Policy Analyst The Economic Policy Institute is seeking to hire an economic policy analyst to work on a variety of high-profile, policy-related projects, with a focus on federal fiscal policy. The policy analyst will conduct economic analyses and help to develop policies to promote economic growth and opportunity, especially through strategic public investments. A successful candidate will combine strong research, quantitative, and analytic skills with strong writing and communication skills. Responsibilities of the job include collection and analysis of data, synthesis of economic research, and the analysis and development of policy proposals. The analyst will work closely with EPI's researchers and partners to develop and promote a progressive policy agenda. The policy analyst will report to EPI's research and policy director. Minimum qualifications include a Bachelors degree in economics, public policy, or a related field; and at least 2 years experience as a research assistant, policy analyst, or in a similar position. An advanced degree, additional policy experience, and/or in-depth expertise in federal economic policy are a plus. Pay commensurate with experience and established pay scales, with an excellent benefit package. The Economic Policy Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy. The Research and Policy department conducts research on labor markets, education, international trade, race and ethnicity, and fiscal policy. The Economic Policy Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To apply send cover letter, resume, and writing sample via email to: researchjob@epi.org. They can also be mailed to Research Dept, Economic Policy Institute (Suite 300 East), 1333 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005 or faxed to: 202-775-0819. Please send inquiries to above email address. No phone calls please.]]> http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_05_employment_oppo.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_05_employment_oppo.php Sun, 04 May 2008 22:54:08 -0500 a preview of the link to a new paper due out today...

A Feeble Recovery: The fundamental economic weaknesses of the 2001-07 expansion

Evidence is mounting that the U.S. economy is in a recession. If this is the case, a complete business cycle from 2001 through the end of 2007 (or perhaps the start of 2008) is now on the books, and the economic performance of the current decade can be held up in comparison to that of past business cycles. By almost all measures, the most recent expansion was the worst since WWII.

Gas-tax holiday among McCain's plans for economy Dems say cuts 'will bankrupt our government' By Kathy Kiely USA TODAY PITTSBURGH -- Presidential candidate John McCain on Tuesday proposed sweeping tax cuts to jump-start the economy, including a summer-long gas-tax holiday starting Memorial Day. [...] One concern: the possible impact of a tax moratorium on the federal highway trust fund, which is supported by the 18.4-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline. The American Road & Transportation Builders Association estimates that the gas-tax holiday could blow a $9 billion hole in the highway construction budget and threaten 310,000 jobs. A USA TODAY analysis showed that McCain's gas-tax proposal could save motorists $6.8 billion in taxes during the summer. Len Burman of the non-partisan Urban Institute said the money won't necessarily go back to consumers. Refineries already are running high to meet summertime gasoline needs, Burman said, so if demand for gas increases, so will prices. He said that means "a huge windfall for refiners," not consumers.]]> http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_im_with_len.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_im_with_len.php Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:14:39 -0500 Was on CNN today talking about what you should do with your stimulus check... some thoughts... DO! Go out to dinner. And make it a restaurant that serves locally-grown food. Your rebate will boost the need for waiters, cooks, and other employees. Your money will then be recycled directly back into the economy. DON'T! Go see a movie. Adding one more ticket sale will not result in many more employees or more movies being made in the short run. It will add to the box-office take, and perhaps lead to more movies down the road, but that's years from now. DO! Home Repair Been putting off fixing that leaky faucet, sweeping the chimney, or replacing that inefficient AC? By doing those repairs now, you will keep repairmen, construction workers, and other trades people working and recycle those dollars back into the economy. DON'T! Stock up on essentials You may boost the economy this month, but you'll reduce demand next month as you work thorough your supplies. DO! Be a tourist in your own town Go to the local museum, mini-golf course, local restaurants, and get a massage. DON'T! Buy a ticket to Rome or go on a road trip. With the dollar at record lows, fuel prices at record highs, it's better to spend money close to home than to spend it abroad or on gas. DO! Drink a micro-brew or Bud. DON'T! Drink wine from abroad. http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_your_economy_ne.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_your_economy_ne.php Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:02:30 -0500 EPI's Agenda for Shared Prosperity

Investing in U.S. Infrastructure April 29, 2008 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM An Agenda for Shared Prosperity forum Tuesday, April 29, 2008 9:30 AM-Noon EPI, 1333 H Street, NW; East Tower, Suite 300, Washington, DC [See below to RSVP] In a time of economic weakness, public investments in our nation's infrastructure can provide short-term stimulus while also building the foundation for long-term economic growth. The Economic Policy Institute will sponsor a timely forum on Investing in U.S. Infrastructure to address critically needed federal investments in infrastructure, including transportation, school buildings, and information networks. Please join the Economic Policy Institute's Agenda for Shared Prosperity and Gov. Edward Rendell and others for a lively discussion of policy strategies to invest in physical infrastructure. Registration & Breakfast 9:30-10:00 AM Keynote & Discussion 10:00-10:30 AM]]> http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_event_tomorrow.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_event_tomorrow.php Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:00:51 -0500 A minor redesign is in the works. The banner ads posed a problem with the old layout... http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_minor_redesign.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_minor_redesign.php Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:03:08 -0500 Corporate tax declines and U.S. inequality

