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 →Income Inequality in California
Tess Thorman, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Joseph Herrera
Are Summer School Programs Reaching Students Who Need Them Most?
Darriya Starr, Niu Gao
As a Pandemic Medi-Cal Policy Ends, Some Californians Will Fall through the Cracks
Paulette Cha
As the COVID Emergency Ends, a Look at the Pandemic’s Economic Impact
Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Jenny Duan
Poverty Varies across California’s Regions
Patricia Malagon
Homeless Populations Are Rising around California
Jennifer Paluch, Joseph Herrera
2022 Year in Review
Mark Baldassare
Test Scores Show Six-Year Setback for California Students
Darriya Starr, Emmanuel Prunty, Joseph Herrera, Iwunze Ugo
Video: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Vicki Hsieh
California’s Native American Community
Eric McGhee
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas
Steep Declines in Child Poverty Have Been Driven by Safety Net Programs
Caroline Danielson
Poverty in California
Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon, Sarah Bohn
Making Sense of California’s Economy
Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Vicki Hsieh
What’s Ahead for Education Recovery in California?
Niu Gao, Julian Betts, Bruce Fuller, Laura Hill ...
Video: Homelessness in California’s Cities
Mary Severance
Video: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Mary Severance
Most Californians Continue to Identify Homelessness as a Big Problem
Deja Thomas
Testimony: The Role of State Tax Credits in Helping Low-Income Families
Caroline Danielson
Video: The Importance of CalFresh in Unstable Times
Mary Severance
Fewer California Adults and Far Fewer Children Are in Poverty in 2021
Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon
The Role of CalFresh in Stabilizing Family Incomes
Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman
Policy Brief: The Role of CalFresh in Stabilizing Family Incomes
Caroline Danielson, Tess Thorman, Vicki Hsieh
How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ...
Policy Brief: How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy
Shannon McConville, Hemal Kanzaria, Renee Hsia, Maria Raven ...
Basic Needs Centers at California Colleges Can Help Fight Student Hunger
Eliana Blachman, Caroline Danielson
California’s Evolving Economy
Sarah Bohn
Inflation Is Undercutting Pandemic-Era Increases in Food Assistance
Tess Thorman, Eliana Blachman
California’s Population Shifts May Lead to New Income Divides
Eric McGhee
Employment Patterns for CalFresh Adults
Tess Thorman, Caroline Danielson
Policy Brief: Employment Patterns for CalFresh Adults
Tess Thorman, Caroline Danielson, Stephanie Barton
How Did Pandemic Stimulus Funds Affect Income Inequality in California?
Sarah Bohn, Tess Thorman, Joseph Herrera
Lessons in Innovation from Lindsay Unified School District
Mary Severance, Niu Gao
Public Health Insurance in California
Paulette Cha
Addressing Inequities in Reopening Schools during COVID
Joseph Herrera, Darriya Starr, Emmanuel Prunty, Niu Gao
As COVID Deaths Have Declined, Disparities for Latinos Have Narrowed
Shannon McConville
Making Water Affordable for Low-Income Households
Sarah Bardeen
California’s Digital Divide
Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao, Darriya Starr
The Digital Divide in Education
Darriya Starr, Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao
Video: Responding to the Youth Mental Health Crisis
Vicki Hsieh
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Who’s Leaving California
Eric McGhee
Early Evidence of Shifts in Local Homeless Populations during the Pandemic
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Joseph Herrera, Hans Johnson
Video: Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Stephanie Barton
School Meals May Help Families Fight Food Inflation
Caroline Danielson, Niu Gao
Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Julien Lafortune
Policy Brief: Understanding the Effects of School Funding
Julien Lafortune, Stephanie Barton
Native American Students May Gain Better Access to UC with New Aid Program
Kevin Cook, Laura Hill
Video: Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Vicki Hsieh
California’s Housing Divide
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune
Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Laura Hill, Emmanuel Prunty
Policy Brief: Setting the Stage for Universal Preschool
Laura Hill, Emmanuel Prunty, Vicki Hsieh
Will Infrastructure Investments Mean Better Jobs for Californians?
Daniel Payares-Montoya, Shannon McConville, Sarah Bohn
Many California Renters Fear Eviction Despite Increased Aid
Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune
Views on Homelessness Have Shifted in Some California Regions
Deja Thomas
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about Education?
Mary Severance
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about Ensuring an Equitable Recovery?
Vicki Hsieh
Video: COVID in California—What Have We Learned about the Economy?
Vicki Hsieh
High Prices Causing Financial Hardships for Many Californians
Rachel Lawler
Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In?
Hans Johnson
Gas Prices Stretch Family Budgets
Sarah Bohn, Daniel Payares-Montoya
Video: Two Years of COVID in California
Ashlyn Perri
“When You Know Better, Do Better”: A Water Agency’s Journey Through the Pandemic
Sarah Bardeen
How Did the Pandemic Transform California’s Safety Net?
Caroline Danielson
A Snapshot of Homeless Californians in Shelters
Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Hans Johnson, Joseph Herrera
Medi-Cal Expansion Has Reduced Financial Barriers to Needed Health Care
Paulette Cha
Half of Californians Predict Bad Economic Times in the Coming Year
Deja Thomas
How Are Wage Gains and Government Programs Helping Families Confront Rising Prices?
Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune, Patricia Malagon
Building a Community-Owned Broadband Network in Imperial County
Joseph Hayes, Mary Severance, Niu Gao
Delivering on an Equitable Recovery for Californians
Sarah Bohn, Shannon McConville, Daniel Payares-Montoya
Starting the Year with Less (Real) Money
Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune
Californians and the American Dream
Dean Bonner
Commentary: Narrowing the Digital Divide with Pandemic Benefits
Joseph Hayes, Darriya Starr, Niu Gao