James Parrott

James brings to the Center over 30 years of experience in New York City economic and fiscal issues from positions in City and State government and the private sector. Most recently he was deputy director and chief economist of the Fiscal Policy Institute. He regularly analyzes the city’s economy and job market and has written extensively on topics including income inequality and the City and State budgets and tax policies. His research helped bring over $20 million in federal funds to New York following 9/11 to aid dislocated workers, and he coordinated the economic research in support of New York State’s $15 minimum wage policies adopted in 2015 and 2016. He has been one of the leaders in the citywide campaign to raise wages for nonprofit workers providing services under government contract. James is a frequent media commentator on economic and fiscal issues, and his writing has appeared in The New York Times and The American Prospect. He has served on various city and state task forces and advisory bodies, including on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Tax Reform and Fairness Commission. James received his B.A. in American Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He has taught public policy and labor economics at CUNY