Over the last 60 years, the U.S. tax code has dramatically shifted away from corporate taxes and toward taxes on individuals, especially through the payroll tax, the financing backbone of Social Security and Medicare. In the 1950s, the corporate income tax brought in, on average, one of every four dollars in federal tax revenues. By the 2000s, however, it raised just one of every 10 tax dollars. The shrinking share of corporate taxes was made up by an increase in payroll taxes to fund social insurance and retirement programs. Excise and other taxes--such as fuel taxes, phone taxes, etc.--shrank as well over the last 60 years, while the individual federal income tax rose slightly, from an average of 43% of total federal revenue in the 1950s to 46% in the 2000s (see chart).]]> http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_corporate_tax_d.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_corporate_tax_d.php Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:18:28 -0500 The Check Is in the Mail

OK, I admit it. I like doing my taxes. This annual ritual gives me the chance to sit down and reflect on the financial year that just passed and to think about my family's financial future. Tax time reminds me to spend a bit less and put a bit more into savings. Filing your taxes is also one of the few common experiences that virtually all Americans share, and complaining about tax day and the IRS -- in a somewhat perverse way -- brings all of us closer together.]]> http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_the_check_is_in_1.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_the_check_is_in_1.php Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:17:12 -0500 said this before... the use of private debt collectors is a bad idea...

Collectors Cost IRS More Than They Raise - washingtonpost.com

The Internal Revenue Service expects to lose more than $37 million by using private debt collectors to pursue tax scofflaws through a program that has outraged consumers and led to charges on Capitol Hill that the agency is wasting money for work that IRS agents could do more effectively. Since 2006, the agency has used three companies to go after a $1 billion slice of the nation's unpaid taxes. Despite aggressive collection tactics, the companies have rounded up only $49 million, little more than half of what it has cost the IRS to implement the program. The debt collectors have pocketed commissions of up to 24 percent.

Forbes.com to Launch Business and Finance Blog Network 03.24.08, 9:37 AM ET Today Forbes.com, home page for the world's business leaders, announced the creation of a Business and Finance Blog Network, comprised of a community of pre-screened, influential business and financial blogs. The Blog Network's content will focus on senior business decision makers and high-net-worth investors. Topics will be relevant to the banking, trading, hedge fund management, affluent investing, and senior business decision-making communities. Participation in the network is by invitation only, and all blogs are vetted by Forbes.com editors for appropriate content, and to ensure that they are in keeping with the Forbes editorial brand. The network will allow advertisers to target a highly engaged, exclusive niche audience of senior business decision makers and affluent investors easily and effectively. Four hundred-plus blogs have already joined the network, with many more expected to sign on before the official launch in the next few weeks. ]]> http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_new_banners.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_04_new_banners.php Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:11:19 -0500 Pew report is just because of the recession. The latest recovery (since 2001) seems to be one of the worst, and maybe the worst, of the post WWII era.

Middle class grow fearful about their prospects - Stocks & economy- msnbc.com

The survey by the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based research organization, paints a mixed picture for the 53 percent of adults in the country who define themselves as "middle class," with household incomes ranging from below $40,000 to more than $100,000. It found that a majority of Americans said they have not progressed in the past five years. One in four, or 25 percent, said their economic situation had not improved, while 31 percent said they had fallen backward. Those numbers together are the highest since the survey question was first asked in 1964. Among the middle class, 54 percent said they had made no progress (26 percent) or fallen back (28 percent).

Both warned of a national credit crisis and advanced proposals to amend bankruptcy laws to aid those facing housing foreclosure. Each endorsed Democratic legislation -- sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts -- to create a housing security program in the Federal Housing Administration that would provide incentives to refinance mortgages carrying onerously high interest rates. "They are very close; they are pointing to very similar proposals," said John Irons, research and policy director for the Economic Policy Institute, a labor-oriented research center. "There are minor differences, but when you compare their proposals with McCain, that's night and day. The Democrats are more like noon and 12:30."]]> http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_03_obama_casts_wid.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_03_obama_casts_wid.php Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:26:05 -0500 Cap and Lease Carbon

by John Irons Global warming is fast becoming a reality. Unless significant action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we can expect irreversible environmental and economic damage. While there is little serious debate on the need to reduce emissions-especially of carbon dioxide-there is a substantial debate on how to reduce these emissions. In theory, either a direct quantity restriction (cap-and-trade) or a price mechanism (tax) could be used to reduce production of carbon dioxide. But there is a policy stalemate on which is better.]]> http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_03_live_at_democra.php http://www.argmax.com/mt_blog/archive/2008_03_live_at_democra.php Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:13:34 -0500 budget debate yesterday. Both Democrats and McCain supported extending reductions for low-income taxpayers, families with kids, and married couples. Only McCain supported extending the other tax cuts that primarily benefit high-income individuals. From Reuters:

All three senators, including McCain, voted for a Democratic proposal to permanently extend a 10 percent tax rate, mostly for low-income earners, along with a child tax credit and marriage penalty relief. All were all set to expire in 2010. A Republican amendment that would have extended the remaining Bush tax cuts was defeated. McCain voted for it, while Obama and Clinton opposed it.

"He made a decision to reverse himself on that, that was how I guess you got your ticket punched to be the Republican nominee," Obama told reporters. "But he was right then and he's wrong now." McCain responded he looked forward to a potential debate on taxes with Obama during a general election campaign. "Senator Obama has stated very clearly his desire to increase Americans' taxes. That'll be one of the great debates we have if he is the nominee of his party," McCain told reporters.