Bruce W. Klein

4439 Springdale Street, NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 966-5177
brucewklein@aol.com

BIOGRAPHY

Bruce W. Klein joined the Center in 2002. His current fields of interest are the effects of the minimum wage on hunger and on low wage workers above the minimum. Dr. Klein's previous research includes the working poor and welfare reform. He is planning a study on housing options for the poor.

Dr. Klein had a distinguished career of over 20 years with several government agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture and Labor and the U.S. Senate. During his tenure at Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, he led the research group which developed the first Federal government survey on hunger and "near hunger." This annual survey now uses the same methods that Dr. Klein's team devised. At the U.S. Senate, Joint Economic Committee, he completed a Committee report on how gains were distributed to households and families as a result of the 1990s economic expansion. At the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, he did an extended study of the effect of the minimum wage on the low-wage labor market and wrote a major article on the working poor. The methods he used to study the working poor set a measurement standard that is now an analytic convention. His minimum wage analyses have been included in debates on minimum wage legislation. In fact, for his recent efforts, a National Urban League report written with Center Director, William Rodgers and Hanley Chaing, he received a commendation from Senator Kennedy.

Dr. Klein was one of the key developers of the Survey of Income and Program Participation, an ongoing Federal survey of the economic situation of the persons living in the United States. The survey is a rich source of information on welfare recipients. While developing the survey, he studied welfare reform issues.

Dr. Klein has also taught several college-level courses and seminars in economics, including Introductory Economics and History of Economic Thought. Topics of his seminars included: International Underemployment, The Working Poor, and Food Assistance Policy. He has published more than twenty studies and is the coauthor of one book. His work has been sited in major newspapers, magazines and scholarly publications, and he has appeared on radio and television programs. The Monthly Labor Review honored him with their highest award. During his graduate studies, he received a teaching fellowship, a scholarship and a dissertation grant from the Department of Labor.

PROFESSIONAL GOALS

Inform policy on food security using experience and expertise in food security and hunger
measurement, food assistance programs, poverty measurement, income and wage distribution,
survey methods, and government statistics.

EXPERIENCE
Entrepreneur, Economics Consultant 1999 to present

In 1999, left government service to pursue a full-time career in motion picture production, but
continued professional activities as a specialist in the economics of food security, poverty and
income and wage distribution.

Senior Economist 1995-1998
US Department of Agriculture
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Conducted three major studies on measuring food security and hunger in the United States. Analyzed
nutrition program policy issues. Edited a major report on Federal nutrition programs.
Research: Relationship between food security, welfare policy, income, wages, and employment.

Economist October 1997 - February 1998
US Senate (On special assignment.)
Joint Economic Committee, Minority Staff
Studied the effect of 1990's recovery on household income. Assisted committee members at hearings on
employment situation, state of the economy, and economic statistics.

Program Analyst 1991 - 1995
US Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation
Led major research program to measure food security and hunger. Managed/designed analysis of the
Food Stamp Program, including program participation and eligibility studies, micro simulation of
legislative reforms, and program cost increases. Managed redesign of large micro simulation model for
personal computers.
Research: Minimum wage job trends. Effect of the minimum wage on low wage workers.

Economist 1985 - 1991
US Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics
Completed major study of the working poor. Studied income during jobless spells and labor market
problems using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, a survey of the economic
situation of American families. Conducted a study analyzing US work absences. Prepared monthly
press releases on US employment. Assisted media and public at large regarding labor market trends.
Presented seminars to foreign students in BLS training programs. Participated in various professional
conferences and working groups.

Consultant 1982 - 1985 Clients included:
Committee to Study the American Electorate and Project VOTE -- Supervised survey data
collection, methods and quality control;
National Alliance of Business -- Evaluated questionnaire, coordinated field operations, created
data base and produced statistical tabulations; and
Herner and Company (Senior Resident Consultant) -- Designed administration and analysis of
survey samples.

Economist 1978 - 1982
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Assumed responsibilities for design and operation of the Survey of Income and Program Participation,
including data collection, field procedures, quality control, and data analysis. Published three papers,
including a report on AFDC recipients.

Survey Statistician 1976 - 1978
U.S. Department of Commerce
Bureau of the Census, Population Division, Family and Individual Income Statistics Branch
Researched income data collection methods and data editing procedures for the annual demographic
supplement to the Current Population Survey. Prepared statistical reports for publication. Modeled
changes in the poverty count.

Economist 1974 - 1975
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Social Security Administration, Office of Research and Statistics, Division of Retirement and
Survivors Studies
Designed and estimated a model for predicting women's wages.

Economist 1972 - 1973
U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of the Secretary, Transportation Modeling and Programs
Allocated costs for air transportation. Designed model for labor productivity in the rail industry.
Bruce W. Klein Page Three

ACADEMIC:
Instructor: Principals of Economics and History of Economic Thought,
Montgomery College, 1984-85
Seminars: Underemployment, Working Poor, and Food Assistance Policy,
1986-1998

EDUCATION:

George Washington University, B.A., 1970
University of California, Santa Barbara, M.A., 1972
George Washington University, Ph.D., 1981
Dissertation Topic: Adequacy of the Earnings Capacity of the Subemployed and Its
Policy Implications (directed by Sar A. Levitan)

HONORS:

USDA Certificate of Appreciation for Initiative, Creativity and Commitment in
Convening the Food Security Measurement and Research Conference, 1994
Lawrence R. Klein Award, 1990 (Best Monthly Labor Review article, 1989)
Manpower Doctoral Dissertation Grant, U.S. Department of Labor, 1980-81
Teaching Fellow, Department of Economics, George Washington University, 1973-75
Research Fellow, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1972
University of California Distinguished Scholars Scholarship, 1971-72

MEMBERSHIP:

American Economic Association
American Statistical Association
Washington Statistical Society
International Association for Research on Income and Wealth

COMPUTER EXPERIENCE:

Statistical packages -- SPSS and SAS