Dave Cooper
@metacoop.bsky.social
State and local policy wonk at the Economic Policy Institute (@epi.org). Director of the Economic Analysis and Research Network (@EARN.us). Posts my own.
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Hey folks, I've got a new report out about how declining enrollment (often driven by intentional policies) is making life harder across North Carolina's schools. Please give it a read and let me know what you think:
#ncpol #EduSky
#ncpol #EduSky
Navigating Declining Enrollment – North Carolina Justice Center
Navigating Declining Enrollment How smarter state policies can help schools thrive Download PDF Report Declining student enrollment poses unique challenges for school districts. …
www.ncjustice.org
September 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Dave Cooper
USDA quietly said Friday it will, after a century, end the Farm Labor Survey (FLS), the only wage survey of ag employers.
FLS is a critical input to setting local minimum wages for H-2A visa workers to try to avoid harm to U.S. workers' wages.
#LaborDay #EconSky
www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
FLS is a critical input to setting local minimum wages for H-2A visa workers to try to avoid harm to U.S. workers' wages.
#LaborDay #EconSky
www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
August 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
USDA quietly said Friday it will, after a century, end the Farm Labor Survey (FLS), the only wage survey of ag employers.
FLS is a critical input to setting local minimum wages for H-2A visa workers to try to avoid harm to U.S. workers' wages.
#LaborDay #EconSky
www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
FLS is a critical input to setting local minimum wages for H-2A visa workers to try to avoid harm to U.S. workers' wages.
#LaborDay #EconSky
www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/Not...
How an administration that is actively trying to undermine unions and harm workers every way they possibly can chooses to celebrate Labor Day: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/u...
Trump Moves to Strip More Federal Workers of Union Protections
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:39 PM
How an administration that is actively trying to undermine unions and harm workers every way they possibly can chooses to celebrate Labor Day: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/u...
Reposted by Dave Cooper
an interesting statistical deep dive: jedkolko.substack.com/p/no-native-...
No, Native-Born Employment Has Not Soared
A newly viral chart showing native-born employment levels is a multiple-count data felony. Focus instead on the native-born unemployment rate.
jedkolko.substack.com
August 18, 2025 at 12:21 PM
an interesting statistical deep dive: jedkolko.substack.com/p/no-native-...
When Trump and friends started pushing no tax on tips, this is what they wanted to achieve: keystonenewsroom.com/2025/08/12/p...
PA Turnpike rest stop workers have tips replace full wages
Corporation Applegreen wants travelers along the Pennsylvania Turnpike to pay the burden of wages it cut for rest stop employees.
keystonenewsroom.com
August 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
When Trump and friends started pushing no tax on tips, this is what they wanted to achieve: keystonenewsroom.com/2025/08/12/p...
As a 20+ year resident of DC, I can assert without reservation that the city is a safe and generally wonderful place to live...except for the lack of full constitutional rights.
August 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
As a 20+ year resident of DC, I can assert without reservation that the city is a safe and generally wonderful place to live...except for the lack of full constitutional rights.
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Ahead of the job numbers coming out next month, folks to follow for RELIABLE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION include:
@elisegould.bsky.social
@aaronsojourner.org
@gbenga-ajilore.bsky.social
Jessica Fulton (who isn't on here, but someone to follow)
@epi.org if you want a breakdown by race and gender
@elisegould.bsky.social
@aaronsojourner.org
@gbenga-ajilore.bsky.social
Jessica Fulton (who isn't on here, but someone to follow)
@epi.org if you want a breakdown by race and gender
August 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Ahead of the job numbers coming out next month, folks to follow for RELIABLE AND ACCURATE INFORMATION include:
@elisegould.bsky.social
@aaronsojourner.org
@gbenga-ajilore.bsky.social
Jessica Fulton (who isn't on here, but someone to follow)
@epi.org if you want a breakdown by race and gender
@elisegould.bsky.social
@aaronsojourner.org
@gbenga-ajilore.bsky.social
Jessica Fulton (who isn't on here, but someone to follow)
@epi.org if you want a breakdown by race and gender
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Remember how the tariffs were supposed to help manufacturers?
U.S. manufacturing contracted for a fifth straight month in July and factory employment dropped to the lowest level in five years amid tariffs that have raised prices of imported raw materials.
US manufacturing extends slump; factory employment lowest in 5 years
U.S. manufacturing contracted for a fifth straight month in July and factory employment dropped to the lowest level in five years amid tariffs that have raised prices of imported raw materials.
www.reuters.com
August 6, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Remember how the tariffs were supposed to help manufacturers?
