MGS in the News
PLEASE NOTE: Many of the links below go to external news sites. Over time, some will expire.
Iraqi foes give mediation a chance
Boston Globe, November 19, 2009
Professor Padraig O'Malley, the John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation at the University of Massachusetts Boston’s McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is featured in this story about his work in pulling together top Iraqi leaders for a summit this week on the future of the oil-rich Kirkuk region in the north.
Jobs Summit
NECN, November 13, 2009
"Affairs of State" with Dr. Francoise Carre, Research Director for the Center for Social Policy at UMass Boston's McCormack Graduate School.
Basic Black Live: Images of African American Women & The Economy
WGBH, November 12, 2009
Colleen Powell, deputy director of the Commonwealth Compact, takes part in a roundtable discussion about media portrayals of African American women.
Stuck in the trenches
The Boston Globe, November 8, 2009
Nigel Hamilton, senior fellow in the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, and winner of the Templer Medal for Military History, reviews the book D-Day: The Battle for Normandy by Antony Beevor.
Contract Negotiations in Difficult Fiscal Times
Suburban Coalition, November 6,2009
Mary Aicardi, a consultant from the Collins Center for Public Management, was a guest speaker at the Suburban Coalition's November 5th meeting.
Minorities, women win big on ballot
The Boston Globe, November 5, 2009
Carol Hardy-Fanta, director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is quoted in this article.
For Pressley, her work has only just begun
Dorchester Reporter, November 5, 2009
Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy board member Ayanna Pressley is mentioned and quoted in this article.
OPINION: Public option would have good tools for rooting out fraud
Newsday, November 5, 2009
Pamela Nadash, an Assistant Professor of gerontology at the McCormack Graduate School, co-wrote this op-ed.
Government Intervention Working?
CNBC, November 2, 2009
Christian Weller, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, participates in a discussion about whether the government has helped or hurt economic recovery.
The Nascent War on Inflation
Barrons.com, October 31, 2009
Christian Weller, an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, is mentioned in this article.
Stimulus Aids Strong Economic Rebound – U.S. Economy Expands 3.5 Percent
RisMedia, October 30, 2009
Christian Weller, an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, wrote this article.
State's attempt to reduce tax exemptions eyed warily
Milford Daily News, October 29, 2009
Randy Albelda, professor of Economics and Senior Research Associate at the Center for Social Policy, is quoted in this article.
Stimulus Debate
KRLD NewsRadio 1080, October 29, 2009
Christian Weller, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, discusses the effectiveness of the stimulus.
Talent War
CNBC, October 23, 2009
Christian Weller, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, participates in a discussion on Executive Compensation.
Labor's Uneven Crisis
Forbes.com, October 23, 2009
Christian Weller, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, is quoted in this article.
The economy and the progress it's making
StephanieMiller.com, October 22, 2009
Christian Weller, an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, discusses the economy and the progress it's making.
Elderly Drivers Taking Safety Seriously
WBZTV.com, October 22, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, Associate Professor in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families,” provides expert commentary on elderly drivers.
Mass. state budget deficit
NECN, October 21, 2009
“Affairs of State” with Stephen P. Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies.
Finance position search narrowed
The Republican, October 20, 2009
The Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the McCormack School is mentioned in this article.
Urban planning intrinsic in societal issues, speakers say
The Daily Free Press, October 20, 2009
Adenrele Awotona of the Center for Rebuilding after Disasters and Chris Watson of the Environmental, Earth & Ocean Sciences (EEOS) department were among the speakers at a lecture regarding urban planning strategies having a huge impact on various issues, ranging from flood prevention to post-war development to addressing climate change.
Sao Paulo orchestra draws local Brazilians to Worcester
The Boston Globe, October 19, 2009
Guest column by Eduardo A. de Oliveira, a health reporter for the New England Ethnic Newswire at the Center on Media & Society at UMass Boston.
Kennedy without tears
The Boston Globe, October 16, 2009
Nigel Hamilton, senior fellow with the McCormack Graduate School is quoted in this article.
Life after the bubble: From American dream to American nightmare
OregonLive.com, October 10, 2009
Christian Weller, an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, is quoted in this article.
Transportation Awareness Day shows road resources for Billerica’s seniors
The Billerica Minuteman, October 9, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, associate professor in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families,” took part in a program that was part of the Council on Aging’s [COA] Transportation Awareness Day, held in September at the Billerica Senior Center.
Economic Snapshot for October 2009
Center for American Progress, October 6, 2009
Christian Weller, an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, wrote this article.
Economic disparities for minorities sharpen in recession
FinalCall.com News, October 2, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the McCormack Graduate School, Christian Weller, is quoted in this article.
Women in New England Politics
NECN, October 1, 2009
“Affairs of State” with Carol Hardy-Fanta, director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the McCormack Graduate School.
Street Signs
CNBC, September 28, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller discusses whether the Fed or the Treasury should be in charge of regulating risk.
Automatic raises, sick-day pay: agencies must eliminate perks
The Boston Globe, September 28, 2009
Stephen P. Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is mentioned in this article.
End TARP Now!
CNBC, September 25, 2009
The Kudlow Report, with Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller.
Appointment of Paul Kirk
NECN, September 24, 2009
“Affairs of State” with Bob Turner, the director of the Commonwealth Compact at the UMass Boston McCormack Graduate school.
OMB will create new performance management framework for agencies
Government Executive.Com, September 24, 2009
Shelley Metzenbaum, of the Collins Center for Public Management at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies is mentioned in this article.
Stephen Crosby on the salaries of quasi-public agency chiefs
WGBH’s Greater Boston with Emily Rooney, September 23, 2009
McCormack School dean Steve Crosby is interviewed about a study he led of executive compensation at quasi-public agencies in Massachusetts.
Report: Quasi-public agencies ‘excessive’
The Boston Herald, September 19, 2009
Stephen P. Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is quoted in this article.
Panel faults perks set by big agencies
The Boston Globe, September 19, 2009
Stephen P. Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is quoted in this article.
Kennedy Succession Bill
NECN, September 17, 2009
“Affairs of State” with Stephen P. Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies.
City Charter Commission race draws 20
The Daily News, September 17, 2009
Steve McGoldrick, Deputy director of the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston, is mentioned in this article.
International Peacemaker Padraig O'Malley returns to Cape Cod Community College
CapeCodToday.com, September 15, 2009
Padraig OMalley, the John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor for Peace and Reconciliation at the McCormack Graduate School of Public Policy, is mentioned in this article.
Elderly drivers may face new test
The Boston Globe, September 15, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, lecturer in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families,” provides expert commentary on elderly drivers.
GOP’s Scott Brown to run for Ted Kennedy seat
The Boston Herald, September 13, 2009
Stephen P. Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is quoted in this article.
Obama health care speech
NECN, September 10, 2009
“Affairs of State” with McCormack School senior fellow Nigel Hamilton.
GOP flails amid opportunity
The Boston Herald, September 10, 2009
Stephen Crosby, dean of the John W. McCormack Graduate School, is quoted in this article
Labor unions to politicians: Work hard for the money
The Boston Herald, September 8, 2009
Randy Albelda, professor of Economics and Senior Research Associate at the Center for Social Policy, is quoted in this article.
Future of Kennedy's Senate Seat in the Hands of Mass. Legislature
NewsHour, August 31, 2009
Stephen Crosby, dean of the John W. McCormack Graduate School, is quoted in this article
Deficits Don’t Matter?
Fox Business News, August 28, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller appears on a Fox Business News panel. (To view video, scroll down and click the “Play Media” links on the left side of the page)
Poor, and paying more
Washington Post, August 21, 2009
Randy Albelda, professor of Economics and Senior Research Associate at the Center for Social Policy, is quoted in this article.
Clerics’ Call for Removal Challenges Iran Leader
New York Times, August 16, 2009
McCormack Graduate School visiting scholar Fatemeh Haghighatjoo is quoted in this article.
Better monitoring for state’s waters
The Boston Globe, August 11, 2009
Op-ed by Shelley Metzenbaum of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management in the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies.
Clinton’s North Korea Trip
NECN, August 6, 2009
“Affairs of State” with Professor Darren Kew of the Graduate Programs in Dispute Resolution at the McCormack Graduate School.
Fiscal boss list due in October
The Republican, August 4, 2009
Springfield has hired The Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston for services that will include conducting a national search for the new financial officer.
More signs of recovery in Mass.
The Boston Globe, August 1, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in this article.
Americans Exhausting Jobless Benefits
Forbes.com, July 29, 2009
Christian Weller, associate professor in the McCormack Graduate School and Center for American Progress senior fellow is quoted in this article.
Nigeria's sectarian crisis
Aljazeera.net, July 29, 2009
Darren Kew, Associate Professor in the Graduate Programs in Dispute Resolution at UMass Boston’s McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is interviewed about recent sectarian violence in Nigeria.
‘Definite Signs’ Of Mass. Economy Bottoming Out
Wbur.org, July 29, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is mentioned in a discussion of the economy.
Gates, Crowley to share beer Thursday at the White House
NECN, July 28, 2009
Director of the Graduate Programs in Dispute Resolution David Matz discusses the recent controversy surrounding the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates.
Businesses, Nonprofits, Government to Take Part in "Diversity in Motion"
Media Newswire, July 24, 2009
Commonwealth Compact will be involved with the "Diversity in Motion" forum on Wednesday, July 29.
Gates Controversy
NECN, July 24, 2009
"Affairs of State" with Colleen Richards Powell, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Compact.
The unfinished work of equality
The Boston Globe, July 22, 2009
An op-ed written by Robert Turner and Georgianna Melendez, co-directors of the Commonwealth Compact.
Grading President Obama
CNBC.com, July 20, 2009
Christian Weller, associate professor in the McCormack Graduate School and Center for American Progress senior fellow, discusses President Obama’s first six months in office.
Elderly drivers in fewer accidents than others
The Boston Globe, July 19, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, lecturer in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families,” provides expert commentary on elderly drivers.
State jobless rate at 17-year high
The Boston Globe, July 17, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is mentioned in this article.
In exile, an Iranian ‘lion’ keeps fighting
The Boston Globe, July 13, 2009
Dr. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, visiting scholar at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, is quoted in this article.
Street Signs
CNBC, July 13, 2009
Christian Weller, associate professor in the McCormack Graduate School and Center for American Progress senior fellow, discusses the economy.
After 39 years, Elliot Winer to leave state post
The Boston Herald, July 13, 2009
Associate Professor Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in this article.
Commonwealth Compact continues to push Mass. diversity benchmarks
Bay State Banner, July 9, 2009
Robert Turner and Georgianna Melendez from the Commonwealth Compact are quoted in this article.
Ex-Iranian official from Cambridge watches changes from afar
Cambridge Chronicle, July 9, 2009
Dr. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, visiting scholar at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, is quoted in this article.
Crashes Fuel Debate on Rules For Older Drivers
Wall Street Journal, July 9, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, lecturer in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families,” provides expert commentary on elderly drivers.
