A year later: Where are we?

03/05/2021
by Eric Peterson, director of the Pelican Center for Technology and Innovation Policy This week is a somber anniversary, as it marks one year since Americans were forced to lockdown across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, after a year of health and economic devastation caused by the virus and subsequent government lockdowns,...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Unemployment, Unemployment Rate

State Job Numbers Are No Cause for Celebration

By Daniel J. Erspamer
02/12/2021
As Louisianans celebrate a vastly different kind of Mardi Gras this year, the latest economic data shows that COVID-19 has resulted in far more than cancelled parades. State and local government officials’ response to the pandemic has also led to significant job losses. Louisiana’s new economic data shows that while the number of Louisianans on...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Mardi Gras, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance

Despite hiccups, Louisiana economy slowly moving forward

12/08/2020
by Eric Peterson, Director of Policy As 2020 winds down, I can’t help but reflect on the difficulties we’ve all experienced, both on the health and economic fronts, throughout this year. Fortunately, as a vaccine appears within reach, so too is a return to a strong economy. The latest jobs release from the Bureau of...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Mardi Gras, tax reform, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Unemployment Fraud in Louisiana?

By Daniel J. Erspamer
11/30/2020
Two weeks ago, it appeared as though the Louisiana economy was once again headed for darker times. As other states were reinstituting stricter lockdown penalties and Mayor LaToya Cantrell was canceling Mardi Gras, the number of new Louisiana unemployment claims skyrocketed to over 40,000. It seemed the lack of travel to Louisiana might have resulted in...

TAGS: COVID-19, fraud, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance

Governor Edwards Adds New Economic Restrictions, Pelican Statement

By Daniel J. Erspamer
11/24/2020
Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Louisiana is returning to Phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 economic restrictions. In addition to ordering many bars across the state to close and sending most businesses back to 50 percent occupancy through the end of the year, Gov. Edwards also limited gatherings to 75 indoors and 150 outdoors. Additionally,...

TAGS: COVID-19, jobs and opportunity, Labor, Unemployment

Damage of Louisiana’s Shutdown Becoming Clearer

By Daniel J. Erspamer
10/09/2020
As the Louisiana legislature debates adding checks and balances to the state’s emergency powers, reports from both the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are painting a picture of just how economically damaging the state’s shutdown has been. Let’s start with the worst news. The BEA reported Louisiana’s economy shrank...

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Get Louisiana Working, Real GDP, Unemployment, Unemployment Rate

New Report Reveals Extent of Damage from COVID-19 and Shutdowns

07/31/2020
Current methods for collecting economic data causes a disconnect between what people are actually feeling in their lives and the numbers being released to the public. That’s why prior to this week, we knew that COVID-19 and subsequent shutdowns have made large impacts on the American economy, but we didn’t know the full scope of...

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, COVID-19, GDP, Great Depression, Gross Domestic Product, Labor, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Some Good News in Latest Jobs Numbers, But Will They Hold?

07/17/2020
Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest state-by-state jobs numbers, which featured some overall good news for Louisiana. The state’s June unemployment rate dropped by 4.5 percent, dipping under 10 percent for the first time in months. While this headline shows some improvement in Louisiana’s economic situation, there are reasons to take...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, Economy, Get Louisiana Working, jobs and opportunity, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Louisiana Economy Appears Stuck in Neutral

06/19/2020
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported that America gained 2.5 million jobs in the month of May, leaving many in Louisiana wondering how that would translate to the state’s economy. This morning’s BLS report showed Louisiana gaining almost 33,000 jobs in May, leading to a decline in the unemployment rate of 1.8 percent. The state’s...

TAGS: Department of Labor, jobs and opportunity, legal reform, tax reform, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

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Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government

In their report “Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government,” Ted Bolema, Ph.D., J.D., Antitrust and Competition Fellow at the Innovators Network Foundation, and Vance Ginn, Ph.D., Chief Economist at the Pelican Institute, write that while the current frustrations with the size of large tech companies and censorship practices may be warranted, giving...

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