More than a quarter of Californians live in or near poverty, and the longstanding divide between rich and poor poses a major challenge for our state and nation. PPIC builds understanding of what economic disparities mean for households and communities, while highlighting policies that can broaden opportunity and increase well-being.
Recent Content
View All →![photo - Box of Food at Foodbank](jpg/close-up-box-of-food-at-foodbank-320x213.jpg)
Income Inequality in California
Tess Thorman, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Joseph Herrera
![photo - Woman Tutoring Preteen Boy in School Library](jpg/woman-tutoring-preteen-boy-in-school-library-320x213.jpg)
Are Summer School Programs Reaching Students Who Need Them Most?
Darriya Starr, Niu Gao
![photo - Nurses Talking with Patients in Waiting Room](jpg/nurses-talking-with-patients-in-waiting-room-320x213.jpg)
As a Pandemic Medi-Cal Policy Ends, Some Californians Will Fall through the Cracks
Paulette Cha
![photo - Hotel Workers Wearing Facemasks Standing in a Row](jpg/hotel-workers-wearing-facemasks-standing-in-a-row-320x213.jpg)
As the COVID Emergency Ends, a Look at the Pandemic’s Economic Impact
Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Jenny Duan
![photo - Man handing soup to a woman at a food bank](jpg/food-bank-man-handing-soup-to-woman-320x213.jpg)
Poverty Varies across California’s Regions
Patricia Malagon
![photo - Young woman with her child in a shelter](jpg/young-woman-with-child-in-shelter-320x213.jpg)
Homeless Populations Are Rising around California
Jennifer Paluch, Joseph Herrera
![photo - California Poppy Bloom on Grass Mountain Trail, Santa Barbara County](jpg/california-poppy-bloom-on-grass-mountain-trail-santa-barbara-county-320x213.jpg)
2022 Year in Review
Mark Baldassare
![photo - Student Thinking at His Desk](jpg/student-thinking-at-his-desk-320x213.jpg)
Test Scores Show Six-Year Setback for California Students
Darriya Starr, Emmanuel Prunty, Joseph Herrera, Iwunze Ugo
![Person Filling Up the Car in a Gas Station](jpg/person-filling-up-the-car-in-a-gas-station-320x213.jpg)
Video: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Portrait of a Native American Family at the Park](jpg/portrait-of-a-native-american-family-at-the-park-320x213.jpg)
California’s Native American Community
Eric McGhee
![Person Filling Up the Car in a Gas Station](jpg/person-filling-up-the-car-in-a-gas-station-320x213.jpg)
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
![photo - Sisters Eating Popsicles in Backyard](jpg/sisters-eating-popsicles-in-backyard-320x213.jpg)
Steep Declines in Child Poverty Have Been Driven by Safety Net Programs
Caroline Danielson
![photo - Old Lady in Soup Kitchen Line](jpg/old-lady-in-soup-kitchen-line-320x213.jpg)
Poverty in California
Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon, Sarah Bohn
![](jpg/hands-with-cellphone-and-economy-charts-1-320x213.jpg)
Making Sense of California’s Economy
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Elementary School Student Sitting at Desk in Classroom and Writing with a Pencil](jpg/elementary-school-student-sitting-at-desk-in-classroom-and-writing-with-a-pencil-320x213.jpg)
What’s Ahead for Education Recovery in California?
Niu Gao, Julian Betts, Bruce Fuller, Laura Hill ...
![photo - Homeless Encampment on a Street in California](jpg/homeless-encampment-on-a-street-california-320x213.jpg)
Video: Homelessness in California’s Cities
Mary Severance
![photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance](jpg/external-emergency-room-with-blurred-ambulance-320x213.jpg)
Video: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Mary Severance
![photo - Homeless Encampment in Downtown Los Angeles](jpg/homeless-encampment-in-downtown-los-angeles-320x213.jpg)
Most Californians Continue to Identify Homelessness as a Big Problem
Deja Thomas
![photo - Brother and Sister Eating Breakfast](jpg/brother-and-sister-eating-breakfast-320x213.jpg)
Testimony: The Role of State Tax Credits in Helping Low-Income Families
Caroline Danielson
![photo - Restaurant Dishwasher and Kitchen Worker](jpg/restaurant-dishwasher-and-worker-320x213.jpg)
Video: The Importance of CalFresh in Unstable Times
Mary Severance
![photo - Father Preparing Meal with Sons in Kitchen](jpg/father-preparing-meal-with-sons-in-kitchen-320x213.jpg)
Fewer California Adults and Far Fewer Children Are in Poverty in 2021
Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon
![photo - Woman's Hand Pushing Shopping Cart in Grocery Store](jpg/hand-pushing-grocery-cart-blurred-background-320x213.jpg)
The Role of CalFresh in Stabilizing Family Incomes
Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman
![photo - Woman's Hand Pushing Shopping Cart in Grocery Store](jpg/hand-pushing-grocery-cart-blurred-background-320x213.jpg)
Policy Brief: The Role of CalFresh in Stabilizing Family Incomes
Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman, Vicki Hsieh
![photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance](jpg/external-emergency-room-with-blurred-ambulance-320x213.jpg)
How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ...
![photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance](jpg/external-emergency-room-with-blurred-ambulance-320x213.jpg)
Policy Brief: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ...
![photo - Vegetables and Fruit in a Reusable Bag](jpg/vegetables-and-fruit-in-a-reusable-bag-320x213.jpg)
Basic Needs Centers at California Colleges Can Help Fight Student Hunger
Eliana Blachman, Caroline Danielson
![photo - Three Work Colleagues Talking in Open Office](jpg/three-work-colleagues-talking-in-open-office-320x213.jpg)
California’s Evolving Economy
Sarah Bohn
![photo - Boy Sitting in Grocery Store Cart Reaching for Apple from Produce Display](jpg/boy-sitting-in-grocery-store-cart-reaching-for-apple-from-produce-display-320x213.jpg)
Inflation Is Undercutting Pandemic-Era Increases in Food Assistance
Tess Thorman, Eliana Blachman
![photo - Woman Packing and Stacking Moving Boxes](jpg/woman-packing-and-stacking-moving-boxes-320x213.jpg)
California’s Population Shifts May Lead to New Income Divides
Eric McGhee
![photo - Restaurant Dishwasher and Kitchen Worker](jpg/restaurant-dishwasher-and-worker-320x213.jpg)
Employment Patterns for CalFresh Adults
Tess Thorman, Caroline Danielson
![photo - Restaurant Dishwasher and Kitchen Worker](jpg/restaurant-dishwasher-and-worker-320x213.jpg)
Policy Brief: Employment Patterns for CalFresh Adults
Tess Thorman, Caroline Danielson, Stephanie Barton
![photo - Hand Holding Federal Treasury Check and Envelope](jpg/hand-holding-federal-treasury-check-and-envelope-320x213.jpg)
How Did Pandemic Stimulus Funds Affect Income Inequality in California?
Sarah Bohn, Tess Thorman, Joseph Herrera
![photo - Learners in Lindsay Unified School District](jpg/learners-in-lindsay-unified-school-district-320x213.jpg)
Lessons in Innovation from Lindsay Unified School District
Mary Severance, Niu Gao
![photo - Adult Hand Holding Infant Hand](jpg/adult-hand-holding-infant-hand-320x213.jpg)
Public Health Insurance in California
Paulette Cha
![photo - Students Lined Up Outside Classroom and Wearing Masks](jpg/students-lined-up-outside-classroom-and-wearing-masks-320x213.jpg)
Addressing Inequities in Reopening Schools during COVID
Joseph Herrera, Darriya Starr, Emmanuel Prunty, Niu Gao
![photo - Woman Being Vaccinated](jpg/woman-being-vaccinated-320x213.jpg)
As COVID Deaths Have Declined, Disparities for Latinos Have Narrowed
Shannon McConville
![photo - Woman Is Waiting for Last Drop of Water from a Tap](jpg/woman-is-waiting-for-last-drop-of-water-from-a-tap-320x213.jpg)
Making Water Affordable for Low-Income Households
Sarah Bardeen
![photo - Electric Power Line Along a Rural Highway in Bridgeport, California](jpg/electric-power-line-along-rural-highway-in-bridgeport-california-320x213.jpg)
California’s Digital Divide
Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao, Darriya Starr
![photo - Two Young Students Use Laptop for Schoolwork](jpg/two-young-students-use-laptop-for-schoolwork-320x213.jpg)
The Digital Divide in Education
Darriya Starr, Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao
![photo - Unhappy Young Woman Looking Out Window](jpg/unhappy-young-woman-looking-out-window-320x213.jpg)
Video: Responding to the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Carrying Moving Box](jpg/carrying-moving-box-320x213.jpg)
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Who’s Leaving California
Eric McGhee
![photo - Elderly Man in Hotel Room Looking out Window](jpg/elderly-man-in-hotel-room-looking-out-window-320x213.jpg)
Early Evidence of Shifts in Local Homeless Populations during the Pandemic
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Joseph Herrera, Hans Johnson
![photo - Teacher Reading to School Children](jpg/african-american-teacher-reading-to-school-children-320x213.jpg)
Video: Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Stephanie Barton
![photo - Students Eating Lunch at School](jpg/students-eating-lunch-at-school-320x213.jpg)
School Meals May Help Families Fight Food Inflation
Caroline Danielson, Niu Gao
![photo - Teacher Reading to School Children](jpg/african-american-teacher-reading-to-school-children-320x213.jpg)
Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Julien Lafortune
![photo - Teacher Reading to School Children](jpg/african-american-teacher-reading-to-school-children-320x213.jpg)
Policy Brief: Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Julien Lafortune, Stephanie Barton
![photo - Students Talking on Campus](jpg/students-talking-on-campus-320x213.jpg)
Native American Students May Gain Better Access to UC with New Aid Program
Kevin Cook, Laura Hill
![photo - Preschool Boy Playing with Blocks](jpg/preschool-boy-plays-with-blocks-320x213.jpg)
Video: Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Aerial View of Subdivision in Irvine, California](jpg/aerial-view-of-subdivision-in-irvine-california-320x213.jpg)
California’s Housing Divide
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune
![photo - Preschool Boy Playing with Blocks](jpg/preschool-boy-plays-with-blocks-320x213.jpg)
Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Laura Hill, Emmanuel Prunty
![photo - Preschool Boy Playing with Blocks](jpg/preschool-boy-plays-with-blocks-320x213.jpg)
Policy Brief: Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Laura Hill, Emmanuel Prunty, Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Construction Workers Building New Railway Line](jpg/construction-workers-building-new-railway-line-320x213.jpg)
Will Infrastructure Investments Mean Better Jobs for Californians?
