#to studying pay disparities

[poebrey]

saw that there was a video on tiktok circulating about what people even do with womens studies degrees and I saw a nice little rebuttal video that gave a syllabus list and that’s really nice and informative and all but back to the point there are real jobs that are super important that people can do with humanities degrees and part of fighting the backlash against them is acknowledging they exist

[mamasbakeria]

hey, what's your major again?

summary: my credible expert opinion on what the aot characters would study in university. what are my qualifications? the dozens of hours i’ve spent staring at my school’s program bulletin trying to figure out what i’m majoring in

genre | includes: headcanons, sfw, minor language, uninformed percy jackson reference (pls don't hate me if im wrong)

characters: eren jaeger, mikasa ackerman, armin arlert, sasha braus, jean kirschtein, connie springer, historia reiss, ymir, reiner braun, annie leonhardt

author’s note: had this in my drafts for months now. i just need to post it so it stops haunting me. might do the rest of the marleyans and vets in the future! lmk your thoughts, my only tumblr notifications are from p*rn bots, so i'd love to hear from real people lol. enjoy <3

eren: sociology and public policy, 4+1 program for a social work masters

there’s only so many times you can hear “you’re gonna be a doctor just like your dad” before you start to believe it. that’s why eren started out with biology on the premed track. the thing is, he really didn’t care for it. eren is really passionate about lessening equity gaps and is a firm believer in “if you want something done right, do it yourself”. this is why i see him making the switch to a double major in public policy and sociology. he wants to know about how society got to the point of perpetuating disparities so that he can fix them. but he also knows that the government fucking sucks and thinks its naive to expect policy change to be the only method of change. and like the maniac he is, eren is enrolled in a 4+1 program so he can get his master’s in social work when he’s done with his undergrad. he’s determined to graduate with both degrees in just 4 years though. rip his summers.

armin: international relations and military ethics, minor in communications or smth

everyone always says armin would study marine biology or oceanographic studies, but i honestly think that it’s a passion that he pursues on the side. he takes marine bio courses for his breadth requirements, but knows he’d end up hating the ocean if he spent the rest of his life studying it. he also strikes me as someone who would rather run buck naked into traffic than sit through multiple semesters of organic chemistry. armin was always a good public speaker, though, despite being a bit insecure. that’s why his speech and debate teacher during sophomore year of high school recommended model united nations to him. he was hooked after his first conference and now genuinely sees the path of international diplomacy as his calling. that’s why he’s majoring in international relations. his concentration in military ethics is something he tacks on in his junior year after taking some courses and publishing research with dr. erwin smith. he probably minors in communications because he can.

mikasa: forensic science

mikasa had no idea what she wanted to do when she started uni. she’s good at nearly everything. like never gotten a B in her life and is the student who the curve is based off of. but excelling in every environment you’re put in often means you don’t know what you’re best at. she knew deep down that she wanted to do something justice related like her childhood best friends did, but she’s no public speaker and has no interest in political reform. she was, however, emo in high school and heard a fair share of undertaker jokes at her expense. it wouldn’t hurt to look into right? as cool as the title sounds, morticians don’t make enough money for the job they have. fortunately enough, forensic pathologists do and mikasa looks good in a lab coat. she would never admit it to spare armin and eren’s feelings, but when they, as children, recreated the crime-solving shows mrs. jaeger always had on, mikasa always wanted to be the brains. so criminology and forensic science it is. (side note: she definitely joins the military and they pay for her education)

jean: structural engineering and industrial design with a minor in studio art

more than anything, jean wants to provide for his mom and knows he can’t guarantee a retirement of luxury for her as the freelance artist he wishes he could be. he’s decent at math when he tries and doesn’t hate physics, so he decided he’d give structural engineering a try for at least a semester or two. he wasn’t expecting to get much from it, to be honest. he had a plethora of backup plans waiting for his supposedly inevitable distaste for engineering, but he found that he didn’t hate it at all. someone once told jean that he had the makings of a great leader and he didn’t believe them until he started taking the lead on design projects and producing incredible results. his only qualm is that he just doesn’t get to be as creative as he wanted to be. that was easily rectified by an additional major in industrial design and a minor in studio art. he’s unbelievably busy, busier than he anticipated when he started his post-secondary journey, but he’s content and there’s nothing some extra coffee can’t solve. 

sasha: environmental science and sustainability

sasha spent her childhood ankle-deep in mud and fighting her way through forest thickets without a compass. an upbringing like that doesn’t leave your spirit, no matter how far into the city you go for school. so sasha’s always been passively passionate about the environment. that passiveness became significantly more prominent when part of the woods she grew up in was cleared out to build an industrial complex. it was then that she started researching and writing petitions about preserving wildlife and making environmentally conscious decisions. her work actually got her the scholarship she’s on (because god knows it wasn’t her grades). and she genuinely loves what she does, so why wouldn’t she keep learning about it? the environmental science and sustainability program at the school is small, but tight-knit and known for churning out changemakers. sasha knows she’ll be one of them one day. just hide your plastic straws from her, okay?

connie: computer science and chinese

stick with me here okay? everyone expects connie to be a douchebag marketing major whose hardest assignments are graphing functions and making posters on photoshop, but he’s a lot more invested in his education than he looks. don’t get me wrong, connie has always struggled academically, but that’s because so much of early education is pre-determined. he performed way better when he could choose what courses he took. it’s kind of like percy jackson being dyslexic in english because he was wired to read in greek. connie can’t keep his eyes on a history textbook for shit, but will gladly sit in front of the c++ code on his pc for hours. he doesn’t even get mad when he realizes that he was missing a semicolon. connie loves how versatile of a future he could have with a compsci degree, because, let’s be real, he could never survive in a typical office environment. definitely takes a bunch of chinese classes and doesn’t realize that he has enough credits for it to be a minor until his second to last semester.

historia: political science with a minor in international relations and child development

historia is a lot like eren in the sense that she knows her time is best spent doing hands-on work in the fields she cares about. she realizes this sometime after reconnecting with her estranged father and volunteering at the orphanage she grew up in. but now that she’s publicly associated with a powerful political figure, historia doesn’t get to do what she wants, only what is expected of her. that’s how she ends up on the pre-law political science and public policy route. the nickname “ms. president” that connie and sasha give her only further reminds her that she’s heading down a path she never wanted for herself. after lots of encouragement from ymir, historia decided to take child development courses on the side. even if she doesn’t take on the full minor, she’s taking some classes she cares about. maybe she’ll find use for it someday. at the very least, it’s her first step in becoming the most selfish girl in the world.

ymir: data science and business management

ymir is smart. much smarter than she presents herself to be, almost as a form of protection. nobody expects much of someone who is aloof, so it makes it easy to slip through the cracks to remain safe and comfortable in the shadows. business management is notoriously low commitment and easy to skate by with. guaranteed internships, post-graduate employment, and so on. To anyone who doesn’t know ymir well, it’s perfect. but they have her mistaken, ymir will do as little as possible to go as far as possible. sure, she can live comfortably with a business degree, but it could be better with a little bit of data science in her arsenal. she’s intelligent enough to pick up on it, and determined enough to make it her bitch. yeah, academia is a money-sucking pipeline into the capitalist hellscape, she doesn’t believe in it yada yada, but at the end of the day, ymir’s gonna get the bag. so what if she’s gotta sleep through some stats classes to get it?

reiner: behavioral economics

reiner’s mother had convinced him his whole life that getting a high paying job would fix their lives and bring his father back. believing “perfect grades lead to a perfect life” made high school tough for reiner; gifted kid burnout is no joke. it really messed him up. he wasn’t sure if he could withstand the pressures of university, but here he is. reiner was never allowed a therapist, so he figured pursuing psychology would, at the very least, give him some answers and be a good pathway to a medical degree. he loved getting to understand how people work and why they act the way they do, but something was missing. he found out what it was when a guest lecturer spoke in his economics class. he knew making the switch would be risky, it’s a new field and his current career options are really only research, academia, or government, but the interdisciplinary study of behavioral economics is calling reiner’s name. 

annie: biomedical engineering and kinesiology

annie’s entire life revolved around her father, including the injury he was never able to heal from. the one she gave him. he’s claimed to be over it, she’s forgiven, but annie will never feel like she’s earned that forgiveness until she gets rid of the problem entirely. how is she going to do that exactly? with biomedical engineering. she has years of hell in front of her, especially with her concentration on biomechanics, but she doesn’t care. annie will throw herself into her work to get the results she wants. she takes the highest amount of credits possible every semester so she can graduate early. you’ll most likely find her chained to a study cubicle at the library at all hours of the day and running on 2 hours of sleep, but it doesn’t faze her. she tacks on a minor in kinesiology because it makes sense and she had most of the credits for it anyway. and as if it couldn’t get worse, she probably TAs for a thermodynamics course or something crazy like that.

