Economic Policy Commons^™

Late-Life Gender Disparities In Economic Security: Evidence From The 2022 Elder Index, Jan E. Mutchler, Nidya Velasco Roldán, Yan-Jhu Su

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

Estimates from the 2022 Elder Index illustrate the elevated risk of economic insecurity experienced by older women, especially those living alone. We use the Elder Index to calculate the percentage of older adults living in one- and two-person households with annual incomes that do not support economic security. National averages suggest that half of older women living alone, along with 42% of older men living alone, have annual incomes below the Elder Index. In addition, 21% of older couples have annual incomes below the Elder Index. Women in same-sex couples experience greater levels of disadvantage than men in same-sex couples …

Living Below The Line: Economic Insecurity And Older Americans, Insecurity In Massachusetts, 2022, Jan Mutchler, Nidya Velasco Roldán, Yan-Jhu Su

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

New estimates from the 2022 Elder Index^TM reveal that the cost of living in Massachusetts has increased substantially in recent years for older adults, especially for renters. The Elder Index measures the necessary costs faced by households made up of one or two older adults, calculated county by county for the entire United States. Estimated costs are higher in Massachusetts than in any other state in the nation. Within the Commonwealth, the Elder Index is lowest in Western Massachusetts, and highest in Metro Boston, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, with differences in the Elder Index across locations accounted for largely …

¡Avancemos Ya!: Persistent Economic Challenges And Opportunities Facing Latinos In Massachusetts, Trevor Mattos, Phillip Granberry, Vishakha Agarwal

Gastón Institute Publications

Massachusetts is among the wealthiest states in the country, yet Latino communities here have struggled economically relative to Latinos nationwide. There have been some bright spots—poverty rates have decreased and Latinos now have higher rates of entrepreneurship, education and labor force participation than in years past. Still, a disproportionate share of the more than 800,000 Latinos in Massachusetts today contend with food insecurity and have low rates of intergenerational economic mobility.

Aging In The 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas: How Do Older Adults Fare?, Jan Mutchler, Yang Li

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

New estimates from the 2020 Elder Index show that living expenses are high in metropolitan areas across the U.S., and many older singles and couples lack the resources needed to get by in their communities. Focusing on the 100 largest metropolitan areas, we compare the 2020 Elder Index to household incomes among adults aged 65 years or older living in one- and two-person households. Based on this comparison, we find that in each of the 100 largest metro areas, at least 37% of older singles are at risk of being unable to afford basic needs and age in their own …

Latinx Population Hit Hard In The Covid-19 Recession: Mounting Hardships And One Big Idea For An Inclusive Recovery, Trevor Mattos, Bansari Kamdar, Phillip Granberry, Fabián Torres-Ardila

Gastón Institute Publications

Back before the COVID-19 crisis hit and the economy was relatively strong in the aggregate, Massachusetts’ Latinx population—a diverse and growing community that makes valuable economic and cultural contributions—had the lowest incomes and lowest homeownership rate among racial/ethnic groups in Massachusetts. Latinx working-age adults tended to have lower levels of educational attainment and were more likely to have limited English language proficiency. These, in part, contributed to higher levels of unemployment and food insecurity before the pandemic. Then the COVID crisis hit in March of 2020, serving to compound many of these pre-existing challenges, as Latinx workers were more likely …

Footing The Bill: An Empirical Look At The Correlation Between Campaign Contributions And Councilor Votes On Split Tax Rates In Massachusetts, Tristan Laliberte

Masters Theses

The current literature regarding the relationship between campaign contributions and roll call voting by elected officials has primarily focused on the congressional level. This study begins to fill the holes in this topic by utilizing city councilor contributions from likely business owners and their stance on tax classification in their respective communities. In this study, I examine contribution data from municipal officials in fourteen communities in Massachusetts as well as the expressed opinions made by city councilors in the 2018 tax classification hearings in order to test the theories that (1) there is a correlation between the actions of political …

Living Below The Line: Economic Insecurity And Older Americans, Insecurity In Massachusetts 2019, Jan Mutchler, Yang Li, Nidya Velasco Roldán

