Building an Economy for All
Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans, not just those at the top, benefit from growth.
What We're Working On
What We're Doing
Investing in a stronger and more equitable economy
We must continue to invest in research, technology, and innovation in a manner that ensures participation and benefits communities that are too often left behind. Only through such an approach can the United States remain at the cutting edge in an increasingly competitive global market.
Strengthening worker power and economic mobility
We need to increase wages, reduce poverty among working families, increase worker power, and create pathways to economic mobility for all.
Raising the floor for basic living standards
Working toward a stronger and more equitable economy for everyone involves rebuilding, expanding, and strengthening America’s social safety net to make it more comprehensive in eligibility and services as well as more flexible in how it can be accessed and used.
Creating a new social compact with business
A new social compact with business includes a regulatory vision that better aligns investors, companies, and the public interest on critical matters such as climate, workers’ rights, and equality.
By the numbers
60M
The families of more than 60 million children have received CTC monthly payments since July 2021.
CAP, “Making the CTC and EITC Expansions Permanent Would Reduce Poverty and Grow the Economy” (2021).
$100
In 32 states, a typical family would save more than $100 per week on child care under the Build Back Better Act.
CAP, “The Build Back Better Act Would Greatly Lower Families’ Child Care Costs” (2021).
$22.5B
In a year, workers and their families lose $22.5 billion in wages due to lack of access to paid family and medical leave.
CAP, “A Real Recovery for Women Cannot Happen Without the Build Back Better Agenda” (2021).
$3.6T
The Build Back Better Act would raise $3.6 trillion in revenue to support investments in an inclusive, high-growth economy.
CAP, “Addressing Tax System Failings That Favor Billionaires and Corporations” (2021).
What You Can Do
Recent work
Education Policies Need To Address the Unique Needs of Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities
Fighting Climate Change, From Capitol Hill to City Hall
How the United States Should Respond if Russia Invades Ukraine
The Fed has a clear mandate to mitigate climate risks
Latest
The Biden Boom: Economic Recovery in 2021
President Joe Biden took office one year ago amid one of the worst economies in generations, but the U.S. economy has since made tremendous progress toward recovery, and workers are benefiting.
2021 Was a Year of Bold Economic Policy That Must Be Extended
A plethora of temporary programs helped low-income Americans weather the pandemic in 2021, and extending them would be a meaningful step toward building an economy that works for all.
Raising Wages and Narrowing Pay Gaps With Service Sector Prevailing Wage Laws
Prevailing wage laws for government service contracts can uplift wages and benefits; reduce racial pay gaps; and could have a range of positive effects on worker turnover, service quality, local budgets, and collective bargaining.
Creating Protections for Index Investing
Capital allocation by investors is increasingly driven by indexes, and while index providers experience significant conflicts of interest, there are few guidelines to govern them.
Engaging the Community in School Funding Decisions
Community members highlight the importance of community involvement in school spending decisions and ways for schools to increase this engagement.
Alleviating Food Insecurity in the Disabled Community
As food insecurity worsened for the disability community during the pandemic, several disability organizations developed innovative solutions that could provide a road map toward better equity around food access.
A Corporate Minimum Tax Would Ensure Large Corporations Begin To Pay Their Fair Share
The Build Back Better Act’s corporate profits minimum tax would make important progress toward fixing a broken tax code and ensuring that the largest and most profitable corporations pay their fair share.
The Senate Must Act Now and Pass the Build Back Better Act Before the Expanded Child Tax Credit Expires
If the Senate fails to pass the Build Back Better Act by the end of the year, the expanded Child Tax Credit will expire and millions of families will be pushed back into poverty.
Early Learning in the United States: 2021
These state fact sheets provide data on access to affordable child care for families, compensation for child care providers, and economic benefits of increased public investment in early learning.
Rewarding Regional and Statewide Progress Through Competitive Federal Grant Applications
In order to incentivize states to develop coherent transportation plans that advance progressive policy goals, the U.S. Department of Transportation should consider both the regional and statewide transportation and land use context when making grant awards.