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Articles by Carl Romer
The future of the US digital economy depends on equitable access to its jobs
Over the past several years, emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) have dominated headlines, while industrial strategies centered on technologies such as semiconductors have become central to U.S. economic policymaking.
Historical unemployment for Black women and men in the United States: 1954-2021
Inequality in modern-day unemployment rates has received considerable attention, including work demonstrating that Black teens, Black women, and Black men’s unemployment in the United States is consistently worse than that of white teens, white women, and white men. Using historic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this post sheds light on longer-term trends of this inequality, looking back over six decades.
Black-owned businesses in U.S. cities: The challenges, solutions, and opportunities for prosperity
At a January 17 event marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “From Reconstruction, to Jim Crow, to the present day, our economy has never worked fairly for Black Americans—or, really, for any American of color.” Yellen’s remarks were an acknowledgement that U.S. policymakers have established racially tilted rules for the economy, prohibiting intergenerational wealth transfers among Black Americans, among many other harms.
Commentary: Stop saying student debt relief is for the rich
When people debate whether to forgive some or all of the $1.75 trillion in student debt weighing on millions of American families, opponents often argue that it would be wasteful and unfair: Too many relatively well-off, well-educated people would benefit at the expense of all taxpayers, many of whom never had the desire or opportunity to attend college.
The future of student debt cancellation is in Black people’s hands
OPINION: Come election time, if Black people can’t win, then neither should candidates who only deliver empty promises. Racism doesn’t always show up with tiki torches and epithets; more often it manifests as disregard. Black voters ostensibly matter during political campaigns, but once in office, more often than not, politicians devalue the Black labor, input and demands that propelled them to victory. Democratic politicians, in particular, owe a political debt to Black voters.
Stop saying student debt relief is for the rich
When people debate whether to forgive some or all of the $1.75 trillion in student debt weighing on millions of American families, opponents often argue that it would be wasteful and unfair: Too many relatively well-off, well-educated people would benefit at the expense of all taxpayers, many of whom never had the desire or opportunity to attend college.
Stop saying student debt relief is for the rich - Carl Romer
When people debate whether to forgive some or all of the $1.75 trillion in student debt weighing on millions of American families, opponents often argue that it would be wasteful and unfair: Too many relatively well-off, well-educated people would benefit at the expense of all taxpayers, many of whom never had the desire or opportunity to attend college.
Column: Stop saying student debt relief is for the rich
When people debate whether to forgive some or all of the $1.75 trillion in student debt weighing on millions of American families, opponents often argue that it would be wasteful and unfair: Too many relatively well-off, well-educated people would benefit at the expense of all taxpayers, many of whom never had the desire or opportunity to attend college.
Stop Saying Student Debt Relief Is for the Rich
When people debate whether to forgive some or all of the $1.75 trillion in student debt weighing on millions of American families, opponents often argue that it would be wasteful and unfair: Too many relatively well-off, well-educated people would benefit at the expense of all taxpayers, many of whom never had the desire or opportunity to attend college.
Stop Saying Student Debt Relief Is for the Rich
When people debate whether to forgive some or all of the $1.75 trillion in student debt weighing on millions of American families, opponents often argue that it would be wasteful and unfair: Too many relatively well-off, well-educated people would benefit at the expense of all taxpayers, many of whom never had the desire or opportunity to attend college.
Student Loans
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Why is life expectancy so low in Black neighborhoods?
Earlier this year, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) published data showing a 1.5-year decline in national life expectancy in 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which took the lives of approximately 375,000 Americans that year. The NCHS reported that white Americans’ life expectancy declined by 1.2 years; for Black Americans, that number was 2.9 years. This racial disparity in life expectancy is a lagging indicator of disparities that have existed throughout the pandemic.
Boosting Education and Wages in Black-Majority Cities
Andre M. Perry & Anthony Barr & Carl Romer, Brookings Institution December 13, 2021 While it is vital that Black students continue to receive postsecondary education, we must ensure that they can do so without being financially shackled, and that they will be paid equitably in the jobs their education is preparing them for. Read Full Article » Show comments Hide Comments
Three lessons for boosting postsecondary education and wages in Black-majority cities
In the last two decades, , from 3 million to 6.7 million, marking an increase in the percentage of the Black population (age 25 and older) with a postsecondary degree from 15% in 2000 to 23% in 2019. The affiliated benefits of personal and skill development, increased job opportunities, wage growth, and economic and social mobility make clear that postsecondary degree attainment is vital for economic stability.