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

New estimates from the 2019 Elder Index^TM reveal that in Massachusetts, more than six out of ten older adults living alone, and three out of ten living in two-person households, cannot afford the basic necessities of life such as food, housing, and health care. The Gerontology Institute compares household incomes for adults age 65 and above living in one- and two-person households to the 2019 Elder Index for Massachusetts to calculate Elder Economic Insecurity Rates (EEIRs), the percentage of independent older adults age 65 or older living in households with annual incomes that do not support economic security. The …

Reference Guide: Identifying Policy Levers To Improve The Massachusetts System Of Public Supports For Low-Income Families, Jason Wright, Uchenna Nwangwu, Caitlin A. Carey, Susan Crandall

Center for Social Policy Publications

The goal of this reference guide is to provide background information on eligibility requirements for public assistance programs available to low-income families in the state of Massachusetts to demonstrate the inconsistencies and complexities that arise from those eligibility requirements. In order to better understand these complex systems, the policy levers are identified in the form of information about the associated legislation and government agencies for each public support program. This information can be used to develop more effective and efficient policies and better serve the needs of low-income families.

A Comprehensive Database Of Senior Centers In Massachusetts, Jan E. Mutchler, Ceara Somerville

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

This report was produced by the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA), a research unit within the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston, in partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging (MCOA).

The goal of this project is to develop and distribute a comprehensive database that will contribute to successfully meeting the shared goals of MCOA and EOEA. It will facilitate clearer explanations about what COAs do, supporting more effective advocacy efforts on the part of MCOA and stronger reporting by EOEA. It will be a resource for MCOA staff, helping member COAs identify relevant models …

The Massachusetts Paid Leave Program: What Workers Can Expect To Pay And Receive, Randy Albelda, Alan Clayton-Matthews

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

On June 28, 2018, Massachusetts became only the sixth state in the country to provide partial wage replacement to workers that need to leave work for a serious health condition, the birth of a child, to bond with a new child, or to care for a seriously ill family member. The new law is slated to be implemented in 2019 with payments while on leave to begin in 2021. This brief outlines the key elements of the new Massachusetts paid leave program and discusses the amounts workers at various wage levels will contribute and the level of benefits they will …

Paid Family And Medical Leave: Cost And Coverage Estimates Of Three Choices In Massachusetts, Policy Brief, Randy Albelda, Alan Clayton-Matthews

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

This policy brief explores the costs and coverage of three proposed paid family and medical leave programs for Massachusetts. These are House Bill 2172, Senate Bill 1048, and 2018 Initiative Petition C. Each of these proposed programs establishes a contributory fund paid by employers and employees, to be used for eligible workers when they are out of work for their own serious health condition or that of a family member, for pregnancy, or to bond with a new child. The medical leaves considered are for own health reasons, including those related to pregnancy. Family leaves are for bonding with a …

Navigating The Global Economy: A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Massachusetts Maritime Economy, David Borges, Michael Goodman, Elise Korejwa, Kasey Lima-Pires, Michael Mccarthy, Michael Sloan, Holly Stickles, Joy Smith, Charles Colgan

Publications

The Massachusetts Maritime Economy is comprised of 5,555 establishments that employ 90,482 workers, pay $3.4 billion in total wages, and account for $6.4 billion in gross state product. These businesses are a significant economic driver in Massachusetts, representing 2.6 percent of the Commonwealth’s direct employment and 1.3 percent of its direct gross state product.

• 5,555 establishments
• 90,482 employees
• $3.4 billion total wages
• $6.4 billion gross state product

Living Below The Line: Economic Insecurity And Older Americans Insecurity In Massachusetts 2016, Jan E. Mutchler, Yang Li, Ping Xu

Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging Publications

New estimates from the 2016 Elder Economic Security Standard Index^TM reveal that in Massachusetts, six out of ten older adults living alone, and three out of ten living in two-person households, cannot afford the basic necessities of life such as food, housing in a safe community and health care. The Gerontology Institute compares 2016 household incomes for adults age 65 and above living in one- and two-person households to the 2016 Elder Economic Security Standard Index^TM for Massachusetts to calculate Elder Economic Insecurity Rates (EEIRs), the percentage of independent adults age 65 or older living in households with …

Between A Rock And A Hard Place: A Closer Look At Cliff Effects In Massachusetts, Randy Albelda, Michael Carr

Center for Social Policy Publications

This report shows that universal free education and child care would substantially increase family net resources and alleviate cliff effects.