© mamasbakeria 2023. do not repost, translate (without permission), or modify

[campgender]

i was scrolling your “life is in your home too” tag, which I love btw, and saw a post about how you learned to be a good dom from experienced expert doms by reading how they dom and some of their best scenes, do you think you could point me in the direction of some resources for me to study that too? thanks in advance, if not, thanks anyway!

(post referenced is here - link 1)

first of all tysm for this ask (+ your incredibly kind follow-up), it was a delight to receive + i’ve been wanting an excuse to talk about a lot of this for a while so i very much appreciate the interest!

as always please keep in mind that i am Just Some Fem, nothing is universal including when it comes to D/s & i can only speak to what works for me. i try to focus on starting points rather than specifics but ultimately my advice will always be limited by what i needed to hear & wasn’t told, which may not be what’s helpful for a different person. with that being said, here’s some suggestions!

i’ve posted a previous reading list (link 2) with relevant recs; particularly the practicality + sex writing sections have the kind of thing you’re looking for. specifically, The New Topping Book (2003) is a solid starting point; i definitely have my issues with it (haven’t read it recently enough to recall many specifics but i have the sense of general pervasive racism & ableism) but it did a good job at making me think & i appreciate the supportive tone they were going for

another book added to my tbr since then is Coming to Power (link 3), released by SAMOIS in 1983

other authors whose sex writing has been influential in my life: Sandra Cisneros, Natalie Diaz, Joan Nestle, Judy Grahn

the fic At The End of His Rope by Letterblade (link 4) is genuinely some of my favorite sex writing of all time & accomplishes the incredibly impressive feat of representing a broad array of dom styles & changes over time in the same piece

my “impurity culture” tag (link 5) houses the building blocks of my sexual ethic

i’ve found many of those foundations by poking around the incredible bodies of work original & archived @newsmutproject @woman-loving @gatheringbones

for me, studying sex is the same as studying poetry – reading for craft is a different process than for pleasure (not that there isn’t a great deal of pleasure to be found in such practice, especially for sadists – perhaps that’s why as a child i never resonated with Billy Collins’ “Introduction to Poetry,” like i love tying poems to chairs & beating them idk what to tell you). so, keeping in mind that these are suggestions not requirements, here’s how i read for + work on craft:

there is no such thing as too much journaling. this can take whatever form you prefer – voice memo, discord message to yourself, the noble notes app, your own personal sexy red string corkboard, a vast & stunning array of other approaches i can’t even begin to imagine. i personally have an elaborate web of spreadsheets & google docs lmao. what matters is developing a collection of ideas you want to play with + a practice of continually reflecting on past experiences.

pay attention to structure, not just content. find a scene you think is disjointed and pick at the seams, brainstorm better transitions. then find a scene that flows so smoothly it carries you with it and figure out what makes it work.

rewrite a scene you’re drawn to or affected by to suit your own preferences. i first did this when i couldn’t shake “Interlude 3” (link 6) from my head after reading The New Topping Book; you can read my variation on the theme here (link 7) if you’re interested.

write or think through a scene fantasy you have from negotiation to aftercare. obviously it’s very difficult if not impossible to fully script a scene in advance; the purpose isn’t planning something you’ll later do but rather getting used to coming up with ideas to get from one disparate moment / act to the next.

revisit a scene you’ve read, written, thought about, etc and list the physical & mental acts that are required / expected of the sub (eg, kneeling for 10 minutes; making eye contact; counting to 30, etc). then rework the scene for a sub who has the same interests & goals who cannot do 20% (or 50%, or any) of these acts.

revisit a previous scene and list the places where you think a sub might safeword & why. then rework it with the sub safewording somewhere that isn’t any of these places.

i also recommend keeping in mind that like… for me, reading about ethical sex can often be a very distressing process for the same reason that it’s liberating: because it proves that things i’ve experienced are not the way sex has to be. i’ll tell this story in its fullness one day but the first time i read S/HE by Minnie Bruce Pratt i literally had a flashback to events i’d repressed for years, it was devastating, i’m so grateful for it. hell, in the process of compiling resources for this post i cried twice editing this quote (link 8) because between reading that book the first time & now someone did “respond with scorn or ridicule” when i safeworded. so i would really encourage folks to approach this kind of work with as much grace & comfort for yourself as you can muster or borrow – if it’s really fucking hard, you’re not alone in that, & it’s okay to take your time + pace yourself + seek support.

your + others’ interest is definitely motivating me to actually write posts i’ve been tossing around for months so thank you again & feel free to keep an eye out for more shut-in sex tips in my new “tomorrow sexting will be good again” tag. would love to hear your thoughts on any of this post / these or other books / whatever really lol. wishing you all the best & i hope today is kind to you! 💓

[phoenixyfriend]

Raising the Minimum Wage and Its Effects

Ko-fi prompt from [name redacted]:

So, what does raising the minimum wage really do to the rest of the economy?

Hecking Complicated! I think I might need a doc of just. References for this one. But here are a few elements!

(Also, the Congressional Budget Office has an interactive model of how different changes to the minimum wage could affect various parts of the economy, like poverty rates and overall employment. Try it out!)

Reduction of Benefits

A common claim that is used to argue against the minimum wage is that it will result in companies cutting hours for their employees in order to recoup losses by having to provide benefits to fewer employees. This isn't 'the minimum wage is bad' so much as 'corporations are assholes,' but it is unfortunately still a thing that happens. (Harvard Business Review)

This is not a problem with the minimum wage itself, in my opinion, but these issues are emblematic of the weight that self-serving elements of capitalism carry. The low minimum wage is just one part of many that contribute to the current wealth disparity; if things like health insurance were universal, then bosses wouldn't be as able to cut them to employees in order to save money. Current regulations incentivize companies to hire more part-time workers than full-time, in order to avoid paying out benefits. Some cities have enacted Fair Workweek Laws in order to combat these approaches, though the impact is as of yet uncertain (Economic Policy Institute, 2018). Early reports, like the Year Two Worker Impact Report on Seattle’s Secure Scheduling Ordinance, do seem to indicate positive results, though:

In addition, the SSO led to increases in job satisfaction and workers’ overall well-being and financial security. In particular, the Secure Scheduling Ordinance had the following impacts for Seattle workers: - increased work schedule stability and predictability - increased job satisfaction and satisfaction with work schedules - increased overall happiness and sleep quality, and reduced material hardship. (direct quote from the Year Two Eval)

Unfortunately, these were approved at the earliest in 2015 (San Francisco's Formula Retail Employee Rights Ordinances, which went into effect in March 2016), which means that none of them were in play for longer than five years before COVID-19 ground the planet's economy to a near halt. I tried to find results for the San Francisco laws, but I couldn't find any studies for it; I did find an article from March 2023 that summarized which cities in California have brought in fair workweek laws, though, so maybe someone could use that as a jumping off point (What Retailers Should Know About California Scheduling Ordinances).

Companies prevented from cutting benefits by cutting hours would probably find another way to do the same thing, but let's be real: keeping the minimum wage low won't stop them from cutting every corner possible. EPI has some articles, like "The role of local government in protecting workers’ rights," that talk about how these measures can be, and have been, implemented to protect workers from cost-cutting employers.

Cutting the hours and benefits of part-time employees is a real, genuine concern to have about raising the minimum wage, and those need to be anticipated and combated in concert with raising the minimum wage. However, it is not a reason to keep the minimum wage depressed. It's just a consequence to be aware of and plan for.

Passing Costs On To Customers

A common argument against raising the minimum wage is that companies will raise costs in order to cover the raise in expenses, to a degree that nullifies the wage hike. This is, um. Uh.

Really easily debunked?

Like, really easily.

Over a ten-plus year period, research found that a 10 percent increase in the minimum wage resulted in just a 0.36 percent increase in prices passed on to the consumer at grocery stores. A similar Seattle-based study showed that supermarket food prices were not impacted by their minimum wage increase. - (Minimum Wage is Not Enough, Drexel U.)