Companies aren’t jettisoning diversity recruitment, but the down economy is adding a wrinkle to their efforts
San Francisco Times, July 3, 2009
Colleen Richards Powell, deputy director of the Commonwealth Compact, an effort organized through the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at UMass Boston that seeks to increase diversity at Massachusetts companies, discusses how these economic times create challenges for companies.
Top Patrick adviser stepping down
The Boston Globe, July 3, 2009
McCormack Graduate School Dean Stephen Crosby is quoted in this article.
The Driving Dilemma
NECN, July 2, 2009
“Affairs of State” with Elizabeth Dugan, lecturer in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families.”
Advocacy group: immigrants help state
The Boston Globe, June 30, 2009
A recent study conducted for the Immigrant Learning Center, a non-profit organization in Malden by associate Professor Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews and Associate Professor of Political Science Paul Watanabe is mentioned in this article.
Iran Election
NECN, June 26, 2009
“Affairs of State” with Dr. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, visiting scholar at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy.
UMass awards $1M grants to spur R&D
Mass High Tech, June 25, 2009
The University of Massachusetts reports it has given $1 million in research and economic development grants to faculty members at the school’s five campuses. The 15 grants range in size from $15,000 to $170,000, and include projects in biofuels research, green computing, personalized cancer therapy, green jobs and entrepreneurship.
Christa Kelleher, of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, is one of the recipients for her work with The Massachusetts Midwifery Workforce Profile Project.
A Compromise on Ethics Legislation
WBZ Radio June 24, 2009
Lisa Meyer speaks with Steve Crosby, Dean of the McCormack Graduate School about the compromise on ethics legislation.
By The Numbers: Quantifying The Economic Impact Of Mass. Immigrants
WBUR.org, June 24, 2009
Associate Professor Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews discusses a recent study he conducted for the Immigrant Learning Center, a non-profit organization in Malden.
In Iran, Both Sides Seek to Carry Islam's Banner
The New York Times, June 21, 2009
Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, a visiting scholar at the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy, was quoted in this story about the Iranian election.
Local seniors weigh in on driver's license debate
Worcester Telegram, June 20, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, lecturer in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families,” provides expert commentary on elderly drivers.
Good news peeking through
The Boston Globe, June 19, 2009
Associate Professor Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in this article.
A difficult drive in a suit designed to mimic effects of aging
The Boston Globe, June 18, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, lecturer in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families,” provides expert commentary on elderly drivers.
Selectmen seek administrator contract talks
Newstelegram.com, June 17, 2009
The Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the McCormack School is helping the town of Princeton, Massachusetts hire a town administrator.
Abolish Retirement Schemes
June 16, 2009
Christian Weller, professor of public policy at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at UMass Boston, participates in a live online debate about the future of retirement.
Elderly driver charged in death of Stoughton girl
NECN, June 16, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, lecturer in the Gerontology Institute and author of “The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resource Guide for Older Drivers and their Families,” provides expert commentary on elderly drivers
A world away, calls of fraud echo
The Boston Globe, June 15, 2009
Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, a visiting scholar at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Boston and a former member of the Iranian parliament, is mentioned in this article.
Fate of the Globe
NECN, June 11, 2009
“Affairs of State” with McCormack Graduate School adjunct faculty member and Globe reporter Sean Murphy.
UMass policy seminar looks at changing face of poverty
Bay State Banner, June 11, 2009
The “Bridging the Gap” study conducted in 2007 by UMass Boston economics professor Randy Albelda is discussed at the seminar, organized by the Center for Social Policy in the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies.
Christian Weller on CNBC's Street Signs
Center for American Progress, June 8, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller provides perspective on Obama’s economic stimulus program.
Groups celebrate nonprofit awareness day
Boston Business Journal, June 8, 2009
Director of the Center for Social Policy Donna Haig Friedman is mentioned in this article.
Poverty: Why the poor pay more
The Standard, June 7, 2009
Randy Albelda, professor of economics and senior research associate at the McCormack Graduate School's Center for Social Policy, is quoted in this article.
Debate on U.S. debt and healthcare
CNBC, June 1, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller provides perspective on the U.S. debt and possible healthcare plans.
Experts mull White House snub
Next June 3, 2009
Darren Kew, Associate Professor of the McCormack Graduate School's Dispute Resolution program is quoted in this Article.
Let the search begin
The Old Colony Memorial, May 29, 2009 (story and video)
The Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston has been hired by the Board of Selectmen to search for a replacement for former Town Manager Mark Sylvia, who resigned in February.
Has Mass economy hit bottom?
The Republican, May 24, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in this article.
The Next Justice
The Washington Post, May 22, 2009
Elizabeth Sherman, founder and former director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston, provides her perspective on a Supreme Court nominee.
Bay State's recession may outlast the nation's
The Boston Globe, May 22, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in this article.
Elders may suffer the most from recession
The Capital Times, May 28, 2009
UMass Boston’s Gerontology Institute is mentioned in this article.
Affairs of State: Social service cuts
NECN, May 21, 2009
“Affairs of State” with Director of the Center for Social Policy, Donna Haig Friedman.
Plymouth town manager search begins
Old Colony Memorial, May 19, 2009
The search for the next town manager will begin next month if selectmen vote this week to sign a contract with the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies.
Lessons From Springfield On Municipal Health Insurance
Wbur.org, May 19, 2009
In a study released last week by the Collins Center at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies and the Rappaport Institute at Harvard’s Kennedy School, Robert Carey, an expert on Massachusetts health insurance costs, concludes that Springfield’s experience offers three important lessons to local and state officials.
Kennedy recommends first woman for state’s US attorney
News Telegram.com, May 19, 2009
Carmen Ortiz, an assistant U.S. attorney who prosecutes white-collar crime, has been recommended to President Barack Obama as the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy announced today. Ortiz is on the advisory board of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Boston.
Poverty Economics 101 — poor pay more
AARP Bulletin, May 20, 2009
Randy Albelda, professor of economics and senior research associate at the McCormack Graduate School's Center for Social Policy, is quoted in this article.
Workplace diversity grows, but not at the top, report says
The Boston Globe, May 19, 2009
Stephen P. Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, discusses the findings of a new report on workplace diversity released today by the Commonwealth Compact, a project launched by business leaders and UMass Boston in 2007 to reverse Boston's image as unfriendly to minorities and women.
Diversity seeks a foothold
The Boston Globe, May 19, 2009
The Commonwealth Compact was formed a year ago to assess and promote diversity among the region's leading employers - and to counteract the region's reputation as a frosty place for workers of color and women. The first evaluation will be released today. The analysis by Carol Hardy-Fanta of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies shows significant disparities across sectors.
Study says Springfield has saved millions of dollars on health care costs
Masslive.com, May 18, 2009
The study, a joint Harvard University-University of Massachusetts at Boston effort authored by Robert L. Carey and released Friday, said the city's actions significantly reduced the growth of health insurance costs, providing valuable lessons for other municipalities in the state.
GM dealers await fate
Telegram.com, May 16, 2009
McCormack Graduate School professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in this article.
Reforms that lead to big savings
The Boston Globe, May 15, 2009
A new study by the McCormack Graduate School's Collins Center for Public Management is mentioned in this article.
State fiscal crisis is far from over
The Wakefield Observer, May 14, 2009
Associate Professor Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is mentioned in this article.
Town gets by without manager
Telegram.com, May 13, 2009
The Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the McCormack School is helping the town of Princeton, Massachusetts hire a town administrator.
Governor asks Cahill to recoup 'excessive' pensions for lawmakers
The Somerville Journal, May 12, 2009
Stephen Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is mentioned in this article.
State study: Long, slow road to recovery
The Daily News Tribune, May 11, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is mentioned in this article.
Charging Ahead on Credit Cards
CNBC, May 11, 2009
Christian Weller, associate professor in the McCormack Graduate School and Center for American Progress senior fellow, debates whether now is a good time to push for a credit card holder’s bill of rights.
Where’s Bottom?
Worcester Business Journal, May 11, 2009
Research by Associate Professor Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is mentioned in this article.
Pension Reform Before Revenue
WBUR Radio Boston May 8, 2009
Ellen Bruce, Director of Pension Action Center and Professor at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies discusses pension reform in this week’s show.
Baddour hosts forum on state budget
The Eagle Tribune, May 8, 2009
State Senator Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, today announced he is hosting an open forum on the State of the Economy and the Massachusetts Budget. This event will be May 12 at Northern Essex Community College's Technology Center in Room 103A from 6 to 8 p.m. The discussion will be a lively, crossfire-type debate among some of the state's foremost budget authorities, including: state Treasurer Timothy Cahill; Professor Alan Clayton-Matthews, UMass Boston; and Michael Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.
Mass. economy may be shrinking at slower pace
The Boston Globe, April 29, 2009
A report by Alan Clayton-Matthews, associate professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs, is mentioned in this article.
Joint Economic Committee Discusses How To Shrink Gender Wage Gap
Trading Markets.com, April 28, 2009
Randy Albelda, professor of Economics and Senior Research Associate at the Center for Social Policy is quoted in this article.
Taxes need to be raised in Massachusetts
The Boston Globe, April 28, 2009
Op-ed by Stephen Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies.
Andover Senior Center and UMass Boston
Andover Townsman, April 23, 2009
The Andover Senior Center is partnering with the Gerontology Institute at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies for an upcoming research study regarding residential choices made by older people.
Springfield unimpressed by candidates for chief financial officer; search to be reopened
Springfield Republican, April 23, 2009
After a list of 11 candidates that Springfield officials called unimpressive to fill a new, state-required position of chief administrative and financial officer, there is a possibility the city will enlist the services of the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management in the McCormack Graduate School.
Sexuality and identity: An intersection with East Asian religious and family values
BU Today, April 17, 2009
Connie Chan, chair of the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs at UMass Boston, discusses the intersection of sexual identity and religious and cultural beliefs among East Asians and Americans. Contrasting values, she says, affect how East Asians and Americans express their sexuality.
Video Coverage
Foreign visitors seek lessons from Boston's divided past
The Boston Globe, April 17, 2009
Padraig OMalley, the John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor for Peace and Reconciliation at the McCormack Graduate School of Public Policy, is mentioned in this article about “The Forum for Cities in Transition,” a conference he convened held this week at UMass Boston.
UMass Boston “Affairs of State”
NECN April 16, 2009
Click on the link to view the third "Affairs of State," UMass Boston's new weekly live interview on New England Cable News. Yesterday's segment featured Stephen Crosby, dean of the McCormack Graduate School, discussing the recent budget proposal.
Plum jobs, veiled in obscurity
The Boston Globe, April 14, 2009
Stephen Crosby, Dean of the McCormack Graduate School, is quoted in this article.
Divided cities
GlobalPost.com, April 14th, 2009
O'Malley's peace efforts help Kirkuk, Belfast, Mitrovica, Nicosia and Beirut see what they can learn from each other.
