David Viviano is Chief Economist at SAG-AFTRA, and leads its Office of Media & Labor Economics. Viviano and his team conduct in-depth analysis of the media landscape on an ongoing basis, analyzing its implications for the working lives of SAG-AFTRA members.
Viviano holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Studies from Wesleyan University.
Press Highlights
In September 2023, Viviano spoke with Rolling Stone in the midst of the SAG-AFTRA strike to explain the realities of what guild members were confronting:
“‘Only 7% of SAG-AFTRA actors and performers earn $80,000 or more a year, and 14% of SAG-AFTRA members make at least $26,470 annually to qualify for SAG-AFTRA health plan coverage,’ SAG-AFTRA chief economist David Viviano informed Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone spoke with an additional 10 union members who have largely struggled to afford health insurance and dispelled the misconception that most striking actors are household names.”