I've talked about it before, but in some cases it's just a matter of how US-based labor is such a comparatively small portion of costs for medium-to-large businesses that raising wages doesn't raise corporate expenditures that much.

That said, some companies rely on drastically underpaying their employees, like Walmart. Walmart's revenue in 2020 was approximately $520 billion (Walmart Annual Report, page 29). Now, this report doesn't actually tell us what amount is spent on labor, but it does give us the "Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of net sales." This is, to quote BDC, "[including] rent and utilities, marketing and advertising, sales and accounting, management and administrative salaries."

So, wages are just part of the (checks) 20.9% of revenue that is operating SG&A expenses. But maybe I'm being mean to Walmart! After all, the gross profit margin is only 24.1%, so only 3.2% is left for those poor shareholders!

Oh, oh, that means the profit is still over 16billion USD? And Walmart cites having 2.2 million associates in that same report? And that's about $7,500 per employee per year that's being withheld? And that's before we take costs up by like three cents per product?

Which, circling back: A study from Berkeley by the name of "The Pass-Through of Minimum Wages into US Retail Prices: Evidence from Supermarket Scanner Data" found that

a 10% minimum wage hike translates into a 0.36% increase in the prices of grocery products. This magnitude is consistent with a full pass-through of cost increases into consumer prices.

Of course, Walmart does sell more than just groceries, but isn't it interesting that raising a minimum wage resulted in such a small cost increase? If we assume this is linear (it's probably not, but I have so many numbers going on already), then doubling wages from 7.25 to 14.50 would still mean only a 3.6% increase costs! Your $5 gallon of milk would go up to [checks] $5.18.

Hm. Those 18 cents might be meaningful to our poorest citizens, but if those poorest citizens are more likely to be raised out of poverty by raising the minimum wage, then it might just be the case that they too can afford the new price of milk, and have more money left over for things like... rent. Or education. Or healthcare.

Maybe even a cost cutting loss leader like Walmart can reasonably increase its wages. After all, they still have 13 stores on Long Island, where the minimum wage is $15, and has been since 2021.

(I could have just cited the Berkeley study and moved on, but after a certain point I was too deep in parsing the Walmart report to not include it.)

But also... minimum wage increases are often staggered. They start out on the bigger companies, which have the resources to accommodate those changes (unless they've been doing stock buybacks), and then later on the smaller businesses, now that a portion of the economy (those working for the big companies) has the spare change to spend money at those smaller businesses that are raising their prices by a little more than the corporations.

And at that point, all I can really say is, well.

If you can't afford to pay your employees a living wage, you're not an oppressed company. You're just a failing company. Sorry, Walmart&Co, your business model is predicated on fucking over poor people, and so it's a bad business model.

Being a dickhead, while successful, is not actually 'smart' business practice.

(This doesn't even get into the international impacts, like what an "American companies should pay higher wages abroad, especially if they charge higher-than-American pricing for their products, but also at factories where we know they're committing human rights abuses" approach could be but this is already long as fuck so that'll have to wait for another post.)

Anyway.

Inflation

This one is tied into the cost argument above, but like...

Inflation is already a thing? Inflation is happening whether we raise the minimum wage or not. Costs go up whether we raise the minimum wage or not. Who is this argument serving? Not the people who can't afford rent, surely.

Quoting the earlier-mentioned Drexel report (red highlights mine):

While the minimum wage has been adjusted numerous times since its implementation in 1938, it has failed to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living. The purchasing power of minimum wage reached its peak in 1968 and steadily declined since. If it had kept up with inflation from that point it would have reached at least $10.45 in 2019. Instead, its real value continues to go down, meaning minimum wage employees are essentially being paid less each year. Additionally, some economists argue if minimum wage increased with U.S. productivity over the years, it would be set currently at $26 per hour today and poverty rates would be close to non-existent with little negative impact on the economy. However, because gradual change was avoided, the extra funds were instead shifted to CEO compensation. A sudden change in wages now could possibly make a more noticeable impact on the economy, which is often cited as reasoning for a slower increase over time moving forward. Gradual increases with inflation and productivity could have avoided any potential economic ripple effects from wage increases and should be considered in ongoing plans.

Increasing Unemployment

A common argument is that the unemployment rate would jump as employers were forced to let employees go. Assuming they didn't just hire more employees so they could give them less hours in order to cut benefits... not really!

A 2021 article from Berkeley News summarizes the issue, along with several others, covering some thirty years of research that started with "Minimum Wages and Employment: A Case Study of the Fast-Food Industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania," published in 1993. They also touch on the issue of subminimum wages for tipped workers, though they do not address the subminimum wages set for underage and disabled workers.

“A minimum wage increase doesn’t kill jobs,” said Reich, chair of UC Berkeley’s Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics (CWED) . “It kills job vacancies, not jobs. The higher wage makes it easier to recruit workers and retain them. Turnover rates go down. Other research shows that those workers are likely to be a little more productive, as well.” - Berkeley News article, "Even in small businesses, minimum wage hikes don’t cause job losses, study finds"

Lower turnover rates also save money for employers, as it causes them to have much lower HR expenses. How much money do you think large employers spend on using sites like Indeed or Glassdoor to find new employees?

This article from Richmond Fed does, admittedly, encourage a slightly grayer analysis:

In a 2021 review of some of the literature, [researchers] reported that 55.4 percent of the papers that they examined found employment effects that were negative and significant. They argued that the literature provides particularly compelling evidence for negative employment effects of an increased minimum wage for teens, young adults, the less educated, and the directly affected workers. On the other hand, in a 2021 Journal of Economic Perspectives article that analyzed the effect of the minimum wage on teens ages 16-19, Alan Manning of the London School of Economics and Political Science wrote that although the wage effect was sizable and robust, the employment effect was neither as easy to find nor consistent across estimations. Thus, although the literature supports an effect on employment among the most affected workers, it does not appear to be as sizable as theory might suggest.

The International Labor Organization has a similarly mixed result when taking a variety of studies into account. (I left in their own reference links.)

In high-income countries, a comprehensive reviews of about 70 studies, shows that estimates range between large negative employment effects to small positive effects. But the most frequent finding is that employment effects are close to zero and too small to be observable in aggregate employment or unemployment statistics (1). Similar conclusions emerge from meta-studies (quantitative studies of studies) in the United States (2), the United Kingdom (3), and in developed economies in general (4). Other reviews conclude that employment effects are less benign and that minimum wages reduce employment opportunities for less-skilled workers (5).

And there's the 60-page "Impacts of minimum wages: review of the international evidence" from University of Massachusetts Amherst, which looks at data from both the US and UK. I'll admit I didn't read this one beyond the introduction, because this is very long already.

Not all US studies suggest small employment effects, and there are notable counter examples. However, the weight of the evidence suggests the employment effects are modest. Moreover, recent research has helped reconcile some of the divergent findings. Much of this divergence concerns how different methods handle economic shocks that affected states differently in the 1980s and early 1990s, a period with relatively little state-level variation in minimum wages.

I'd encourage you to think of it this way:

Employer A pays $7.25/hr. Employer B also pays $7.25/hr. An employee works 25hrs/week for Employer A, and 20hr/wk for Employer B. The minimum wage goes up to $15/hr. Employer B cuts the employee. Employer A cuts employees as well, but not this one, and instead increases their hours to 30/wk for greater coverage.

The employee has gone from just under $400/wk to $450/wk. They lost a job, sure, but the end result... They have an extra fifteen hours of free time per week! Or more! With time to level out, you have less jobs, but more employment, because people aren't taking up multiple jobs (that someone else could have) just to survive.

This is a very, very simplified example, which doesn't take into account graduated wage increases (see the NYS labor table) or the benefits issue from before, but it does show the reality that "less jobs" doesn't necessarily mean "less pay" or "fewer employed" people, when so many of those employed at this pay are working multiple jobs.

Even the Washington Post agrees that the wage hike wouldn't cost as many jobs as conventional wisdom claims, and they're owned by Bezos. (Though I recognize the name of the article's author as the same person behind that 60-page Amherst report, so there's that to consider.)

