The Stability of Work Life After the Pandemic

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Before the pandemic, gig work has always existed, but it didn't receive much attention. However, there are concerns about the stability and sustainability of gig jobs. Despite this, people were still working gig jobs and consumer sentiment was not negative. Claudia highlighted a specific stability issue caused by the expiration of relief measures in 2021. Although some individuals' financial situations may appear better than before the pandemic, factors such as stimulus checks, student loan payment pauses, and child tax credit expansions ending can still make people feel worse off. Claudia is interested in understanding the impact of these pandemic policies. The speaker conducted extensive research and strongly supported the stimulus checks.

Would you say that you and your family are better off or worse off, financially, than you were a year ago? Do you think in 12 months we'll have good times, financially, or bad? Generally speaking, do you think now is a good time or a bad time to buy a house?

These are the kinds of questions baked into the Consumer Sentiment Index. And while the economy has been humming along surprisingly well lately, sentiment has stayed surprisingly low.

Today on the show: We are really bummed about the economy, despite the fact that unemployment and inflation are down. So, what gives? We talk to a former Fed economist trying to get to the heart of this paradox, and travel to Michigan to check in on the place where they check the vibes of the economy.

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