On this day in 1972, an amendment to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 authorized WIC (the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children) as a two-year pilot program. #FigureFriday

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A federal earned paid time off program could unify our existing patchwork of state and local policies, reducing burdens for employers and employees alike. Read @betseystevenson.bsky.social’s proposal for a federal guarantee for earned paid time off:

ICYMI, this weekend USDA announced that it would not field the Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey - the source of information about the state of food insecurity and hunger in America - this December. The press release is full of falsehoods: www.fns.usda.gov/newsroom/usd...

Thinking about climate policy this week? So are we! This #ClimateWeekNYC, explore some of THP’s past climate and energy work:

What are work requirements, and how do they affect SNAP recipients? For this week’s #FigureFriday, @laurenhlb.bsky.social and @chloeneast.bsky.social review the literature on SNAP work requirements: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

In this THP proposal, Matt Marx argues that the benefits of noncompetes “accrue primarily to employers and at the expense of employees.” He offers five avenues for reform to better balance the interests of firms and workers: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

“This entire notion that states should pay in benefit amounts because their payment error rates are too high is an utterly unprecedented and untested idea.” THP’s @laurenhlb.bsky.social spoke to @alexis-madrigal.bsky.social about the budget bill’s cuts to SNAP:

In @wsj.com, @avivaaron-dine.bsky.social discusses new data from the Census Bureau on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage: www.wsj.com/economy/cons...

What’s happening at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)? Olivia Howard, @laurenhlb.bsky.social, @cmcnich.bsky.social, and Margaret Poydock use administrative data to track NLRB actions: #FigureFriday www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

Become a research assistant at The Hamilton Project! Apply now through October 15, 2025:

We’ve updated our trade tracker with the latest data through July 2025. Monitor the effects of tariff policies on trade:

In @usatoday.com, @laurenhlb.bsky.social discusses recent trends in labor force participation among prime-age mothers—and why it matters: www.usatoday.com/story/money/... Read more analysis on the labor market: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

Prime-age women powered the post-pandemic labor market recovery. Amid concerns about women leaving the workforce, our analysis for #FigureFriday shows that prime-age women's labor force participation rate has been stable over the course of 2025 once adjusted for seasonal patterns.

For most of this year, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which enforces employee protections, has lacked a quorum. How has this affected NLRB actions? Olivia Howard, @laurenhlb.bsky.social, @cmcnich.bsky.social, and Margaret Poydock explore the data:

Check out the Hutchins Center’s list of trackers covering Trump administration actions—including our trade and work permits trackers: www.brookings.edu/articles/tra... www.hamiltonproject.org/data/

Our work permits tracker is now updated with data through July 2025. Explore what’s happening with work permit applications and outcomes:

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) currently has fewer than three members, leaving it without a quorum. What is the NLRB, what can the Board do without a quorum, and what is the current state of NLRB caseloads? Find answers to these questions and more:

Between December 1935 (the first month with a Board decision) and December 2024, there were only four months in which the NLRB published no decisions. Between January and July of this year, there have been five. Learn more this #FigureFriday: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

NEW: In January, President Trump fired NLRB Member Gwynne Wilcox, leaving the Board without a quorum. Olivia Howard, @laurenhlb.bsky.social‬, @cmcnich.bsky.social, and Margaret Poydock explore what this means for the Board and how NLRB actions in 2025 have compared to recent years.

Do work requirements work? @laurenhlb.bsky.social and @chloeneast.bsky.social review the literature on SNAP work requirements:

In @nytimes.com, @bobgreensteindc.bsky.social discusses the potential impact of the budget bill’s cuts to SNAP: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/u...

We’re hiring! The Hamilton Project is hiring a research assistant to conduct in-depth research into pressing economic policy issues, including labor and tax. Apply here:

This #FigureFriday, explore our data interactives on federal expenditures, real pay, trade, and more: www.hamiltonproject.org/data/

Try out our federal expenditures tracker: www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...

