The Summer Employment Experiences and the Personal/ Social Behaviors of Youth Violence Prevention Employment Program Participants and Those of a Comparison Group

The summer job market for teens in both Massachusetts and the U.S. over the past five years has been quite depressed, with record low summer employment rates for the nation's teens being set in the past three years (2010-2012).1 The teen summer employment rate in Massachusetts fell from 67% in 1999 to only 36% in 2012, a decline of 31 percentage points (Chart 1). Black and Hispanic teens, especially those residing in low income families and from high poverty neighborhoods, have experienced the greatest difficulties in finding employment in the summer. Lack of job opportunities reduces teens' exposure to the world of work and their ability to acquire both basic employability skills (attendance, team work, communicating with other workers and customers) and occupational skills. Being jobless all summer also increases their risk of social isolation (staying at home), hanging out on the street, and exposure to or participation in urban violence and delinquent behavior

Gender gaps: the gaps in college degree attainment between New England men and women are rising

Boys have been falling behind girls in school for more than two decades. Recognizing the problem is the first step toward a solution.College graduates - New England ; Career development - Sex differences

Regional convergence in outputs and incomes in Italy and the U.S.

One of the key topics of international and inter-regional research in the past decade has been that of convergence or divergence in real outputs and incomes across countries and regions within individual countries. Most empirical studies, however, tend to focus on only one measure of economic performance (per capita GDP or value added per capita or per capita incomes) rather than multiple measures of performance and fail to conduct comparative studies of multiple measures across countries. Do nations differ in the comparative degree of inequality across alternative measures of economic performance? This research paper attempts to address these past shortcomings by focusing on identifying, analyzing and comparing the degree of inequality and the degree of convergence or divergence overtime in three important economic performance measures - per capita real outputs, family and household incomes, and per capita incomes with families - in regions of Italy and the U.S. over the past two decades. In this study, we analyze three measures of regional economic performance in each country and three statistical measures of regional inequality: the coefficient of variation (Sigma convergence), the relative size of the differences between the highest and the lowest regions in per capita outputs and family incomes, and simple regression tests for the unconditional convergence of per capita outputs or family/median household incomes across regions of Italy and the U.S. from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. Findings in this paper will illustrate the comparative degree of inequality in regional economic performance measures within Italy and the U.S., estimate differences in the degree of inequality across these three measures within both countries, and analyze convergence trends over time in regional economic performance for each of these measures within both countries. Factors contributing to the remaining differences in regional inequality within these two countries will be identified, and future research issues will be reviewed.

The Consequences of Dropping Out of High School: Joblessness and Jailing for High School Dropouts and the High Cost for Taxpayers

Dropping out of high school is correlated with lower employment prospects, teen and young adult pregnancy, and incarceration, according to this research paper's data analysis. Breaking down these outcomes by variables such as race, age, gender, and family income, it becomes clear that the problems are most severe among men and African-Americans. Lastly, the researchers present the economic costs to society of this phenomenon

The Plummeting Labor Market Fortunes of Teens and Young Adults

Employment prospects for teens and young adults in the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas plummeted between 2000 and 2011. On a number of measures -- employment rates, labor force underutilization, unemployment, and year-round joblessness -- teens and young adults fared poorly, and sometimes disastrously. While labor market problems affected all young people, some groups had better outcomes than others: Non-Hispanic whites, those from higher income households, those with work experience, and those with higher levels of education were more successful in the labor market. In particular, education and previous work experience were most strongly associated with employment.Policy and program efforts to reduce youth joblessness and labor force underutilizationshould focus on the following priorities: incorporating more work-based learning (such as apprenticeships, co-ops, and internships) into education and training; creating tighter linkages between secondary and post-secondary education; ensuring that training meets regional labor market needs; expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit; and facilitating the transition of young people into the labor market through enhanced career counseling, mentoring, occupational and work-readiness skills development, and the creation of short-term subsidized jobs

The Southwest Corridor and Economic Development in Boston\u27s Neighborhoods

The Southwest Corridor is a narrow strip of land running five miles from the South End of Boston through Roxbury and ending in Jamaica Plain. Twenty years ago, neighborhoods through which the Corridor passes experienced tremendous upheaval as space was cleared for the proposed construction of Interstate 95. The communities were able to stop the highway project, but not without a long and difficult struggle and the eventual support of then Governor Francis Sargent. Today, the Southwest Corridor Project involves a new MBTA Orange Line relocated along the Corridor, with nine new stations at a total cost of approximately $750 million. The relocated transportation route, which opened recently, is the first stage of an anticipated economic revitalization of the area. Because of the relocation, the land use patterns in the neighborhoods adjacent to the Corridor are expected to be altered significantly as new economic development opportunities are created. One of the most important development opportunities is located in Parcel 18, the anchor parcel of the Southwest Corridor Project, located in Roxbury adjacent to the Ruggles Station. Within a few years, up to a million square feet of office and retail space and other complementary land uses will be developed, and several thousand permanent jobs are expected to be generated. A large number of construction jobs will be available even sooner. This article examines the extent to which development of Parcel 18 will benefit the neighborhoods surrounding the parcel. First, we present a brief history and overview of the Southwest Corridor Project with an emphasis on the history of community involvement. Second, we describe recent efforts to increase the likelihood that community residents will benefit from the economic development of Parcel 18. Third, we present the case for a focused economic development effort that emphasizes benefits to the South End and Roxbury neighborhoods surrounding the Parcel 18 area. Our argument is supported by an analysis of 1980 census data and 1985 labor force, earnings, and income data from a Boston Redevelopment Authority household survey. Finally, we examine the policy implications of our findings

Mass Economy: The Labor Supply and Our Economic Future

Presents findings on the current health of the state's labor force and provides policy options for attracting and retaining workers, particularly older workers and immigrants

Poverty Amid Renewed Affluence: The Poor of New England at Mid-Decade

This article examines the problem of poverty in New England during the current period of economic prosperity. Major trends in the size and composition of the poor population within the region are analyzed. Striking changes in the relative incidence of poverty have occurred among families in New England. As the economy has moved toward full employment, poverty rates among husband-wife families in the region have fallen sharply. In contrast, female-headed families in New England have not benefited substantially from recent rapid increases in employment opportunities. The result has been a persistent trend toward the feminization of poverty in New England. The bulk of poor female family heads are of working age and could potentially be brought into the region\u27s work force. However, education and training services that can successfully attack fundamental barriers to labor force participation must be delivered to these women. Programs designed to overcome low levels of educational attainment and deficient basic skills must be combined with child care and other social services in order to further reduce overall poverty rates across the New England region