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Why Alaska’s Experience Shows Promise for Universal Basic Income

Knowledge@Wharton An approach to Income Inequality Trials are underway within the U.S. and elsewhere to understand the effects of cash transfer programs like universal basic income to provide people with basic sustenance — where the government sends out a regular stipend to everyone regardless of income or employment status. Interest is rising following concerns that technological […] Read more

Beige Book – May 30, 2018

The FED Said Overall US Economic Activity Economic activity expanded moderately in late April and early May with few shifts in the pattern of growth. The Dallas District was an exception, where overall economic activity sped up to a solid pace. Manufacturing shifted into higher gear with more than half of the Districts reporting a […] Read more

How Do Firms Respond to Hiring Difficulties?

The FED Said Two-thirds of small businesses report hiring challenges. We look at the different difficulties they face and how they solve for them. Evidence from the Federal Reserve Banks’ Small Business Credit Survey Ellyn Terry and Mels de Zeeuw, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Primary Issue Understanding the sources of mismatch between the labor […] Read more

The Challenge of Predicting Tariffs’ Impact

The FED Said Once upon a time, tariffs—the fees levied on imported goods—were revenue-raising instruments for the federal government as much as protection for fledgling American industries. Hefty tariffs were the U.S. government’s primary source of revenue from 1790 to 1914, pointed out Federico Mandelman, an Atlanta Fed research economist. Put simply, in the 1800s, America […] Read more

A Growing Appetite: Can Local Food Boost Distressed Communities?

The FED Said Where a public housing project once stood on the western fringe of downtown Atlanta, a garden grows. Each year, the three-acre patch produces 35,000 pounds of kale, broccoli, collards, tomatoes, and other produce for four farmers markets and other local outlets. The Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture is a staple in […] Read more