Amid the pandemic, Black and Latino men have experienced the largest drop in life expectancy
The COVID-19 virus was the third leading cause of death in 2020 after heart disease and cancer, claiming approximately 375,000 American lives. As a result of this pandemic, U.S. life expectancy declined by a full year-and-one-half, according to The National Center for Health Statistics. But for specific racial groups the drop in life expectancy has been more pronounced.
A proposal for long-term COVID-19 control
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #COVIDProposal In a new paper, renowned scientist and AIDS researcher William Haseltine argues that the COVID challenge is serious enough to require steps we have not yet taken as a nation or a world.
The racial implications of medical debt: How moving toward universal health care and other reforms can address them
Higher rates of COVID-19 infection among essential and frontline workers put a spotlight on underinsured laborers. Essential workers—those who perform a range of jobs and services that are necessary for society to function well, including but not limited to occupations in health care, food service, and public transportation—are less likely to have insurance and are more likely to be underinsured than non-essential workers.
Lifelines: A doctor’s journey in the fight for public health
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #PublicHealth Dr. Leana Wen—emergency physician, former Baltimore health commissioner, CNN medical analyst, and Washington Post contributing columnist—has lived on the front lines of public health, leading the fight against the opioid epidemic, outbreaks of infectious disease, maternal and infant mortality, and COVID-19 disinformation.
In overturning the eviction moratorium, the Supreme Court continues its history of harming Black households
Last month, the Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s attempt to extend the nationwide moratorium on evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Alabama Association of Realtors v. Department of Health and Human Services, the court ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) eviction moratorium exceeded the agency’s authority.
How Black leaders are pursuing racial equity in St. Louis
During her unsuccessful 2017 campaign for mayor of St. Louis, Mo., Tishaura Jones wrote a powerful and stinging letter to Tod Robberson, editorial page editor at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, vowing to “look at every issue through a racial equity lens.” Then the city treasurer, Jones took aim at Robberson’s assertion that “neglect by city leaders” allowed for graffiti and blight. Instead of laying blame on people, Jones pointed to structural inequality.
August’s jobs report shows higher unemployment for Black workers, just as jobless benefits and eviction protections end
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ August jobs report, released September 3, showed a slight decrease in the U.S. unemployment rate, but an increase in unemployment for Black workers, who have consistently had the highest unemployment rate. The increase in unemployment for Black workers reflects their increased labor force participation rate (the number of adults either employed or actively looking for work) after previous months’ declines.
July’s jobs report shows Black teens struggling with the highest unemployment rate
The Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report for July, released last week, showed a continuation of the steady economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic for most demographic groups in the U.S.—but not Black teenagers, for whom the unemployment rate increased from 9.3% in June to 13.3% in July. Nationally, 943,000 jobs were added last month, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.5 percentage points, to 5.4%.
The future of early childhood education after COVID-19
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #FutureOfEducation The early childhood education (ECE) sector in the United States is in a period of disruption and transition. Even before COVID-19, the sector grappled with challenges such as extremely low wages for workers and uneven program quality. The pandemic exacerbated existing challenges and created many new ones, including sudden, sharp declines in ECE enrollment and attendance.
A university-led remedy to place-based discrimination in Richmond, Va.
Contents Both statewide and within the Richmond metro area, serious racial disparities persist Inequality in Richmond is a place-based problem A legacy of racism leaves Black neighborhoods underinvested and vulnerable to climate change Grassroots efforts to improve education achievement rates What universities can do to invest in Richmond’s future Last summer, as nationwide racial justice protests swept the nation, Richmond, Va.’s Black mayor Levar Marcus Stoney introduced a plan to remove...
Underfunding HBCUs leads to an underrepresentation of Black faculty
This May, the University of North Carolina’s Board of Trustees denied a tenure position to Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist and creator of The New York Times’ 1619 Project. Hannah-Jones had become the target of bigoted, conservative angst for the 1619 Project, which recast the role of slavery and its consequences for Black Americans as a central piece of the nation’s founding.