The Kellogg Institute also points out that individual workers were, on average, more productive after receiving the pay increase, so the drop in the bottom line was softened. This is a bit debatable; the results varied based on the level of monitoring, but it's worth noting that most minimum wage jobs are pretty high-intensity, high-monitoring. Goodness knows you don't get a whole lot of time to yourself outside of the critical eye of your shift lead or customers if you're working fast food. They also note a decrease in profits, but I'd point out that they speak specifically of profits, not share of revenue.

To explain the difference: imagine you sell $100 of product in a day. The product cost you $50. Overhead (rent, utilities, taxes) cost you $10. Labor cost you $15. Profit, then, was $25, or $25.

A 16% reduction in the profit does not mean you now retain $11. It means that you retain 16% less of the $25. You now retain $21.

(This is, as with many of my examples, INCREDIBLY simplified, but I need to illustrate what the article's talking about, and I don't have infographics.)

Some other articles on the topic are from The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Business for a Fair Wage, The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (more critical), the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics, the Center for Economic and Policy Research, UCLA Anderson, Vox, and The Intelligencer, which cites another Berkeley article. I do not claim to have read all of these, especially the really long ones, but the links are there if you want to look into them.

In the interest of showing research from groups that do not serve my own political views, I'm going to link an article from the Cato Institute; I do encourage you to read that one with a grain of salt, given that it's written by a libertarian thinktank, and they are just as dedicated to hunting for research that serves their political views as I am. There were a few other libertarian articles I came across, but the way they presented information kept feeling really duplicitous so I just... am not linking those, or the leftist ones I am also uncomfortable with due to the whole "I'm totally not tricking you" vibes. Also eventually I just got tired, there are so many articles on this and I am just one blogger who is not actually working for a magazine or thinktank, I am working for my own personal tumblr.

Negatively Impacting Slightly-Higher Paid Employees

Did you know that raising the minimum wage affects more than just those making minimum? It affects those just above as well. It's referred to as the ripple effect of minimum wage hikes by this Brookings article. They estimate that a wage hike would affect nearly 30% of the country's workforce.

"Price adjustments provide the principal adjustment mechanism for minimum wage increases: higher labor costs are passed through to consumers, mainly for food consumed away from home. Such an increase does not deter restaurant customers. Price increases are also detectable for grocery stores (Leung 2018; Renkin, Montialoux and Siegenthaler 2019), but not more generally. The effect on inflation is therefore extremely small." - "Likely Effects of a $15 Federal Minimum Wage by 2024," Testimony prepared for presentation at the hearing of the House Education and Labor Committee, Washington, DC (2019)

This overlaps with general criticisms of widening income equality, citing an AEA article I cannot access since it's behind a paywall. I wonder if it touches on companies like Amazon being headquartered in the city and manipulating the job market by sheer size? I can only speculate.

Plus, there are the health benefits! Which are mostly connected to lessening poverty, and through that lessening stress and increasing healthcare access, but still! Some of these results are debated, but I'd need to know more about the details to know how they're related (University of Washington).

------

I've spent most of the day on this, so if you guys have made it this far and are interested in supporting me, please donate to my ko-fi or commission an article. (Preferably for more than the base price; I'm effectively working at a fraction of minimum wage myself, which is ironic considering the theme of this post.)

(I realistically shouldn't have spent more than two or three hours on this, but I have so many strong opinions on the subject that I couldn't stop.)

(Also: There were so many more sources I didn't even get to read the basic premise of because it was so repetitive after a while.)

[anarchywoofwoof]

so today, a new study was released by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy and it's all about how the richest 1% in 41 states are literally paying less in taxes than the rest of us.

you heard that right. while the average person is out here struggling to make ends meet, the data reveals a truth that you probably already suspected: the ultra-wealthy are basically getting a free pass.

this isn't just some random report. it's a detailed analysis of tax systems across all 50 states and DC, looking at how different income groups are taxed. and the findings are kind of infuriating.

first off, most state and local tax systems are regressive in nature. this means they hit the low- and middle-income families the hardest. the bottom 20% are paying tax rates almost 60% higher than the top 1%.

and here's the kicker – in 41 out of 50 states, the rich are taxed at lower rates than everyone else. we're talking about the top 1% of earners here. they're literally paying less than any other income group.

if we look solely at Appendix A and Appendix B from the data, for example:

Appendix A - Tax Burden by Income Group: this tab on the worksheet shows the total state and local taxes as a share of family income for different income groups in each state. the columns represent different income groups, ranging from the lowest 20% of income earners in the given state to the top 1%. you can get the per capita income by state here.

for instance, in Alabama, the lowest 20% of earners pay about 11.87% of their income in taxes, while the top 1% pay only about 5.38%.

likewise, in Alaska, the lowest 20% pay around 8.71%, and the top 1% pay about 2.78%.

Appendix B - Tax Inequality Index: this section ranks states based on their tax inequality index and provides effective tax rates for different groups. states like Florida and Washington rank highest in terms of tax regressivity.

for example, in Florida, the lowest 20% pay an effective tax rate of 13.17%, while the top 1% pay just 2.74%.

Washington shows a similar pattern with the lowest 20% paying 13.80% and the top 1% paying 4.05%.

oh, and if you're low-income, it's even worse. in 34 states, low-income families are taxed at higher rates than anyone else. these are people who can barely afford to pay their bills, and they're being taxed higher than the richest people in the state.

the most regressive tax systems are in Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. these places lean heavily on sales and excise taxes, which hit the poorest the hardest. states that are often branded as "low tax" – like Florida and Texas – are actually high-tax hells for low-income families.

some states are actually trying to fix this mess. New Mexico, Massachusetts, and even Washington are making moves toward less regressive taxes. they're making efforts to up taxes on the rich and giving some relief to the rest of us.

on the flip side however, some states are just making things worse. Arizona, Kentucky, South Dakota, and others are cutting taxes for the wealthy and screwing over low-income families even more. between 2021 and 2023, twenty-six states in total cut their personal income tax rates and/or corporate income tax rates, 13 of them multiple times

this report should serve as a wake-up call. it's showing us in black and white math how rigged the system is against the average person. the bottom line is that the rich are getting richer, and they're doing it at the expense of the rest of us. it's time to start calling out the gross disparity a little louder for the people in the back.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Judd Legum at Popular Information:

In 2024, reliable access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury; it is a basic necessity. From job applications to managing personal finances and completing school work, internet access is an essential part of daily life. Without an internet connection, individuals are effectively cut off from basic societal activities. 

But the reality is that many people — particularly those living around the poverty line — can not afford internet access. Without internet access, the difficult task of working your way from the American economy's bottom rung becomes virtually impossible.   On November 21, 2021, President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The new law included the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provided up to $30 per month to individuals or families with income up to 200% of the federal poverty line to help pay for high-speed internet. (For a family of four, the poverty line is currently $31,200.) On Tribal lands, where internet access is generally more expensive, the ACP offers subsidies up to $75 per month.  The concept started during the Trump administration. The last budget enacted by Trump included $3.2 billion to help families afford internet access. The FCC made the money available as a subsidy to low-income individuals and families through a program known as the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. The legislation signed by Biden extended and formalized the program.  It has been a smashing success.

Today, the ACP is "helping 23 million households – 1 in 6 households across America." The program has particularly benefited "rural communities, veterans, and older Americans where the lack of affordable, reliable high-speed internet contributes to significant economic, health and other disparities." According to an FCC survey, two-thirds of beneficiaries "reported they had inconsistent internet service or no internet service at all prior to ACP." These households report using their high-speed internet to "schedule or attend healthcare appointments (72%), apply for jobs or complete work (48%), do schoolwork (75% for ACP subscribers 18-24 years old)." Tomorrow, the program will abruptly end.  In October 2023, the White House sent a supplemental budget request to Congress, which included $6 billion to extend the program through the end of 2024. There is also a bipartisan bill, the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act, which would extend the program with $7 billion in funding. The benefits of the program have shown to be far greater than the costs. An academic study published in February 2024 found that "for every dollar spent on the ACP, the nation’s GDP increases by $3.89." The program will lapse tomorrow because Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) refuses to bring either the bill (or the supplemental funding request) to a vote. The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act has 225 co-sponsors which means that, if Johnson held a vote, it would pass. 

[...]