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Probably unreasonable to expect the Post editorial board to stay on top of economic research but there are three studies of California's fast food minimum wage (not just the one they preferred to highlight)
The average estimate across studies suggests the policy had essentially no employment effect
The average estimate across studies suggests the policy had essentially no employment effect
Opinion | Data from Calif. and D.C. shows how minimum wage hikes can hurt
Recent experience underscores the perils of raising minimum wage above what the market can bear.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Probably unreasonable to expect the Post editorial board to stay on top of economic research but there are three studies of California's fast food minimum wage (not just the one they preferred to highlight)
The average estimate across studies suggests the policy had essentially no employment effect
The average estimate across studies suggests the policy had essentially no employment effect
Reposted by Dave Cooper
This is awful. Reliable economic data is a key strength of the US economy.
When Argentina and Greece faked economic data it contributed to major crises.
I don't think Trump will be able to fake the data given the procedures. But there is now a risk plus an awful appearance.
When Argentina and Greece faked economic data it contributed to major crises.
I don't think Trump will be able to fake the data given the procedures. But there is now a risk plus an awful appearance.
August 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This is awful. Reliable economic data is a key strength of the US economy.
When Argentina and Greece faked economic data it contributed to major crises.
I don't think Trump will be able to fake the data given the procedures. But there is now a risk plus an awful appearance.
When Argentina and Greece faked economic data it contributed to major crises.
I don't think Trump will be able to fake the data given the procedures. But there is now a risk plus an awful appearance.
Reposted by Dave Cooper
The funding increase for arrests, detentions, deportations will cause widespread harm to the labor market and destroy millions of jobs held by immigrant and US-born workers
www.epi.org/blog/the-rep...
www.epi.org/blog/the-rep...
July 1, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The funding increase for arrests, detentions, deportations will cause widespread harm to the labor market and destroy millions of jobs held by immigrant and US-born workers
www.epi.org/blog/the-rep...
www.epi.org/blog/the-rep...
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Now that Congress has passed the Republican spending bill, "[if] Trump succeeds in carrying out his deportation goals...5.9 million workers will lose their jobs over the next 4 years"--3.3 million immigrants and 2.6 million US-born workers.
[email protected] @epi.org
www.epi.org/blog/the-rep...
[email protected] @epi.org
www.epi.org/blog/the-rep...
July 1, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Now that Congress has passed the Republican spending bill, "[if] Trump succeeds in carrying out his deportation goals...5.9 million workers will lose their jobs over the next 4 years"--3.3 million immigrants and 2.6 million US-born workers.
[email protected] @epi.org
www.epi.org/blog/the-rep...
[email protected] @epi.org
www.epi.org/blog/the-rep...
Reposted by Dave Cooper
As Congress debates no tax on tips, important to recognize just how unserious an effort to help working people it is. Raising the federal minimum wage would deliver nearly 18x as much income to workers. www.epi.org/blog/increas...
June 12, 2025 at 1:36 PM
As Congress debates no tax on tips, important to recognize just how unserious an effort to help working people it is. Raising the federal minimum wage would deliver nearly 18x as much income to workers. www.epi.org/blog/increas...
Reposted by Dave Cooper
NEW analysis by the Congressional Budget Office shows the "One Big Beautiful Bill"
1.) Makes the bottom 30% worse off
2.) Finances tax cuts that make the top 10% in particular better off.
This is not shared sacrifice--it's a fiscal transfer from the bottom to the top
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
1.) Makes the bottom 30% worse off
2.) Finances tax cuts that make the top 10% in particular better off.
This is not shared sacrifice--it's a fiscal transfer from the bottom to the top
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
June 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM
NEW analysis by the Congressional Budget Office shows the "One Big Beautiful Bill"
1.) Makes the bottom 30% worse off
2.) Finances tax cuts that make the top 10% in particular better off.
This is not shared sacrifice--it's a fiscal transfer from the bottom to the top
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
1.) Makes the bottom 30% worse off
2.) Finances tax cuts that make the top 10% in particular better off.
This is not shared sacrifice--it's a fiscal transfer from the bottom to the top
www.cbo.gov/system/files...
As Congress debates no tax on tips, important to recognize just how unserious an effort to help working people it is. Raising the federal minimum wage would deliver nearly 18x as much income to workers. www.epi.org/blog/increas...
June 12, 2025 at 1:36 PM
As Congress debates no tax on tips, important to recognize just how unserious an effort to help working people it is. Raising the federal minimum wage would deliver nearly 18x as much income to workers. www.epi.org/blog/increas...
Reposted by Dave Cooper
The craziest thing about this fight between Trump and Elon Musk is that Republicans are trying to take away health care from 16 million people to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
June 5, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The craziest thing about this fight between Trump and Elon Musk is that Republicans are trying to take away health care from 16 million people to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.
Reposted by Dave Cooper
In DC an average of $44k will go to the top 1% (those w/inc over ~$1.3m) while the bottom 20% (inc under $26k) get $90 (until the tax cuts for lower inc folks expire). Paid for in part by the biggest ever cuts to health coverage and food assistance. Some serious reverse Robin Hood 💩.
