While flexibility is just one factor that makes independent contracting appealing, it’s not the “be-all-end-all.” 
Friend,
Welcome to the November MidPoint newsletter.

As we get ready for Thanksgiving, cooling inflation in October is still not enough relief for households. Meanwhile, the onslaught of regulations from Washington will disadvantage women in specific ways, just look at the latest overtime rule. Positively, we explore in IWF’s latest white paper how the wider adoption of remote work is a game changer for women. Plus, our take on the promise and pitfalls of child online safety efforts by the public and private sector. Up first, this summer’s pink spending spree gave the economy a bump.

Keep reading for the latest economic, labor, and tech analysis from the Independent Women’s Forum’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO).

Patrice Onwuka
Director, Center for Economic Opportunity


** TOPLINE ([link removed])
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Daily Caller | The Barbie, Beyonce, And Taylor Swift Economic Bump Comes With A Hefty Price

Women’s spending power was an undercurrent that lifted Q3 economic growth. The tidal wave of spending on shimmers and glam began with the Barbie movie, flowed through Beyonce’s Renaissance tour and crashed ashore with Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. But don’t count on that spending boost to prop up the economy much longer; it is simply not sustainable.

The Barbie movie and female-led concert tours contributed 0.7 percentage points to PCE growth and 0.6 percentage points to GDP in Q3, according to analysts. That translated to billions of dollars in economic activity nationally and locally.

Women justified splurging on once-in-a-lifetime experiences as a chance to relive youthful memories or create new ones, but it may also have delivered many an escape from their day-to-day personal and economic realities. The rising cost of living continues to stress Americans out, especially women.

Elevated inflation — driven by massive needless federal spending — caused real wages to fall, leaving workers with a pay cut. Excess pandemic savings have largely been spent down. Women are working multiple jobs to make ends meet at a greater rate than men.

Women need more ways to generate income, especially flexible opportunities for those who balance priorities such as caregiving and health concerns. For this reason, the Biden administration should not… [keep reading ([link removed]) ]


** REGULATORY WATCH ([link removed])
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Public Comment: Independent Women’s Forum Comments On Proposed Overtime Regulations

Although this proposed overtime rule is positioned as a pay increase for workers, it will reduce flexibility for women and massively increase costs for
businesses, especially small businesses. IWF’s comments focus on identifying the consequences of the proposed regulation that would benefit from additional
scrutiny. We urge that this rule not be implemented. [read submitted public comment ([link removed]) ]


** SPOTLIGHT ([link removed])
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Policy Focus: Remote Work

Remote work benefits employees, families, and businesses by boosting productivity, lowering overhead, and fostering better work-life balance. To better support Americans seeking remote work, tax codes should be reformed so that workers are not penalized for working remotely, independent contractors are protected, and state governments should focus on deregulation. [read more ([link removed]) ]
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** ABOVE THE DOTTED LINE
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* Must-Read: Newsmax | FTC Khan’s ‘Cutting Edge’ Agenda Unaffordable ([link removed])
* ICYMI: Cooling Inflation Offers Little Relief This Thanksgiving ([link removed])
* Trending: Big Tech Lawsuits Aim to Tackle Youth Mental Health Crises ([link removed])
* Hot Take: Big Tech Platforms Expand Parental Controls in the Face of Increased Government Pressure ([link removed])
* ICYMI: Labor Market Falters for Women in October, Especially Black Women ([link removed])
* Blog: Minnesota’s Misguided Crackdown of Independent Contractors ([link removed])
* Blog: Remote Work Creates Opportunities for People With Disabilities Year-Round ([link removed])
* Hot Take: Biden’s War on Franchises Heats Up ([link removed])

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