Setting the non-agenda at UMass
The Boston Globe, April 13, 2009
The McCormack Graduate School’s upcoming “Divided Cites” conference was the subject of Boston.com’s “Wordly Boston” blog today.
Special Olympics encourage understanding
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, April 9, 2009
Gary Siperstein, a UMass Boston professor and longtime research expert on people with intellectual disabilities, said a new study shows that the Shanghai games had a significant effect on young people's attitudes there.
Experts point to Nordstrom as sign of hope for North Shore economy
Wicked Local News, April 8, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in this article.
International peace activist to speak at college
The Woburn Advocate, April 3, 2009
Padraig OMalley, John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor for Peace and Reconciliation at the McCormack Graduate School of Public Policy at UMass Boston will speak on Making Peace City by City: Belfast, Mitrovica, Nicosia, Kirkuk, and Others, at noon on Wednesday, April 22, in the MCC Federal Building, Assembly Room, 50 East Merrimack St., Lowell.
The event is free and open to the public.
A new model emerges for helping low-skilled applicants find jobs
Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 31, 2009
The Center for Social Policy report "Brokering Up" is mentioned and quoted in the following article.
Lux in Tenebris University of Liberia
The Liberian Journal, April 1, 2009
Michael Keating, Associate Director and Senior Fellow at the McCormack Graduate School's Center for Democracy and Development at UMass Boston wrote this guest editorial.
U.S. Economy Drags Dollar Down V Euro
CNBC April 1, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller is interviewed in this story.
Social Security tax receipts fall with job losses
Associated Press, March 31, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in this article.
Recession Puts a Major Strain On Social Security Trust Fund
The Washington Post, March 31, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in this article
Local jobless rate could surpass early '90s levels
The Boston Globe, March 26, 2009
The state's unemployment rate has jumped 1.4 points since the end of last year, to 7.8 percent, the highest rate since March 1993. If the current pace continues, the rate will top the 9.1 percent reached in 1991 and 1992, said Alan-Clayton Matthews, economic analyst and professor at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies.
In Iraq, truth commission idea gains traction
Cnn.com, March 25, 2009
Padraig O'Malley, the John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is planning a three-day forum in April for "divided cities," where officials from ethnically tense Kirkuk in Iraq will discuss common problems with officials from Derry/Londonderry and Belfast in Northern Ireland, Nicosia in Cyprus, and Mitrovica in Serbia/Kosovo.
Walsh's cost to calm furor: $55,000
The Boston Globe, March 25, 2009
Deval Patrick announced that the controversy over State Senator Marian Walsh has prompted him to order a review of salaries and benefits at state public authorities. He called on the agencies to freeze salaries in the meantime. He has asked Stephen Crosby, dean of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at UMass Boston and a former Republican state official, to conduct the review within 90 days. Crosby is former chief of staff and secretary of administration and finance under governors Jane Swift and Paul Cellucci.
Divided Cities’ Leaders to Gather, Advise Iraqis
Stars and Stripes Mideast Edition, Saturday, March 21, 2009
While political leaders from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom spent St. Patrick’s Day in the U.S. capital talking about preserving their fragile but sustained 11-year-old peace, an effort is under way in Boston to help transfer the lessons learned in Belfast, Derry and several other conflict cities around world to one of the most contested cities today: Kirkuk, Iraq. Padraig O’Malley, a professor at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, is a one-man reconciliation crew. He knows firsthand it is possible for mortal enemies, even religious ones, to shake hands.
Study: Lesbian, gay, bisexual Americans more likely to be poor than heterosexuals
The Miami Herald, March 21, 2009
Randy Albelda, Professor of Economics at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies is quoted in this article
Many more vie for far fewer jobs
The Boston Globe, March 20, 2009
The competition for jobs in Massachusetts has more than doubled over the past year, as a growing pool of jobless and underemployed people fight for fewer and fewer openings, according to study from Northeastern University. "The rate of job loss is still very high," said Alan Clayton-Matthews, an economic analyst and professor at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies. "We're in a vicious cycle. As long as you keep losing jobs, that means lower income, lower consumer spending, and more job losses."
St. Fleur, Walsh, Awotona travel to Haiti
The Dorchester Reporter, March 19, 2009
Representative Marty Walsh spent St. Patrick's Day in Haiti this week. Walsh joined a delegation led by fellow Representative Marie St. Fleur and Adenrele Awotona, director of the Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disasters for an informational trip to the Caribbean county, which is still reeling from the heavy hurricane season.
Back to the past in Northern Ireland
The Boston Globe, March 15, 2009
Padraig O'Malley, the John Joseph Moakley Professor of Peace and Reconciliation at the McCormack Graduate School, and author of the forthcoming book The Greater Middle East, Different Starting Points, Different Histories, wrote this editorial for the Boston Globe.
Williams Institute to Release Groundbreaking Report on Poverty Among Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Americans
PR Newswire, March 13, 2009
Randy Albelda, Economics Professor at UMass Boston's McCormack Graduate School is taking part in the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law unveiling a first-of-its-kind analysis of poverty among lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans at a briefing for members of Congress, staff and media on Friday, March 20, at 10:00 a.m. in Room HC-8 in the United States Capitol. The briefing will be hosted by the LGBT Equality Caucus.
Expediting US talks with Iran
The Boston Globe, March 12, 2009
Dr. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, a former reformist legislator who is currently a visiting scholar at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, UMass Boston wrote this editorial.
Women Political Leaders Recap Their Diverse Routes to Success
America.gov, March 10, 2009
Five women elected to federal and state office retraced their paths into politics for a National Archives audience March 5 and lamented that they remain relative exceptions in a male-dominated field. Carol Hardy-Fanta, director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, UMass Boston introduced the discussion.
Globe Listed Among 'Endangered Newspapers
WBZ TV, March 9, 2009
The Boston Globe is on a list of 10 major newspapers in the country predicted to either shut down during the recession or to switch to an all-digital format. "It's hard to grasp any of the cities mentioned without those newspapers," said Frank Herron, director of the Center on Media & Society at UMass Boston's McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies. "The Globe has been an absolute stalwart journalistically, not just in Boston but in the region. It's absolutely sobering to consider it.
Mayor Menino: Freeze wages, or else
The Boston Herald, March 7, 2009
Stephen Crosby, Dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at UMass Boston is quoted in this article.
Taking the keys
Fox 25 News, March 6, 2009
Elizabeth Dugan, faculty member of the McCormack Graduate School
of Policy Studies and undergraduate/graduate gerontology program was interviewed about older driver safety issues in this Fox25 News special report.
Bay State's jobless rate jumps to 7.4%
The Boston Globe, March 6, 2009
The Massachusetts unemployment rate in January leaped above 7 percent for the first time since June 1993, indicating an accelerating recession that could rank among the state's worst.There are now more than 250,000 unemployed in Massachusetts, up nearly 100,000, or about 60 percent, from a year ago."The state economy, like the national economy, is still in this vicious downward cycle where job losses beget more job losses," said Alan Clayton-Matthews, UMass Boston professor and economist. "Confidence has collapsed, and, it's steeper and deeper than we've forecast."
Additional Coverage: Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Business, consumer confidence indexes drop to new lows in Massachusetts
The Daily News Transcript, March 4, 2009
Alan Clayton-Matthews, UMass Boston professor and economist, said the timing of an economic turnaround depends significantly on a restoration in confidence in the country's big financial institutions and a recovery in home prices. "It's possible when we see the third quarter (this year) that we might have hit bottom," Clayton-Matthews said, referring to a potential turnaround point in the economy. "But we won't know until we get there
Market Meltdown Amplifies Baby Boomer Worries
CNBC, March 3, 2009
Christian Weller, Associate Professor in the Public Policy & Public Affairs program is quoted in this article.
Dining out stays in the neighborhood
The Boston Globe, March 1, 2009
While South Boston's neighborhood restaurants and bars seem relatively immune to the recession compared with other restaurants throughout the city, UMass Boston professor and economist Alan Clayton-Matthews warns against any cockiness. Statewide, the meal taxes collected in December 2008 were down 6.3 percent compared with December 2007. "I would be happy that my business had not gone down," Clayton-Matthews advises restaurant owners. "But I would also be worried about the future."
Congregational Church offering career transition lunches
Hometown Weekly, February 26, 2009
As part of the sermon series, Alan Clayton-Matthews, associate professor in the department of Public Policy and Public Affairs at UMass Boston, will hold discussions addressing the economy after the worship services on March 1st and 29th. Mr. Clayton-Matthews is a member of The Congregational Church of Needham and his views on the economy can often be heard on WBUR-FM radio and WCVB-TV.
Public Pension Plans Projected to Weather the Financial Storm
Investment Management Weekly February 21, 2009
"Our data suggest that public pensions followed well-established practices for prudent, long-term investing during the market plunge that occurred through 2001," explained Christian Weller, who is a professor of public policy at UMass Boston. "Going forward, this is an indicator that public plans are well-situated to recover from today's financial crisis in a manageable way."
A GOOD AGE: Facebook isn't just for the younger crowd
The Patriot Ledger, February 17, 2009
Retired professor of history Carter Jefferson and Agnes Abrahamson of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute are mentioned in this story on the popularity of social networking website Facebook among seniors.
Interim town manager steps into a fiscal fire
Boston Globe, February 15, 2009
The town of Winthrop has partnered with McCormack Graduate School's Collins Center for Public Management to search for a new town manager.
Iran's Reformist Former President 'Needs To Stand Up' For Program
Radio Liberty, February 10, 2009
Fatemeh Haghighatjoo, a former reformist legislator who is currently a visiting scholar at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, UMass Boston, is well-known for her outspokenness and human rights advocacy. She tells Radio Liberty correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari that she's concerned about Khatami's weakness and also the fairness of the upcoming elections.
Recession pummels nation, state
Boston Globe, January 31, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews said the economy is having a devastating effect on household incomes.
Additional Coverage: Boston Business Journal and associated publications.
Report charts new path for improving program performance
Government Executive.com, January 29, 2009
A report by Shelley Metzenbaum, director of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management in the McCormack Graduate School, is mentioned on this website.
Regionalization effort could start with shared sewer truck
Eagle Tribune, January 29, 2009
Some North Shore communities will be seeking input from the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the McCormack School.
Performance Management Recommendations for the New Administration
IBM Center for the Business of Government, January 29, 2009
A report by Shelley Metzenbaum, the director of the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management in the McCormack Graduate School offers recommendations to the Obama Administration about how to manage for performance.
Peace Is Priceless Makarfi
Leadership Nigeria, January 28th, 2009
Associate professor in the Dispute Resolution Program Darren Kew is mentioned in this story. Kew is part of a delegation of students and dispute resolution professionals visiting Nigeria as a part of a UMass Boston exchange program.
Additional Coverage: All Africa.com
Greater Boston with Emily Rooney: Diversity in Boston
WGBH, January 28, 2009
Robert Turner and Colleen Powell, both from the McCormack Graduate School, spoke with WGBHs Emily Rooney on how the Commonwealth Compact seeks to make Boston more diverse. Click on the link above to watch video of the show.
