Eileen Appelbaum
Washington, D.C.
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Co-Director, @ceprdc. Former Professor Rutgers University and Temple University. Co-author of 'Private Equity at Work' & 'Unfinished Business'
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Articles by Eileen Appelbaum
Trump’s Election-Year Checks and the $5,000 Dividend
As the midterm elections approach, it’s safe to say that things don’t look great for Donald Trump’s Republican Congressional majority. He has responded by the usual threats and bluster, but also by promising to send voters money. Now, it should be said that politicians make promises all the time – to voters in general or to more specific constituents. This is part of the process.
Six Takeaways from the September Jobs Report
The September jobs report was disappointing from almost every perspective. The economy is generating fewer jobs than most analysts had expected, and wage growth continues to slow. That is not a good picture. While we are far from a recession (unless the AI bubble bursts), it is understandable that most people don’t feel very good about the economy right now.
BUYOUTS: Private Equity Reshaping the Economy – October 2026
New bills targeting private equity greed are introduced, while serious questions are being asked about the PE business model. Plus… did PE ruin your sandwich?
Economy Adds Just 29,000 Jobs in September, Wage Growth Slows to 3.0 Percent
Job growth slowed substantially in September, with the economy adding 29,000 jobs, considerably less than most analysts had expected. The gains for the prior two months were also revised down by a total of 60,000, bringing the average for the last three months to 51,000. More importantly, wage growth slowed further to 3.0 percent year-over-year.
Access to Paid Time Off Remains Highly Unequal
On September 25, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report on private sector workers’ access to employer-provided benefits. As in past years, access to employer paid time off remains highly unequal, with higher paid workers and those in professional and managerial occupations having the greatest access to paid sick days and paid family and medical leave. Employers in industries in which women are the predominant workforce are least likely to provide paid time off to workers.
Paid Leave Access Remains Unequal for US Workers
On September 25, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report on private sector workers’ access to employer-provided benefits. As in past years, access to employer paid time off remains highly unequal, with higher paid workers and those in professional and managerial occupations having the greatest access to paid sick days and paid family and medical leave. Employers in industries in which women are the predominant workforce are least likely to provide paid time off to workers.
For Many, Economic Well-Being Depends on More Than Wages Alone
Employment does not necessarily guarantee economic security for many working families. That lesson is clearly evident in this week’s release of the Census Bureau’s annual income, poverty, and health insurance data for the year 2025. Although annual earnings for full-time, full-year workers increased in 2025 compared to 2024, the poverty rate for full-time, year-round workers remained stable at 4.1 percent.
Trump’s 600% Price Cuts on Drugs are Nowhere to Be Found, but Spending Growth Has Slowed
Donald Trump is apparently not very good at arithmetic, but spending on drugs has slowed. We have not seen the 600% price reductions he has boasted about (yes, that is absurd; it would mean drug companies are paying us to use their drugs), but some prices are lower. Trump has taken advantage of the negotiating power given the president by Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to negotiate lower prices for several important drugs.
Does the Trump Administration Suddenly Care About Profiteering?
It was almost lost in the shuffle of early cabinet appointments and executive orders, but Donald Trump’s pick to be Assistant Secretary of Defense was a private equity billionaire who made much of his fortune on military contracting interests. The potential for self-dealing was obvious, even in an administration where such behavior is routine.
Collateral Damage: How The One Big Beautiful Bill Act Threatens The Future Of Emergency Services – OpEd
The author says OBBBA (H.R.1) squeezes EMS by capping state provider taxes (no new ones; expansion states 6% → 3.5% of net patient revenue by 2034) and forcing directed Medicaid top-ups toward Medicare rates by 2029. CMS then applied the cap to all providers. Cited federal-match savings: ~$225.7 billion (taxes) and $775 billion (CMS rule) over 10 years. RAND: average ambulance run costs $2,673, pays $1,147; Medicare ~$329. Labor is ~70% of costs; median EMT pay $38,930 (2023).
OSHA Looks to Write Business-Friendly Heat Standard for Outdoor Workers
As temperatures in the US were reaching record highs this summer, the Trump administration and Congress dropped updates on a long-gestating heat standard for outdoor workers. The announcement was that by the end of the year, the US could finally issue a new proposed rule on how to address rising temperatures in outdoor worksites. But the news isn’t exactly what advocates have been waiting for, and at the same time, a bill is moving through Congress to kill the standard entirely.
Collateral Damage: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Threatens the Future of Emergency Services
Photograph Source: Steven Pisano – CC BY 2.0 On the 25th anniversary of the horrendous 9/11 terrorist attacks, a grateful nation is celebrating the bravery of the EMTs, emergency medical technicians who ran into fire and smoke-filled collapsing buildings to rescue and treat victims.
