New affordable housing in Ocean county is attracting a younger crowd. More retirees are electing to stay in their homes rather than move to the 55+ communities that drove up the median age in the southern part of the state. Dean Emeritus James W. Hughes discusses the...
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How strong is the US economy? Depends on which party you ask
The jobless rate is at a record low of 3.6%, but consumer prices are up 9.1% as of June 2022. Are we officially in a recession? That depends on who you ask. “It suggests, overall, the economy is weakening, it’s certainly losing steam, where there are storm clouds not...
N.J. is increasing diversity.
New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the nation, and year after year it has only gotten more so. “The suburbs are far more diverse today than they were 25 years ago,” said James Hughes, a professor and a former dean of Rutgers’ Edward J. Bloustein School of...
Hughes Speaks to the State of the U.S. Economy, Influence on Voters’ Sentiments
Economic sentiment plays a pivotal role in how Americans make their electoral choices and is one of many factors that could influence how voters cast their ballots in the 2022 midterm elections. On July 15, the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Press Center hosted a...
Is the economic outlook for New Jersey as bad as we think?
What’s in store for the New Jersey economy for the rest of this year? It turns out nobody is quite sure because right now there’s a hodgepodge of different economic signals. Rutgers University economist James Hughes said as is often the case, “we have really...
Economists question lawmakers’ plans to address inflation
As consumers nationwide grapple with increases in the cost of rent, gas, and groceries, New Jersey lawmakers have offered a slew of plans they say will address skyrocketing inflation. Sales tax holidays on certain items, moratoriums on toll increases, and a revamp of...
Consumers in ‘very sour mood’ as inflation outpaces wages
The prices of gas, home energy and food all spiked by double digits over the past month, but wages aren't keeping up, with annual inflation now topping 9%. "It’s leading to a very sour mood,” said James W. Hughes, dean emeritus at Rutgers University’s Edward J....
NJ gas prices are trending down but experts are worried
Rutgers economist James Hughes said even if President Joe Biden is able to convince Congress to freeze the 18.4 cent a gallon federal gas tax for the next few months and Gov. Phil Murphy agrees to suspend the state gas tax (an idea he has rejected so far) “that would...
Lonely Last Days in the Suburban Office Park
“It was absolutely shocking to many people that you would take an office building and knock it down, like we used to knock down factories,” said James W. Hughes, a professor at Rutgers. “Now it’s routine.” But in many places, that idea is still settling in. It will...
Why are Ocean, Monmouth counties growing while the NJ overall population shrinks?
The COVID-19 pandemic heavily influenced New Jersey residents' housing choices between 2020 and 2021, said James Hughes, dean emeritus of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. Fears of catching the virus in crowded...
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Virtual Information Session: Graduate Program in Public Policy
VirtualLearn more about the curriculum for our master's degrees in public policy, as well as our graduate certificate, how to apply, career services support for students, and scholarship opportunities.
Introducing a New Inland Design Flood Elevation Dataset for NJADAPT
VirtualOn July 17, 2023, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) adopted its Inland Flood Protection Rule which, among other actions, establishes a new Design Flood Elevation (DFE) standard […]
Jersey City Alumni Mixer
Zeppelin Hall Biergarten 88 Liberty View Dr, Jersey CityJoin us for an alumni mixer in #JerseyCity on Thursday, June 6th at Zeppelin Hall Biergarten. Parking for Zeppelin Hall is FREE - more information can be found here: https://zeppelinhall.com/map/. This […]