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Economic Outlook

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Household Wealth in Freefall

A report by Christian E. Weller and Jessica Lynch examines the fall in household wealth since the beginning of the current economic crisis.

Investing for Widespread, Productive Growth

Christian E. Weller and Amanda Logan examine the links between investment, productivity, income, and economic growth and some worrying trends in all four.

Other Economic Outlook Features

November 20, 2009

Economic Snapshot for November 2009

Policy attention should focus on job creation to ensure that the recent improvements are not short lived, writes Christian E. Weller. By Christian E. Weller
November 6, 2009

Weekly Round Up: November 2 - 6, 2009

This week CAP hosted Vice President Joe Biden, provided several interactives on why we need health reform, and released a report on China's new role in the international community.
November 6, 2009

The Recession Brings Higher Unemployment to Unmarried Women

Unmarried women are seeing higher unemployment rates, write Liz Weiss and Heather Boushey. Extensions of Recovery Act provisions in Congress can help. By Liz Weiss, Heather Boushey
November 2, 2009

Health Care Reform Can Treat the National Deficit

Christina Romer explains the link between health care reform and the budget deficit at CAP.
October 29, 2009

Stimulus Aids Strong Economic Rebound

Third quarter GDP numbers show strong growth aided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but it’s not a strong and sustained recovery yet, writes Christian E. Weller. By Christian E. Weller
October 27, 2009

Extending Help to the Unemployed

Congress can aid the rising number of long-term unemployed workers by extending unemployment insurance benefits, write Alexandra Cawthorne and Melissa Boteach. By Alexandra Cawthorne, Melissa Boteach
October 16, 2009

Weekly Round Up: October 13 - 16

This week CAP released a report with Maria Shriver on the changing role of women in society, highlighted increased support for LGBT rights among evangelicals, and testified on creating clean energy jobs to drive economic recovery.
October 13, 2009

Why the Savings from Health Care Reform Are Underappreciated

The lack of a whole-hearted, landslide, public embrace of health reform is surprising considering that unless your family earns over $250,000, reform costs you nothing and, the president's health care plan, if enacted, is estimated to increase the income of the average family of four by about $10,000 in 2030. By Sima J. Gandhi
October 9, 2009

Weekly Round Up: October 5 - 9, 2009

The center concluded this week that more needs to be done to help the jobless, health reform is the best prescription, and a global climate agreement needs four key building blocks.
October 7, 2009

More Spending Is Necessary to Clean Up The Economic Mess

Scott Lilly examines September’s employment numbers and concludes that more needs to be done to help Americans who are suffering. By Scott Lilly
October 6, 2009

Economic Snapshot for October 2009

Christian E. Weller argues that policymakers need to focus on those economically most vulnerable as the labor market tries to recover. By Christian E. Weller
October 2, 2009

Weekly Round Up: September 28 - October 2, 2009

CAP focused this week on the federal deficit and debt, comparative effectiveness research, and wind energy's benefits for rural America.
September 30, 2009

Deficits and Debt 101

Michael Linden answers basic questions on federal deficits and debt and what can be done to reduce them. By Michael Linden
September 23, 2009

Leveling the Playing Field

Christian E. Weller and Amanda Logan make the case for policies to erase the economic discrepancies between whites and minorities. By Christian E. Weller, Amanda Logan
September 22, 2009

Economic Snapshot for September 2009

Christian E. Weller argues that continued public support for investment in health care, energy, education, and innovation are necessary to bring millions of lost jobs back. By Christian E. Weller
September 21, 2009

States Will Drag on Economic Growth and Job Recovery

Analysis of state budget data from Christian E. Weller, Scott Levy, and Amanda Logan shows that state deficits will continue through 2009 and 2010. By Christian E. Weller, Scott Levy, Amanda Logan
September 15, 2009

Unequal Opportunity Lenders?

Report from Andrew Jakabovics and Jeff Chapman shows racial disparities in higher-priced lending among the 14 largest banks and subsidiaries during the housing bubble. By Andrew Jakabovics, Jeff Chapman
September 11, 2009

Weekly Round Up: September 7 - 11, 2009

This week the Center analyzed new Census Bureau data as well as President Obama's health reform speech, and showed how the energy bill before Congress would boost energy efficiency.
September 8, 2009

Interactive Graphic: Equal Work Without Equal Pay

Women are close to surpassing men in the U.S. workforce. But this historic shift is not evidence of workplace equality, writes Heather Boushey. By Heather Boushey
September 4, 2009

Mixed News for Older Workers

Older workers with a job may be doing better than their younger counterparts, but those without a job face an unprecedented challenge, write Nayla Kazzi and David Madland. By Nayla Kazzi, David Madland
August 25, 2009

Who's to Blame for the Deficit Numbers?

Forty percent of the new deficit numbers is due to President Bush, 20 percent to the economic downturn, and 16 percent to Obama's efforts to save the economy, write Michael Ettlinger and Michael Linden. By Michael Ettlinger, Michael Linden
August 14, 2009

Economic Snapshot for August 2009

Christian E. Weller argues that continued public support for investment in health care, energy, education, and innovation are necessary to bring back millions of lost jobs. By Christian E. Weller
August 7, 2009

Interactive Graphic: More Families Must Rely on Women Wage Earners

The pace of job losses over the past three months has slowed, but men are still losing three-out-of-every four jobs, writes Heather Boushey. By Heather Boushey
August 6, 2009

Less Spending on Gas and Cars Means More Money in the Bank—For Now

Americans appear to be saving more according to the latest BEA data, but without stronger income growth we could see this trend come to an end, observe Amanda Logan and Christian Weller. By Amanda Logan, Christian E. Weller
July 31, 2009

The Recovery Act Is Working

The latest GDP figures and the many jobs preserved are just the first indications that the president’s economic stimulus program is working, writes Reece Rushing. By Reece Rushing
July 31, 2009

A Presentation on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Scott Lilly discusses the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act at Ohio Wesleyan University. By Scott Lilly
July 31, 2009

Government Spending Helps Slow Economic Freefall

Economic declines are slowing, writes Christian E. Weller upon analyzing new GDP numbers, but sustained recovery will take more time. By Christian E. Weller
July 23, 2009

Whose Economic Problem Is It?

