Featured Post from Hofstra University

NYS Lags Behind in Payouts to Help Unemployed, Injured Workers

Dec 9, 2024

1 min

Gregory DeFreitas

Gregory DeFreitas, professor of economics and director, Center for Study of Labor and Democracy, was interviewed by Newsday for a story on a report from the New York State Comptroller’s Office that shows that the state lags behind others when it comes to cash payouts for several social safety net programs meant to help unemployed or injured workers.



Dr. DeFreitas explained that the state’s unemployment benefits system was challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state still owes the federal government $6.2 billion in debt from borrowing funds to pay out a record number of unemployment claims spurred by pandemic job losses, according to the report.


“We’re only one of three states in debt like that,” Dr. DeFreitas said. “What that means is we really can’t raise benefits until we repay that $6.2 billion or raise taxes.”

Connect with:
Gregory DeFreitas

Gregory DeFreitas

Professor of Economics, Director of the Center for the Study of Labor and Democracy

Prof. DeFreitas is an expert on labor studies.

Labor EconomicsResearch MethodsUrban EconomicsMicroeconomicsAfrican Economic Development
Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Hofstra University

Rip Current Simulations Save Lives featured image

1 min

Rip Current Simulations Save Lives

Jase Bernhardt, Hofstra University associate professor of geology, environment, and sustainability and director of meteorology, was referenced in a USA Today article about simulations that teach the public about rip current safety. For years, Dr. Bernhardt has been leading research that offers a virtual reality simulation of being caught in a rip current and teaches ways swimmers can navigate to safety. The development of this technology is supported in part by New York Sea Grant (NYSG).

Iran Conflict Intensifies Focus on Affordability featured image

1 min

Iran Conflict Intensifies Focus on Affordability

Professor of Finance Anoop Rai spoke to Newsday about economic fallout from the Iran campaign, which is refocusing attention on rising costs at a time when affordability was already a top concern, locally and nationally. If the economy cools down, it could reduce the state’s tax revenues, and any actions lawmakers take to further help with affordability could lead to greater deficits, said Dr. Rai. “Then it becomes more like a philosophy. Do you help now during bad times and then try to recover later, or stick to your principles and say ‘tough luck’?”

How Strikes on Iran Could Impact Prices on LI featured image

1 min

How Strikes on Iran Could Impact Prices on LI

NewsdayTV spoke to Hofstra Professor of Finance Anoop Rai about Long Islanders bracing for higher prices at the gas pump and elsewhere, following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

View all posts
Powered by