Collateral Damage: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Threatens the Future of Emergency Services
On the 25th anniversary of the horrendous 9/11 terrorist attacks, a grateful nation is celebrating the bravery of the EMTs, emergency medical technicians who ran into fire and smoke-filled collapsing buildings to rescue and treat victims. It’s a moment to contemplate, as well, the less spectacular lifesaving rescues emergency ambulances and their crews make every day, coming to the aid of car crash victims and people suffering health emergencies in their homes.
AI Didn’t Steal the Mathematician’s Work, Sam Altman Did
Among the many recent controversies around AI, there is the claim that to solve a longstanding mathematical problem, OpenAI stole the work of the New York University mathematician Tristan Buckmaster, and a colleague, Levent Alpöge, who also is a researcher for Anthropic. I have no ability to assess the validity of the claim, but as I understand it, the argument is that OpenAI had access to work done by Buckmaster and Alpöge.
BUYOUTS: Private Equity Reshaping the Economy – September 2026
Private equity has made big headlines in the world of professional sports – and one of the biggest stories is tied to the industry’s risky move into the life insurance business. All that plus AI and some bad poll numbers Private Equity Targets Professional Sports One of the biggest stories of the month has been private equity’s growing footprint in professional sports.
Kalshi Is Turning Climate Change Into a Betting Game
Prediction market Kalshi is getting into the climate business. The company announced last week that it is pairing with The Weather Company to “bring trusted weather intelligence to the growing weather prediction market space.” Critics, however, warn that wagering on the climate crisis on betting platforms owned by companies with close ties to powerful politicians is a recipe for disaster.
As maternity wards close, Arizona mothers pay price
OPINION — Giving birth can be deadly. In 2024 in the United States, 17.9 women per 100,000 live births died during pregnancy or within 42 days after childbirth. That is double or triple the number in other high-income countries, and much higher than in English-speaking peer countries Australia (3.5), Britain (5.5) and Canada (8.4).
Fast-Food Spending Shows Non-Rich Americans Are Struggling
With the release of consumption data for July, it seemed like a good time to do an update to the fast-food spending index. As I’ve mentioned before, this seems like a good metric of how non-rich people feel about the economy. We know that much spending is being driven by the top 10 percent or so of the population, who are seeing substantial stock gains. However, we want to know how the bottom 90 percent — who depend primarily on wage income — are doing.
Move to Rescind Roadless Rule Rewards Logging and Mining Interests
Last week, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brook L. Rollins moved forward on the agency’s promise to revoke the 2001 Roadless Rule, opening a public comment period on the proposal and a draft environmental statement on its impact. If this sounds familiar, that’s because we covered this almost a year ago during the scoping process. So what’s changed, and what hasn’t? First, it’s important to understand what the Roadless Rule does.
Legal Battle Erupts Over FEMA’s Election-Related Funding Conditions
Nashville, Tennessee, and several other cities and counties filed a lawsuit last week against the Trump administration for requiring mandatory changes to election procedures to receive grants. The lawsuit is one of many arising from the administration’s attempt to use Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to advance its preferred policies at the state level.
As maternity wards close, mothers pay the price
Giving birth can be deadly. In 2024 in the United States, 17.9 women per 100,000 live births died during pregnancy or within 42 days after childbirth. That is double or triple the number in other high-income countries, and much higher than in English-speaking peer countries Australia (3.5), Britain (5.5) and Canada (8.4). More shamefully, the number of maternal deaths among Black women in America is a shockingly high 44.8 per 100,000 live births.
How the No Surprises Act Is Driving Up Health Care Costs
Every medical bill is a surprise, but a surprise medical bill is something very specific. It’s a bill for something your health insurance covers but, unfortunately, the doctor who performed the procedure is not in your insurance network. Until Congress passed the No Surprises Act in late 2020, unexpected and exorbitant bills from out-of-network providers were common. They created huge medical debt for patients and drove families into bankruptcy.
Republicans Are Responsible for the Nation’s Rising Deficits
I have never been a deficit hawk, and I’m not about to change my religious affiliation now. But whatever we think of debt and deficits, there is one point that should be very clear: it has been run up almost entirely due to Republican tax cuts and their inept management of the economy. Every Democratic president of the last half century has left with a deficit that was lower, measured as a share of GDP, than the one they came in with, except Obama, who left it unchanged.
Having a baby in the US can be hazardous to your health | Opinion
Giving birth can be deadly. In 2024 in the United States, 17.9 women per 100,000 live births died during pregnancy or within 42 days after childbirth. That is double or triple the number in other high-income countries, and much higher than in English-speaking peer countries Australia (3.5), Britain (5.5) and Canada (8.4). More shamefully, the number of maternal deaths among Black women in America is a shockingly high 44.8 per 100,000 live births.
