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Debating Paid Family Leave

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

Debating Paid Family Leave

Recently, The Diane Rehm show discussed state programs that require paid family leave for workers and efforts to institute such policies federally. 

Here is a description of the podcast: 

Most federal workplace laws date back to the 1930s when a majority of mothers did not work outside the home. As family and work patterns have shifted, the need for paid time off to care for family members has increased. In the absence of federal paid leave, a few states have passed laws that allow employees to take paid leave to care for a newborn, adopted child or seriously ill relative. Rhode Island, California and New Jersey allow workers to pay part of their wages into a fund that pays for the leave. Diane and a panel of guests discuss the impact of paid leave on businesses and families.

 

GUESTS

Lisa Horn – director of congressional affairs, Society for Human Resource Management.

Brigid Schulte – reporter, The Washington Post and author of the upcoming book: “Overwhelmed: Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time.”

Ellen Bravo – executive director, Family Values @ Work.

Kirsten Gillibrand – U.S. Senator, New York (D).

 

 

Lisa Dolak and Fareed Zakaria on the Need For Infrastructure Investment

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Lisa Dolak and Fareed Zakaria on the Need For Infrastructure Investment

After returning to Syracuse from a weekend at home, I decided to catch up with Ivory Tower, which I had DVR’ed. Moderated by Barbara Fought (Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University), this edition of Ivory Tower featured a powerhouse panel including: Tim Byrnes (Colgate University), Bob Greene (Cazenovia College), Bob Spitizer (SUNY Cortland), Kristi Andersen (Maxwell School of Syracuse University) and Lisa Dolak (Syracuse University College of Law).

The panel discussed President Obama’s State of the Union Address and its most promising proposals. During this discussion, Professor Lisa Dolak described the President’s call to invest in infrastructure as a “win-win” (9:45)  She explained that investing in infrastructure would not only fix our crumbling roads and bridges but would also put millions of Americans back to work.

Fareed Zakaria agrees and goes a step further.  According to Zakaria, investing in infrastructure would “win-win-win.”  In addition to the benefits Prof. Dolak describes, Zakaria points out that infrastructure spending is fiscally responsible.  This is so for two reasons.  First, fixing our infrastructure is an investment that needs to be made whether sooner or later.  However, if we wait to fix our our roads and bridges the costs will be greater since there will be further, more serious deterioration.  Second, investing in infrastructure would boost growth and thereby decrease the debt and deficit.

Sunday Funday: Economist Dating Advice

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Sunday Funday: Economist Dating Advice

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you may find yourself in need of sound dating/relationship advice.  Where is the most logical place to turn? An economist.  This edition of Sunday Funday features the Planet Money podcast and economist Tim Harford, who answered listeners love, relationship and dating questions.

Here is a  description of the episode:

Last week, we solicited your questions about dating, sex and love. This one came from 17-year-old, Arthur, who lives in Pittsburgh:

I am a senior in high school and I have never been on a date. Should I be worried about this? When I do finally meet someone, will I be hurt by my inexperience?

On today’s show, economist and author, Tim Harford, applies economic theory to Arthur’s question. He also tackles polyamory and offers suggestions on how to change your spouse’s behavior.

Sunday Funday: Economist Dating Advice

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

Sunday Funday: Economist Dating Advice

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you may find yourself in need of sound dating/relationship advice.  Where is the most logical place to turn? An economist.  This edition of Sunday Funday features the Planet Money podcast and economist Tim Harford, who answered listeners love, relationship and dating questions.

Here is a  description of the episode:

Last week, we solicited your questions about dating, sex and love. This one came from 17-year-old, Arthur, who lives in Pittsburgh:

I am a senior in high school and I have never been on a date. Should I be worried about this? When I do finally meet someone, will I be hurt by my inexperience?

On today’s show, economist and author, Tim Harford, applies economic theory to Arthur’s question. He also tackles polyamory and offers suggestions on how to change your spouse’s behavior.

Filling the Skills Gap: Matching Jobs with the Jobless Through Innovative Internships

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Filling the Skills Gap: Matching Jobs with the Jobless Through Innovative Internships

Last Sunday, 60 Minutes ran a story about an innovative jobs program, “Year Up.”  Year Up is an intensive year long job training program that matches poor urban youth with Fortune 500 companies, teaching them the specific skills necessary for the thousands of jobs that remain unfilled.  

Here is how the story began:

It may surprise you to learn that even in this time of stubbornly high unemployment there are hundreds of thousands of good jobs available that companies are finding hard to fill.

But one Wall Street veteran believes he’s found an overlooked source of talent that could be the answer. 

He started something called Year Up — a year-long jobs training boot camp for some of the country’s most disadvantaged young people. And so far thousands of graduates are now working at companies like J.P. Morgan, American Express and Facebook. The result is that many of the country’s most powerful CEOs are finding that they can do well by also doing good.