Daniel Payares-Montoya, Shannon McConville, Sarah Bohn
![photo - Residential Building in San Francisco](jpg/residential-building-in-san-francisco-320x213.jpg)
Many California Renters Fear Eviction Despite Increased Aid
Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
![photo - Homeless Encampment on a Street in California](jpg/homeless-encampment-on-a-street-california-320x213.jpg)
Views on Homelessness Have Shifted in Some California Regions
Deja Thomas
![photo - Elementary School Students Raising Hands and Wearing Masks in Classroom](jpg/elementary-school-students-raising-hands-and-wearing-masks-in-classroom-320x213.jpg)
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about Education?
Mary Severance
![photo - Young Woman Standing in the Middle of a Crowded Street](jpg/young-woman-standing-in-the-middle-of-a-crowded-street-320x213.jpg)
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about Ensuring an Equitable Recovery?
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Crowd on San Francisco Street](jpg/blurry-crowd-on-san-francisco-street-320x213.jpg)
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about the Economy?
Vicki Hsieh
![photo - Woman and Piles of Bills](jpg/woman-and-piles-of-bills-320x213.jpg)
High Prices Causing Financial Hardships for Many Californians
Rachel Lawler
![photo - Moving Boxes in Living Room of New Home](jpg/moving-boxes-in-living-room-of-new-home-320x213.jpg)
Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In?
Hans Johnson
![photo - Man Pumping Gas](jpg/man-pumping-gas-320x213.jpg)
Gas Prices Stretch Family Budgets
Sarah Bohn, Daniel Payares-Montoya
![photo - Warehouse Worker Wearing Hard Hat and Mask while Working on Tablet](jpg/warehouse-worker-wearing-hard-hat-and-mask-and-working-on-tablet-320x213.jpg)
Video: Two Years of COVID in California
Ashlyn Perri
![photo - Woman Washing Hands in Kitchen Sink](jpg/woman-washing-hands-in-kitchen-sink-320x213.jpg)
“When You Know Better, Do Better”: A Water Agency’s Journey Through the Pandemic
Sarah Bardeen
![photo - Mother Giving Daughter a Hug](jpg/mother-giving-daughter-a-hug-and-holding-bag-320x213.jpg)
How Did the Pandemic Transform California’s Safety Net?
Caroline Danielson
![photo - Bunks in a homeless shelter](jpg/homeless-shelter-bunks-320x213.jpg)
A Snapshot of Homeless Californians in Shelters
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Joseph Herrera
![photo - Mother and daughter with doctor at appointment in office](jpg/mother-and-daughter-with-doctor-in-medical-office-320x213.jpg)
Medi-Cal Expansion Has Reduced Financial Barriers to Needed Health Care
Paulette Cha
![photo - Father with Daughter Looking Over Financial Paperwork](jpg/father-with-daughter-looking-over-financial-paperwork-320x213.jpg)
Half of Californians Predict Bad Economic Times in the Coming Year
Deja Thomas
![photo - Mother with Daughter Moving Groceries from Cart to Trunk of Car](jpg/mother-with-daughter-moving-groceries-from-cart-to-trunk-of-car-320x213.jpg)
How Are Wage Gains and Government Programs Helping Families Confront Rising Prices?
Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune, Patricia Malagon
![photo - Teenage Girl Using Laptop and Wearing Headphones at Home](jpg/teenage-girl-using-laptop-and-wearing-headphones-at-home-320x213.jpg)
Building a Community-Owned Broadband Network in Imperial County
Joseph Hayes, Mary Severance, Niu Gao
![photo - Warehouse Worker Checking Products](jpg/warehouse-worker-checking-products-320x213.jpg)
Delivering on an Equitable Recovery for Californians
Sarah Bohn, Shannon McConville, Daniel Payares-Montoya
![photo - Woman Paying for Groceries](jpg/woman-paying-for-groceries-320x213.jpg)
Starting the Year with Less (Real) Money
Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune
![photo - Business Owner Using Digital Tablet In Store](jpg/business-owner-using-digital-tablet-in-store-320x213.jpg)
Californians and the American Dream
Dean Bonner
![photo - Student working on computer at night](jpg/student-looking-at-computer-at-night-getty-320x213.jpg)
Commentary: Narrowing the Digital Divide with Pandemic Benefits
Joseph Hayes, Darriya Starr, Niu Gao