The Republican attack on affordable internet

Why will Johnson not even allow a vote to extend the ACP? He is not commenting. But there are hints in the federal budget produced by the Republican Study Committee (RSC). The RSC is the "conservative caucus" of the House GOP, and counts 179 of the 217 Republicans in the House as members. Johnson served as the chair of the RSC in 2019 and 2020. He is currently a member of the group's executive committee.  The RSC's latest budget says it "stands against" the ACP and labels it a "government handout[] that disincentivize[s] prosperity." The RSC claims the program is unnecessary because "80 percent" of beneficiaries had internet access before the program went into effect. For that statistic, the RSC cites a report from a right-wing think tank, the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), which opposes the ACP. EPIC, in turn, cites an FCC survey to support its contention that 80% of ACP beneficiaries already had internet access. The survey actually found that "over two-thirds of survey respondents (68%) reported they had inconsistent internet service or no internet service at all prior to ACP."

[...] The RSC also falsely claims that funding for the precursor to the ACP, the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB), "was signed into law at the end of President Biden’s first year in office." This is false. Former President Trump signed the funding into law in December 2020. The RSC's position is not popular. A December 2023 poll found that 79% of voters support "continuing the ACP, including 62% of Republicans, 78% of Independents, and 96% of Democrats."

In 2024, access to the internet is a necessity and not just a luxury, and the Republicans are set to end the Affordable Connectivity Program if no action is taken. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provided subsidies to low-income people and families to obtain internet access.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Mother Jones:

The world’s 3,000 billionaires should pay a minimum 2 percent tax on their fast-growing wealth to raise about $313 billion a year for the global fight against poverty, inequality, and global heating, ministers from four leading economies have suggested.

In a sign of growing international support for a levy on the super-rich, Brazil, Germany, South Africa, and Spain say a 2 percent tax would reduce inequality and raise much-needed public funds after the economic shocks of the pandemic, the climate crisis and military conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

They are calling for more countries to join their campaign, saying the annual sum raised would be enough to cover the estimated cost of damage caused by all of last year’s extreme weather events.

“It is time that the international community gets serious about tackling inequality and financing global public goods,” the ministers say in a Guardian comment piece. “One of the key instruments that governments have for promoting more equality is tax policy. Not only does it have the potential to increase the fiscal space governments have to invest in social protection, education, and climate protection. Designed in a progressive way, it also ensures that everyone in society contributes to the common good in line with their ability to pay. A fair share contribution enhances social welfare.”

Brazil chairs the G20 group of leading developed and developing countries and put a billionaire tax on the agenda at a meeting of finance ministers earlier this year.

The French economist Gabriel Zucman is now fleshing out the technical details of a plan that will again be discussed by the G20 in June. France has indicated support for a wealth tax and Brazil has been encouraged that the US, while not backing a global wealth tax, did not oppose it.

Zucman said: “Billionaires have the lowest effective tax rate of any social group. Having people with the highest ability to pay tax paying the least—I don’t think anybody supports that.”

Research from Oxfam published this year found that the boom in asset prices during and after the Covid pandemic meant billionaires were $3.3 trillion—or 34 percent—wealthier at the end of 2023 than they were in 2020. Meanwhile, a study from the World Bank showed that the pandemic had brought poverty reduction to a halt.

The opinion piece, signed by ministers from two of the largest European economies—Germany and Spain—and two of the largest emerging economies—Brazil and South Africa—claims a levy on the super-rich is a necessary third pillar to complement the negotiations on the taxation of the digital economy and the introduction earlier this year of a minimum corporate tax of 15 percent for multinationals.

“The tax could be designed as a minimum levy equivalent to 2 percent of the wealth of the super-rich. It would not apply to billionaires who already contribute a fair share in income taxes. Those, however, who manage to avoid paying income tax would be obliged to contribute more towards the common good,” the ministers say.

“Persisting loopholes in the system imply that high-net-worth individuals can minimize their income taxes. Global billionaires pay only the equivalent of up to 0.5 percent of their wealth in personal income tax. It is crucial to ensure that our tax systems provide certainty, sufficient revenues, and treat all of our citizens fairly.”

[hyenahunt]

Obbligato: The Devotion to Tatsumi Kazehaya - 13

Writer: Akira

Season: Spring, three years ago

Characters: Kaname, Tatsumi, Jun

Proofreading: Remi + 310mc (JP) & honeyspades (ENG)

Translation: Peace & hyenahunt

Tatsumi: The root of all misfortune lies in inequality and injustice. They are the root of all unhappiness. That is why they must be corrected.

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Kaname: ... I feel the same as Sazanami. If the fame and shine doesn't belong to my own name, then there's no point to it.

But... Still, it seems as if "Tatsumi Kazehaya" is doing well for itself.

Maybe I should learn from it. Throw away this pride of mine and ensure success through that.

All so I can become the sparkling idol I've always dreamed of being.

Tatsumi: Haha. If you so wish, then we are able to help you in a number of ways. We offer idol practices, studies, and can even help you find work — all free of charge.

In fact, I pay everyone who comes to one of my gatherings an equal part of my own wages.

Kaname: What do you mean...?

Tatsumi: You see, I have no interest in money. All of the money that "Tatsumi Kazehaya" accumulates is thus given out in equal shares to those gathered here.

No matter how much you've done, or what you've helped with, you're given the same amount of pay as the person next to you.

Hence, I've asked them to help me with the work I've received as much as possible.

Kaname: Are you for real? You're the one paying them?

It isn't the other way around? They're only managing to catch rays of the limelight because of you, aren't they? And yet... you're paying them?

Tatsumi: That's right. I likened it to a company, didn't I? Anyone who becomes a part of "Tatsumi Kazehaya" is offered the same regular pay as everyone else within it.

It's only natural to reward those who work a reasonable sum, isn't it? I would never ask someone to do my work for free.

Such a thing would be against our doctrine— nay, against human decency itself.

Jun: Ohhh, I get it now... I see just why these guys don't care for working on their own and are perfectly content just being "Tatsumi Kazehaya's assistants.”

They can just kick back and let their earnings pour in that way. Why wouldn't they? The cash they earn through this kinda fixed income is definitely gonna be way more than whatever an idol with no accomplishments could get through independent work.

And on top of that, Kazehaya-senpai's so brilliant at what he does that his work's a huge success every single time. Thanks to that, these guys get the chance to shine while avoiding any risk of failure or injury, or of being thought of as useless.

Sure is a dream job — one fit for morons.

Kaname: And on top of that, if I'm understanding correctly, you pay those a fair wage even if they haven't worked at all?

Tatsumi: I do. We don't discriminate here, you see. All are equal.

Jun: Mmm, well, I’m not that educated so I might be wrong, but this whole arrangement'spretty much that thing, isn't it? Starts with a c and ends with ism....

Our country's a capitalist nation, so y'know, the opposite of that —

Tatsumi: There's truly no need to go that far. I only wish to treat everyone as equally and fairly as possible.

Such a world would be ideal, wouldn't you agree? I want to make it a reality.

Tatsumi: Everyone is treated equally, given the same opportunities, and is paid fairly for their work. That way, everyone is able to live a happy, fulfilling life.

The root of all misfortune lies in inequality and injustice. They are the root of all unhappiness.

That is why they must be corrected.

There is a distinct disparity between the Special and Non-Special Students here at Reimei Academy. I'm doing what I can to close it.

It doesn't matter who you are, what you are, or even where you came from: you will be treated equally. Everyone will carry the same weight, walk the same amount of steps, and reach the same destination.

Everyone finishes at the same time. Everyone will be granted the same first place result, fairly and ideally.

And that is how we'll stop needless fighting over who's won and lost, we'll cease begrudging others for what they have, and we'll share the same happiness with one another.

That is the ideal world I dream of.

To bring it even slightly closer to reality, I'm doing what I can— though at the moment, this small sphere is all I'm able to influence in such a way.

Tatsumi: One day, I will take all those who inhabit Reimei Academy, the teachers and Special Students alike, as well as those in the idol industry, in this country, in this world...

And change their ways so we may live in such an Eden.

No, it's more than that. That is my mission in life as the Voice of God, as someone born within a family who teaches His words.

I truly believe that, and so I will live by that faith.

Tatsumi: May all of God's creations be blessed. Amen.

[ ☆ ]

✦✦✦✦✦

← prev ✦ all ✦ next →

[bjyxobsessed]

I’ve been super busy this month and haven’t been able to pay as much attention to fandom but I saw this today and…

Have we TALKED about this?

Xiao Zhan threw “yizhan” into his post.

Like, this is a thing that actually happened 😳

O.M.G.