As the eviction moratorium ends, we need a long-term solution to housing insecurity
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) eviction moratorium for the COVID-19 pandemic provided acute relief to people who were struggling to pay rent. That moratorium expired on July 31; however, neither abruptly ending it nor prolonging it will solve the problem of housing insecurity, particularly in Black-majority neighborhoods and for low-income, essential workers.
The coming eviction crisis will hit Black communities the hardest
Contents Defining eviction and its consequences Past studies highlight the link between evictions and Black communities The state of evictions in Black-majority neighborhoods Visualizing eviction and eviction filing rates across different types of neighborhoods How to avert the coming eviction crisis According to a 2020 report by the Aspen Institute, an estimated 30 million to 40 million people in the U.S. are at risk of eviction due to the COVID-19 housing crisis.
Why local leaders in Mobile, Alabama must address racial equity in the manufacturing sector
Contents Manufacturing is an economic engine in Mobile Postsecondary education provides a wage boost for Mobile’s workers Mobile’s manufacturing sector is marked by troubling racial disparities Higher education collaborations in Mobile provide a benchmark for further investment Imagine the following career trajectory. An elementary school student goes on a field trip to a science center where she flies a plane and walks in space—virtually of course.
Partnership for Sustainable Communities: Unfinished business
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #SustainableCommunities With renewed enthusiasm to support local places, many are evaluating federal strategies and actions to help local communities regain their footing, including assessing past programs and successes.
Despite June’s positive jobs numbers, Black workers continue to face high unemployment
The Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report for June, released today, showed a continuation of the steady economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationally, 850,000 jobs were added last month, while the unemployment rate ticked up slightly, to 5.9%, after falling from 6.1% in April to 5.8% in May. This recovery, however, continues to be uneven across racial lines. Black workers had June’s highest unemployment rate, at 9.2%.
The Black and brown activists who started Pride
Pride Month, which comes to an end this week, is a time to celebrate the moments in queer history that sparked activism and progress toward equality. But one piece of history that frequently gets lost is the fact that many of these defining moments were only made possible by Black and brown LGBTQ+ activists fighting for their liberation.
Refuting the worst excuses against student debt cancellation
On June 1, the White House released a new statement outlining a plan to “build Black wealth and narrow the racial wealth gap.” Largely a rework of campaign pledges and prior executive actions, the plan announced a new interagency effort to address inequity in home appraisals, a commitment to increase federal contracting with small disadvantaged businesses, a $10 billion fund to support community-led civic infrastructure projects, and other initiatives to target a wealth gap that sees the...
Refuting the worst excuses against student debt cancellation
On June 1, the White House released a new statement outlining a plan to "build Black wealth and narrow the racial wealth gap." Largely a rework of campaign pledges and prior executive actions, the plan announced a new interagency effort to address inequity in home appraisals, a commitment to increase federal contracting with small disadvantaged businesses, a $10 billion fund to support community-led civic infrastructure projects, and other initiatives to target a wealth gap that sees the...
Student loans, the racial wealth divide, and why we need full student debt cancellation
Editor's Note: In case you missed it, watch the webinar held June 28 with a panel of experts discussing the effects of student debt cancellation.
Student loans, the racial wealth divide, and why we need full student debt cancellation
Editor's note: In case you missed it, watch the webinar held June 28 with a panel of experts discussing the effects of student debt cancellation. “No matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it,” President Barack Obama said in a 2009 national address to students. Such guidance is regularly told to Black people: The way to get out of poverty and achieve middle class status is to get a college degree.
Examining the effects of student debt cancellation
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #StudentDebt As tuition rates continue to grow at higher education institutions, so too do the number of students taking out student loans as well as the average loan amount—which surpassed $30,000 in 2020, a staggering, nearly three-fold increase over the last three decades. While the rise in tuition has continued to spiral, outpacing wages and overall inflation, the problem has been especially problematic for Black households.