December Brings Cold Jobs Figures For Mass.
WBUR, January 23, 2009
Alan Clayton-Matthews spoke with WBUR about the unemployment scene in the state.
Pace of job cuts quickens in Mass.
Boston Globe, January 23, 2009
The state reported that job losses in November were worse than initially estimated. Employers cut 22,000 jobs in November, about 14,000 more than first reported. "It's like we're on a bungee cord," said Alan Clayton-Matthews, an economic analyst and associate professor of public policy and public affairs at UMass Boston. "We're free falling, and it's not clear where the bottom is."
Better Budget Talk
Governing.com, January 21, 2009
Shelley Metzenbaum, from McCormack Graduate Schools Center for Public Management, wrote this column about budget choices facing state and local governments today.
Zimbabwe: Military Intervention Would Be a Disaster
World Politics Review January 22, 2009
Michael Keating, Senior Fellow at the McCormack Graduate School's Center for Democracy and Development, has published an article on the current situation in Zimbabwe.
Unemployed say their priorities are clear
Worcester Telegram & Gazette January 21, 2009
Massachusetts would benefit from spending on infrastructure, communications, roads and bridges, education, health and energy, the sorts of priorities that Governor Deval L. Patrick has identified with the Obama administration, according to Alan Clayton-Matthews, associate professor of public policy at UMass Boston and co-editor of the economic bulletin Mass Benchmarks.
Taxes Aside, What Geithner Needs to Tell the US Senate
CNBC, January 16, 2009
What he [Treasury Secretary-designate Tim Geithner] really needs to do is to continue to keep making the case for the size of the economic stimulus package," says Christian Weller, associate professor public policy and public affairs. He needs to clearly say why $775 billion is the right number.
Consultant will help attract, review candidates
Winthrop Sun Transcript January 15, 2009
Town Council President Thomas Reilly announced the hiring of The Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at the McCormack Graduate SChool of Policy Studies.
Post-Disaster Communities
Monday Developments December 2008
An article about the international conference on Rebuilding Sustainable Communities for children and their families after Disasters held at UMass Boston in November 2008 is featured in this magazine (pages 31&44).
Rehab effort no deal for city
Columbus Dispatch January 13, 2009
Michael Johnson, associate professor of public policy and public affairs, commented about the City of Columbus Home Again program that buys neglected or abandoned property with the intention of fixing them to revive such neighborhoods.
CSP Report Highlights Impacts of Alternative Staffing Model
January 13, 2009
Study examines organizations that integrate the business goal of mainstream staffing services—connecting workers and employers—with the social mission of helping marginalized job seekers find and retain better jobs.
Full Report: Brokering Up: the Role of Temporary Staffing in Overcoming Labor Market Barriers
Critical choices ahead
Boston Globe January 11, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in a story about President-elect Barack Obamas proposed stimulus plan. "A big stimulus," said Weller, "has the potential to be a game changer."
From change agent to 'comforter in chief'
Boston Globe January 11, 2009
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Stephen Crosby is quoted in an article about Governor Deval Patrick coping with his roles and responsibilities with the state in troubled times.
The Stimulus Debate
WBUR January 8, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller spoke with WBURs Tom Ashbrook about President-elect Obamas super-stimulus package. Click on the link above to listen to the radio program.
Economic Growth and Progressive Tax Rates
Alternet.com January 8, 2009
Associate Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller and doctoral student Manita Rao crunched global data on economic growth and progressive tax rates for 1981 through 2002 and found no evidence that progressive taxation adversely affects economic stability by reducing growth.
Who Pays If Mass. Pumps Up The Gas Tax?
WBUR January 7, 2009
Alan Clayton-Matthews spoke with WBURs Meghna Chakrabarti and mentioned that tobacco taxes will help in narrowing the states tax deficit.
New Low For State Business Confidence
Worcester Business Journal January 6, 2009
"The state's economy managed to sustain some growth through the first three quarters of the year, but there is no doubt that we are now following the nation into recession," said Associate Professor of Public Policy and Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews.
Fierce recession hits Mass. late, but hard
Boston Herald – December 30, 2008
“We’re suffering from the same recession that the whole country is suffering from - it just hit us a little later,” said Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews. Clayton-Matthews said the Massachusetts economy began falling apart in June, roughly six months after a nationwide recession began. He said the Bay State only held out longer than other locales because Massachusetts has below-average exposure to the troubled home-construction and auto-manufacturing sectors
Outlook for 2009 is grim
Boston Globe December 28, 2008
Excerpt: The state's unemployment rate, which rose to 5.9 percent in November, is forecast to reach 7.6 percent by the end of next year, and keep rising until peaking at 8.3 percent in mid-2010.It's pretty bad," said Alan Clayton-Matthews, a professor at UMass Boston who prepared the state forecast. "By the beginning of next year, the economy will be declining sharply, and it's hard to see how things will turn out better than the forecast."
When dealing with snow, all storms are political
Boston Globe December 23, 2008
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby is mentioned in an article about the political stakes involved in responding to the extreme weather conditions in the state. Referring to the cautious storm responses this year, prompted by a storm last year that resulted in horrific traffic jams, Crosby said, I think everybody learned a lesson this time.
Food stamps offer lifeline
Boston Globe – December 22, 2008
Professor of Economics Randy Albelda is quoted in a story about a campaign to enable college students to renegotiate financial-aid packages for the spring semester to include a federal work-study job. Albelda said she welcomes the campaign, but the program's strict requirements and bureaucratic hurdles are steep barriers. "The need is so high and the rules are so antiquated," she said. "It's a program that's not meeting its original goals," she said referring to the work-study program.
State firms cut 8000 positions in November
Boston Globe – December 19, 2008
Associate Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews spoke about state employers laying-off employees for the third consecutive month and the unemployment rates reaching new levels last month. "This should be shocking and surprising, but it's not," said Clayton-Matthews. "The national employment report was so bad, it was hard to see how any state would be spared."
Multi-cultural newspaper earns recognition for immigration work
Danbury News Times – December 16, 2008
The New England Ethnic Newswire, run by the McCormack School’s Center on Media and Society, is mentioned in a story about the Brazilian newspaper Tribuna winning the New England Ethnic Newswire’s award for community service. Director of the Center on Media and Society Frank Herron praised Tribuna as "a particularly welcome player" to the world of ethnic news.
State's shortfall put at over $2b this year
Boston Globe – December 16, 2008
Associate Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews spoke about another possible budget cut that Governor Deval Patrick is considering for fiscal 2009. "I can't stress too much the uncertainty right now," said Clayton-Matthews speaking about the deficit. "One thing is certain: Things are bad now, and getting worse quickly."
Additional Coverage: The Ipswich Chronicle also carried a story with a quote from Professor Clayton-Matthews.
The UN’s Latest Disgrace in Eastern Congo
Dissident Voice – December 13, 2008
Senior Fellow and Associate Director of the Center for Democracy and Development Michael Keating writes about the in-effective role of the U.N. peacekeeping forces in Congo. Keating notes that the U.N. has to act fast and needs to start taking steps to end the war in Congo which has so far claimed the lives of over 5 million people.
Psst, seniors, are you aware of this tax credit?
Boston Globe – December 13, 2008
Excerpt: The Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston will release a report early next year, underwritten by The Boston Foundation, to promote the underutilized tax break, and to assess the success and awareness of other aid programs for seniors.
Nigeria's Enduring Fault Line
World Politics Review - December, 11 2008
Michael Keating, Associate Director and Senior Fellow at the McCormack Graduate School's Center for Democracy and Development had an article published in World Politics Review on the civil unrest in Nigeria following recent elections.
Padraig O'Malley: U.S. must talk to al-Qaeda
Cape Cod Today – December 11, 2008
The UMass Boston John Jospeh Moakley Distinguished Professor for Peace and Reconciliation Padraig O’Malley delivered a presentation yesterday at the Cape Cod Community College to over 400 people. Addressing the U.S. government’s efforts to deal with the al-Qaeda, O’Malley said, "In the end, you must talk to the people who attack you and inflict pain on you." He added, "You despise them. You want to throw up on them. You must talk to them."
Survey Local income gap widening
Lowell Sun – December 9, 2008
UMass Boston associate professor of public policy & public affairs Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in an article about the first multiyear American Community Survey, in which socioeconomic data from communities 20,000-65,000 in population was released in a non-census year for the first time. “Income inequality can lead to social unrest," said Clayton-Matthews. “While middle-class jobs are being lost, recent financial events also have inflicted heavy losses on the upper-class.”
Caroline Kennedy Interested in NY Senate Seat
Channel 7 News – December 5, 2008
Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Carol Hardy-Fanta spoke with Channel 7 News about Caroline Kennedy’s interest in representing New York in the U.S. Senate. Hardy-Fanta said that Caroline Kennedy would be the perfect new generation senator.
Iraq Peace: Preparing for the End Game - A Conversation with Padraig O'Malley
Cape Cod Today – December 4, 2008
The John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies Padraig O'Malle will speak with WXTK News' Matt Pitta Wednesday, December 10 at 2:15pm, Cape Cod Community College. O’Malley will talk about his efforts in the Iraqi peace process.
Report: Massachusetts is entering a recession
Boston Globe – December 4, 2008
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in an article about Massachusetts falling into recession. Clayton-Matthews mentioned in a MassBenchmarks report, published by the UMass Donahue Institute in cooperation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, that the Bay State is “falling headlong into a recession.”
Lawmakers on pace for a fatter pay day in 2009
Belmont Citizen-Herald – December 3, 2008
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby, who was administration and finance secretary under Gov. Paul Cellucci and Jane Swift, spoke about members of the state Legislature appearing poised to receive a pay hike. He said all government employees get pay raises by right and that should be true of the Legislature. “In my opinion they tend to live on their income just like everyone else, and they should get it,” he added.
Embrace looming deficit, our salvation
Boston Globe – Letters to the Editor - December 1, 2008
The Boston Globe published a letter from professor emeritus of economics and senior fellow of the Center for Social Policy Arthur MacEwan. MacEwan talks about a federal budget deficit of almost $1 trillion in this fiscal year.
Metro Atlanta liquidators hurt by retail plunge
Atlanta Journal Constitution – November 28, 2008
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in a story that talks about the issues being encountered by the business of liquidating failed stores, restaurants and other retail firms. “Largely, this was an economy that was very dependent on the consumer,” said Christian Weller, associate professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. “Once the consumer stopped [spending], there was nothing else that could step in to take the consumer’s place.”
The macho stimulus plan
Boston Globe – November 27, 2008
Professor of economics and senior fellow at the Center for Social Policy Randy Albelda writes a Boston Globe op-ed column. Albelda notes that president-elect Barack Obama’s call to invest in a stimulus plan that creates bridges, roads and schools may be needed, but ignores the interests of women. She calls for stimulus packages that enhance the nation’s social infrastructure as well as other sectors such as direct care, education and healthcare. Such plans would not only benefit women, who represent a considerable percentage of the labor force in such sectors, but will also alleviate the low-wages and economic hardships of the women doing these jobs.
