Faced with rebuilding California’s economy – one founded upon caring and fairness – let’s ignore Wall Street and ivory tower economists. More can be learned from selfless frontline workers, like Danielle Mahabir. (Photo by Elizabeth…

How can we assess COVID-19 policies? For example, how much should we restrict economic activity in light of the pandemic? How do we balance health risks with the costs of shutting down the economy? Living…

Murder hornets. The Great Toilet Paper Panic. And New York Magazine’s thought-provoking interview with NYU’s Scott Galloway on the coming disruption to higher education. All serve to mark the calamitous year of 2020. Just as…

Co-authored by Ellora Derenoncourt, a UC Berkeley assistant professor of economics and of public policy Workers in Flint, Michigan protest in favor of a $15 minimum wage. (Jake May/The Flint Journal via AP) After a…

The divvying up of the “wealth pie” portrays a picture of profound inequality. In 2019, the Top 1% held one-third of all wealth. The next 9% controlled another 38%. Together they make up the Top…

How should the huge financial costs of the pandemic be paid for, as well as the other deferred needs of society after this annus horribilis? Politicians rarely want to raise taxes on the rich. Joe…

Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid relief proposal. Ten Senate Republicans have proposed a COVID relief bill of about $600 billion. That’s less than a third of Biden’s plan. They promise “bipartisan support” if he agrees. Their…

While most of official Washington has been focused on the Senate impeachment trial, another part of Washington is preparing the most far-ranging changes in American social policy in a generation. Congress is moving ahead with…