The true costs of the Tulsa race massacre, 100 years later
On May 19, 107-year-old Viola Fletcher visited Washington, D.C. to testify before Congress in its hearing for the centennial of Tulsa, Okla. race massacre. “I’m here seeking justice and I’m asking my country to acknowledge what happened in Tulsa in 1921,” Fletcher, a survivor of the massacre, said. 2021 marks 100 years since the infamous 1921 massacre in Tulsa, in which white mobs unleashed violence against the city’s Black people, Black institutions, and Black wealth.
How Black-owned businesses can make the most out of the Biden infrastructure plan
Alongside much-needed investments in the nation’s roads, bridges, and water systems, President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure proposal, the American Jobs Plan, promises to create more opportunities for small businesses and advance racial equity. One way to accomplish both of these goals, as we have written previously, is to invest in Black-owned businesses, allowing them to play a role in the plan’s revitalization of our infrastructure.
In Philadelphia, efforts to increase educational attainment must consider the racial earnings gap
In March, President Joe Biden introduced his $2 trillion American Jobs Plan, which endeavors to refurbish the country’s infrastructure and accelerate our economic recovery by putting people to work. Broad in scope, the plan addresses historic discrimination, climate change, broadband access, and labor rights—not to mention building and repairing roads and bridges.
Analyzing Biden’s first 100 days
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #100Days In the first months of his presidency, President Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan into law in an effort to change the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and aid the country’s recovery from the crisis. In addition to this first big piece of legislation, Biden has introduced plans for sweeping immigration reform and massive infrastructure investment to Congress and has set ambitious vaccination goals.
Criminal justice reform in America: Policing and pretrial detention
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #CJReform The United States incarcerates more people per capita than any other country in the world. Recidivism rates continue to be high as millions of people cycle in and out of the criminal justice system and deal with a cumbersome pretrial detention process. Black people are disproportionately more likely to die from police violence, and racial and ethnic minorities are simultaneously over- and under-policed.
In Jackson, Miss., a water crisis has revealed the racial costs of legacy infrastructure
For nearly five weeks beginning in mid-February, parts of Jackson, Miss.—the state’s capital and most populous city—faced a water crisis. Two consecutive storms hit the city and led to prolonged freezing temperatures, causing pipes to burst. Thousands of residents were under a boil-water advisory, which was finally lifted on March 18. Even before the storms hit, Jackson’s water system was a crisis in the making.
Amazon’s union battle in Bessemer, Alabama is about dignity, racial justice, and the future of the American worker
This week, the historic unionization drive by Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Ala. will get an audience in the Capitol, as Amazon worker and union advocate Jennifer Bates testifies in front of the Senate Budget Committee.
Student debt cancellation should consider wealth, not income
As enrollment numbers and tuition at higher education institutions grow, the rise in student debt is outpacing both. According to the Pew Research Center, from 1993 to 2012, the share of students taking out loans to finance their degrees rose from roughly half (49%) to over two-thirds (69%), with no indication of slowing. Over the same period, the average loan amount grew from $12,434 to $26,885, and surpassed $30,000 in 2020—a nearly three-fold increase in the last three decades.
A conversation on the past, present, and future of Black political power in the South
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #BlackHistoryMonth Joe Biden’s win in Georgia and the historic elections of Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff to represent Georgia in the Senate during the 2020 elections elevated a continuing national conversation about the power of the Black electorate. Exit poll data from the 2020 election in November found that Black Americans represented over 50% of all Democratic voters in Georgia.
Setting a policy agenda for Black Americans
Twitter Join the conversation on Twitter using #BlackHistoryMonth The United States is currently facing several simultaneous crises — the COVID-19 pandemic, a cratering economy, and systemic racism — all of which have disproportionately affected Black communities.
Last night in Georgia, Black Americans saved democracy
In The New York Times’ 1619 Project, journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones asked a prescient question about the role of Black Americans in the progress of our democracy: “What if America understood, finally, in this 400th year, that we have never been the problem but the solution?” Last night in Georgia, that question may have been answered.
To expand the economy, invest in Black businesses
For the descendants of enslaved Africans in the United States, entrepreneurship represents more than just owning a business and pursuing the proverbial American Dream. Instead, the ability for Black people to participate in local, regional, and global markets represents a dream deferred by systemic racism and discrimination. Consequently, an analysis of Black business ownership can offer insight into the degree to which America is truly the land of opportunity.
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