higher wages

Ford School economist Betsey Stevenson’s analysis of the volatile U.S. economy is in high demand.  When the June jobs numbers were released at the beginning of July, Stevenson was quoted in the Associated Press. AP reported, “Friday’s jobs...

The average amount the Tooth Fairy gives children has jumped by 16%, to $6.23. Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, discussed the economics behind the rise.  "The children of America are getting what their parents are not:...

Betsey Stevenson, CNN: "I think what you're hearing is central banks want to make sure that we're not seeing wage increases drive further inflation because then your wage increases aren't going to do you any good—it's just going to be used to pay...

Despite low unemployment and rising wages, inflation is causing President Biden to struggle with low approval ratings. Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, discussed how he would frame the economy to raise approval...

The labor market is still booming, according to the latest jobs report. Justin Wolfers and Betsey Stevenson, both professors of public policy and economics, broke down what the jobs report means for Americans. "I do think it more likely that the...

Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics, recently talked to Al Jazeera about the Great Resignation – the phenomenon of millions of Americans voluntarily leaving their jobs. She explained what's going on behind the...

Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics, sat down with Marketplace to discuss the state of the economy.  “People have a harder time putting rising prices in the context of the broader economy,” she said. “(But) when a company...

This week, Betsey Stevenson spoke with Yahoo! Finance on the state of the labor market and Marketplace about rising inflation. In a lengthy interview with Yahoo! Finance, Stevenson noted that “If we filled every single job opening that's out...

With his opinion article in The Atlantic, Josh Hausman, associate professor of public policy and economics, suggests high inflation rates may last for years. He describes the reasons behind inflation—including a consumer shift from services to...

Writing in The New York Times, Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers shared their views on what the future of work looks like in 2022—an economic upheaval they call "The Great Reallocation"—which just may lead to a more humane labor market. They...

Following the release of the November jobs report, Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, broke down what it means in an op-ed in The New York Times.  "This chill in employment might lead one to conclude the economy’s too cold,...

Betsy Stevenson offered insights on the labor market and the road to post-pandemic recovery.  Talking about cash assistance programs during the pandemic with Slate, Stevenson said, “We made people better off by giving them money, and I know...

Betsy Stevenson weighed in on labor market recovery, the job market, the tampon tax, and more.  On labor market recovery While most of the United States seems to be recovering from the worst parts of the pandemic, the job crisis it caused is...

Betsy Stevenson observed key economic indicators and the continuing effects of COVID-19 this week.  At Wednesday’s CNBC Workforce Executive Council Summit, she said, “People seem to be fed up and leaving work...There are a lot of different things...

Change is inevitable when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising infection rates have caused an otherwise recovering economy to slow, and Betsey Stevenson predicts there may be more change ahead. “I think we are going to see some of the great...

As the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for low-wage labor has spiked, and along with it, wages. Betsey Stevenson, professor of public policy and economics, laid out exactly what is happening in the economy. “What’s happening...

“Much of the gain of economic growth over recent decades has gone to capital rather than labor, and to the highly paid, rather than a broader group of workers,” Wolfers said. “A strong economy — and worker shortages — could help rebalance somewhat,...