Publications
Raising Albuquerque’s Minimum Wage
Policy Brief Similar to our recent report Indexing the State Minimum Wage to Inflation, this brief shows how the November ballot initiative to raise and index the minimum wage in Albuquerque would impact workers and the city’s economy. (Albuquerque-level data on employees impacted by a minimum wage increase)
Mind the Gap: Unemployment, Income, and Earnings for Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites in and Before the Great Recession
Report While the income and unemployment gap between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites had been closing in the three years leading up to the stock market crash, those gains were all lost in the resulting recession. This report looks at why Hispanics were harder hit by the downturn. (State-level data on employment and earnings by race and ethnicity)
New Mexico Corporate Income Tax: Overview and Current Issues
Presentation Created for a hearing of the Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Committee, this presentation looks at how much damage a corporate tax cut proposal would do to New Mexico’s operating budget.
The Economic Benefits of Health Care Reform in New Mexico
Report As the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented over the next several years, millions in federal dollars will be injected into the state. The result will be billions of dollars in economic activity and the creation of tens of thousands of jobs. Updated in Aug. 2012 to reflect new estimates for the Medicaid expansion by the state’s Human Services Department. (State-level data on estimated economic activity and new jobs created by the Medicaid expansion, as well as amount of federal funding and state cost.)
The Tax Revenue Benefits of Health Care Reform in New Mexico
Report The companion piece to our report The Economic Benefits of Health Care Reform in New Mexico, this report estimates the amount of tax revenue the state will collect as a result of the economic activity generated by the federal funding that will flow into New Mexico when the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented. Updated in Aug. 2012, to reflect new estimates for the Medicaid expansion by the state’s Human Services Department. (State-level data on estimated tax revenue from Medicaid expansion, as well as economic activity and new jobs created and state cost.)
How Raising and Indexing the Minimum Wage has Impacted State Economies
Report States with a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum are not experiencing any adverse economic effects. In fact, raising New Mexico’s minimum wage would give the economy a modest boost. Santa Fe, which has the highest minimum wage in the state, has the strongest economy in New Mexico. This report follows our Indexing the State Wage to Inflation report, which looks at how much value the wage has lost since it was last raised. (State-level data on inflation-adjusted minimum wage, as well as comparisons to other states on indicators such as employment growth, income levels, etc.)
Immigration Matters in New Mexico: How KIDS COUNT
Brief and Report This special KIDS COUNT brief and report look at the unique challenges immigrant children face as well as the strengths their families bring to this country. Includes stories by immigrants about their experiences. Two community briefs offer shorter, more ‘user-friendly’ versions - one in Spanish. (State-level data on nativity and immigration status of the population, as well as various indicators of child well-being.)
2011 Annual Report
Annual Report During our 2011 fiscal year (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011) we stepped up our work to secure more funding for early childhood care and education programs. We believe the educational and economic outcome of New Mexico’s children and families would vastly improve if the state were to fund a universally available continuum of programs aimed at children aged zero to five.
Analysis: Voter Photo ID Laws are Costly
Policy Brief Implementing a photo ID requirement for voters could cost New Mexico $3.5 million over three years. Because investigations by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office have found very little in the way of voter fraud, such legislation is more likely an attempt at voter suppression. (State-level data on the cost of implementing voter ID requirements.)
Indexing the State Minimum Wage to Inflation
Policy Brief New Mexico’s minimum wage, $7.50 an hour, has already lost value in the few years since it was raised. A full-time minimum wage employee has lost on average $1,000 a year due to inflation. (State-level data on inflation-adjusted minimum wage, characteristics of workers who would benefit from an increase.)