Eileen Appelbaum: As maternity wards close, moms pay the price (Opinion)
Giving birth can be deadly. In 2024 in the United States, 17.9 women per 100,000 live births died during pregnancy or within 42 days after childbirth. That is double or triple the number in other high-income countries, and much higher than in English-speaking peer countries Australia (3.5), Britain (5.5) and Canada (8.4). More shamefully, the number of maternal deaths among Black women in America is a shockingly high 44.8 per 100,000 live births.
How the No Surprises Act Is Driving Up Health Care Costs
Every medical bill is a surprise, but a surprise medical bill is something very specific. It’s a bill for something your health insurance covers but, unfortunately, the doctor who performed the procedure is not in your insurance network. Until Congress passed the No Surprises Act in late 2020, unexpected and exorbitant bills from out-of-network providers were common. They created huge medical debt for patients and drove families into bankruptcy.
As Maternity Wards Close, Mothers Pay the Price
Giving birth can be deadly. In 2024 in the United States, 17.9 women per 100,000 live births died during pregnancy or within 42 days after childbirth. That is double or triple the number in other high-income countries, and much higher than in English-speaking peer countries Australia (3.5), Britain (5.5) and Canada (8.4). More shamefully, the number of maternal deaths among Black women in America is a shockingly high 44.8 per 100,000 live births.
When the AI Bubble Bursts, Who Will Be Left Holding the Bag?
A new paper making a stir in the financial press spells out the dangers to which private equity-owned life insurance companies are exposed by private credit funds with large portfolios of loans to software and AI companies. It’s a complicated story that could have enormous consequences. Pranjal Drall and Andrew Granato, the report’s authors, argue that some of these insurance companies could become insolvent if these loans crash.
When The AI Bubble Bursts, Who Will Be Left Holding The Bag? – OpEd
Private equity-owned life insurers have become major capital sources for unregulated private credit funds that have made large, high-risk loans to SaaS software companies and AI data centers. A sharp downturn in software valuations or an AI bubble burst could trigger widespread loan defaults, potentially insolving some PE-owned insurers and threatening policyholder payouts.
Leadership Changes and Staffing Cuts Define Recent FEMA Shifts
It is no exaggeration to say that Trump’s second term has been highly chaotic – especially when it comes to disaster management. And it remains difficult to keep up with what’s happening. With that in mind, the following is a roundup of recent news regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Hamilton Confirmed as FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton was sworn in on August 10 as the first permanent administrator for FEMA during Trump’s second term.
When the AI Bubble Bursts, Who Will Be Left Holding the Bag?
Anew paper making a stir in the financial press spells out the dangers to which private equity-owned life insurance companies are exposed by private credit funds with large portfolios of loans to software and AI companies. It’s a complicated story that could have enormous consequences. Pranjal Drall and Andrew Granato, the report’s authors, argue that some of these insurance companies could become insolvent if these loans crash.
BUYOUTS: Private Equity Reshaping the Economy – August 2026
The private equity industry’s ‘zombie problem,’ a sudden World Cup controversy, plus new scrutiny of what PE is doing to veterinary care and firefighting. Plan to Sell World Cup Stake to Private Equity Falls Apart Fresh off the conclusion of this year’s World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino floated a bizarre plan to sell a 20 percent stake in the association’s major tournaments to private equity investors.
Mostly Economics - Episode 43
This week on Mostly Economics, Dean Baker talks with Sabrina Corlette, Research Professor at Georgetown University’s Center on Healthcare Insurance Reforms, about the ramifications of Trump’s one big ugly bill, which gutted Affordable Care Act coverage. People are grappling with expired subsidies as well as new rules that severely harm documented immigrants. Dean and Sabrina also discuss private equity’s damage to our health care system.
The Fraudulent War on Medicaid Fraud
The Trump Administration has launched a novel attack on Medicaid accusing blue state Attorneys General (AGs) of not cracking down on fraud — and using that as an excuse to cut funding for New York State’s Medicaid fraud agency, which has a strong record of stopping fraud. To be clear, allegations of Medicaid fraud do not claim that individual Medicaid beneficiaries have cheated the government and enriched themselves.
Medicare Advantage Companies Bank Billions in Bonuses
After stealing hundreds of billions of dollars from taxpayers, insurance companies in the Medicare Advantage program are going to face significant government action. And significant government action, in this case, means that the federal government is going to award an estimated $13 billion to the insurers in bonus payments. These bonuses are not officially a direct reward for insurance companies exploiting taxpayers, but they are emblematic of a completely broken system.
