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Funding Student Need: Evaluating Measures of Need in California’s TK–12...
Key Takeaways With pandemic stimulus funding subsiding, efforts to boost achievement, stem absenteeism, and narrow outcome gaps in California’s TK–12 public school system will rely on the level and...
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Three Decades of Housing Challenges in the Golden State
While California’s housing market has undergone tremendous changes over the years, with some aspects worsening in the last decade, the central problem—high housing costs—remains the same. On PPIC’s...
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PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
Key Findings The economic well-being of Americans was a key issue in the presidential election. National economic indicators pointed to steady employment growth and lower inflation rates in 2024, but...
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Video: Funding Student Need
First implemented over 10 years ago, California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) provides California’s public schools with additional funding for high-need students. It uses enrollment in the...
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Video: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being
PPIC’s latest survey examines Californians’ perceptions of their financial situations and the broader economic outlook. It also gauges support for labor unions and policies that aim to promote economic...
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California’s Health Care Safety Net
Millions of Californians rely on the health care safety net. The health care safety net is a patchwork of programs and providers that deliver coverage and care to people with low incomes, no private...
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Six Fast Facts on Californians’ Economic Mood
For several years PPIC has asked Californians whether they believe that a person can work hard to get ahead financially—and for years, fewer and fewer residents have answered yes. Today, just one third...
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Policy Brief: California’s Aging Population
California is on the cusp of an unprecedented demographic shift: projections indicate a dramatic increase in the state’s older adult population by 2040. To help state leaders prepare for the fiscal and...
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California’s Aging Population
Key Takeaways California is on the cusp of an unprecedented demographic shift, with projections indicating a dramatic increase in the older adult population by 2040. This report examines and projects...
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Poverty Varies Widely across California’s Regions
As a new legislative session begins, nearly one-third of state lawmakers are new to their role. This year, some state leaders have committed to prioritizing policies that address California’s...
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Making Sense of California’s Economy
We take a look at where California’s economy has been, where it might be headed, and how we can better insulate Californians against future upheavals. As new elected officials take office, jobs, the...
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Reducing College Costs for Low-Income Students
Key Takeaways While low-income students typically qualify for the maximum need-based financial aid, they may face constraints to cover the remaining financial burden. This burden can be eased by two of...
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Helping California Prepare for Dramatic Growth in its Older Adult Population
California is on the cusp of an unprecedented demographic shift: projections indicate a dramatic increase in the state’s older adult population by 2040. At a virtual PPIC event last week, Hans Johnson...
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Improving Safety Net Enrollment among California College Students
California’s high school seniors are now in the process of receiving their college acceptance letters. For many families, cost will be an important factor: two-thirds of parents are worried about...
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Income Inequality in California
The gap between high and low incomes is wider in California than in most other states. In 2023 (the most recent data available), families at the top of the income distribution—the 90th...
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Testimony: A Snapshot of Food Insecurity in California
PPIC research associate Tess Thorman testified before the Senate Human Services Committee on March 11, 2025. Here are their prepared remarks. Good morning. My name is Tess Thorman. I am a researcher at...
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Safety Net Programs Can Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students
California’s lowest-income college students typically qualify for the maximum amount of need-based financial aid, but they may find it challenging to cover their remaining costs. At a virtual event...
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Homelessness Hits Record High in California, Jumps Dramatically in Rest of US
Californians have consistently cited homelessness as a top issue facing the state, and in 2024, homelessness reached record highs. Of the nation’s 771,500 people experiencing homelessness, over 187,000...
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Testimony: Cost Pressures and Affordability for Californians in Today’s Economy
Sarah Bohn, PPIC vice president and director of the PPIC Economic Policy Center, testified before the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact on March 24, 2025. Here...
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A Closer Look at California’s Surging Electricity Rates
California is struggling with an affordability crisis, and in recent weeks, the focus has turned to the state’s soaring electricity rates. With policymakers concerned that high costs might encourage...
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