Thread by @alixgouldwerth

The @WaysMeansCmte hearing on #paidleave is getting started, and I am eager to hear how the #research enters the #policy debate!

@WaysMeansCmte Republican @RepKevinBrady talks about the multiple proposals for #paidleave. Read more about evidence-informed policy provisions, which include #caregiving and #medical leave as well as leave for #newchildren:

equitablegrowth.org/what-does-the-…

@WaysMeansCmte @RepKevinBrady @RosaDeLauro notes that low-income Americans struggle to afford paid leave. Indeed, research finds that 57% of employees earning $30,000 or less take on debt after a partially compensated or uncompensated #caregiving leave.

equitablegrowth.org/research-paper…

@WaysMeansCmte @RepKevinBrady @rosadelauro Love that @JoanLunden notes that #paidleave is not just for new babies: people need paid time off to care for family members of all ages. 38 percent of caregivers with little or no compensation to cut their caregiving leave short.

equitablegrowth.org/paid-family-ca…

@WaysMeansCmte @RepKevinBrady @rosadelauro @JoanLunden Legal aid clients say that #paidleave improves their lives and the research backs that up: @alex_stanczyk finds that a #paidleave program (with a #socialinsurance design like the #FAMILYAct) reduced poverty

equitablegrowth.org/new-research-s…

@WaysMeansCmte @RepKevinBrady @rosadelauro @JoanLunden @alex_stanczyk Important note on generalizability: the California program @alex_stanczyk looks at has a very low monetary eligibility threshold 🤔

@WaysMeansCmte @RepKevinBrady @rosadelauro @JoanLunden @alex_stanczyk Hearing from a business owner that supports #socialinsurance #paidleave. She's not alone: @Waldfogel and co-authors survey a random sample of employers in NJ & NY, finding that small and medium size employers favor their state policies. Check it out:

web.stanford.edu/~mrossin/Barte…

@WaysMeansCmte @RepKevinBrady @rosadelauro @JoanLunden @alex_stanczyk @Waldfogel Thanks @vshabo for pointing out that #MedicalLeave matters. We at @equitablegrowth are jonesing for more research on #PaidMedicalLeave but can tell you now that recipients only take as much leave as their condition warrants, typically less than 12 weeks:

equitablegrowth.org/what-does-the-…

@WaysMeansCmte @RepKevinBrady @rosadelauro @JoanLunden @alex_stanczyk @Waldfogel @VShabo @equitablegrowth Then @vshabo suggests improvements to the #FAMILYAct that are in line with the research. Wage replacement matters: Evidence suggests that California’s original 55 percent replacement rate was too low for low-income households to participate

equitablegrowth.org/what-does-the-…

@WaysMeansCmte @RepKevinBrady @rosadelauro @JoanLunden @alex_stanczyk @Waldfogel @VShabo @equitablegrowth Job protection matters, too! A study of the expansion of job protection in Great Britain finds that job protection had even stronger impacts than wage replacement on long-run maternal employment and job tenure...

...while wage replacement had stronger effects in the short run.

equitablegrowth.org/what-does-the-…

It’s a shining @equitablegrowth moment when @WaysMeansCmte policymakers reference research like @martha_j_bailey’s #paidleave study. We highlight lessons from the study and caution against generalizing these findings to the #FAMILYAct. #externalvalidity

equitablegrowth.org/new-paid-leave…

@equitablegrowth @WaysMeansCmte @martha_j_bailey Check out additional research on women's labor force participation and paid leave! @vshabo shouted out work by @kmpjones and @britniwilcher: ideas.repec.org/p/amu/wpaper/2…

@equitablegrowth @WaysMeansCmte @martha_j_bailey @VShabo @kmpjones @BritniWilcher And don't forget the classics! This is a great paper by @maya_rossin onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.100…

@equitablegrowth @WaysMeansCmte @martha_j_bailey @VShabo @kmpjones @BritniWilcher @maya_rossin #PaidLeave matters for Texas dads, noted @RepLloydDoggett. Check out @maya_rossin and @perssonpetra’s work: dad’s leave-taking leads to reduces health complications for moms

equitablegrowth.org/working-papers…

Other research finds that #PaidLeave for new dads leads to a more equitable distribution of housework and reduces the household wage gap:

equitablegrowth.org/for-fathers-da…

Thanks @KRnelp for reminding us to center race when we think about equity and #PaidLeave. @EquitableGrowth is calling for more research that looks at how #paidleave access varies by demographic group and putting $ behind that call! Apply by March 1:

equitablegrowth.org/research-paper…

@KRnelp @equitablegrowth Questions being raised about costs and benefits of #paidleave. Research in @jpam_dc suggests that #paidleave for older adults and their caretakers leads to unexpected savings: an ~11 percent decline in the share of older adults residing in nursing homes.

equitablegrowth.org/californias-pa…

@KRnelp @equitablegrowth @JPAM_DC Small business owner Rebecca Hamilton tells @WaysMeansCmte that it’s nearly impossible to quantify the incredible benefits that reduced turnover has for businesses’ bottom-line. @equitablegrowth invites you academics to try! RFP out now:

equitablegrowth.org/research-paper…

@KRnelp @equitablegrowth @JPAM_DC @WaysMeansCmte And that's a wrap! Turns out that #evidence does matter for #policy. Check out our summary of what research says so far about the #FAMILYAct provisions, and consider applying for @equitablegrowth research funding to contribute to the policy conversation.

equitablegrowth.org/what-does-the-…