The House of Reps just passed major tax legislation that would make the rich richer, & they're paying for it by slashing programs for the working-class. @itep.org's analysis shows how much will go to the wealthy while so many Americans are struggling. itep.org/analysis-of-...
Analysis of Tax Provisions in the House Reconciliation Bill: National and State Level Estimates
The poorest fifth of Americans would receive 1 percent of the House reconciliation bill's net tax cuts in 2026 while the richest fifth of Americans would receive two-thirds of the tax cuts. The riches...
itep.org
May 24, 2025 at 12:53 AM
In DC an average of $44k will go to the top 1% (those w/inc over ~$1.3m) while the bottom 20% (inc under $26k) get $90 (until the tax cuts for lower inc folks expire). Paid for in part by the biggest ever cuts to health coverage and food assistance. Some serious reverse Robin Hood 💩.
Reposted by Dave Cooper
There's a lotta concern about the short run (ie recession or not) implications of Trump's agenda. Dani is right to point to the long run as far far more consequential.
Three things made the US a rich and powerful nation: the rule of law, its science & innovation system, and openness to foreign talent. Remarkable how Trump has taken a sledgehammer to all three. No enemy of this country could do more.
May 22, 2025 at 11:28 PM
There's a lotta concern about the short run (ie recession or not) implications of Trump's agenda. Dani is right to point to the long run as far far more consequential.
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Americans favor labor unions over big business now more than ever, analysis of new data @epi.org from me & Adam Reich of Columbia Labor Lab.
In data back 60 years, Americans' sentiments are both warmer toward unions & cooler towards big business than ever before.
www.epi.org/blog/america...
In data back 60 years, Americans' sentiments are both warmer toward unions & cooler towards big business than ever before.
www.epi.org/blog/america...
May 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Americans favor labor unions over big business now more than ever, analysis of new data @epi.org from me & Adam Reich of Columbia Labor Lab.
In data back 60 years, Americans' sentiments are both warmer toward unions & cooler towards big business than ever before.
www.epi.org/blog/america...
In data back 60 years, Americans' sentiments are both warmer toward unions & cooler towards big business than ever before.
www.epi.org/blog/america...
Reposted by Dave Cooper
🧵 (1/4) There are four fundamental flaws of the House tax bill.
#1 It is fiscally irresponsible; all reputable sources agree. Bond markets & downgrades show US financial fragility; this is a bad time to take on trillions in additional debt toward no useful policy rationale.
#1 It is fiscally irresponsible; all reputable sources agree. Bond markets & downgrades show US financial fragility; this is a bad time to take on trillions in additional debt toward no useful policy rationale.
May 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
🧵 (1/4) There are four fundamental flaws of the House tax bill.
#1 It is fiscally irresponsible; all reputable sources agree. Bond markets & downgrades show US financial fragility; this is a bad time to take on trillions in additional debt toward no useful policy rationale.
#1 It is fiscally irresponsible; all reputable sources agree. Bond markets & downgrades show US financial fragility; this is a bad time to take on trillions in additional debt toward no useful policy rationale.
Reposted by Dave Cooper
This reported SALT deal and accelerated Medicaid cuts would make the bill even more effective at transferring resources from low-income to high-income households.
May 21, 2025 at 1:53 AM
This reported SALT deal and accelerated Medicaid cuts would make the bill even more effective at transferring resources from low-income to high-income households.
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Official CBO analysis confirms the obvious: House Republican tax and budget bill isn't shared sacrifice.
It makes poor people poorer and rich people richer. It does this by cutting health care & nutrition to help finance tax cuts skewed to the wealthy.
www.cbo.gov/publication/...
It makes poor people poorer and rich people richer. It does this by cutting health care & nutrition to help finance tax cuts skewed to the wealthy.
www.cbo.gov/publication/...
May 21, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Official CBO analysis confirms the obvious: House Republican tax and budget bill isn't shared sacrifice.
It makes poor people poorer and rich people richer. It does this by cutting health care & nutrition to help finance tax cuts skewed to the wealthy.
www.cbo.gov/publication/...
It makes poor people poorer and rich people richer. It does this by cutting health care & nutrition to help finance tax cuts skewed to the wealthy.
www.cbo.gov/publication/...
Reposted by Dave Cooper
Shame on Gov. Polis for vetoing legislation to restore collective bargaining rights CO workers have been denied for 80 years under arcane anti-union state law.
@govofco.bsky.social vetoed SB5. But we're not backing down!
In 2026, we're bringing a "just cause" ballot initiative to protect Colorado workers from unjust termination by preventing employers from firing without a documented reason. #coleg
Statement: coloradoworker.org/wpa-veto
In 2026, we're bringing a "just cause" ballot initiative to protect Colorado workers from unjust termination by preventing employers from firing without a documented reason. #coleg
Statement: coloradoworker.org/wpa-veto
May 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Shame on Gov. Polis for vetoing legislation to restore collective bargaining rights CO workers have been denied for 80 years under arcane anti-union state law.