The rise in U.S. income inequality and the decline of the American middle class have skewed public policy toward the wishes of the rich and contributed to underinvestment in higher education.
There are a number of things that policymakers can do to strengthen the middle class that won't require any additional expenditures.
Report
Inclusive capitalism, when implemented correctly, can begin to address some of the fundamental problems with our economy while simultaneously improving workers’ well-being and the performance of businesses.
State governments have a tremendous responsibility to help restore the promise of the American Dream, and can be part of the solution to rebuild a strong and growing middle class.
Studies show that providing legal status to undocumented immigrants will increase wages for American workers.
David Madland discusses the Maryland Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program before the Maryland House of Delegates.
David Madland argues for raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour.
Increasing the minimum wage for all workers—particularly women who are the majority of low-paid workers—will markedly improve life for struggling American families.
We should adopt policies that help workers freely choose whether to organize if we want to strengthen organized labor and create a vibrant middle class.
The country is moving forward and creating jobs, but now is not the time for additional austerity, as the economy is in no shape for such a beating.
Issue Brief
So-called right-to-work legislation will make it harder for unions to do their job: improving wages and working conditions. That, in turn, will weaken the middle class, which will lower our nation’s economic competitiveness.
Right-to-work laws weaken unions, lower middle-class income, and don’t reduce unemployment.
One of the most important, but least known, outcomes of the 2012 election is that trickle-down economics was defeated by an emerging theory popularized by President Obama known as “middle-out economics,” which holds that a strong middle class is the key driver of economic growth. We may now be at a sea-change moment as policymakers [...]
Strengthening organized labor is one of the most important steps to help rebuild our middle class.
Increased union membership is associated with higher income mobility, greater upward mobility, and lower downward mobility.