Economics | Penn Today

A young child sits in a hallway burying their head in their arms on a rather dirty carpet

Childhood exposure to trauma costs society $458 billion annually

Bureaucratic hurdles block access to treatment services, so they tend to go unused. This leads to adverse outcomes that put stress on public systems like social services and law enforcement.

Aerial view of a large crowd in Barcelona, many holding Catalonia flags

Barcelona protests: An expert take

Barcelona erupted in chaos and violence in October after Spain’s Supreme Court sentenced former leaders of Catalonia’s independence push to steep prison sentences. Three Penn experts talk to Penn Today about the ruling, the protests, and what it all means for the upcoming Spanish elections.

Would you take a money-back guarantee from a 401(k)? (The answer should be no)

Olivia Mitchell of the Wharton School spoke about the downsides of money-back guarantees for retirement accounts.

Millennials might have to save 40 percent of their income if they want to retire

New research by Olivia Mitchell of the Wharton School found that millennials will need to save more than 40% of their income in order to retire by 65.

As Democrats spar over guaranteed jobs, universal basic income and $15 minimum wage, which would best help Americans?

Ioana Marinescu of the School of Social Policy & Practice said that, in an ideal world, universal basic income would better improve the lives of Americans than a $15 hourly wage. The former is “a more ambitious plan, for sure, and therefore the rub is the cost,” she said.

Andrew Yang injected Silicon Valley’s favorite economic idea into the Democratic debate. Silicon Valley isn’t so happy about that

Amy Castro Baker of the School of Social Policy & Practice said universal basic income is looking increasingly possible now that it’s been embraced by the tech world. However, she cautioned, “if we move forward, but without the science of knowing how to best implement, we could create other forms of inequality.”

An economic crisis in your teens can alter your behavior for life, economists find

Arthur van Benthem of the Wharton School collaborated with economist Christopher Severen on an analysis of the impact of spikes in gas prices on Americans’ car-usage over time.

World map made up of visa stamp markings

How restricting skilled immigration could spur offshoring

Wharton School’s Britta Glennon discusses her research on the impact of restricting visas for high-skilled immigrants.

Exploring cryptocurrency and blockchain in Iceland

A virtual reality film, photo series, and soundscape from Penn and Rutgers document the effect this fast-growing tech industry is having on the country’s natural resources and people.

Uber or Lyft driver in traffic with a passenger in the backseat, view from backseat out the windshield

Why a California law could impact the future of the gig economy

Wharton management professors Matthew Bidwell and Lindsey Cameron discuss the recent “Uber Law,” giving drivers employee status, and what that means for the independent contractors and managers of the gig economy.

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