It is no small irony that those who are complaining the loudest about the length of time it takes to see the results of economic stimulus were standing shoulder to shoulder with President George W. Bush in rejecting a much-needed boost for the economy last fall, writes Scott Lilly in Politico. By Scott Lilly
July 20, 2009

Women Breadwinners, Men Unemployed

The Great Recession is 19 months old now and is increasingly hurting families who must rely more and more on wives’ incomes to stay afloat, writes Heather Boushey. By Heather Boushey
July 9, 2009

Getting Off the Oil Price Rollercoaster

Yesterday’s op-ed by Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy on oil prices highlights an issue that hurts consumers and businesses, writes Amanda Logan. By Amanda Logan
July 9, 2009

Economic Snapshot for July 2009

We are learning the hard way this month that Wall Street, the economy, and the labor market are three separate things, writes Christian E. Weller. By Christian E. Weller
June 30, 2009

Booklovers Should Cheer Google’s Plan

Lex’s article on the Google Books settlement (June 19) requires correction. As an advocate for consumer rights and a former antitrust enforcer, I have taken a great interest in the debate surrounding the Google Books settlement. Overall I think the settlement enhances competition and opens new markets, and the criticisms Lex poses are simply off the mark. By David Balto
June 24, 2009

Spring Is Not Yet Awakening, Says the Federal Reserve, with Good Reason

The Federal Reserve, with good reason, kept interest rates low today and recognized our economy is far from blooming anew, observes Heather Boushey. By Heather Boushey
June 24, 2009

Signals on the Fritz

Amanda Logan and Christian E. Weller look at how energy price swings affect consumers and businesses and what policymakers can do. By Amanda Logan, Christian E. Weller
June 23, 2009

Addressing Unemployment Among Black Men

A CAP event addresses the unemployment gap and ways to improve the occupational prospects for black men.
June 22, 2009

Public Opinion Snapshot: Public Optimistic on Obama’s Economic Plans

The public has faith that Obama’s policies will improve economic conditions and bring down the deficit in the long run, writes Ruy Teixeira. By Ruy Teixeira
June 19, 2009

Insight from the States on Economic Recovery

Analysis of new state employment data and an interactive map from Luke Reidenbach and Heather Boushey show where, when, and how recovery may occur. By Luke Reidenbach, Heather Boushey
June 16, 2009

Economic Snapshot for June 2009

There are no “glimmers of hope” yet for families, writes Christian E. Weller. The economy will have to grow for an extended period before families regain economic security. By Christian E. Weller
June 12, 2009

Weekly Round Up: June 8 - 12, 2009

The Center advocated for paid family leave for workers, argued conservatives' approach to national security isn't working, and promoted climate change as cultural change.
June 11, 2009

Child Homelessness in the Economic Crisis

Joy Moses interviews Michigan educator Kathy Kropf about the difficulties facing homeless children in the recession. By Joy Moses
June 5, 2009

Weekly Round Up: June 1 - 5, 2009

This week CAP looked at the job market figures, recommended a comprehensive immigration reform and discussed China's new clean-energy plans and Latin American affairs.
June 5, 2009

Interactive Graphic: Women Breadwinners More Important than Ever

Men are still hit harder by the recession than women, leaving even more women to be primary breadwinners, writes Heather Boushey. By Heather Boushey
June 5, 2009

Job Outlook Still Bleak

There's some improvement in the job market, writes David Madland, but many indicators hit new lows in May and employment still looks grim. By David Madland
May 18, 2009

After the Stress Tests

Financial institutions are in a rush to exit the government’s $700 billion rescue operation, but policymakers need to consider the consequences of hasty repayments, writes David Min. By David Min
May 18, 2009

Economic Snapshot for May 2009

It will take an extended turnaround period before families feel economically secure again and the United States begins to see positive economic growth, writes Christian E. Weller. By Christian E. Weller
May 8, 2009

Unemployed—and Staying That Way

The grim labor market picture shows an economy mired in recession for some time to come, writes Heather Boushey. By Heather Boushey
April 29, 2009

The Incredible Shrinking Economy

The economy shrank 6.1 percent in the first quarter of 2009, indicating that recovery may still take some time, writes Christian Weller. By Christian E. Weller
April 27, 2009

Guarding Stress Test Results

The stress tests run on big banks aren’t public yet, note David Min and Joshua Picker. The SEC and TARP’s inspector general must prevent the misuse of this information for personal gain. By David Min, Joshua Picker
April 24, 2009

Weekly Round Up: April 20 - 24, 2009

This week the center investigated the fall of household wealth, proposed ways to spend recovery funds for education, and showed why the United States needs to step up on energy.
April 16, 2009

A Role for Faith in Tough Economic Times

Brookings Institution economist Rebecca Blank discusses the recession, failures of the market, populist anger, and the role of faith communities during this time of economic turmoil with Sally Steenland. By Sally Steenland

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Where We Stand on the Economy

Our priorities for U.S. economic policymaking are strong economic growth, building opportunities so that all Americans can share in the American Dream, and widely shared prosperity. Our progressive economic priorities underscore our commitment to government that works for the common good.