Find. Join. Learn. Go. The World Wide Hub
Boston Globe – November 26, 2008
Excerpt: Ethnicnewz.org amplifies voices out of the mainstream with offerings from more than 100 ethnic-news outlets. The site, a project of the Center on Media and Society at UMass Boston that's led by journalism experts, features more specialized takes on news you might have read elsewhere, such as when a Brazilian house painter was shot by police on Cape Cod in July, and brings less-publicized topics to a much wider audience.
Companies are quick to slice their workforce
Boston Globe – November 26, 2008
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews spoke about growing numbers of jittery companies slashing jobs because they fear that business will slump. "Each company is looking at its own interest," said Clayton-Matthews, "But this could make things worse because you'll have less personal income and less spending in the economy. If all employers did this, it would be like shooting themselves in the foot."
Study: Public plans better positioned to recover
Pensions & Investments Online – (November 24, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller said that public pension plans are better positioned than other institutions to recover from the worldwide financial market collapse because they rebalance regularly, follow leading peer funds, and keep their long-term strategic asset allocation.
Will a lingering recession sink all boats?
Worcester Telegram & Gazette – (November 21, 2008)
Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in an article about the unemployment statistics for October for Massachusetts.
The News Tribune.com – (November 21, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews commented in a story about the possibility of Tim Geithner, president of the New York Fed, being appointed chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve by president elect Barack Obama. On the Federal Reserve board, the president of the New York Fed is considered first among equals, said Clayton-Matthews. Among other things, the New York Fed president is the only permanent member of the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets interest rates, and he’s responsible for implementing Fed monetary policy, Clayton-Matthews said. “The New York Fed is a special bank,” he said. “They always have a vote at the table.”
Sharp rise forecast in Bay State job losses
Boston Globe – ( November 21, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in a story about the rising rates of unemployment in Massachusetts. "We are caught in a vicious downward cycle," he said. "It's going to take some time for things to turn around." Additional radio coverage.
Women's Political Participation
La Tercera – (November 16, 2008)
Director of the McCormack Graduate School's Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy, Carol Hardy-Fanta, was interviewed by a news magazine in Santiago, Chile. Hardy-Fanta commented on the election of Barack Obama, the meaning of Hillary Clinton's defeat in the primaries, and the likelihood of a woman president in the US. The article coincided with Hardy-Fanta's week-long visit at the invitation of Fundación Chile 21, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and the Center for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies at the University of Chile. Hardy-Fanta also spoke with local radio stations.
Boston Globe - (November 13, 2008)
In America, presidential elections are the ultimate act of community. Millions vote, and, though the contest is usually close, the winner is embraced as everyone's president. An editorial by Steve Crosby, Dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies and Robert Turner, Director of the Commonwealth Compact.
Support for Single Moms Shallow, Quick to Fade Away
Statehouse News Service – (November 12, 2008)
UMass Boston and Crittenton Women’s Union, a non-profit group aimed at helping low-income women attain economic independence, released a report yesterday about Bay State single mothers attempting to enter the middle class being hampered by the inadequacy of government work support programs. Randy Albelda, a UMass Boston professor and co-author of the said, “They earn enough to be eligible but not enough to pay the bills.”
Low-Wage Workers Earning $8/Hour Can Be Better off Than at Twice ...
MarketWatch – (November 12, 2008)
The Center for Social Policy at UMass Boston in association with the Crittenton Women's Union released a report titled “Fits & Starts: The Difficult Path for Working Single Parents”. The report highlights the tough choices Massachusetts low-wage workers must make between taking higher paying jobs and losing critical work supports before they can afford to meet their basic living expenses.
Boston Globe – (November 12, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in an article about how December could be a brutal month for job layoffs in Massachusetts, as the economy worsens and more companies look for ways to cut costs before the end of the year. Clayton-Matthews said there may be reason to believe December job losses will be less than some anticipate, at least in the retail sector. Because of a sharp decrease in consumer spending, many retailers are hiring fewer temporary workers for this holiday shopping season. That means fewer jobs to eliminate after Christmas. The same could be true of companies that supply toys and other goods for the holiday season, he said.
Pike Toll Plan Escalates Mass. 'Civil War'
WBZ – Boston - (November 12, 2008)
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby is quoted in an article about the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority deciding to selectively raise tolls for the eastern end of the Mass turnpike. This comes as the latest battle in a long list of battles going on for centuries between eastern and western Massachusetts. "This has been going on for two, three hundred years now," said Crosby
Paige Ransford, Senior Researcher at the McCormack School's Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, was quoted in the fall 2008 issue of Ms. magazine about the Center's recent study entitled Parenting from Prison: Family Relationships of Incarcerated Women in Massachusetts, which she co-authored.
Boston Globe (November 6, 2008)
The John Joseph Moakley Professor of International Peace and Reconciliation at the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies Padraig O'Malley is mentioned in a story. O'Malley is commended for his efforts in using politicians from Northern Ireland as mentors for Iraqis.
Pensions vs. Savings: Retirement Revisited: 4'Uh-Oh'1(k)
The Ledger, FL (November 5, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in an article about the nation’s financial crisis. "The strength of America's workers' retirement security has been declining for many years and will likely continue to worsen," Weller told the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor."Retirement security has been a growing concern for Americans for many years due to limited retirement-plan coverage, little retirement wealth and increasing risk exposure of the individual," said Weller.
NHPR (November 4, 2008)
Staff journalist of the New England Ethnic Newswire based at UMass Boston, Eduardo de Oliviera is mentioned in a story about first time immigrant voters.
State may lose 7200 jobs in finance
Boston Globe (October 30, 2008)
Alan Clayton-Matthews noted that losses in the higher paying financial sector can ripple through the larger economy. Limousine services that rely heavily on the financial sector have already cut workers this year, for instance, and restaurants, and other service businesses may stand to lose, too. On the other hand, Clayton-Matthews said many financial workers are highly educated and will have an easier time finding new work than lower-skilled workers. Also, he said, many of the financial jobs could come back quickly if the stock market recovers. The sector in Massachusetts is still smaller than at its peak in January 2002, when it had 188,200 jobs.
Fed cuts interest rate, paints gloomy picture
Boston Globe (October 29, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews comments in a story about the Federal Reserve slashing interest rates to its lowest level in four years. The gloomy national picture painted by the Fed is mirrored in the Boston area and the region, said Clayton-Matthews. "That's all consistent with what we're seeing here in the local economy in the past month or so," Clayton-Matthews said. "We're seeing lower payroll withholding revenue and sales tax receipts. All the indications we have are that the local economy is contracting rapidly."
Women and Minorities in Politics
C-SPAN (October 28, 2008)
A presentation and panel discussion featuring Director of the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy Carol Hardy-Fanta was covered on C-Span on October 28th at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC.
The Backup Files
Worcester Telegram (October 27, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is mentioned in a story about the current state of the Massachusetts economy and the rising unemployment index.
Increased job loss may point to a recession
NECN – October 27, 2008
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews spoke with NECN. “We will probably be losing jobs at the rate of 2% annually over the next several months,” he said. “This is the beginning of a downward spiral that will probably be a sharp and quick one.”
T to delay bond offer until after election
Boston Globe (October 27, 2008)
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby is mentioned is an article about the MBTA’s concern that a ballot question to repeal the state income tax could discourage investors. The MBTA will delay a planned $350 million bond offering until after the Nov. 4 election. "It would totally undercut the Commonwealth's ability to service its debt, and the whole stability of the Commonwealth," said Crosby.
Russell: Senior tax credit offers relief from winter woes
MetroWest Daily News (October 24, 2008)
Director of the Elders Living on the Edge Program at the Gerontology Institute, McCormack Graduate School, Laura Henze Russell is a guest columnist in the MetroWest Daily News. Russell wrote about how the Mass. Income Tax Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit will bring the much needed relief to seniors who are struggling to make ends meet with their fixed incomes.
Economic signs in Mass. point to a recession
Boston Globe (October 24, 2008)
The Massachusetts economy is either already in recession or will be there within the next six months, after economic growth ground nearly to a halt in September, UMass reported yesterday. The UMass report counters hopes that the state would skirt the national recession that most economists say is already underway. For much of the past year, Massachusetts has outperformed the nation, bolstered by its technology and health science industries, adding jobs in the face of job losses elsewhere in the country. "The cards are falling," said UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews
who prepared the forecast. "Our companies sell to the nation and the world, and the worldwide economy is slowing."
The Patriot Ledger’s slate of ‘economic advisors’ weighs in
The Patriot Ledger (October 22, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is rated as one of South Shore’s [and the world’s] best and brightest business experts.
State facing long count on revenue
Worcester Telegram (October 22, 2008)
Excerpt: Economist Alan Clayton-Matthews of UMass Boston said state projections that unemployment will rise from the current 5.3 percent to anywhere between 5.8 percent and 6.3 percent by June, follows a year in which surveys of residents show the state has lost 25,000 jobs since the end of last year. He was one of several economists who testified at a hearing of the Joint Ways and Means Committee yesterday that they expect state sales taxes, payroll taxes and capital gains taxes to continue falling through the rest of this fiscal year and possibly not recover for two to three years.
Experts paint grim picture of economy
The Berkshire Eagle (October 22, 2008)
Excerpt: Economists warned state policy makers yesterday that the recession facing Massachusetts could impact budgets for the next two to three years, a reality that may require deeper budget cuts, including reductions in local aid, in the years to come. "The recession looks like it's virtually imminent here, and probably has already.
Awotona Resurrected in Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities After Disasters
Davin Surin, Mass Media (October 20, 2008)
Founded by its Director Adenrele Awotona, the Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities After Disasters (CRSCAD) was established July 6, 2008 in response to a growing need for awareness in post-disaster reconstruction. "With disasters growing in numbers and increasing in intensity, and [due to] the lack of academic centers that revolved around preparing and responding to disasters, [the] CRSCAD came into existence," Awotona said.
Baby Boomers go bust as retirement savings tank
Boston Herald (October 20, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in an article about the Wall Street calamity obliterating $2 trillion in retirement savings nationwide and leaving Bay State baby boomers with shattered careers, retirement plans and hopes. “We’re losing money very quickly,” said Weller, who testified before Congress on retirement security this month. “We knew we had a problem before the crisis. Now is a good time for policymakers to act. Muddling through (the crisis) means even more hardship for millions of American families.”
SPEAK OUT: Public breast-feeding: Nursing vice president could dry ...
The Patriot Ledger (October 20, 2008)
Research director for the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Christa Kelleher writes an Op-ed column about public breast feeding and how a nursing vice presidential candidate can influence changes. She noted that as one of three states that do not uphold the right to publicly breast-feed, Massachusetts doesn’t ensure workplace accommodations for nursing mothers. And it hasn’t established licensing requirements for lactation professionals who often provide much-needed support to moms. Such inaction impacts the health of mothers and babies – and brings unwelcome health care costs.
