Center for American Progress

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Building an Economy for All

Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.

A child holds hands with her father and mother, January 12, 2020. (Getty/The Washington Post/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)
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

134K

An estimated 134,000 families are pushed into poverty each year by child care expenses.

CAP, “Child Care Expenses Push an Estimated 134,000 Families Into Poverty Each Year” (2024).

A group of parents is seen outside of a day care center. Some of them are pushing strollers.
Child Care Expenses Push an Estimated 134,000 Families Into Poverty Each Year

85%

The number of businesses grew in 85 percent of counties between 2019 and 2023.

CAP, “Entrepreneurship, Startups, and Business Formation Are Booming Across the U.S.” (2024).

An
Entrepreneurship, Startups, and Business Formation Are Booming Across the U.S.

10%

An estimated 10 percent wage premium is experienced by union members compared with similar nonunion members.

CAP, “4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger” (2024).

Members of the Boston Teachers Union and their supporters rally in support of contract measures.
4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger

54%

Permanently extending the Trump tax cuts would increase the fiscal gap by 54 percent.

CAP, “Permanently Extending the Trump Tax Cuts Would Increase Upward Pressure on the Debt Ratio by More Than 50 Percent” (2024).

Capitol building and overcast sky
Permanently Extending the Trump Tax Cuts Would Increase Upward Pressure on the Debt Ratio by More Than 50 Percent

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CAP Comments on HHS’ Notice Rolling Back Progress Toward Wage and Benefits Improvements for Head Start Workforce Article

CAP Comments on HHS’ Notice Rolling Back Progress Toward Wage and Benefits Improvements for Head Start Workforce

The Center for American Progress recently submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opposing the revocation of a 2024 rule improving Head Start staff and educator wages and benefits.

Hailey Gibbs, Casey Peeks

Cracking Down on Pass-Throughs In the News

Cracking Down on Pass-Throughs

In an op-ed published by Democracy Journal, Corey Husak writes about how wealthy Americans are increasingly using complex networks of “pass-through” businesses and shell companies to avoid paying taxes, driving up economic inequalities.

Democracy Journal

Corey Husak

The Nationwide Child Care Crisis: Addressing Affordability and Supply Shortages Past Event

The Nationwide Child Care Crisis: Addressing Affordability and Supply Shortages

A discussion about new research, the impacts on families and communities, and the actions that leaders in Congress are taking now to build toward a child care system for the future that supports the nation’s youngest learners.

Center for American Progress and Online via Zoom

CAP Urges Stronger Accountability Metrics and Greater Transparency in Federally Funded Postsecondary Programs Article

CAP Urges Stronger Accountability Metrics and Greater Transparency in Federally Funded Postsecondary Programs

The Center for American Progress recently urged the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider proposed changes that could weaken safeguards for higher education students. As written, the proposal risks allowing low-value postsecondary programs to continue receiving federal aid, potentially steering students, especially those with limited financial resources, into pathways that fail to deliver meaningful economic returns.

Madison Weiss

CAP Comments on Individual Tax Credit for Qualified Contributions to Scholarship-Granting Organizations Article

CAP Comments on Individual Tax Credit for Qualified Contributions to Scholarship-Granting Organizations

The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the pending rules for the new individual tax credit program, which provides a federal dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 to individuals who donate to scholarship-granting organizations.

Weadé James, Paige Shoemaker DeMio

Rideshare Win Could Bring Big Changes In the News

Rideshare Win Could Bring Big Changes

In an op-ed for Progressive Magazine, David Madland argues that if a new union in Massachusetts representing app drivers is replicated nationwide, it could reverse decades of union decline.

Progressive Magazine

David Madland

Capping Rental Application Fees at $5 Report
Apartments for rent are seen in the East Village in New York City on May 11, 2026.

Capping Rental Application Fees at $5

With rents stuck high, a Center for American Progress proposal to cap application fees would provide renters with immediate relief.

Chad Maisel

2026 CAP IDEAS Conference Past Event

2026 CAP IDEAS Conference

The Center for American Progress’ signature event, now celebrating its 15th year, where CAP convenes the big thinkers and doers on the center-left for a day of not only identifying the problems facing Americans, but also sharing solutions to improve the lives of all Americans.