The Fraudulent War on Medicaid Fraud
The Trump Administration has launched a novel attack on Medicaid accusing blue state Attorneys General (AGs) of not cracking down on fraud — and using that as an excuse to cut funding for New York State’s Medicaid fraud agency, which has a strong record of stopping fraud. To be clear, allegations of Medicaid fraud do not claim that individual Medicaid beneficiaries have cheated the government and enriched themselves.
Trump’s Wildland Fire Service Revives Failed Fire Suppression Policies
At the end of June, the deaths of three firefighters near the Colorado-Utah border put Trump’s new Wildland Fire Service into focus. The firefighters had been deployed by helicopter to a remote area to put out a brush fire and were overwhelmed.
Shoddy White House Research Claims Work Requirements Will Increase Employment and Reduce Poverty
Ford House Office Building, headquarters for the CBO. Photograph Source: APK – CC BY 4.0 As I noted in an article earlier this month, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the federal government will save $911 billion over 10 years and that 10 million people will lose health insurance as a result of Medicaid changes in H.R.1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Want to See Why the GOP Medicaid Work Requirements Are a Disaster? Look to Arkansas
As I noted in an article earlier this month, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the federal government will save $911 billion over 10 years and that 10 million people will lose health insurance as a result of Medicaid changes in H.R.1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
BUYOUTS: Private Equity Reshaping the Economy - July 2026
The military and private equity get even closer, Trump tries to sink a housing bill, and Pizza Hut gets the PE treatment. Let’s take a look at a few of the big stories in the world of private equity. The Pentagon and Private Equity Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) continues to shine a light on the Trump administration’s open door policy when it comes to military budgets and private equity profiteers. Ina letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — which was also signed by Rep.
Shoddy White House Research Claims Work Requirements Will Increase Employment and Reduce Poverty
As I noted in an article earlier this month, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the federal government will save $911 billion over 10 years and that 10 million people will lose health insurance as a result of Medicaid changes in H.R.1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is Anti-American
The 250th anniversary of the United States of America is a good time to reflect on the essential characteristics and values of the country. American history reveals that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to the United States. We should debate how best to manage our diversity and how best to achieve equity and inclusion, but the United States can’t be the United States without these three things. Diversity The United States has always been racially and ethnically diverse.
Affirmative Action is Alive and Well . . . If You are Rich and White
Three years ago, a major Supreme Court ruling struck down affirmative action in higher education admissions. Well, that is what they would like people to believe. In fact, there are still many preference policies in elite college admissions — especially if the student is rich and White.
Trump Dismisses Key Housing, Disaster Recovery Reform as ‘Unimportant’
Something unusual happened last week in Washington, DC. In a rare showing of bipartisan support during the Trump era, both chambers of Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a package incorporating provisions from more than 60 pieces of legislation to help address housing affordability in the US.
Fathers Are Closing the Gap on Paid Parental Leave
Paid leave has gained significant support from researchers and policymakers across the political spectrum. Paid family and medical leave (PFML), which allows parents to bond with a new baby, acknowledges the important role of childbirth in women’s lives as they strive to balance work and family responsibilities. And while it benefits all families, paid leave can be particularly valuable for vulnerable populations with limited resources.
The Fast-Food Spending Index is Falling Fast
For the last several years I’ve been using real spending at fast food restaurants as a gauge for assessing how the non-rich are feeling about their personal finances. The logic is that it is a type of discretionary spending where people can easily make cutbacks if they are feeling squeezed. Also, it should not be affected much by the spending of the rich. It’s not likely that Elon Musk eats more Big Macs when his wealth increases or he cuts back when SpaceX’s stock plunges.
States Face Massive Medicaid Issues Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The changes to Medicaid outlined in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) are still coming into view – and so are the policy adjustments that states can make to maintain enrollment. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the federal government will save $911 billion over 10 years from enacting these changes to Medicaid and that 10 million people will lose health insurance as a result.
Taft-Hartley Act at 78 Years: How It Banned Solidarity Strikes
This week marks the anniversary of the enactment of one of the most consequential pieces of labor legislation in US history. The Labor Management Relations Act, better known as the Taft-Hartley Act, was passed over President Truman’s veto on June 23, 1947, and substantially narrowed the forms of collective action protected under federal labor law.
The Troubling Precedent of Federal Immunity for Corporate Pollution
Last week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a notice in a US District Court to dismiss a case between the NAACP and Elon Musk’s xAI based on “federal policy, national security, and the public interest.” The case revolves around a gas turbine plant dubbed the Colossus Gas Plant that residents complain is pumping toxic pollutants into nearby neighborhoods.
States Face Massive Medicaid Issues Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The changes to Medicaid outlined in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) are still coming into view – and so are the policy adjustments that states can make to maintain enrollment. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the federal government will save $911 billion over 10 years from enacting these changes to Medicaid and that 10 million people will lose health insurance as a result.
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