and West Sides in the third quarter, compared to 15.7 percent in the South and Central Bronx and 19.2 percent in Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood. More, including an interactive map >>

December 21, 2009.  Job Creation Bills to be on Washington's Agenda in 2010. By James Parrott, FPI's deputy director and chief economist, who writes regularly for Gotham Gazette's Economy section.

December 17, 2009.  Recovery Act Keeping Roughly 419,000 New Yorkers Out of Poverty. New estimates released today by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) are based on seven provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that directly affect individuals: three tax credits for working families, two unemployment insurance expansions, an increase in food stamps, and a one-time payment for retirees, veterans, and people with disabilities. Not only is the Recovery Act is creating jobs, helping close state and local budget gaps, and boosting the broader economy, it is also softening the recession's impact on poverty by directly lifting family incomes. Press release with link to study >>

November 19, 2009.  State of Working New York City 2009: A Tale of Two Recessions. This report from FPI is an examination of the impact of the country's "Great Recession" on the New York City economy. The data show the shallowness of the previous expansion from 2003 to 2007 before the onset of the Great Recession, and recession-related job losses and rising economic insecurities. The report also explores in detail the character and extent of unemployment in New York City - and finds that despite Wall Street's faster-than-expected recovery, the city's Main Street economy continues to struggle with high unemployment and widespread economic insecurity. More >>

September 22, 2009.  Amid Talk of Recovery, Jobless Rates Reach Double Digits. By James Parrott, FPI's deputy director and chief economist, who writes regularly for Gotham Gazette's Economy section.

 

September 16, 2009.  State of Working New York 2009: Unemployment and Economic Insecurity in the Great Recession. This report is the latest of FPI's biennial examinations of the conditions facing workers and working families in New York State, released as the country hobbles through the worst economic crisis - the steepest economic drop and the longest period of job loss - since the 1930s. We are living through what's been justly termed "The Great Recession." The report outlines significant ways in which the federal and state governments can support recovery. More >>

 

August 11, 2009.  New Federal Dollars for New York: The TANF Emergency Contingency Fund in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Part III of this ongoing series of briefs from the Fiscal Policy Institute focuses on how New York could use the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund (ECF). This paper examines scenarios program by program as well as for TANF as a whole, and demonstrates that applying for upfront funding based on anticipated spending (rather than applying for reimbursement after the fact) could increase federal dollars for New York five-fold. The analysis includes a timeline of awards from the ECF as well as the regular TANF contingency fund. More >>

 

July 23, 2009.  Federal minimum wage boost affects 123,000 New Yorkers - but only slightly. On July 24, an estimated 123,000 New York workers will benefit when the minimum wage rises from the state's minimum of $7.15 an hour to the new federal minimum of $7.25 an hour. The minimum wage in New York will still lag that in 13 other states and the District of Columbia. And, a full-time worker will still not earn enough to keep a family of three out of poverty.

 

July 2, 2009.  Albany Inaction Costs Jobless New Yorkers $267 Million. A potent tool for fighting downturn, unemployment benefits deliver economic stimulus where it's most needed. But New York's jobless benefit has been frozen since 2000, and now lags behind dozens of states. This report from FPI and the National Employment Law Project shows that upstate counties have been hurt the most by the legislature's failure to increase unemployment benefits. More >>

 

April 30, 2009.  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. Three points: this is the worst recession since the Great Depression with sharply higher unemployment; inflation-adjusted wages and incomes are falling for most New York families; and housing costs are placing an enormous burden on New York City working families.

January 22, 2009.  Record Surge in NYS Unemployment in December: Lagging Benefits Expose Holes in Safety Net for Jobless NYers. Data released today by the New York State Department of Labor  reveal that the state's unemployment rate jumped to 7.0 percent in December (the highest figure recorded in the state since 1994) from November's revised level of 6.0 percent. Over 671,000 New Yorkers were unemployed in December, an increase of 229,000 (52 percent) from December of 2007. The national recession began in December 2007. Both the one-month unemployment increase of 1.0 percent and the 229,000 12-month increase in the unemployed count are all-time highs in the 32-year official Labor Department series.

January 20, 2009.  The Obama Stimulus: An $825 Billion First Step. By James Parrott, FPI's deputy director and chief economist, who writes regularly for Gotham Gazette's Economy section.

December 11, 2008.  New York City Unemployment in 2009: The Emerging Crisis. While New York City lagged the national economy entering the downturn, the recession is clearly here in full force, and labor market conditions are likely to deteriorate rapidly in the months ahead. The number of unemployed New York City residents could rise by 120,000 over the next year, escalating the hardships felt by tens of thousands of New York families and straining the social safety net.

November 19, 2008.  After the Meltdown: New York's Future. By James Parrott, FPI's deputy director and chief economist, who writes regularly for Gotham Gazette's Economy section.

November 13, 2008.  Testimony of Frank Mauro and Ronald Deutsch before the Assembly Ways and Means Committee hearing on the impact of the economic crisis on the state budget. To avoid deepening the already threatening recession, the state must not rely solely on drastic cuts in state spending to close current and expected budget gaps. A balanced approach includes tapping the state's tax stabilization reserve fund (put together for this very purpose), surgical cuts in wasteful spending, and a high-end income tax surcharge like that used successfully in 2003 to close post-9/11 gaps.

September 22, 2008.  The End of Wall Street as We Know It.  By James Parrott, FPI's deputy director and chief economist, who writes regularly for Gotham Gazette's Economy section.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

January 29, 2008.  Stimulating the Economy. By James Parrott, FPI's deputy director and chief economist, who writes monthly for Gotham Gazette's Economy section.

