Can Workers in Low-End Occupations Climb the Job Ladder?

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-106
Author(s):  
Todd Gabe ◽  
Jaison R. Abel ◽  
Richard Florida

There is growing concern over rising economic inequality, the decline of the middle class, and a polarization of the U.S. workforce. This study examines the extent to which workers in the United States transition from low-end to higher-quality occupations, and explores the factors associated with such a move up the job ladder. Using data covering the expansion following the Great Recession (2011-2017) and focusing on short-term (i.e., less than 1 year) labor market transitions, the authors find that just slightly more than 5% of workers in low-end occupations moved into a higher-quality occupation. Instead, around 70% of workers in low-end occupations stayed in the same occupation, 11% exited the labor force, 7% became unemployed, and 6% switched to a different low-end occupation. Study results point to the importance of educational attainment in helping workers successfully climb the job ladder.

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 2118-2135
Author(s):  
Esra Ascigil ◽  
Emre Selcuk ◽  
Gul Gunaydin ◽  
Anthony D. Ong

It is well established that negative financial events during macroeconomic crises have a significant impact on individuals’ mental health. Much less is known about how and for whom economic crises impact mental health. Using data from the Midlife in the United States study, we examine the mental health impact of the Great Recession in the U.S. Drawing on predictions from the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation Model of Marriage and the Family Stress Model, we examined whether increases in marital disagreements mediated the link between recession adversities (e.g., unemployment, increased debt, loss of a home) and mental health following the recession (2013–2014), controlling for prerecession marital disagreements and mental health (2004–2006). We found that those who experienced a greater number of recession adversities showed increased marital disagreements following the Great Recession, which were in turn associated with poorer mental health (negative affect and affective disorder). These associations held after controlling for prerecession levels of gender, age, race, and education. Furthermore, those who had lower income before the recession experienced greater increases in negative affect following the recession. These findings highlight the importance of marital processes in how the Great Recession is linked to mental health.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuo Ueda

As the U.S. economy works through a sluggish recovery several years after the Great Recession technically came to an end in June 2009, it can only look with horror toward Japan's experience of two decades of stagnant growth since the early 1990s. In contrast to Japan, U.S. policy authorities responded to the financial crisis since 2007 more quickly. Surely, they learned from Japan's experience. I will begin by describing how Japan's economic situation unfolded in the early 1990s and offering some comparisons with how the Great Recession unfolded in the U.S. economy. I then turn to the Bank of Japan's policy responses to the crisis and again offer some comparisons to the Federal Reserve. I will discuss the use of both the conventional interest rate tool—the federal funds rate in the United States, and the “call rate” in Japan—and nonconventional measures of monetary policy and consider their effectiveness in the context of the rest of the financial system.


Author(s):  
Julie A. Kirsch ◽  
Carol D. Ryff

Biopsychosocial integration requires attentiveness to changing historical contexts. The Great Recession of 2007–2009 is regarded as the most severe economic downturn since the 1930s and has contributed to the growing American problem of inequality. To advance knowledge of the human consequences of the Great Recession and growing inequalities, integrative approaches are needed. This chapter summarizes conceptual frameworks that address the ways the Great Recession has exacerbated US problems of inequality and for whom. In light of these frameworks and using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) baseline and Refresher samples, a historically situated inquiry into whether life in America looks worse in the Great Recession aftermath is presented. Findings on inequality in recession hardships, health vulnerabilities, and psychological influences are reviewed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of additional domains of assessment about Great Recession impacts that can be pursued with MIDUS.


2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Stefan Homburg

Abstract This paper examines five possible explanations for the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009, using data for the United States and the eurozone. Of these five hypotheses, four are not supported by the data, while the fifth appears reasonable.


2021 ◽  
pp. 205556362198982
Author(s):  
Jaclyn S Piatak ◽  
Sarah L Pettijohn

Funding agreements are the legal foundation for government-nonprofit funding relations and specify the terms and expectations for both parties. Yet little attention focuses on the funding agreements themselves, which vary in structure, form, compensation arrangements, and amount of risk each party bears in the funding relationship. Using data on human service nonprofits in the U.S., we examine whether the type of funding agreement—cost-reimbursement versus fixed-cost—influence the reliability of government funding during the Great Recession and the level of engagement by nonprofit providers. We find those who bear the burden of the risk at the outset have less reliable funding during recessionary times and nonprofit providers with a flat amount agreement are less engaged with government funders. Findings have implications for public and nonprofit managers to carefully consider risks and relationships to implement effective funding agreements.


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