Now I’ve studied enough over the past few years, I know 一站 is not the same as 一战 -> but they sure as hell SOUND the same.

And even using a homophone is a risk given how crazy fans can be, particularly some of his solo fans. To me this is the loudest XZ has been in a while.

Another thing that makes this interesting: the fact that it’s in a post tagging GQ 😏 Given all the rumors and drama that was swirling not long ago about their editor in chief and his potentially disparate feelings toward Yibo and XZ… It’s a bold move. (I’m not going to post any links to the Rocco rumors but they abound online if you look for them.)

I’m not proficient in mandarin, so while it seems to me that the use of the wording seems out of place for this post, I’m not qualified to completely call it out as sus.

But I am saying that if I was rumored to be in a [socially unaccepted yet wildly popular] relationship with my former co-star and it wasn’t true, I certainly wouldn’t throw fuel like this to the masses.

However if it was true and I wanted to throw both candy and shade to the person who may be after my man?

This would sure as hell be the way I’d roll…

[labourmarketanalysis]

Wage Inequality and Labour Market

By Sraddha R

In this blog post, we'll look at three compelling studies that shed light on wage disparities in Europe and India, as well as the critical role of labour market institutions. Take a seat, and let's get started!

INTRODUCTION

The labour market serves as a barometer for trends in employment, economic well-being, and the broader societal challenges posed by wage inequality. Our investigation begins with an acknowledgement of the modern global economy's profound impact on globalisation, technological advancements, and evolving work structures. These seismic shifts reshape industries, redefine skill requirements, and, as a result, affect wage structures. Wage inequality, which reflects the unequal distribution of earnings across gender, ethnicity, education, and occupation, is at the heart of this complex issue.

Study 1: The Structure of the Labour Market and Wage Inequality in European Countries

This study focuses on France, Germany, and Italy, meticulously analysing changes in wage inequality from 2005 to 2013. The findings show distinct patterns, such as a decrease in wage inequality in Germany, a decrease in France with explicit job polarisation structures, and a significant increase in Italy. Using a decomposition approach, the study considers variables such as gender, marital status, health, experience, education, contract type, economic status, and job categories.

The study emphasises the role of national labor-market protections, historical policy spending, and broader socioeconomic and political factors in shaping wage inequality trends. Tailored policy recommendations are emerging, urging France and Germany to implement policies that promote women's participation and improve job-related careers. In contrast, Italy faces challenges such as a lack of a legal minimum wage and political instability, necessitating specific policy responses.

Study 2: Recent Trends in India's Wealth Inequality

Using data from the Annual Income and Expenditure Surveys, this paper investigates wealth inequality in India using decomposition analyses. The study differentiates contributions from within and between group components, identifying sources of wealth concentration and drawing parallels between wealth and consumption inequality trends.

According to the study, increasing wealth concentration in India is linked to neoliberal growth, emphasising the failure to address employment and earnings disparities. While the study provides valuable insights, it is suggested that a more explicit discussion of policy implications and interventions be included. A complex policy framework is required to guide future research and inform effective policy decisions.

Wage Inequality and Low Pay: The Role of Labour Market Institutions, Study 3

The impact of labour market institutions on low-wage employment in OECD countries is investigated in this study. It seeks to comprehend the impact of trade unions, collective bargaining, and wage regulations on wage distribution, particularly in low-wage industries. The study distinguishes between different wage distribution segments, recognising variations in the analysis through the use of bivariate correlations and incorporating various control variables such as minimum wages and unemployment benefits.

According to the study's findings, labour market institutions account for more than 60% of cross-country differences in low pay. According to the study, strong unions protect against low pay, whereas centralised bargaining systems effectively limit wage disparities at the top. Minimum wages and welfare systems have varying effects across wage distribution segments. Governments, according to the study, can address rising earnings disparities and low-wage employment by supporting effective labor market institutions.

Comparative Evaluation

Our comparative analysis reveals the distinct perspectives provided by each study, shedding light on various dimensions and dynamics in different countries. The in-depth examination of economic inequality ranges from changes in wage inequality in European countries to wealth dynamics in India and the impact of labour market institutions on low-wage employment in OECD countries.

Conclusion

Taken together, the studies emphasise the interconnectedness of factors influencing income distribution and the importance of nuanced, context-specific policy decisions. The journey has shed light on labour market dynamics and economic outcomes, emphasising the complexities of addressing wage inequality in our pursuit of an equitable future where the benefits of economic growth are shared by all.

[fancifulpurposelesslovely]

I'm gonna... talk about a personal/selfish-feeling angle of the current situation with Palestine.

I converted to Judaism in 2021-2022. I have been officially Jewish for about 21 months, but I spent the previous year studying and practicing and getting to really know this religion and this culture that I am now part of.

From the very beginning of that journey, I have considered the possibility of becoming a rabbi. From the very beginning, where I was still sort of terrified to even admit I really wanted to be Jewish, I had this small dream in the back of my mind of becoming a rabbi to help people and learn jewish law and learn torah and be a guiding presence in people's lives. I still think I'd be pretty good at it.

I've had more than one rabbi of my acquaintance caution me against it for various reasons, I've faced the terror of the fact that I'd almost certainly have to move away from my chosen family for 5 years, I've worried about the cost, and I've worried about the difficulties of learning hebrew this late in life (ah yes from my ripe old age of 29).

Nothing has truly turned me away from that small dream, that hope in the back of my mind that this might be a good and important opportunity. Nothing until now. It's not even the Israeli genocide that has turned me away from the rabbinate because I believe the Jewish people need and deserve leaders in their communities that are anti-Zionist, that are queer, that are trans, that are polyam, that are compassionate and outspoken about injustice. It's the rabbis that I already know that are making this path feel so untenable.

I am friends with a few reform rabbis (specifically USian), and I follow a handful more on social media, and I don't know if I have just been unfortunate in those I have befriended or if this is more prevalent. I have not seen a single reform rabbi that I pay attention to say anything stronger about the genocide than "Let's pray for peace for both sides." I have not seen or heard active, outspoken, public condemnation of the system slaughter and destruction of the Palestinian people or Gaza from a reform rabbi.

These are my friends, my rabbis (from current and previous synagogues), my teachers, my mentors, and people I look up to. One of them sent a link to the congregation mailing list about the Jewish National Fund ("the single largest provider of Zionist programs in the U.S.") conference in Denver next week. One of them is currently in Israel attending the Amplify Israel Rabbinic Fellowship Israel trip, full of conferences and educational opportunities. She keeps posting about how beautiful Israel is, and how heartbreaking it is to speak to the friends and family members of hostages, and about the "PR problem" that Israel has right now. One of them messaged me privately to disagree with how I defined Zionism and denounced it, and privately said "but fuck genocide and settler colonialism", which is not a sentiment I've seen her express publicly.

I don't know if the problem is that they have all been educated at the same rabbinical school, I don't know if they fear for their social positions or actual jobs if they speak out, I don't know if reform Judaism is so thoroughly steeped in white(ish) liberalism that the entire movement is irrevocably zionist. But whatever the problem, the continued utter lack of empathy or speaking out for the grief and horror of the Palestinian people, and the focus on painting the Israeli military decisions and the whole project of Israel in a positive light genuinely makes me sick.

Part of my heart is still interested in being a rabbi and still hopeful that I would be able to be a force for good and change. But a larger part of my heart is angry and tired and disgusted and disillusioned about the position and the reform rabbinical school specifically.

I do not know how to reconcile these disparate feelings atm, or if now is even the time to try. I don't know who to talk to about it because I would usually talk to my rabbis, but I'm scared of how those conversations would go right now. I feel like I should call out or in these people that I have liked and respected for so long, but I'm afraid of that too. (What a privilege that my fears are so small.)

Idk if there's really a point to this, but I needed to write it out somewhere.

