When the Federal pandemic-related UI programs ended on September 6th, 2021, many Americans became aware of what low-income, government program-dependent Americans have long been aware of – a benefits cliff. This cliff occurs when public benefits taper off or phase out quickly, forcing beneficiaries to choose between earning more or maintaining what is often a vital subsidy. It is a classic Catch-22. These cliffs impact both short-term work incentives and long-term opportunities for growth in wages.
On this episode of “Hardly Working”, am joined by Dr. Alex Ruder, the principal advisor of Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Community and Economic Development team. We discuss Dr. Ruder’s vocational journey in workforce development policy, the Career Ladder Identifier and Financial Forecasting (CLIFF) tool that he helped develop, and the future of federal benefits and benefits cliffs post-pandemic.
Mentioned During the Episode:
AEI’s upcoming event on UI Reform
St. Louis Federal Reserve Publication on 1918 Influenza
Brent Orrell on how “Learning to Code” Isn’t Enough
Alex Ruder on Understanding and Overcoming Benefits Cliffs
Alex Ruder on Benefit Plateaus
Childcare Benefits Cliff Florida Case Study
Effective Marginal Tax Rate Series on Effective Tax Rates
Alex Ruder on Benefits Cliffs and Career Pathways
Entry-Level Healthcare Workforce Report
Programs on Smoothing Out Benefits Cliff Effects