It’S About Time: Costs And Coverage Of Paid Family And Medical Leave In Massachusetts, Randy Albelda, Alan Clayton-Matthews

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

In the United States, some, but far from all, employers offer certain forms of wage replacement when workers take a leave for medical or family reasons. In 2015, only 12% of all workers had access to paid family leave from their employers, 38% had access to short-term disability leave, and 65% had paid sick leave. Extending paid family and medical leave to all employees through a statewide program would share the costs and expand access, level the employment playing field, and reduce inequality among workers. One often-cited obstacle to providing paid family and medical leave in the United States is …

Assessment Of Impacts Of The Biomedical Careers Program – Just-A-Start Corporation Of Cambridge, Ma, Brandynn Holgate, Françoise Carré, Michael Mccormack, Wendel Mirbel

Center for Social Policy Publications

In 2015, Just-a-Start Corporation (JAS) of Cambridge, MA asked the UMass Boston Center for Social Policy to conduct an assessment of the impacts of the Biomedical Careers Program on the region and state, examining individual impacts for graduates as well as the economic contributions of program graduates to the biomedical industry.

The Biomedical Careers Program (hereafter “BioMed”) is described by JAS as an eight month program designed to enable local residents to complete “a Certificate in Biomedical Sciences to prepare them for entry level jobs at local biotechnology companies, universities, research institutions, clinical laboratories and hospitals. The program includes a …

On Solid Ground: Building Opportunity, Preventing Homelessness, Center For Social Policy, University Of Massachusetts Boston, Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center For Public Management, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Center for Social Policy Publications

This paper presents many of the factors that contribute to family instability; identifies the gaps in programs meant to serve low-income families; documents the role of federal and state rental subsidy programs; and demonstrates the interconnected roles of rental assistance, childcare, and employment assistance in increasing family incomes. The coalition of agencies undertook both quantitative and qualitative research for this paper. The coalition held focus groups with numerous stakeholders across the Commonwealth—families who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness, service providers, and public employees. On Solid Ground thanks the many participants who shared their experiences, as well as …

Creative Economies: Using Arts To Revitalize Post-Industrial Cities And Towns In Massachusetts, Anna Price

Honors College Theses

During my senior year in the Honors College at UMass Boston, I became involved in the yearlong Creative and Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship program. During this program, I interned alongside other UMass Boston students at a local creative non-profit organization, providing the staff with assistance as they worked towards achieving their goals. This internship was funded by the Creative Economy Fund (CE Fund) from the University of Massachusetts President’s Office. My involvement in this program sparked an interest in pursuing an Honors thesis investigating the CE Fund and how the awarded projects are benefitted by that fund.

After looking through all …

Fiscal Stress In American Municipalities: An Analysis On The Role Of The State As It Relates To Municipal Financial Health, Yong-Hua He

Public Affairs Capstones Collection

While municipal bankruptcy as a whole is rare in the United States, since the Great Recession, fiscal distress in municipalities is common. This is due to the compounding of decreased state aid, declining property values and increased need of services. In these fiscally and administratively challenging times, where the U.S. government is ripe and saddled with political discord, high debt/legacy costs, and decreased economic stability, can cities walk the stringent financial tightrope without falling head first? This research paper addresses the causations leading to municipal fiscal stress, role of the state as it relates to municipal financial health and best …

Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership (Gbmp): People Based Productivity For Bottom Line Results, Bruce Hamilton, Lela Glikes

Office of Community Partnerships Posters

Based at the University of Massachusetts Boston campus, GBMP is a not for profit corporation founded in 1994 to help businesses keep and grow good jobs, compete in today’s global economy, and contribute to a strengthening and vibrant economy in Massachusetts and surrounding communities through the training of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles and real-world practice.

