CEOs Got a Big Raise in 2017
While average Americans have yet to see a boost from tax cuts, CEOs are doing just fine.
Dwyer Gunn
Dwyer Gunn is a Pacific Standard contributing writer. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Psychology Today, and elsewhere. She was previously the editor of the Freakonomics blog.
Out-of-Network Claims Are Very Common—and Very Costly
A new Kaiser Family Foundation report illustrates the toll of out-of-network charges.
Here's More Evidence That Most Food Stamp Recipients Are Already Working
A new report confirms that, while SNAP recipients do indeed work, they may still be hurt by work requirements.
These Charts Illustrate Who's Most Affected by Obamacare Instability
It's middle-income people who aren't eligible for subsidies.
The Trump Administration Unveils the Final Version of Its Short-Term Insurance Rule
Short-term insurance plans, which are not subject to the Affordable Care Act's regulations, are often cheaper for healthy consumers.
Two Big Reasons Why Today's GDP Growth Number Might Not Be Sustainable
The Trump administration is touting the most recent GDP growth number, but not everyone is convinced it will last.
How Perverse Incentives Leave Struggling School Districts Behind
Few states have laws mandating district mergers, a fact that leaves financially distressed districts with no recovery option.
Premiums Would Go Down If Every State Passed Individual Mandates
Researchers find that implementing state-level individual mandates across the U.S. would drop the number of uninsured by nearly four million people by 2022.
Why Are Free College Programs So Successful?
And what can other federal programs learn from their success?
More People Than Ever Depend on the Federal Government for Help. So Why Is Public Trust at an All-Time Low?
In her new book, political scientist Suzanne Mettler asks: How can the U.S. government provide so much, yet still be the object of such derision?
Cities and States Spend a Ton to Woo Big Companies. Is It Money Well Spent?
A new report says local governments doled out $9.3 billion to tech companies in recent years. These handouts may not produce jobs, but they play well with voters.
What Will Be the Outcome of Trump's Trade War With China?
One analysis shows the White House's proposed tariffs will result in the loss of over 300,000 jobs.
How Kentucky's Cuts to Medicaid Recipients' Vision and Dental Care Affects More Than Just Their Health
Dental health has profound effects on quality of life, overall well-being, and economic security.
How the Supreme Court Handed a Huge Win to American Express
The court ruled on Monday that vendors can't nudge customers toward using other types of credit or debit cards, even though American Express typically charges higher fees.
The Supreme Court Rules That Public-Sector Unions Can't Require Agency Fees
Union advocates argue that the loss of agency fees will financially decimate public-sector unions.
A Tale of Two Cities
In a new book, urban revitalization expert Alan Mallach argues that much of what you think you know about cities today is wrong.
The Trump Administration Announces New Rules for Association Health Plans
Opponents of association plans argue they could further destabilize the ACA's non-group and small group markets.
Will Tax Reform Reduce Charitable Giving?
New research predicts the new tax law will reduce charitable giving by 4 percent.
The Rent Is Still Too Damn High
A new report finds that, all across the country, minimum-wage workers don't earn enough to rent a two-bedroom home.
Legal Experts From Both Sides of the Political Spectrum Come Out in Support of the ACA
The group of experts includes both fierce advocates of the ACA and fierce opponents.
The Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates
The move was widely expected due to the strengthening economy and low unemployment.
Is Our Focus on Quarterly Earnings Hurting the U.S. Economy?
Two prominent business leaders point to the dangers of quarterly earnings guidance. Research suggests they're right to be concerned.
The ACA Is Under Fire Again
The Trump administration announced Thursday it would not defend the Affordable Care Act in court against a lawsuit filed last year by 20 states.
Is the Gig Economy Growing or Shrinking?
A new BLS survey shows that the percentage of Americans employed in most types of alternative work arrangements has actually declined since 2005. But that report only tells half the story.
Financial Aid Letters Are Really, Really Confusing
And that makes it hard for kids to choose the right school.
Three Key Numbers From the May Jobs Report
Retail, construction, and health care post particularly strong employment gains.
Trump's Trade War Would Be Very Bad for Many Americans
Here's what the U.S. stands to lose in a trade war.
How Unstable Medicaid Programs Discourage Recipients From Engaging With Politics
Political scientist Jamila Michener talks about how state-level changes to Medicaid benefits can politically disempower its recipients.
Democrats Target Teacher Pay as Part of Their 'Better Deal' Platform
The Democratic Party may have finally identified a message with staying power.
Employers Just Scored a Major Victory in the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court just ruled that employers can require employees to agree to arbitration and waive their rights to file class-action lawsuits.
A Federal College Loan Program Is Exacerbating the Racial Wealth Gap
A new report points to troubling flaws with the Parent PLUS loan program.
Health-Care Costs Are Growing in the U.S., Thanks in Large Part to Private Insurers
Three charts that show how health-care costs are rising, especially for people with private insurance.
Suicide and Drug Use Are Still Rising Across the U.S.
A new report concludes that deaths from suicide, alcohol, and drug use continue to increase.
A California Court Just Ruled That Gig Workers Are Bona Fide Employees. Will Courts in Other States Follow Suit?
The California Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling this week on the classification on independent contractors. The decision is expected to have big ramifications in California and elsewhere.
What Workers Gain at Worker Centers
In Denver, a worker center provides everything from lockers and ID cards to protection from wage theft for workers with nowhere else to turn.
What Lowell, Massachusetts, Can Teach the Rest of America About Economic Inclusivity
The small Massachusetts city is showing how investing in affordable housing, education, and job training can help power an economic recovery.
Can the Alt-Labor Movement Improve Conditions for American Workers?
An expert gives us an overview of the movement sweeping labor reform.
Meet the Researcher Dispelling Old Myths About the Racial Wealth Gap
Pernicious myths about income inequality remain pervasive in our society—for example, that better education will close the racial wealth gap. Professor William Darity is working to debunk these misconceptions.
What Caused the Decline of Unions in America?
Globalization, politics, and the American psyche are all to blame.
The State of the Unions
Introducing a weeklong Pacific Standard series on America's labor unions.
Who's to Blame for Rising Deficits?
Two recently passed pieces of legislation are driving big near-term deficit spikes.
Trump Believes We Need to Issue Work Requirements to Social Safety Net Recipients. Research Suggests Otherwise.
Trump's executive order to enforce work requirements on social safety net recipients ignores the barriers to steady employment those folks already face.
The Recent Teacher Strikes Are About More Than Just Teachers
Is a new model of teacher protest emerging?
The Secret to Understanding the Health Insurance Debates
When it comes to health insurance, you get what you pay for.
This Chart Shows the Unequal State of Access to Fintech Services in America
What good are financial technologies if low-income folks don't have high-speed Internet to access them?
Congress Is Still Struggling to Fund the Government
A number of controversial issues have emerged in recent weeks as roadblocks to a new budget bill.
In Targeting Food Stamp Work Requirements, Congress Is Going After an Issue That Barely Exists
These three charts show that new proposed work requirements are a solution in search of a problem.
The Senate Just Passed a Big Rollback of Dodd-Frank
The legislation prompted a fierce debate between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party.
The Rise of the 1 Percent Negates Any Progress in the Racial Income Gap
The income gap has been virtually unchanged for the last 50 years, and rising income inequality is part of the reason why.
How to Give American Workers Fair Wages
The labor market has changed over the last 40 years. It's time for labor laws and institutions to follow suit.