Marcela Escobari - Mentions and Appearances

[The pandemic recovery may provide rare opportunities for those toiling for low wages.] This time, people searching for jobs may have a lot of different options. That is not typical.

A large-scale federal infrastructure investment program that is deliberately designed for maximum workforce impact can help accelerate reemployment, prevent scarring, and boost long-term inclusive and sustainable growth.

Many of today’s unemployed workers may find it harder than in the past to find new jobs and advance through the labor market.

When workers who earn wages in the low-wage quintile switch occupations, they have the highest likelihood of any wage group to remain in the same wage quintile and not see any wage mobility.

As for the future, while some jobs will be replaced by automation and robots, the main concern is displacement. Both the industries that are growing and the industries that are shrinking are low wage, and available work is going to be more low-wage work.

We’re seeing a bifurcation of the economy. Some are moving up toward the high end, while others are stuck or are getting shifted toward the low end. And some are leaving the workforce altogether.

U.S. development programs are never going to eliminate migration flows. But when there are sudden increases in migration that are attributable to insecurity, we have been able to implement anti-violence programs that have proven to be successful.

"You have to play the long game. It’s fine to add money, but when the commitment is volatile and your funding goes up and down constantly, you can end up creating more harm than good."

"We have been in Central America for a long time. It’s not just money that has made us effective in the region — there is a lot of hard-earned experience, trial and error, and institution building that is slowly reaping results. The worst thing that could happen now is to go back to zero."

"Cutting aid to Central American countries would be a mistake, since U.S. aid dollars fund programs that reduce violence, strengthen the justice system, and encourage investment that make them more attractive places for their citizens."