[dhaaruni]

The tests are not entirely objective, of course. Well-off students can pay for test prep classes and can pay to take the tests multiple times. Yet the evidence suggests that these advantages cause a very small part of the gaps. Consider that other measures of learning — like the NAEP, a test that elementary and middle school students take nationwide — show similarly large racial and economic gaps. The federal government describes the NAEP as “the nation’s report card,” while education researchers consider it a rigorous measure of K-12 learning. And even though students do not take NAEP test prep classes, its demographic gaps look remarkably similar to those of the ACT and SAT. This similarity “is another piece of evidence that the SAT is picking up fundamentals,” said Raj Chetty, a Harvard economics professor who conducted the recent Ivy Plus study with Friedman and David Deming. “It strengthens the argument that the disparities in SAT scores are a symptom, not a cause, of inequality in the U.S.,” Chetty said. To put it another way, the existence of racial and economic gaps in SAT and ACT scores doesn’t prove that the tests are biased. After all, most measures of life in America — on income, life expectancy, homeownership and more — show gaps. No wonder: Our society suffers from huge inequities. The problem isn’t generally with the statistics, however. The relatively high Black poverty rate is not a sign that the statistic is biased. Nor would scrapping the statistic alleviate poverty.

[xlntwtch2]

from this AP News article, printed Sept. 17, 2023...

"...However you slice the numbers, the gap between CEO pay and rank-and-file workers at all three companies is gigantic.

At GM, the median worker pay was $80,034 in 2022. It would take that worker 362 years to make Barra’s annual compensation.

At Ford, where the media pay $74, 691, it would take 281 years.

At Stellantis, with a median pay of 64,328 euros, it would take 365 years, although the company noted its its annual report that the disparity includes expenses related to Tavares’ one-time grant. Excluding that, the pay ratio is 298-1.

How extreme that disparity? It depends on the comparison.

It’s far above the typical pay gap at S&P 500 companies, which was 186-1 according to AP’s annual CEO pay survey, which uses data analyzed by Equilar.

And it’s astronomical by historical standards. According to a study of the 350 largest publicly traded U.S. firms by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, the CEO-to-Worker pay ratio was just 15-1 in 1965...

...for that worker to make Musk’s “realized compensation” that year, it would take more than 18,000 years."

tl/dr...

'gigantic' and 'far above' and 'astronomical' differences between CEO compensation and workers salaries says it all

[maaarine]

Half of Spanish men feel discriminated against amid feminism backlash (James Badcock, The Telegraph, Jan 16 2024)

"Spain has pivoted towards feminist-friendly policies in recent years under Pedro Sánchez, its Left-wing prime minister.

Some 44 per cent of men agreed that society had “come so far in promoting women’s equality that men are now being discriminated against”, according to the survey by Spain’s National Centre for Sociological Research.

Almost one-third of women also agreed with the statement.

The male respondents most likely to feel discriminated against were young.

In the 16-24 age group, 52 per cent felt that the drive for women’s equality had gone too far.

Since 2018, governments led by Mr Sanchez have introduced a consent-based rape law and guaranteed menstrual leave from work for women with severe period pain.

His cabinets have always had at least 50 per cent female participation and the government is currently preparing a law to force all management boards to have women make up at least 40 per cent of their number.

Meanwhile, Spain’s gender pay gap between average men’s and women’s salaries fell from 28 per cent to 21 per cent in the decade between 2011 and 2021.

Despite the changes, a majority of Spaniards agreed that “major inequality” still exists between men and women, according to the study.

But while some 67 per cent of women believed there were disparities between the sexes, only 48 per cent of men thought the same.

The survey, based on interviews with 4,000 people, also showed that Spanish women continue to bear a larger burden in terms of care and housework.

On a weekday, women spend an average of just under three hours on chores, 50 per cent more than men.

Among parents, Spanish women dedicate 6.7 hours to their children per day, almost double the number clocked up by men.

The findings sparked concern among feminists that Spanish men were confusing a loss of historic privileges with an invasion of their rights.

Sandra Sabatés, the TV presenter, said: “Getting your meals cooked, bed made and house cleaned isn’t a right; it’s full bed and board.”

(…)

According to the survey, 88 per cent of male [far-Right] Vox voters said that they felt discriminated against, compared with 22 per cent of men who support Mr Sánchez’s Socialist Party."

[late-to-the-party-81]

Things that go bump in the night

AN: And it's day 14 and we're getting closer to the half way point.

Today's fic is a DARK fic. You have been warned. This story contains outright NON-CON.

I’m using dialogue prompts from this post by @nightprompts and they can be found emboldened in the text.

Kinktober 2022 Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Beta’d by @mickeyhenrys

Dividers by @firefly-graphics, banners and covers by me.

Grouping: Jefferson x Reader, Lee Bodecker x Reader, Charles Blackwood x Reader, Nick Fowler x Reader

CW: Gangbang, Clothing disparity, kidnap, RAPE, Explicit sexual content, threats of violence, drugging, basement wife-ing

Word Count: 2.4k

Your mouth felt dry as you woke, and your eyes felt gritty. You lifted your hand to rub the rough particles away but were brought to full wakefulness as you realised that your movement was restricted. Your eyes shot open, images and memories from last night assaulting your brain at lighting speed.

Your blind-date with Jeff, no Jefferson.

Tall, dark, handsome, certainly, but your date had had an aura about him that had made you less than comfortable, and before the end of the second drink you’d already decided there wouldn’t be a follow-up. However, when he’d been away in the bathroom a man with sandy chestnut hair, well coiffured, had approached you, flirting overtly and in quite an aggressive manner. What was it about you and attracting men so covered in red flags they may as well be parade bunting?

Jefferson had returned and there had been a stand-off between the two men, which turned into verbal sparring, with you caught in the middle, trying to mediate, and feeling more and more uncomfortable. As the men’s voices had gotten louder a third man had come over, the local sheriff.

He was obviously trying to talk sense into Jefferson and the aggressive stranger, but he was a big man, and standing where he had, he’d loomed over you, blocking out your vision of the rest of the bar, as well as your exit.

You’d felt your panic start to rise, but by this point the three men surrounding you hadn’t been

paying any attention. Feeling as though you were going to throw up any moment, you’d been

relieved when a hand had wrapped around your arm and plucked you out of the middle of the angry circle and pulled you outside the bar.

“Hey there. Are you okay? Looks like things were getting heated and you were obviously uncomfortable.”

Wiping your damp palms down your dress, you looked up at the concerned stranger. Neatly cut dark brown hair, a bit of stubble and piercing blue eyes, he was definitely handsome, but your thought was fleeting. You just wanted to go home.

“Um, thanks for helping me out. It wasn’t really how I envisaged my night going, but I suppose that’s the risk you take on going on blind dates; you’re never quite sure who you’re going to get.” Your lips twitched up as you tried to inject some levity into the situation, but you knew that your smile didn’t reach your eyes. The had man let out a short snort of laughter, letting you know he’d fully understood your situation.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine.” You’d reached into your bag for your phone. “I’ll just call a taxi and head home.”

Rooting around in your bag, with your head down, you hadn’t noticed the stranger move closer, only looking up when you felt a scratch on your neck. You’d looked into his eyes with a gasp, drowning in the blueness of them until the whole world had gone dark.

You breathed in deeply through your nose, trying to keep yourself calm. Your first instinct was to shout out, but you thought better of it. You were naked and tied to a bed. The chances that there was someone else in the house other than your kidnapper was slim. Instead, you studied your surroundings.

The room was dark, with no windows and had a musty damp smell to it. So probably a basement.

Great. Limited routes for escape. The sound of a door creaking somewhere above you, and footsteps on stairs confirmed your subterranean location. You listened and realised that it was more than one set of footsteps. You couldn’t hold back a tremor of fear now – more than one captor just greatly reduced your odds of getting free.

When they came into view a bubble of hysterical laughter came up your throat.

Of course. It had all been a total set up.

Jefferson walked up to the side of the bed, hat perched jauntily on his head and a grin on his face. He trailed his beringed knuckles down the side of your cheek in a gross caress.

“Ain’t you pretty, all trussed up like this for us.” He looked over his shoulder at your erstwhile rescuer. “You done good, Nicky.”

‘Nicky’ rolled his eyes at the condescending note in Jefferson’s voice, but didn’t say anything, just leant against the wall, took a wicked looking switchblade from his pocket and proceeded to clean his fingernails with the tip.

With his attention back on you, Jefferson stroked his hands over your body, smiling when you let out a yelp when he tweaked one of your nipples.

“Let go of me,” you ground out. “Why am I here, Jefferson?”

“Feisty, I like it!” He bounced on his toes a couple of times and clapped his hands, in manic glee, before bending over you, face close to your ear. “We’ve been waiting, Sheriff Lee, Charles, Nicky and me. Waiting for our own little ray of sunshine to come brighten our days and warm our nights.”  His fingers trailed down your stomach and you bucked your hips, trying to stop his descent. “Be a good girl and maybe we’ll untie you.”