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September 1, 2007.  The State of Working New York: Encouraging Recent Gains, but Troubling Long-Term Trends. This sixth edition of FPI's biennial snapshot of the state economy finds a modest increase in wages against a backdrop of worrisome trends. For example: workers aren't seeing wage increases commensurate with their productivity; New Yorkers living in upstate cities are twice as likely to be poor as people nationwide; and the gap between rich and poor (and between the rich and the middle) continues to grow. Link to press release, executive summary, full report and podcast.

August 28, 2007.  Statement from Frank Mauro on the New Poverty Data Released Today by the United States Census Bureau. Worrisome trends: New York continues to have the highest poverty rate of all of the northeastern and northern industrial states. The poverty rates in New York’s major upstate cities are incredibly high.

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September 2, 2006.  The State of Working New York 2006: An Uneven Recovery.  Western New York lags, and wages stay flat while productivity rises.

August 29, 2006.  Poverty in New York Fails to Decline Despite Four Years of Economic "Growth." New Data Suggests Need to Reinvigorate Efforts to Combat Poverty. (HTML) FPI's analysis of the new poverty, income and health insurance data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. PDF of this analysis with supporting tables.

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Labor Day 2005.  The State of Working New York 2005:  Treading Water in a Tenuous Recovery.  The tenuous economic recovery of the past two years has been characterized by such weak wage growth that most of New York’s working families have been left treading water, according to the latest edition of the Fiscal Policy Institute’s biennial report on The State of Working New York.  

May 2, 2005.  The Tentative Recovery is Still a Long Way from Restoring Jobs, Wages and Incomes to Pre-Recession Levels for New York City's Low- and Moderate-Income Households.  Testimony by James Parrott, FPI Chief Economist, before the New York City Rent Guidelines Board. 

Labor Day 2004.  Recovery Yet to Arrive for Many New Yorkers and Their Families. In HTML without tables and graphs or in full version in PDF with all tables and graphs.

Labor Day 2003.  The State of Working New York 2003: Unbalanced Regional Economies through Expansion and Recession.

~Executive Summary in PDF.

~Chapter 1 in PDF.

~Chapter 2 in PDF.

~Chapter 3.  Includes a 4-page regional profile for each of New York's 10 regional economies in PDF.
    ~New York State
    ~Capital District
    ~Central New York
    ~Finger Lakes
    ~Hudson Valley
    ~Long Island
    ~MohawkValley
    ~New York City
    ~North Country
    ~Southern Tier
    ~Western New York

~Appendices in PDF.

~Complete Report in PDF (3+MB)

May 22, 2003.  New York City's Unemployment Crisis and the Need for an Emergency Job Creation Program. (PDF) Testimony presented by FPI Deputy Director and Chief Economist James Parrott to the Assembly Committee on Cities. Click here for Newsday story, "Expert: Jobs Are the Problem." (PDF)

December 3, 2002.  Tale of Two Recessions: The Current Slowdown in New York City Compared to the Early 1990s. By James Parrott and Oliver Cooke. (PDF)

Labor Day 2002.  New York and the National Economy: Learning from the '90s.

April 2002.  Pulling Apart in New York: An Analysis of Income Trends in New York

January 23, 2002.  The State of Working New York 2001.  

March 8, 2002.  The Employment Impact of the September 11 World Trade Center Attacks: Updated Estimates based on the Benchmarked Employment Data.

December 6, 2001.  Economic Impact of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks and Strategies for Economic Rebirth and Resurgence.  Testimony by James A. Parrott, FPI Chief Economist, before the New York State Assembly Committee on Economic Development and Committee on Small Business.

November 5, 2001.  World Trade Center Job Impacts Take a Heavy Toll on Low-Wage Workers: Occupational and Wage Implications of Job Losses Related to the September 11 World Trade Center Attack.

September 28, 2001.  Economic Impact of the September 11 World Trade Center Attack.  Preliminary Report.

September 25, 2001.  Despite good economic times of the last several years, 2.5 million New Yorkers continue to live in poverty.

August 2001.  The Decade of Boom: A Bust for Most New York Workers and Their Families. (HTML)

October 1, 2000.  Building a Ladder to Jobs and Higher Wages. Report of the Working Group on New York City's Low-Wage Labor Market: a comprehensive set of policy recommendations to address the labor market problems of New York City's growing low-wage labor force. FPI was a member of the working group, which was chaired by Mark Levitan of the Community Service Society of New York. Click here for the full report or here  for a summary of the report's recommendations.  (PDF)

Labor Day 2000.  New York's Working Families - Still Waiting for Prosperity. 

September 2000.  New York State Self-Sufficiency Standard.

April 4, 2000.  Housing Affordability in Westchester County, New York. Affidavit filed by Trudi Renwick, FPI Senior Economist.

January 2000.  Pulling Apart in New York: An Analysis of Income Trends in New York State and New York City.

September 1999.  State of Working New York: The Illusion of Prosperity - New York in the New Economy. By James Parrott, Alice Meaker, and Zofia Nowakowski.

September 30, 1999.  New York's Poverty Rate Remains High While the National Poverty Rate Continues to Fall.

May 1999.  "Living Standards" in FY 2000 Alterbudget Agenda, City Project.

April 1999.  Social Security, the Nation's Most Effective Safety Net Program, Keeps More than 800,000 Elderly New Yorkers out of Poverty.

March 1999.  Working but Poor in New York: Improving the Economic Situation of a Hard-Working but Ignored Population.  Revised July 1999.

May 1999.  The Upstate Economy.  Testimony before the New York State Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry and Committee on Small Business. Testimony delivered by James Parrott in Albany and Trudi Renwick in Utica.

January 1996.  New York: The State of the State. Social Conditions Report Card.