Allies, enemies
Boston Globe (October 19th, 2008)
'Senior fellow in the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies Nigel Hamilton writes an article profiling Kathleen Burk’s book Old World, New World: Great Britain and America From the Beginning. Hamilton said that, “Relations between Great Britain and America is a rich and complex story, but one that isn't over, and will be retold, I imagine, by other historians in the future.”
State fiscal problems may worsen
Boston Globe (October 17, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in an article about Governor Deval Patrick's predictions of revenue shortfalls and worsening economic conditions. "The question is how big this problem is going to be," said Clayton-Matthews.
Looking out for working women
Boston Herald (October 15, 2008)
UMass Boston professor of economics Randy Albelda commented in an article that a large number of families living in or near poverty are headed by single mothers. Albelda is involved in UMass Lowell’s Center for Women and Work’s collaborative care-workers project that looks at the contributions of those who look after children, the elderly and provide other types of paid and unpaid care-work in Massachusetts. “Women hold up about half the economy,” she said, paraphrasing the Chinese proverb that “women hold up half the sky.” She added, if one includes unpaid work, then “women actually hold up more than half.”
New stimulus package might be next in federal effort to gird economy
Los Angeles Time (October 16, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in a story about Congress gearing up to enact a new economic stimulus plan to help ordinary Americans. Though it's better late than never, the delay could hurt many struggling Americans, said Weller. "We've now, I think, avoided at least a major financial crisis, but we haven't done enough on the economic side to avoid a major recession," he said.
Down, but state GOP says it's far from out
Boston Globe (October 16, 2008)
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby is quoted is an article about the shrinking popularity of the GOP in Massachusetts. Responding to a comment from party spokesman Barney Keller that the popularity tide is turning against the Democrats, Crosby said, “Well, no. I think that's somebody on the Titanic saying that's just the hull scraping on seaweed.” Ultimately, the pendulum will swing back, Crosby agreed. "But I don't think it's starting now. I don't think there's any evidence that it's coming yet."
2 Worcester men visiting Liberia
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (October 14, 2008)
The John W. McCormack Graduate School’s Center for Democracy and Development at UMass Boston will fund an exchange program to Liberia in the hope of forging educational, business and other partnerships to help the impoverished people living there. Director of the center Edmund Beard is mentioned in the article.
Going negative: pathetic, but it works
Boston Globe (October 14, 2008)
Fellow at the McCormack Graduate School at UMass-Boston and director of the Commonwealth Compact, Robert L. Turner writes an article about political strategies used by Senators Barak Obama and John McCain. Turner said that a central goal of both the McCain and Obama campaigns is to make the opponent unelectable.
Live Long and Prosper
Boston Globe (October 12, 2008)
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UMass Boston will present a seminar on “What It Takes to Be Happy When You Retire" will be Oct. 23 at 11:30 a.m.
Iraq peace process must be international effort, US panel is told
Boston Globe (October 9, 2008)
John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation at UMass Boston Padraig O’Malley and members of a team that worked to produce a framework for political reconciliation in Iraq told a congressional subcommittee yesterday that the United States must involve the international community in further peace negotiations and allow Iraqis to take the central role in the process. "Divided societies share certain behavioral characteristics," O'Malley said, explaining why he brought leaders from South Africa and Northern Ireland to share their experiences with Iraqis. "They identify with each other. They can bond in a way that they can't bond with people from more normal societies, and that should be recognized and more efforts made to broaden the table at which people from divided societies can sit together and help other people from divided societies." O'Malley also advocated for limited government involvement in future talks.
MA Economist Predicts Slow Rebound
WBUR News (October 9, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews spoke with WBUR’s Bob Oakes and discussed the state treasury’s sale of "revenue anticipation notes" yesterday. Clayton-Matthews talked about how such short-term developments affect economic recovery in the long term.
Christian Weller Testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor
Center For American Progress (October 8, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller testified before the Congress. The full testimony can be accessed by clicking here.
International Negotiators Brief Congressional Committee on First Iraqi-Led Peace Accords
Boston, MA (October 8, 2008)
Professor Padraig O'Malley and members of the Iraq Project gave a briefing on October 8 to the Congressman Delahunt's subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
State's fiscal picture gets darker
Boston Globe (October 7, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in a story about Gov.Deval Patrick’s state budget. Beyond the immediate impact on state residents, rapid-fire economic developments spell difficult choices for Patrick as he gets ready to begin the second half of his four-year term. "The economy is going to get worse, not better. . . . We don't know how bad it is going to get" said Clayton-Matthews.
Additional Coverage: Alan Clayton Matthews spoke with NewsCenter 5 and said that "Unemployment in the state is rising and appears to be rising rapidly. We know that consumer spending has been soft and is slowing. It is not keeping up with inflation.”
Retirement Accounts Have Lost $2 Trillion So Far
Associated Press (October 7, 2008)
UMass Boston Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian Weller is quoted in a story about the value of retirement plans plummeting, in the wake of the recent turmoil in the financial markets. Retirement plans have lost as much as $2 trillion in the past 15 months — about 20 percent of their value. Weller advised investors about identifying good and bad investments in their portfolios. "You cannot tell the participants at the bottom of your fund prospectus, 'Warning: Your psychology may lead you to make irrational choices,'" said Weller.
Amid pageantry, a cultural lesson for participants
Boston Globe (October 6, 2008)
Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Carol Hardy-Fanta is quoted in an article about beauty pageants. The article also notes UMass Boston student Marisela López who was crowned Miss El Salvador Massachusetts. "They really do have to be careful because there is such a problem today with girls and young women being pressed into early sexuality and early focus on weight and looks," said Hardy-Fanta.
WBZ News Radio 1030
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby spoke with WBZ’s Lisa Meyer about ramifications of Gov. Deval Patrick’s budget cuts. Click on the link above to listen to the talk show.
Patrick's second-half agenda could be jeopardized by economy
Belmont Citizen-Herald (October 2, 2008)
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby commented in an article about the damage to the state economy from market problems forcing Gov. Deval Patrick to curtail his spending plans in the second half of his term. “He’s certainly going to have to curtail any dramatic new spending, there’s no question about that,” said Crosby, a former state budget chief under Republican administrations. “Does he want to try to find strategic revenues to do that or does he want to bag them? I don’t know,” he added.
Lessons from MA's Financial Past
WBUR Boston News (September 30, 2008)
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby spoke with WBUR's Morning Edition’s Bob Oakes about the revenue figures that Mass. lawmakers are expecting from Washington D.C. later this week. He commented about what these numbers will mean for the state’s services and programs and how it will impact the state’s economy. Click on the link above to listen to the interview.
As economic woes continue, JVS prepares
The Jewish Advocate (September 29, 2008)
Economist and professor of public policy Alan Clayton-Matthews spoke about the dynamics of the current economy and said the debate over the economy and the slumping job market is still not settled. "Some people would characterize this as a recession, others wouldn't," he said. "It depends on how you look at it. Even though we've had employment declines, some economists will say as long as output continues, it's not a recession. We also have an economy where part of it is working well and part of it isn't. Every time [the economy] runs into a problem like this, we learn a lesson. In another 10 years, there will be another big crisis."
The Credit Crisis is Serious
Center For American Progress (September 26, 2008)
Professor of public policy Christian Weller writes about the seriousness of the global credit crisis and says that it is plainly evident in the stress now roiling U.S. credit markets, especially short-term commercial paper markets and mortgage markets. Weller also notes how costly it is becoming for businesses to fund their everyday financial needs and the concerns in other consumer credit markets, such as credit cards and home equity lines
.
Economic data point to recession
Boston Globe (September 26, 2008)
Professor of economics Alan Clayton-Matthews said that the state's unemployment rate has jumped nearly a point since the beginning of the year, to 5.3 percent. In addition, first-time claims for jobless benefits have risen nearly 20 percent from a year ago and are approaching 40,000 a month, a level considered recessionary."This reflects a rapidly weakening economy, and we haven't felt the impact from all the bad news from the beginning of September," he said. "That's what I'm going to be watching."
Mayor Tom Menino on sidelines as Dianne Wilkerson’s bid for ...
Boston Herald (September 25, 2008)
Dean of the McCormack Graduate School Steve Crosby is mentioned is an article about Mayor Menino maintaining a neutral position on the outcome of the recently held state senate elections. By not endorsing anyone, Menino is effectively backing Wilkerson, said Crosby. “He’s damning Chang-Diaz with faint praise,” he added.
(September 24, 2008)
(September 24, 2008)
Françoise Carré, Research Director at the MGS Center for Social Policy, published a book review in Growth and Change: A Journal of Urban and Regional Policy, Vol 39, No 3 (September 2008). This is a review of The Shadow Labor Force: Perspectives on Contingent Work in the United States, Japan, and Europe, Sandra E. Gleason, Ed. 2006.
Françoise Carré, Research Director at the MGS Center for Social Policy, contributed to a Cornell University Department of Applied Economics and Management Working Paper on informal employment in India ( “Cornell-SEWA-WIEGO 2008 Dialogue – Ahmedabad and Dehli: Compendium of Personal and Technical Notes.” (WP 2008-15)
How to deal with failing financial institutions
The Washington Times (September 20, 2008)
Associate professor in the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian Weller wrote for the Washington Times about how policy makers were dealing with the recent Wall Street failures and the mortgage crisis.
Excerpt: Policymakers at the Federal Reserve and in the Bush administration were slow to admit they had a mortgage mess on their hands. Foreclosure rates are shattering previous records, just to be broken a few months later. The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that the share of mortgages that entered foreclosure in the second quarter of 2008 stood at 1.1 percent, and the share of all mortgages in foreclosure was 2.8 percent during the same period. Since the 1970s, the share of mortgages entering foreclosure never exceeded 0.5 percent before the end of 2006, and the share of total mortgages in foreclosure never exceeded 1.5 percent before the second half of 2007.
Emotional stability of Hispanics is deteriorating (Translated from Spanish)
El Diario – ElPaso (September 22, 2008)
Christian Weller is quoted in a article in Spanish about how the current state of the economy is impacting Hispanic Americans. Weller noted that the Hispanic population is much more vulnerable to the insecurities generated by the state of the economy as it affects their quality of wages, access to retirement plans and medical cover.
REPORT: Times tough financially for the elderly in Wisconsin
The Coulee News WI (September 19, 2008)
Research Fellow in UMass Boston’s Gerontology Institute Alison Gottlieb is quoted in a story about the widening gap between what the elderly need for expenses and what they are receiving from Social Security, pensions and savings accounts. “The average Social Security payment for a retired single elder in Wisconsin in 2007 was $13,165, providing anywhere from as little as 57 percent to 78 percent of what the average elder in Wisconsin needs to cover his or her basic expenses,” said Gottlieb, a partner in the study.