Anger surged through you. “Get off me, you bastard!” Jefferson swooped his hand back up to grip your neck, and squeezed lightly.

“I don’t think you are in any position to make demands here, treasure.” He kissed you then, hard and possessive, his lips forcing yours open and thrusting his tongue inside. You considered biting him, but what would that achieve? When his hand left your neck, it went straight to your pussy, his fingers easily parting your folds and stroking surprisingly gently. He found your clit with ease and you cursed your body when it started to respond. You closed your eyes and told yourself over and over that it was just a physical reaction. Jefferson trailed his kisses down your body and you strained against your bonds. The sound of heavy footsteps nearing had you looking up again. The sheriff, Lee, approached, staring intently at you, thumbs hooked in a belt that was struggling to hold his pants up over his thick waist. His uniform shirt strained over his chest and his broad arms.

“You look as sweet as a peach pie there, darlin’. Can’t wait to try you out. But maybe, while ole’ Jeff here is getting you to sing, I’ll have a little taste.” With a meaty hand he groped at one of your breasts, mesmerised for a few seconds by how your flesh spilled out between his fingers, but then he was bending over you and sucking your breast into his mouth. This coincided with Jefferson attaching his lips to your pussy. You bit your lip, desperately trying not to give any sign of your physical enjoyment, but you knew it was a losing battle. Kidnapping bastards they maybe, but the two touching you at least knew how to please a woman. 

More footsteps and you realised the other two men, Charles and Nick-Nicky-whatever, had moved closer two, watching. You could see the obvious bulges in their pants and you lost your tentative control over your body. You scrunched up your eyes, eager not to see them as they watched you cum, shaking under Jefferson and Lee, small squeaks and whimpers escaping your lips. You opened your eyes when Jefferson lifted his head, his lips glistening as he grinned at you.

“See, we’re not all bad.”  His hands went to his belt, and it clanked loudly in the space as he undid it. He reached in and pulled out his cock, stroking it as he looked at you. The rings on his fingers shone under the light and you couldn’t pull your gaze away. He climbed up onto the bed, crawling over you, the disparity between your naked, vulnerable state and all of their clothed, power-wielding states was stark.

“Please. Don’t.” You whispered your plea, but Jefferson kept grinning, kept looking at you and kept moving up over your body. You closed your eyes again as he pressed his lips to your neck and thrust inside you. The air was punched from your lungs, and you gave him a silent thanks for giving you some prep. He sucked and bit at your neck as he fucked you, and you gripped the ropes tethering your arms to the bed.

“I’ve found you now, my treasure. Gonna keep you here, fuck this pussy whenever I need.” You tried to ignore his unhinged rambling and prayed he’d finish soon, because he was unfairly good at this, stimulating your body better than any previous lover. Your prayers were answered when he groaned, and you felt him cumming inside you. You turned your head to the side, staring at the wall as he clambered off you, but he gripped your chin with his hand, turning you back to face him, so he could kiss you again. He didn’t even seem to care that you weren’t reciprocating.  

He finally moved away, easing down onto a chaise longue on the other side of the room, uncaring of the silent tears that ran down your cheeks. But someone else noticed.

“Don’t cry darlin’. You’ll find that it’s not so bad. We can be good to you.” Lee moved back into your field of vision, and with his thumb, swiped your tears from your cheeks, before sucking the digit into his mouth.

“I…I just don’t understand why. Why me?”

“Well, you’re the only one we could all agree on.” He climbed up on the bed, apparently his turn to undo his belt and take what he wanted. “Beautiful, smart, good with kids, a domestic goddess.” He shoved his uniform pants down and pulled his cock out of boxers. Like Jefferson, he was definitely generously endowed. “Now be a good girl.”

He pushed into you, and moaned. His large stomach pressed against yours, the buttons and material of his shirt rubbing over your skin. His mouth sloppily attached to one of your breasts again. You knew you were going to cum again, and soon, although you wished you wouldn’t.

“Now come on, baby. Don’t look so sad. Open your mouth. As Lee said, be a good girl.”

The man called Charles, the suave and handsome asshole from the bar, stood by your head, his own cock out of his well tailored pants and pointing at your mouth. The sad thing about all of this was that none of the men were ugly, or anything, at least not physically. Why they’d had to resort to this you didn’t know, although at this point you didn’t care. Your overriding thought was survival. You opened your mouth.

Charles was musky, perfumed almost, and well groomed, of which you weren’t surprised. When Charles pressed into your throat you gagged slightly, your body tensing and Lee moaned around your breast when he felt you involuntarily clench around him. Charles was making similar noises, feeling your throat constrict around his length, felt your tongue against the underside of him.

“Fuck, baby. Such a good whore for us.” Your eyes watered from Charles’ assault on your throat and the way that every thrust of Lee’s hips pushed you further onto the cock in your mouth. Charles put his hand around your throat, and groaned as he felt himself there. Lee pressed you into the bed and his body rubbed back and forth over your clit, stimulating it just right (or from your current point of view, wrong). Your second orgasm hit you like a freight train, and was equally as unwelcome.

Lee popped off your breast and threw his head back, virtually roaring as he pumped his seed into your already overflowing pussy. He’d barely finished emptying himself when he slid out of you, and shimmied down your body, holding your folds apart and watching the sticky white fluid leak out of you.

“Ain’t that a wonderful sight.”  

You screwed your eyes tight again and you felt Charles increase his pace. You gagged and spluttered, and your bound hands fluttered uselessly as Charles spilled down your throat, giving you no choice but to swallow what he gave you. He tucked himself away and pushed his hair out of his eyes as he, Lee and Jefferson made their way towards the stairs that led up and out of your prison. They passed Nick on the way, bidding him good-bye. Jefferson hopped onto the bottom step but ducked back down to leer at you once again.

“Au revoir, treasure - see you again soon!”

The three men made their way upwards, the basement door closing behind them and you tracked their steps across the floor above your head.

The mattress dipped by your side and you turned to look at Nick, the only man remaining. You wished you could shrink in on yourself, but your bonds prevented it.

“Please. Please let me go. I won’t tell, I promise. I’ll go far away. I’ll…” Nick pulled his blade out of his pocket and flicked it open, making your words die in your throat. He trailed it lightly down your body and you didn’t dare breath, lest he knick you. You were surprised though when he cut through the bonds on your ankles and then leant up to cut the ones at your wrists. You sat up and rubbed at the welts that had appeared, confusion clouding your features.

“You’re…you’re letting me go?”

Nick smiled at you, dark and predatory and you realised you were wrong. You tried to launch yourself off the bed, but your muscles didn’t obey you and you were quickly grabbed and flipped onto your stomach.

“Let you go, sweetheart?  Why would I want to do that? With you here, under my roof, I can have you whenever,” he tapped over your asshole with the handle of his knife, “and however I want. There’s so many things I wanna do to you.”

You scrabbled at the bed clothes and could no longer stop the sobs from escaping your body as you heard the slide of his zipper and felt his hand on the back of your neck, holding you down.

There was no escape.

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[mchiti]

I was reading a very interesting article by an instagram page called sportandrightsalliance (x) who reported a study made by FIFPRO on the disparity in playing conditions and preparation time between wnts at this world cup. The following image shows the gap between national teams who qualified for the round of 16 (minus Morocco and South Africa, for whom it was reported there no information available): as you can see the match between England and Nigeria today was the one with the highest gap in preparation time between two teams.

It's very sad, because clearly not all these players play in the same conditions, receive the same moral and financial support by their federations. Nigeria's national team threatened a strike "due to fear of not receiving the prize money awarded by FIFA" and it was only thanks to this mobilization that FIFA has ring-fenced the prize money for the first time, as FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura personally promised to the Nigeria national team. But it seems now that Infantino himself is breaking this promise, since he has reaffirmed that it's up to each federation to pay the players and decide the amount of prizes.

As an African myself, supporting african teams is not only out of pride and love, but it's a political action that I hope can be shared by many others. It pains me to think african football is so left behind and have no measures to compare, with all the internal issues that reflect political and financial instability. It is, after all, the same issues that afflict men's national teams, obviously to a different extent - both financially and culturally. Of course, in situations of disparity, women will always have it worse. It's saddening when you see africans giving their all anyway. I know we can't do much but let's start supporting it. Support women and men teams in world cups, in afcon, give them views and love.