Women’S Municipal Leadership In Massachusetts: Snapshot Of Cape Cod, Center For Women In Politics And Public Policy, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

The center tracks the status of women at all levels of government in New England. It also provides dynamic web resources to inform and support the public leadership of women of color.

Healthy Eating And Savvy Saving: An Evaluation Of Action For Boston Community Development’S Food Dollars Program For Low-Income Elders, Ann Bookman, Susan M. Phillips

Gerontology Institute Publications

This report is an evaluation of an innovative community-based intervention – the Food Dollars Program. Funded by the AARP Foundation, this program was designed and delivered by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and their Elder Services staff in order to promote healthy eating and reduce food and economic insecurity among low-income elders in Boston. The impetus for creating this program arose from the challenges many low-income individuals face in purchasing and consuming healthy foods from the five food groups as recommended by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in their ChooseMyPlate model of healthy eating. The Food Dollars curriculum …

The Massachusetts Fiscal System: Structure And Performance, Padraig O'Malley, Raymond G. Torto

Padraig O'Malley

On November 4, 1980 the citizens of Massachusetts, by a vote of 59% to 41%, resoundingly endorsed a tax reduction plan known as Proposition 2 1/2. All communities in the Commonwealth were faced with an immediate reduction in their local revenues due to the immediate cut in the excise tax that Proposition 2 1/2 called for, and up to 130 communities will have to implement a 15% reduction in their tax levies for FY 1982. Already there are protestations from many local officials that they cannot make the required tax cuts without severely reducing the level of local services. The …

Women’S Political Leadership In Boston, Center For Women In Politics And Public Policy, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

The center tracks the status of women at all levels of government in the New England states. It also provides dynamic web resources to inform and support public leadership of women of color.

This fact sheet presents information and statistics following the 2013 municipal elections in the City of Boston.

Review Of Proposed Plan For New Police And Fire Facilities, Carver, Ma, Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center For Public Management, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Edward J. Collins Center for Public Management Publications

The Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston was hired by the Town of Carver to perform an independent assessment of the Buildings Study Committee’s proposals for the construction/renovation of three new public facilities including a fire station, police station, and elementary school. Specifically, the team from the Center was asked to review: 1) the selected and considered sites for the facilities; and, 2) the funding plan recommended by the Buildings Study Committee.

This analysis has been divided into two components. This, first report presents the Center’s findings as they relate to the …

Recapturing The American Dream: Meeting The Challenges Of The Bay State's Lost Decade, Andrew M. Sum, Ishwar Khatiwada, Joseph Mclaughlin, Mykhaylo Trubskyy, Sheila Palma

Andrew Sum

No abstract provided.

Recapturing The American Dream: Meeting The Challenges Of The Bay State's Lost Decade, Andrew M. Sum, Ishwar Khatiwada, Joseph Mclaughlin, Mykhaylo Trubskyy, Sheila Palma

Ishwar Khatiwada

No abstract provided.

Recapturing The American Dream: Meeting The Challenges Of The Bay State's Lost Decade, Andrew M. Sum, Ishwar Khatiwada, Joseph Mclaughlin, Mykhaylo Trubskyy, Sheila Palma

Sheila Palma

No abstract provided.

Women’S Political Leadership In Massachusetts, Paige Ransford, Meryl Thomson, Sarah Healey

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

The Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy (CWPPP) at UMass Boston’s McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies has been tracking the election of women at the municipal level in Massachusetts since 1996. In 2003, the Project expanded to include all New England states. CWPPP remains the only research center in the United States that regularly tracks women’s political representation at the local level.

Massachusetts And The Financial Crisis, College Of Management, University Of Massachusetts Boston

Financial Services Forum Publications

Although Massachusetts suffered the consequences of the crisis along with the rest of the US economy, the state weathered the storm relatively well. Now, with the impact of the policies still playing out, there are encouraging signs of recovery which may provide much needed relief for all.