Colleges Told They May Not Consider Race Unless It's 'Essential' to Their Mission
Chronicle of Higher Education (September 18, 2008)
Excerpt: The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has aroused the ire of at least one leading civil-rights group by telling colleges receiving federal aid that they may not consider race in admissions unless it is “essential” to their “mission and stated goals.” The advice to colleges came in a letter of guidance sent to them by Stephanie J. Monroe, the department’s assistant secretary for civil rights, late last month. The letter represents the first attempt by the federal civil-rights office to tell colleges how it will interpret the U.S. Supreme Court’s last major rulings on the use of affirmative action in college admissions (involving the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.)
Mortgage, credit crises yet to impact spending
Express Buzz.com and The Standard.com (September 16, 2008)
Professor of Public Policy & Public Affairs Christian E Weller is quoted in an article about the current state of the nation’s economy. “All of the weaknesses are not showing through yet,” said Weller. With spiralling debt and a yawning trade deficit, and with many consumers grappling with burdensome mortgages and credit card bills, he said, the country is in for a long, painful repayment period.“Just because this isn’t the Great Depression, it doesn’t mean we will be fine. We have sold the family silver, and we continue to do that,” Weller said. “The way it looks, we’ll avoid the worst scenarios. But with all that debt, we look like we’re sliding into years and years of slow economic growth.
Dealing With The Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy
Boston Channel (September 15, 2008)
Excerpt: UMass Boston Public Policy professor Christian Weller, who has expertise in consumer finance and retirement securities, acknowledges the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy adds to what he calls a severe crisis on Wall Street. "Right now, we are in this topsy turvy world where everything feels like a rollercoaster ride, and I think people shouldn't make a decision based on where they are in that rollercoaster ride," said Weller. His advice for the average investor is to keep calm. He said whatever stock market investments Lehman made on their clients' behalf should be sound.
Financial Crises Have Slowed But Not Halted U.S. Economy
Washington Post (September 15, 2008)
Excerpt: Christian E. Weller said things were bad, even if they do not yet look that way. With spiraling debt and a yawning trade deficit, and with many consumers grappling with burdensome mortgages and credit card bills, he said, the country is in for a long repayment period. "Just because this isn't the Great Depression, it doesn't mean we will be fine. We have sold the family silver, and we continue to do that," Weller said. "The way it looks, we'll avoid the worst scenarios. But with all that debt, we look like we're sliding into years and years of slow economic growth."
Numbers of homeless in downtown Plymouth rise sharply
Boston Globe (September 11, 2008)
A November 2007 report done by the McCormack Grad School’s Center for Social Policy, is cited in a story about homeless becoming more visible in Plymouth. The report mentions that about 64 percent of the homeless have some form of substance abuse problem, and 46 percent have physical disabilities.
Getting to the meat of oft-heard political jab
USA Today (September 10, 2008)
Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Carol Hardy-Fanta is quoted in a story about the on-going presidential campaigns and the political jabs that the Democratic and Republican candidates make at each other. "It reflects the fact that we're in a general election that is incredibly close — and the women's vote matters completely," said Hardy-Fanta
Women superior, but more want men
Electric New Paper (September 8, 2008)
Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Carol Hardy-Fanta is quoted in a story about leadership qualities in women. The article is based on a poll by Washington-based Pew Research Center. Hardy-Fanta said that said that women yielded too much when they favoured men over women as leaders. 'If women are not distinguished from men in their view of men and women in politics, then there is no hope for change,' she added.
Unemployment figures raise doubts about a 'soft landing'
Minnesota Public Radio (September 8, 2008)
Associate professor of public policy Christian Weller features as a guest speaker on Minnesota Public Radio's coverage of the economic downturn.
New higher education leader named
Boston Globe (September 5, 2008)
McCormack Graduate School doctoral student Aundrea Kelley has been named acting commissioner of the Board of Higher Education. Kelly also has a master's degrees in business administration and public policy from UMass Boston.
UMass Boston professors bring diversity to the sciences
Boston Globe (August 28, 2008)
Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy’s Paige Ransford is quoted in a story about rehabilitation programs for incarcerated mothers at MCI-Framingham, the state’s only prison for women. The story cites a recent research report from UMass Boston’s Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, which indicates that most women incarcerated in Massachusetts have children.
Significant US preference for male leaders persists
Modesto Bee, CA – (August 25, 2008)
Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, Carol Hardy-Fanta, is quoted in an article about why acceptance of women as leaders in politics and business has been slow. "If women are not distinguished from men in their view of men and women in politics, then there is no hope for change," said Hardy-Fanta. She said that America's bias for male leaders cost Hillary Clinton the election.
After second snub, Hill’s backers still hold her first
Boston Herald (August 25, 2008)
Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy Carol Hardy-Fanta, is quoted in a article about Bay State supporters of Hillary Clinton greeting Barack Obama’s vice presidential pick of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden with a sense of regret tempered with hope yesterday. “It’s really Hillary that needs to be the one getting her supporters. Clinton needs to rally her troops,” said Hardy-Fanta.
Dissident Voice – CA (August 20, 2008)
Michael Keating, UMass Boston associate director of the Center for Democracy and Development, comments about the report by the Rwandan Ministry of Justice accusing the government of France of direct involvement in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, which claimed the lives of nearly 800,000 people.
(August 7, 2008)
Laura Henze Russell, Director of the Elders on the Edge Program at the Gerontology Institute, was quoted in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Spring 2008 Communities and Banking article, “The Golden Years Dilemma,” which focuses on the challenges for house rich, cash poor seniors. In addition, Russell presented the findings of the third in a series of state-based reports by the Gerontology Institute she co-authored in partnership with Wider Opportunities for Women, The Elder Economic Security Standard Index for Illinois, at a press conference in Chicago in June 2008 and at a briefing convened by the Illinois Department on Aging. There was good media coverage of the report, including an editorial in the Chicago Tribune, and Russell was quoted in an article in the DeKalb Daily Chronicle.
Economics professor weighs in on report of more dismal housing figures
WBZ Radio (July 29, 2008)
UMass Boston professor public policy & public affairs Christian Weller speaks with WBZ’s Lisa Meyer about the state of the current economy and its impact on home owners. Click on the link above to listen to the interview.
Senate bill would limit loans from 401(k) plan accounts
Investment News (July 28, 2008)
UMass Boston associate professor of public policy Christian Weller is quoted in a story about the bill that was introduced to address concerns of excessive borrowing from 401(k) plans. The bill would ban debit cards allowing investors to borrow from their retirement accounts and would limit the number of outstanding loans to three. "You do want to make sure that it is a retirement savings vehicle, and not a revolving-payday loan product," said Weller.
In Belfast and Boston, facing life after violent death
Boston Globe (July 27, 2008)
Excerpt: This spring, during a break from his conflict-resolution work in Iraq, Padraig O'Malley sat down for a chat with UMass Boston colleague Joan Becker. Becker runs the school's Urban Scholars Program, a year-round academic enrichment opportunity for Boston middle- and high-schoolers. Any thoughts on summer programs for her charges, she asked? O'Malley mentioned his plans to help Relatives for Justice, a Belfast human rights group, display the "Remembering Quilt" at the Boston Public Library's Copley branch through Thursday.
Mass. jobless rate rises to 5.2%
Boston Globe (July 18, 2008)
UMass Boston professor of public policy Alan Clayton-Matthews is quoted in a story about the current state of the Massachusetts economy. "In the second half of the year, we're going to see no job growth, and possibly declines," said Clayton-Matthews, a forecaster for the New England Economic Partnership, a nonprofit forecasting group. "We're doing better than the nation, but it's not great."
Padraig O’Malley A matter of loyalty in Iraq
Boston Globe (July 15, 2008)
Excerpt: The Helsinki talks on Iraq concluded July 5 in Baghdad with the public disclosure of the agreement — 17 principles defining the framework for conducting future negotiations among parties and 15 mechanisms to monitor compliance with the principles. There are 37 signatories to the agreement; among them some of the most powerful political figures in Iraq representing every shade of political opinion.
These talks were spearheaded by Padraig O’Malley, jointly convened by the Moakley Chair at UMass Boston and the Institute of Global Leadership at Tufts University.
Dorchester Reporter (July 10, 2008) – Page 11 of the pdf file http://dotnews.com/REP%2028-08%20web.pdf
Excerpt: Padraig O’Malley has spent the better part of his life working for peace in far away places. First he focused on the land of his birth, and then he laser beamed on South Africa. Two places where peace, before he got involved, seemed about as possible as the notion that we would have a Democratic Presidential nominee by June. So O’Malley has the nerve to hope he may be able to be useful again in Iraq. And the crazy Irish man begins to set up secret meetings with the Iraq warring factions in Helsinki.
Patriot Ledger (July 9, 2008)
Index shows local seniors often can't cover basic expenses
Capital Times (July 9, 2008)
Findings from the UMass Boston Gerontology Institute are mentioned in a story about economic predicaments senior citizens in Wisconsin face and how they struggle to cover their basic expenses.
Additional Coverage:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Elderly hit hard by expenses
The Daily Kenoshan - County-by-County Data Reveal a Persistent Pattern of Elders ...
Long-term care fraught with uncertainties for elderly baby boomers
University of Florida News (July 9, 2008)
Joan Hyde and Frank Caro from the UMass Boston Gerontology Institute are featured in a story about the new book “The Assisted Living Residence: A Vision for the Future.” Hyde co-edited the book.
Feuding Iraqis reach agreement;UMass figure led talks on reconciliation
Boston Globe (July 4, 2008)
Nearly two dozen leaders from Iraq's feuding factions who were brought together under the aegis of UMass Boston professor Padraig O’Malley are slated to unveil an agreement tomorrow aimed at healing the ethnic and sectarian rifts in their country. O'Malley's reconciliation effort, funded by Massachusetts furniture-maker Robert Bendetson, held two secret meetings in Finland last fall and this spring. "A year ago, people were undoubtedly more frightened," said Padraig O'Malley, a professor and veteran peacemaker, speaking in a telephone interview from Iraq. "Now they are more relaxed."
Additional Coverage:
Boston Herald: Modest UMass prof major force in Iraq peace deal
Boston Globe: McGuinness urges Iraq to learn from N. Ireland's past
International Herald Tribune: United Arab Emirates forgives Iraqi debt
Iraqi Parties, After Meetings in Finland, Agree on Principles to ...
New York Times (July 5, 2008)
The meetings, organized by a professor from the United States skilled in conflict resolution, included all of the main Iraqi political parties. They produced a document, unveiled Saturday, that outlined several principles for Iraq that the parties agreed upon, a first step in a process that experts in reconciliation say could take decades. As for what comes after this, Mr. O’Malley said, that is up to the Iraqi leaders. His goal was to at least get them talking.“They have to move to the next step, and that is setting up structures that can adequately monitor compliance with these principles,” he said. “Here you had them see how to deal with each other and there were a lot of people nodding, ‘We see what you’re talking about,’ ” said the professor, Padraig O’Malley of UMass Boston, at a briefing last week.
