MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
We just released the next installment of the “State of Working PA – How Great the Resignation?“—one of a series of blogs that breaks down our full State of Working PA report into bite-size pieces. And if you haven’t already, take a look at the entire economic picture of Pennsylvania and check out all of the resources created as part of the dissemination of the State of Working PA 2022.
Last week we released a new report that showed the potential economic cost of an abortion ban in Pennsylvania. It’s received a lot of media coverage—take a look below.
Thank you for supporting our work,
Stephen Herzenberg
Executive Director
The Pennsylvania Labor Market—How Great the Resignation?
Stephen Herzenberg and Maisum Murtaza | Blog | 10/04/2022
This second SWPA blog entry looks at the state of the Pennsylvania labor market. The story it tells is of a tight labor market in which workers have some leverage relative to employers. July data on the number of job openings relative to the number of unemployed workers—when this ratio is high, workers have bargaining power—show some loosening of the labor market, a possible result of Federal Reserve Bank interest rate increases. This is a warning sign for workers—if federal and state policies push too hard towards inflation control and austerity, workers will lose what leverage they have and, in the transition to lower inflation, they will experience real wage cuts.
The Cost of Banning Abortion in Pennsylvania
Claire Kovach with Marc Stier | 09/22/2022 | Reports and Papers
Drawing on a few decades of research, this paper shows that banning abortion would severely harm women in the state, especially women of color and women with low incomes. The paper summarizes research showing that the inability to secure an abortion harms women’s physical and mental health, makes it harder for them to secure an education, reduces their prospects for employment and good wages, and is likely to leave them facing hardship and poverty. The paper concludes that the combined direct and indirect effects of a total ban on abortion in Pennsylvania would likely reduce wages in the state by $10 billion a year.
Read the report.
Watch the press conference.
IN THE MEDIA
PA Capital Star | 9/26/22
“Already a central issue in midterm contests across the country, including Pennsylvania, a newly released report underlines the economic stakes of the fight over abortion access in the commonwealth.
Taking into account both the direct and indirect effects, a total ban on abortion would punch a $10 billion a year hole in the state’s economy through lost wages, especially harming low-income and pregnant people of color, according to the progressive Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center.”
“The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center has released a new report, ‘The Cost of Banning Abortion.’ Drawing on a few decades of research (on cisgender women), this report shows that banning abortion will severely harm women in the state, especially women of color and women with low incomes. The report summarizes research showing that the inability to secure abortion harms women’s physical and mental health — it makes it harder for them to secure an education, it reduces their prospects for employment and good wages, and it is likely to leave them facing hardship and poverty. The paper concludes that the combined direct and indirect effects of a total ban on abortion in Pennsylvania would likely reduce wages in the state by $10 billion per year.”
“Philadelphia City Council member Kendra Brooks rallied support for her proposed wealth tax with a rally at City Hall on Wednesday.
Their bill would impose a 0.4% tax on stocks and bond holdings, which are currently not taxed at all.
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center said it would raise $200 million, which Brooks said could be used to fight crime, improve public services and create affordable housing.
‘We already have everything we need to build the city of our dreams. It’s just a matter of political courage, determination, and investment,’ Brooks said.”