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On today’s two part show we talk to authors of new reports from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).

First, we talk with economist Francisco Rodríguez about the negative effects economic sanctions have on poverty, inequality, mortality, and human rights. His new report analyzes the increase in sanctions over the last 60 years and finds economic sanctions severely harm the most vulnerable.

Then, we talk with CEPR Co-Director Eileen Appelbaum about a report she co-authored that examines private equity’s acquisitions of hospice agencies. These investments in hospice care was on the rise before the COVID-19 pandemic as individuals preferred to remain in their own homes rather than move to group living facilities. In 2020, private equity acquisitions reached a peak as outbreaks of COVID-19 in nursing homes further increased the preference to receive care at home. The report finds that some hospice providers put profits over patients.

Francisco Rodríguez is the Rice family professor of the practice of international and public affairs at the University of Denver’s Korbel School of International Studies. Rodríguez is a Venezuelan economist, and currently director and founder of Oil for Venezuela, a non-profit organization focused on finding solutions to Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis. His book  Scorched Earth: The Political Economy of Venezuela’s Collapse, 2012-20 will be published in 2023.

Eileen Appelbaum is Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Previously, she was a Distinguished Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University. Her 2014 coauthored, award-winning, book Private Equity at Work: When Wall Street Manages Main Street was the first to look at the effect private equity has on the companies it acquires, and on their workers, customers, creditors, and vendors.

The post New Reports from the Center for Economic and Policy Research appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.