Online via Zoom

Lowering the Cost of Living for American Families Article
Prospective homebuyers leave a property.

Lowering the Cost of Living for American Families

As families struggle to make ends meet amid rising costs, the Center for American Progress’ affordability agenda would save a typical family $4,133 per year across housing, health care, utility bills, and groceries.

Emily Gee, Kennedy Andara

Hoja informativa: Un plan para hacer la electricidad más asequible en EE. UU. Hoja informativa

Hoja informativa: Un plan para hacer la electricidad más asequible en EE. UU.

El plan de CAP ahorraría a los hogares más de $900 en costos de energía durante cuatro años, a la vez que construiría un mejor sistema energético que ahorraría a las familias estadounidenses miles de millones en los años venideros.

Trevor Higgins, Shannon Baker-Branstetter, Michael Negron, 2 More Lucero Marquez, Kendra Hughes

The American workforce is a matriarchy In the News

The American workforce is a matriarchy

In an op-ed for Salon, Sara Estep argues that insufficient access to high-quality, affordable child care is the real career killer for American mothers.

Salon

Sara Estep

Women Workers Are a Lifeline for the Economy Article
A masked doctor in a blue gown leans forward to tend to a patient lying in a hospital bed.

Women Workers Are a Lifeline for the Economy

As Mother’s Day approaches, April jobs data highlight that women have been a bright spot in a volatile labor market, and underneath that trend are working mothers’ labor force participation rates.

Sara Estep, Kennedy Andara

A multilateral green trade pact? In the News

A multilateral green trade pact?

In a podcast from the Lowy Institute, Ryan Mulholland discusses how governments can go about designing green trade agreements.

Lowy Institute

Ryan Mulholland

Unilateralism in trade calls for a new approach to build a green future In the News

Unilateralism in trade calls for a new approach to build a green future

In an essay published by the International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks, Ryan Mulholland argues that climate and trade policy should be treated as complementary disciplines.

International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks

Ryan Mulholland

Measuring America’s Licensed Child Care Supply Report
Close-up on children's hands playing with toys in a basin of water

Measuring America’s Licensed Child Care Supply

Analysis conducted in 2025 measuring families’ access to child care programs, a crucial first step to mitigating the child care supply crisis.

Hailey Gibbs, Won F. Lee, Gabrielle Pepin, 2 More Katharine Sadowski, Aaron Sojourner

America’s Licensed Child Care Deserts Report
Two young children standing at table, with bulletin board and other decorations in background

America’s Licensed Child Care Deserts

Eight years after our initial report, CAP’s 2026 analyses of U.S. licensed child care supply reveal that just fewer than half of the nation's young children still live in child care deserts.

Hailey Gibbs, Casey Peeks

6 Policies Proved To Increase Union Membership Report

6 Policies Proved To Increase Union Membership

Evidence shows that more workers join unions when policies support workplace organizing, access, sectoral bargaining, the Ghent system, and dues paying, and provide funding.

David Madland

Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Plan To Pump More Money Into ICE and Border Patrol Is a Missed Opportunity To Help Americans Article
The U.S. Capitol building is seen.

Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Plan To Pump More Money Into ICE and Border Patrol Is a Missed Opportunity To Help Americans

Rather than funneling more money into immigration enforcement and border protection, Congress should be ensuring Americans can afford basic necessities such as health care and groceries.

Bobby Kogan

The one question Trump’s Fed chair nominee must answer In the News

The one question Trump’s Fed chair nominee must answer

In an op-ed published by MS NOW, Jared Bernstein urges Congress to probe Federal Reserve chairman nominee Kevin Warsh on whether he is willing to stand up to President Donald Trump and maintain Fed independence.

MS NOW

Jared Bernstein

Stabilizing and Strengthening State Funding for Public Higher Education After the Big Beautiful Bill Report
A hand raising a graduation cap

Stabilizing and Strengthening State Funding for Public Higher Education After the Big Beautiful Bill

Despite steep federal funding cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill, states can continue to support public higher education by creating progressive state tax revenue streams and strengthening rainy day funds to support postsecondary student success and degree completion.

Sara Partridge

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