The Continuing Fallout: Job Losses Roll On as Economy Struggles
Center For American Progress (July 3, 2008)
UMass Boston Associate Professor in the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs, Christian E. Weller, writes that the latest employment estimates released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics may not generate a lot of exciting headlines. After all, much of what happened in June mirrors labor market conditions in previous months. Employment losses amounted to 62,000 jobs, just as in May. And all job losses can be accounted for in drops in construction and manufacturing, just as has been the case for most of the past two years.
Boston Herald (June 9, 2008)
The Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy hosts an all-day women, wages and work policy conference at UMass-Boston. Speakers include U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell), philanthropist Teresa Heinz Kerry and Suzanne Bump, state labor secretary.
McMahon foreclosure puts a 'celebrity face' on plight of many ...
PR-Inside.com – Austria (June 6, 2008)
Wider Opportunities for Women, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, in partnership with the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston, has created the Elder Economic Security Standard IndexTM in order to help policymakers, service providers and others construct realistic and effective policies and programs to help older Americans secure the income necessary to live independently and well.
Economy may lag, but no recession
Boston Globe (May 31, 2008)
Excerpt: The Massachusetts economy will avoid a recession, but high energy costs, the struggling housing market, and anemic job growth will make many people, particularly the poor and less educated, feel like they're in one, according to a new economic forecast. The forecast, released yesterday by the nonprofit New England Economic Partnership, shows economic fortunes diverging sharply in the state. Those with the education and skills to work in technology, health science, and other knowledge-based sectors will largely prosper as employment in those industries continues to grow at respectable rates of about 2 percent annually over the next five years, said UMass Boston professor Alan Clayton-Matthews, who prepared the forecast.
Fall River Herald News (May 30, 2008)
Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy is organizing the Women, Wages and Work Policy Conference on June 9th 2008. Lilly Ledbetter, a 20-year employee at an Alabama plant owned by Goodyear Tire and Rubber who discovered after she retired that other male managers earned 20 to 40 percent more than she did for the same job, will be the key note speaker. Ledbetter sued and won her initial case in a lower court but an appeals court overturned the decision and by a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the denial.
UMass Boston - Commonwealth Compact
Boston Baystate Banner (May 29, 2008)
The Baystate Banner features a photo of Gov. Deval Patrick, Chancellor Keith Motely and Dean Steve Crosby of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies. They were among the major players in attendance at UMass-Boston last Friday for the Commonwealth Compact breakfast. The Compact initiative is intended to work with employers to improve minority and female representation within their staffs.
Plan to Push Workplace Diversity - Story & Audio
WBUR
Encouraging diversity with the Commonwealth Compact - Video
NECN
Boston Globe (May 23, 2008)
Push is set for workplace diversity
boston.com (May 19, 2008)
Massachusetts civic leaders and business executives are preparing a major push to improve the diversity of the state's workforce by keeping closer track of the numbers of minority and female employees.
Listen to Veteran Peacemakers O'Malley, Maharaj on Iraq
www.NPR.org (May 12, 2008)
Political activist Mac Maharaj fought apartheid with Nelson Mandela, and spent four months in the South African prison on Robben Island.
Padraig O'Malley is a veteran peace negotiator who wrote a book about Maharaj, and who worked to help settle the conflicts in both South Africa and Northern Ireland.
Padraig O'Malley - The John Joseph Moakley Chair of Peace and Reconciliation
will lecture at the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum
on Thursday May 8, 2008 at 6:00 PM.
The topic will be:
The Helsinki Talks: A Step Forward for Iraq or More Time Outs?
For more information & Directions Click Here...
Boston.com chat with Padraig O'Malley, UMass specialist on divided societies, about Iraq strife
Boston.com (May 2, 2008)
Padraig_O_Malley: Hello, this is Padraig O'Malley, and I'll be chatting about the recent efforts to further the peace process in Iraq by using the chief negotiators from Northern Ireland and South Africa as facilitators, sharing with key Iraqi leaders how they were able to bring their own countries out of violence into stable and peaceful democracies.
Additional Coverage: Boston Globe April 28, 2008
"Progress has been made," Padraig O'Malley, the UMass-Boston professor and veteran peace activist who organized the meeting, said in a phone interview from the Finnish capital.
O'Malley said the participants agreed upon all but three of 16 broad principles, which he hopes the Iraqi Parliament will eventually endorse, laying the framework for negotiations to reconcile Iraq's warring parties and militias. He said the participants hoped that that their talks would lead to a detailed agreement on core issues that have plagued Iraq, including disarming militias associated with political parties, protecting the rights of minorities, and reducing corruption in government.
Boston Globe (April 25, 2008)
Professor of peace and reconciliation in the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies Padraig O'Malley is profiled by the Boston Globe.
Excerpt: Padraig O'Malley, the irrepressible academic, author, and peacemaker, has put together an extraordinary guest list for the trip from Iraq to Helsinki: 36 Iraqi leaders from across the country's sectarian divide - Sunni, Shia, and Kurd. They are set to spend the next three days talking, in heavily guarded privacy, about how to bring peace, or at least the possibility of political reconciliation, to a nation at war with itself.
It is the second such gathering of Iraqis O'Malley has organized as he takes on the bloody deadlock in that country, just as he previously forged an unlikely dialogue between adamant enemies in Northern Ireland and South Africa. And he has high hopes for the weekend sessions, which will take place at an undisclosed location in Finland's capital.
Record Gas Prices Add Pressure to Already Squeezed Consumers
Center for American Progress (April 22, 2008)
Professor in the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs Christian E. Weller writes that prices at the pump have now soared to $3.51 per gallon for regular gasoline, according to the Energy Information Administration, easily shattering an inflation-adjusted record that has stood since March 1981. As gasoline prices rise quickly, consumers’ spending is further squeezed, driving them deeper into debt. Yet consumer credit is not as readily available as it used to be; consumers will eventually have to cut spending on other consumption items. When this happens, already weak retail sales growth will further decrease, and the economy will find itself in a deeper rut than it is right now since consumer spending makes up more than two-thirds of the economy…
Boston Globe (April 22, 2008)
A new health-reporting service designed to reach immigrants and non-English speakers was launched Friday by the University of Massachusetts, Boston. The New England Ethnic Newswire will be free for ethnic media outlets in New England. Plans call for stories to be translated into English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, or Haitian Creole. Its goal is to transmit health information to underserved populations, according to UMass.
New York Times (April 20, 2008)
Professor in the gerontology institute Francis Caro is mentioned in a story that talks about the issues that individuals encounter after retiring from the work force. Caro’s advocacy for greater opportunities for older people in the work force might have started what critics warned it might — changed expectations about how long people nearing or passing retirement age should remain traditionally productive. In retirement years, Mr. Caro said, it would become “less acceptable to say, ‘Hey, I’m having a good time doing my own thing.’ ”
Boston Globe Op-Ed by David Sparks April 19, 2008
MGS Asst. to the Dean, A Gamble for the Superdelegates
DEMOCRATS are casting about, trying to find the scoring system that ends their nominating process before their convention with the fewest bad feelings. A variety of solutions has been floated: delegate counts, states won, popular vote, and national polls. Read More...
The Boston Globe Editorial - July 2, 2007
Homelessness: What Works
THE THREAT of homelessness hangs over many heads. Nearly 5 percent of households nationally have "worst case housing needs." That means they pay more than 50 percent of their income for housing, have no housing assistance, and have low incomes, according to a new report from the Boston Foundation and the McCormack Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. Read more...
The Boston Herald - June 26, 2007
Biz takes on diversity - by Jay Fitzgerald
The subcommittees will examine ways to measure progress on hirings, establish "grassroots initiatives" to make Boston more attractive to miniorities and create a "clearinghouse" of general ideas on the topic, said Stephen Crosby, dean of the University of Massachusetts-Boston's McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, which is spearheading the effort. Read more...
International Herald Tribune - June 13, 2007
Book Review: Shades of Difference - by Jeremy Harding
"Mac" Maharaj spent nearly 40 years as an anti-apartheid activist. "Shades of Difference," by Padraig O'Malley is a collaborative biography, bringing together the author's analysis and Maharaj's own reflections, transcribed from hours of interviews. The result is exactly what O'Malley set out to achieve: "a portrait of Mac and of South Africa." It is a striking success. Read more...
7NEWS - New England News - Monday, June 11, 2007
Commission - perhaps - endorses part of Patrick business-tax plan
BOSTON -- A new report ostensibly written by a special commission studying the state's business tax structure recommends legislators immediately adopt a key element of Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed tax overhaul, but at least two panelists say commission members were uninvolved in drafting the findings. Read more...
The Boston Globe Op-ed - June 1, 2007
A passport to higher ed - by Steve Crosby
THIS MORNING, 1,800 undergraduates at the University of Massachusetts at Boston will receive their diplomas and join the ranks of the 85 percent of UMass grads who stay in the state, providing much of the critical workforce for the Commonwealth's future. Read more...
The University Reporter - May, 2007
UMass Boston Adds the John Joseph Moakley Chair of Peace and Reconciliation to endowed Professorships - by Ed Hayward
The list of endowed profes-sorships and chairs at the Uni-versity of Massachusetts Boston also includes the John Joseph Moakley Chair of Peace and Reconciliation, a distinguished professorship within the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies. Read more...
Center for Social Policy, Press Release - May 14, 2007
New England Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) Practitioners Convene at UMass Boston for Regional Conference - by John McGah
Over 28,000 people are homeless in New England on a given day, according to a presentation at the third annual HUD New England Regional HMIS Conference — Making the Data Count." Read more...
The Boston Globe Editorial — May 11, 2007
Vision for a diverse Boston
Most recent is a survey from the McCormack School at UMass-Boston indicates that the number of minorities on boards of directors in Massachusetts -- both corporate and nonprofit -- is dismally low. The figures are a reliable indicator, according to Dr. Carol Hardy-Fanta, director of the School's Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, which conducted the survey, as data were compiled from a majority of the relevant organizations. Read more...
The Boston Globe — May 11, 2007
Diversity still lagging in Bay State boardrooms - by Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff
The boards of directors of the Bay State's largest corporations, hospitals, universities, and cultural institutions are overwhelmingly composed of white men, according to a report to be released today by the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at University of Massachusetts, Boston. Read more...
The Boston Globe Op-Ed — March 27, 2007
Paisley's Politics Pays Off - by Padraig O'Malley
Padraig O'Malley, John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation, authored an op-ed on recent political developments in Northern Ireland Read more...
The Boston Globe Op-Ed — October 6, 2006
Can you figure out the budget? - by Steve Crosby and Noah Berger
Each year, the state budget allocates over $25 billion -- $4,000 for every man, woman, and child in the Commonwealth -- to services such as education, public safety, roads, public health, and environmental protection. Yet that budget is often inscrutable to all but the most sophisticated reader Read more...
The Boston Globe Op-Ed — July 8, 2006
An honest debate on immigration - by Steve Crosby
THERE ARE two simple reasons why there are millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States. First, they want to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Second, there are hundreds of thousand of individuals and companies who are happy to employ them. If there were no jobs, there would be no immigrants. Read more...