David Madland is a senior fellow and the senior adviser to the American Worker Project at American Progress.
He has been called “one of the nation’s wisest” labor scholars by Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. Mary Kay Henry, president of Service Employees International Union, says his work “is creating a North Star for how we increase workers’ power in the economy and democracy.”
Madland writes about the economy and American politics, especially the middle class, economic inequality, labor unions, retirement policy, and workplace standards. He is the author of Re-Union: How Bold Labor Reforms Can Repair, Revitalize, and Reunite the United States (Cornell University Press, 2021) and Hollowed Out: Why the Economy Doesn’t Work without a Strong Middle Class (University of California Press, 2015).
He appears frequently on television including on PBS, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox and is a regular guest on radio talk shows across the United States. His work has been cited in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker. He has also testified before Congress as well as several state legislatures.
Prior to his work at American Progress, Madland worked on economic policy for then-Rep. George Miller (D-CA). He received his doctorate in government from Georgetown University and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. His dissertation about the decline of the U.S. pension system received the “2008 Best Dissertation Award” from the Labor and Employment Relations Association.
David Madland and Malkie Wall explain the importance of sectoral bargaining.
David Madland and Malkie Wall outline how working-class Americans generally support progressive economic policies nationwide.
Malkie Wall and David Madland write an analysis on the state of U.S. unions based on newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
David Madland and Malkie Wall analyze new data from the U.S. Census Bureau on union membership rates and the low share of income going to the middle class.
Author David Madland describes how broader-based bargaining will require increasing union power, promoting contract extensions, and establishing wage boards.
Author David Madland explains how a recently reintroduced bill would ensure that state and local government workers can join a union and collectively bargain.
Karla Walter and David Madland explain how federal lawmakers can reverse the decadeslong trend of declining unionization rates.
Karla Walter and David Madland discuss how state and local leaders can empower workers.
Author David Madland discusses recent polling showing very strong support for wage boards among American workers.
Authors David Madland and Alex Rowell examine workers' opinions on economic policy, finding that working-class whites, blacks, and Hispanics want elected officials to make the economy work better for them.
