News – Page 13 – Matrix Global Advisors

Dec212011

Tales From the Unemployment Line: Barriers Facing the Long-Term Unemployed

December 21, 2011Filed Under: Testimony

As my testimony will describe, the recent improvement in payrolls and the unemployment rate are welcome news, but the plight of the long-term unemployed in the United States is considerable. The policies that have been executed since mid-2008 to foster an economic recovery have failed to deliver measurable results, and those most hurt by the current downturn are often the long-term unemployed. In fact, some policy actions taken by Congress and the Administration have likely exacerbated the duration of unemployment for some workers, the consequences of which are significant fiscal, economic, and social costs.

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Oct12011

The Real Tax Burden: More Than Dollars and Cents

October 1, 2011Filed Under: Books

Using the fundamental concept of “excess burden” as their guide, in “The Real Tax Burden: More Than Dollars and Cents,” Alex Brill and Alan Viard illustrate how taxes work and their affect on such things as wages, savings, and economic growth. The authors describe past and present forms of taxation, discuss our current income and corporate tax policy, and critique various options for fundamental tax reform. “The Real Tax Burden” is a primer in the Values & Capitalism series intended for college students.

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Jun232011

Social Security’s Finances

June 23, 2011Filed Under: Testimony

As the Subcommittee is well aware, the 2011 Social Security Trustees Report was released last month, and it projects that the combined Social Security trust funds will begin to be drawn down in 2023 and will be exhausted in 2036, one year earlier than projected in the 2010 Trustees Report.

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Jun222011

The State of U.S. Manufacturing

June 22, 2011Filed Under: Testimony

The significance of manufacturing to the U.S. economy is undeniable, and the role and dynamics of this sector are important to study. It is critical to recognize, however, that manufacturing is but one segment of the U.S. economy, and the share of the resources dedicated to this sector should be determined by market forces, not government policy.

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Jun142011

Retirement Security: Challenges Confronting Pension Plan Sponsors, Workers, and Retirees

June 14, 2011Filed Under: Testimony

Sound retirement security policy for future retirees requires planning. Ensuring the goal of adequate asset accumulation at retirement necessitates sufficient savings throughout an individual’s career. To that end, workers need to be engaged; employers need to be responsible; and policymakers must ensure that pension law, tax law, and the Social Security system operate in a manner that promotes opportunities for private saving, appropriate retirement asset management, and sustainability and predictability. Together, these programs should complement the goal to strengthen the financial security of our workforce.

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May102011

An Incremental Approach to Social Security Reform

May 10, 2011Filed Under: Testimony

Chairman Baucus remarked at the opening of the first hearing in this series that “[a]ddressing our deficits and debts is an economic issue, a national security issue and a moral issue.” He went on to say that “we have a moral obligation to leave this place better than we found it, but today, our fiscal challenges prevent us from meeting that responsibility.”

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Apr72011

Saving on Multi-Source Drugs in Ohio’s Medicaid Program

April 7, 2011Filed Under: Testimony

In my testimony today, I offer evidence that there exists a good opportunity to achieve savings in Ohio’s Medicaid drug program without cutting benefits or quality of care. I will begin my testimony with a brief comment about the Medicaid program in Ohio, then discuss research I have recently published on overspending on certain drugs in Medicaid both nationally and in Ohio, and conclude with a remark regarding possible policy options to consider.

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Feb162011

The Stimulus: Two Years Later

February 16, 2011Filed Under: Testimony

The two-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) presents an appropriate time to evaluate the legislation’s effectiveness. There are many metrics by which one could assess this massive federal policy, but in my testimony today, I will focus on just two: cost and “shovel-readiness.”

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May62010

Factors Affecting Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Solvency

May 6, 2010Filed Under: Testimony

This is an important and timely hearing. As Department of Labor (DOL) Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Jane Oates recently noted in testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, “It is clear that solvency of the UI system will be a concern over the next decade.” I share the concern about the viability and health of many state UI trust funds and am concerned about labor markets in the United States generally over the near and medium term.

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Jul142009

Statement Before the Judiciary Committee

July 14, 2009Filed Under: Testimony

To avoid the building of any undue suspense, I will begin with my conclusion. Biologic drugs offer great promise for improving outcomes in healthcare. While they are costly, time consuming and risky products to develop, they offer some of the best hopes for treating some of the nation’s most deadly and debilitating diseases.

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