
Better Wages and Working Conditions: The Workers Will Come
While many things taught in introductory economics courses are nonsense, it seems to be true that higher wages will attract more workers.



Short Staffing
Deliberately hiring too few people—always one of employers’ favorite methods of work intensification—is reaching new extremes.
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Medicaid Kayfabe: Fake Wrestling
The features of the bill that are likely to help ordinary people were catchy and easy to understand—reduced taxes on tips and overtime pay and a higher standard deduction for the elderly on income taxes. Yet these projected revenue losses are tiny compared to those incurred by the super rich.

Some Elements of a Progressive International Trade Policy
There are other ways to organize U.S. international trade. The neoliberal free trade of recent decades and the trade restrictions of Trumpian tariffs are not the only options.
No Matter How You Look at It, the Big Beautiful Bill is a Monstrosity
Here are three views of the bill's horrific distributional consequences.

What’s Different About Today’s Government Deficit and Debt?
As of today, the U.S. government’s current deficit and debt are indeed currently at unprecedented levels for peacetime—once we account for them appropriately.

No Tax on Tips
Even the stand-alone No Tax on Tips Act would do far too little to better the lot of low-income workers, even tipped workers.

The Stealthy Strategy to Strangle Medicaid
Republicans want to make it even harder for low-income people to get health care.

Jobs in Turbulent Times
Monthly jobs report from the National Jobs for All Network (May 2025 and April Too)