Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer

University of Washington Professor Jeffrey Shulman joins to discuss the 2024 tech layoffs, AI impact on society, and challenges in balancing efficiency with labor standards in the tech industry.

Journalist Nick Romeo discusses his book 'The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy' on restructuring the economy towards fairness. Topics include worker cooperatives, public-option marketplaces, job guarantee programs, challenges of monopolies like Amazon, policy interventions for a just economy, and alternatives to neoliberalism for sustainability.

Ethics professor Ingrid Robeyns challenges extreme wealth accumulation, advocating for a wealth cap. They discuss the moral and practical implications, promoting middle-out economics and addressing societal impacts of extreme wealth.

Heather Boushey, member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, joins Nick in a live discussion on policy initiatives by the Biden administration prioritizing working families. They discuss middle-out economics, the paradigm shift in economic cause and effect, reshaping economic narratives, advocating for workers' rights, and the importance of grassroots storytelling.

Terri Gerstein, Director of the Labor Initiative at NYU, discusses the chilling truth behind wage theft, its impact on hardworking Americans, and the need for stronger enforcement. They explore prosecuting corporations, challenges in holding individuals accountable, and the alarming prevalence of wage theft in various industries. The episode highlights the vital role of legal intervention in combating worker exploitation and advocating for fair wages.

Preston Mui, Senior Economist at Employ America, recently authored a report titled "The Dream of the 90s is Alive in 2024: How Policy Can Revive Productivity Growth." The report offers a blueprint for policymakers seeking to emulate the successes of an unparalleled period of productivity in the United States. Mui joins us to examine and reflect on the policy decisions which drove the strong productivity growth of the 1990s, and he also identifies dynamic new strategies for revitalizing American production in the present. Preston Mui is a Senior Economist at Employ America, a macroeconomic policy research and advocacy organization committed to achieving and sustaining full employment outcomes.Twitter: @PrestonMuiThree Motivations for Interest Rate Normalization: A Playbook for Fed Policy in 2024The Dream of the 90's is Alive in 2024: How Policy Can Revive Productivity GrowthPreston Mui's thread on the “Dream of the 90's” series and report by Employ America Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.comTwitter: @PitchforkEconInstagram: @pitchforkeconomicsNick’s twitter: @NickHanauer

Today, Arin Dube, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, joins us to discuss his latest research, which suggests that the American labor market is undergoing a remarkable transformation. The widespread wage inequality that rapidly expanded between 1980 and 2019 is finally reversing, and American paychecks are growing again—especially at the bottom end of the income scale. In this enlightening conversation, Dube explains how and why the labor market has changed, how that's affecting wages, and how it all contributes to a virtual cycle of middle-out economic growth.Arin Dube is a Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, well-known for his expertise in labor economics and public policy and his groundbreaking empirical research on minimum wage. His work often involves empirical analysis and utilizes large-scale datasets to provide evidence-based insights into the effects of various policy interventions. Dube's research has been widely recognized and cited, contributing to the ongoing discussions among policymakers and economists around labor market dynamics and policy design.Twitter: @arindubeThe Unexpected Compression thread https://twitter.com/arindube/status/1724147807563477440 NBER Working Paper https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w31010/w31010.pdf Website: http://pitchforkeconomics.comTwitter: @PitchforkEconInstagram: @pitchforkeconomicsNick’s twitter: @NickHanauer

Analyzing the true impact of Trump's tax plan on the economy, revealing how the wealthiest individuals and corporations were the primary beneficiaries, while most Americans saw no economic benefit. Discussion on the need for progressive tax policies and congressional action to address wealth inequality and failed promises of tax cuts. Exploring potential tax reforms in 2025 and debunking the myth of self-paying tax cuts.

Exploring the evolution of middle-out economics from a new theory to mainstream practice, with insights from economists, researchers, and former officials. Discussing the impact of middle-out economics on economic growth, antitrust enforcement, public satisfaction, infrastructure investments, workers' rights, and advocating for a more equitable economic approach.

Labor economist Aaron Sojourner discusses why Americans are dissatisfied with the strong economy, exploring the impact of news coverage on consumer sentiment and the disconnect between economic indicators and public perception. The conversation delves into the influence of social media, media coverage shaping perceptions, and the complexities of interpreting economic sentiments.