KRC
THE STATE OF WORKING PENNSYLVANIA 2008
National Slowdown Triggered by Falling Housing Prices Cools PA Economy
Even Before Slowdown, Stagnant Wages for Most Workers and Surging Incomes for Very Rich Marked 2001-2007 Expansion
The year-old national economic crisis triggered by rising mortgage foreclosures, falling home prices, and severely stressed financial institutions has already damaged the economy here in Pennsylvania, according to The State of Working Pennsylvania 2008.
KRC research at work
Pennsylvania Awarded Funding as Part of
Major New National Workforce Initiative
Commonwealth and group of 10 foundations and United Ways to receive $500,000 for efforts on behalf of employers and workers
The Pennsylvania Fund for Workforce Solutions, or PFWS, a partnership between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and 10 Pennsylvania philanthropic organizations has been awarded grants totaling $500,000 from the National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS), a new initiative devoted to creating opportunities for lower-skilled workers while simultaneously increasing economic competitiveness. KRC is the non-profit technical assistance partner of the Commonwealth and Pennsylvania philanthropic organizations on the PFWS project.
Housing Prices in PA
In PA, Home Prices Falling Plus Unemployment Rising Could Equal Further Foreclosures
Freddie Mac, State Figures Support Notion that More Housing Woes May Be on Horizon for Commonwealth
Recent trends in housing prices in Pennsylvania suggest that larger declines lie ahead, researchers at the Keystone Research Center in Harrisburg said today. And, they added, those price declines, coupled with rising unemployment in the state, raise the risk of additional mortgage delinquencies and home foreclosures in Pennsylvania.
RECENT Research
Union Membership Increases Pay of Typical Pennsylvania Worker by 10 Percent
Union membership raises the wages of the typical Pennsylvania worker—the earner right in the middle of the pay scale—by 10.2 percent, according to a new report released jointly by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) in Washington, DC, and the Keystone Research Center in Harrisburg.
Inequality Continues to Grow
Income Inequality Grew in Pennsylvania and Most States Over Past Two Decades
Middle- and Low-Income Families Have Made Few Gains since the Late 1990s, and Things Could Get Worse, Economist Says
Senators Clinton, Obama, and McCain need to show that they recognize the problem of growing economic inequality. They also need to offer solutions powerful enough to reverse current trends and to create a 21st century economy in which a rising tide once again lifts all boats.
The scale of the inequality problem in America is approaching that of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Are these candidates offering solutions on the scale of the New Deal?
Stephen Herzenberg
KRC executive director
The income gap between the richest and poorest families, and between rich and middle-income families, grew significantly in most states, including Pennsylvania, over the past two decades, according to a study released today by the Keystone Research Center in Harrisburg and KRC’s national partners, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute.
Since the late 1990s, the report shows, the average income of the poorest fifth of Pennsylvania families decreased by $1,281, from $20,241 to $18,960. Over the same period, the average incomes of the middle fifth and the richest fifth of families were unchanged. The only income group to experience substantial income gains since the late 1990s was the richest 5% of families, who saw their incomes increase by $25,674, from 190,541 to $216,216.
New ResearcH
African-American Pay Boosted by Union Membership
A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research analyzing data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS), found that unionization raises the pay of African-American workers by about $2.00 per hour. According to the report, black workers in unions are also 16 percentage points more likely to have employer-provided health insurance and 19 percentage points more likely to have an employer-provided pension plan than black workers who are not in unions.
PA HOUSING MARKET
Housing Market Woes Endanger PA Economy, Keystone Research Finds
Bursting Housing Bubble, Rising Foreclosures, and Credit Squeeze Could Mean Hard Times for Many Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg, January 31—The first detailed study of the housing market in Pennsylvania and its major economic has been released by KRC.
The study, A Building Storm: The Housing Market and the Pennsylvania Economy, shows that while the Commonwealth has escaped some of the huge housing-related troubles that have struck neighboring states, Pennsylvania residents should not be lured into a false sense of security.
RURAL PA ISSUES
Stephen Herzenberg on WKOK's Leaders and Lawmakers
Stephen Herzenberg, KRC's executive director, recently visited Sunbury to appear on WKOK radio's Leaders and Lawmakers program. The interview covered a number of topics related to KRC's State of Rural Pennsylvania report, including the new economic development strategies rural areas must adopt if they are to compete in the global economy.
New Unions
Pennsylvania Enters New Era in Labor Relations with Formation of Child Care Union
It is actually a triple victory. It’s a win for the children and families that depend on quality early childhood education, which will now get a better shot at the resources necessary to keep high quality providers in the field. It’s a win for family providers, who’ll have a united voice for family sustaining pay and benefits. And it’s a win for all of Pennsylvania because research shows that each dollar invested in high-quality early childhood education returns as much as $10 back long term.
Stephen Herzenberg
In an historic vote on October 31st, Pennsylvania home-based child care providers voted to become members of the Child Care Providers United union, CCPUNITED, by a majority of 97%.
The campaign to form a union of Pennsylvania home-based child-care providers caps a decades-long effort by a coalition of teachers, aides, and new unionists. These champions of child-care unionism believe that unionizing workers in a way that fits the field of early childhood education will mean better education for kids as well as better jobs and careers for educators.
The new child-care union brings together licensed home-based providers dispersed across thousands of homes statewide into a single union, and is the kind of union KRC has argued is essential to restoring broadly shared prosperity.
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PolICY WATCH
KRC Policy Watch reports are quick data-based takes on public policy issues under debate in the General Assembly.
RECENT press releases
National Slowdown Triggered by Falling Housing Prices Cools PA Economy
Pennsylvania Awarded Funding as Part of
Major New National Workforce Initiative
Housing Market Woes Endanger PA Economy, KRC Finds
Modest Job Growth, But Rise in Unemployment Mark Report
Pennsylvania Gets "C" Grade for Economic Development Disclosure Information Online
Restoring Middle Class Depends On Investing In The Future Says New Economic Agenda
For earlier press releases, visit the Media Center.
KRC OP-EDS
Voters Need Reason to Base Vote on Economy: Economic Plans Often Leave Out Real World published in the Harrisburg Patriot-News
PA Needs Long-Term Economic Road Map published in the Scranton Times-Tribune
For earlier op-eds, visit the Media Center.
KRC RSS
You can keep up-to-date on KRC press releases and events without the hassle of email via one or more KRC RSS feeds.
OTHER KRC WEB SITES
The Keystone Research Center maintains a number of web sites on a variety of economic and policy issues, including:
www.stateofworkingpa.com
www.earlychildhoodworkforce.com
www.keystoneresearchmap.org
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center
KRC is the home of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC), a nonpartisan, statewide policy research project that provides independent, credible analysis on state tax, budget, and related policy matters, with attention to the impact of current or proposed policies on working families.
KRC IS A MEMBER OF EARN
EARN is the Economic Analysis and Research Network, an association of of state and regional multi-issue research, policy, and advocacy organizations. The network currently includes 54 organizations in 39 states. EARN is coordinated by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and works with a broad range of other national organizations.