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Our recent analysis highlights key trends in prime-age (ages 25–54) labor force participation. Read it here for #FigureFriday: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

Happy back-to-school season! 🍎 Get ready for the upcoming school year by exploring our work on education: www.hamiltonproject.org/topics/educa... Stay tuned for more work to come by signing up for our newsletter: www.hamiltonproject.org/signup/

In @economist.com, @bobgreensteindc.bsky.social discusses the budget reconciliation bill’s potential impact on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): www.economist.com/united-state...

With school right around the corner, revisit this THP policy proposal on supporting student-parents with high-quality, reliable, and affordable child care: #FigureFriday www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

There are various ways to evaluate recent trends in real pay, including using different pay and inflation measures and reference periods. These factors can lead to different conclusions about trends in real pay in the United States. Learn more with our updated interactive:

On August 5, 1997—28 years ago today—the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 was signed into law, creating the Child Tax Credit. This paper from @bobgreensteindc.bsky.social explores the history of the CTC and other safety net programs, their impact of poverty, and recommendations for future policy:

How are businesses and trade partners reacting to tariffs? Our updated trade tracker provides insight into: - Total merchandise trade by industry and country - Calculated duties on merchandise imports - Merchandise trade price inflation - Total merchandise trade by principal end-use

Is pay keeping up with inflation? We’ve updated our wage tracker with the latest data through Q2 2025. Try it out for #FigureFriday: www.hamiltonproject.org/data/has-pay...

“I am of the mind that hunger for children is a solvable problem,” @laurenhlb.bsky.social‬ told the Des Moines Register’s @svhernandez.bsky.social and @writefelissa.bsky.social. “And it does require an all-of-the-above strategy.” Read about the crucial role Summer EBT plays in combating hunger:

@hamiltonproject.org's trade tracker is updated through May/June. Check it out here: www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin... #EconSky #Trade

Immigrants play a crucial role in the U.S. economy and workforce. Our tracker—now updated with data through June 2025—offers insight into how changes in the pace of immigration are affecting labor supply.

What does the government spend money on, and why does the federal debt matter? Hear from @avivaaron-dine.bsky.social on @npr.org’s @planetmoney.bsky.social:

“Now that telework is more widely available, we’re seeing many different workers availing themselves of this option.” @laurenhlb.bsky.social spoke to @texasstandard.bsky.social about our new analysis of prime-age labor force participation:

Want to dig deep into federal funding? 🔎 Our federal expenditures tracker is updated with the latest Monthly Treasury Statement. www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...

Our interactives provide data-driven insights into the economy. 📊📈 For #FigureFriday, explore: - SNAP payment error rates www.hamiltonproject.org/data/snap-pa... - Federal expenditures www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin... - Work permit applications www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...

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On this day in 1910, President William Howard Taft argued that everyone should take three months off each year because there “is such a thing as exhausting the capital of one’s health and constitution.” 1/

Low-income workers often experience volatility in employment, earnings, and work hours, which can limit their ability to meet work requirements. This #FigureFriday, explore our recent work on volatility: - www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/... - www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

“It’s a very imprecise estimate that is now going to have very, very big consequences.” @laurenhlb.bsky.social spoke to @spotlightpa.org about using SNAP payment error rates to push SNAP benefit costs onto states: www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/07...

World Youth Skills Day recognizes the importance of equipping youth with the skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. This #YouthSkillsDay, explore three THP policy proposals on improving youth education and workforce training: ⬇️

Watch coverage of our analysis of prime-age labor force participation, with @alivitali.bsky.social on @msnbc.com’s @waytooearly.bsky.social: www.msnbc.com/way-too-earl... ➡️ Read the analysis here: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

This summer, many young adults will relocate to attend college or start their careers. Due to financial costs and other barriers, many others won’t. This #FigureFriday, Abigail Wozniak makes the case for encouraging mobility to improve economic opportunity: www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...

U.S. labor force participation has been rising for young women and falling for young men. A new analysis from @hamiltonproject.org examines post-pandemic dynamics in the labor market.

NEW: These seven economic facts take stock of the labor market through May 2025, highlighting key trends in prime-age (ages 25–54) labor force participation. 📊 www.hamiltonproject.org/publication/...