Algernon has conducted research and writing on issues of race and racial inequality for over 20 years. His current primary focus is on the low rate of employment in Black America, one of the three major labor market challenges facing this population, and on using subsidized employment as a tool to address this problem. Austin also has an interest in social housing, infrastructure, racial wealth inequality, and other topics at the intersection of race and the economy.
Austin has a PhD in sociology from Northwestern University, and he taught sociology as a faculty member at Wesleyan University. He has held positions at the Economic Policy Institute, the Center for Global Policy Solutions, Dēmos, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He has discussed racial inequality on PBS, CNN, NPR, and other national television and radio networks.
All from Algernon Austin
Is Black America the Leading Edge of a Coming Trump Recession?
Black unemployment is rising while broader labor market indicators weaken, suggesting Black workers may be the first hit in a potential Trump-fueled recession.
Trump Sabotages Clean Energy as Power Demand and Outages Increase
The first Trump administration did nothing on infrastructure. The second Trump administration might wind up being worse, since it is working to kill infrastructure projects that are desperately needed.
The Republican Budget Bill: Take from the Poor, Give to the Rich
The bill shifts money upward: hurting the poor to reward the rich.
The Senate Voted to Make Trump Richer and the Financial System Weaker and More Corrupt
With the crypto-friendly GENIUS Act making its way through the Senate, Congress may be planting the seeds for the next financial crisis.”
Asian Americans Will be Hurt by Republican Medicaid Cuts
In 2023, nearly one in five Asian Americans relied on Medicaid, a life-saving and cost-effective program now threatened by Republican proposals to cut funding in favor of tax breaks for the wealthy.
The Best Black Employment States — And How the Trump Administration is Hurting Them
A new analysis shows that Nevada, Maryland, and Virginia were the best states for Black employment in 2023. Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s actions are likely to do serious damage.
Unpacking the Court Series: Gun Laws (Part 1 of 3)
In the first episode of CEPR’s Unpacking the Court series, Algernon Austin explores the Supreme Court’s key gun control decisions and how the shift toward so-called ‘originalism’ undermines public safety, especially in Black communities.
DOGE is the Most Wasteful Government Agency
By any fair assessment, Elon Musk’s DOGE is a complete disaster.
The Trump Administration is Riddled with Unqualified Leaders
The leadership in the Trump White House isn’t about rewarding merit – it’s about loyalty to the MAGA agenda.
The Trump Administration: Government by Billionaires, for Billionaires
When one looks past the populist theater show of the Trump administration, one can see that the administration’s priority is to help make rich people richer.
