Justin Schweitzer is a policy analyst for the Poverty to Prosperity Program at American Progress. Before joining American Progress, he worked as an economics intern for the Progressive Policy Institute, covering topics ranging from tax policy and climate change to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Schweitzer received a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance with a minor in mathematics from Elon University and Master of Science in applied economics, concentrating in public policy, from Johns Hopkins University. Schweitzer has studied and written about issues including workers’ rights, market consolidation, international development, and economic inequality.
Ending the subminimum wage for tipped workers would benefit everyone
As voters in Portland, Maine, and Washington, D.C., prepare to head to the ballot box to decide whether to eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers, Justin Schweitzer explains why all workers—tipped and untipped—should be paid at least the state minimum wage.
Expanding the Safety Net During a Recession Prevents Worsening Economic Pain
New U.S. Census Bureau data show how more accessible and larger boosts to safety net programs kept poverty low during the COVID-19 recession, preventing a deeper economic crisis and spurring a faster economy recovery.
Wages and Employment Do Not Have To Decline To Bring Down Inflation
To lower inflation, policymakers must continue using fiscal policy to focus support to struggling households, improve the economy’s productive capacity, create more resilient supply chains, and limit the profiteering of corporations.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened a national shortage of registered nurses, making it increasingly urgent that policymakers invest in higher education, coordinate strategies to alleviate the pressures on the nursing workforce, and make the entire health care system more equitable and stable.
Major investments of federal funding and sustained coordination are needed to mitigate the impact of nursing shortages and improve the nation’s ability to improve the health care system.
TANF Must Be Able To Respond Faster and Stronger to Economic Crises
By reforming Temporary Assistance for Needy Families as a strong automatic stabilizer, policymakers can keep millions of Americans out of poverty and counteract recessionary pressures.
The ARP Grew the Economy, Reduced Poverty, and Eased Financial Hardship for Millions
Data show that in just one year, the 2021 American Rescue Plan eased hardship for millions of Americans and demonstrated the need for further federal investment to build a long-term, equitable economy that works for all.
