Middle-Out Economics

This page has been archived. For CAP's most recent work in this area, please see the economy issue page.

The Middle-Out Economics project is an initiative of the Economic Policy team at the Center for American Progress that combines original analysis, public policy proposals, live events, and multimedia presentations to demonstrate that a strong and stable middle class is the key driver of American economic growth.

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Wisconsin, Unions, and the Middle Class Fact Sheet
In this November 16, 2012 photo, Suzie Warner works on an assembly line at Generac Power Systems, Inc. in Whitewater, Wisconsin. (AP/Nam Y. Huh)

Wisconsin, Unions, and the Middle Class

Wisconsin’s middle class is falling behind. Unions can help by raising wages and reducing the pay gap.

Brendan Duke, Alex Rowell

Bargaining for the American Dream Report
Duke Scoppa marches up Fifth Ave with his son during the Labor Parade, September 10, 2011, in New York. (AP/Mary Altaffer)

Bargaining for the American Dream

New analysis shows that children whose parents belonged to a union—as well as children who grew up in areas with high union membership—earn more money as adults.

Richard Freeman, Eunice Han, David Madland, 1 More Brendan Duke

New Data Illustrate the Failure of the Trickle-Down Experiment Article
Frazzia Preston reads paperwork while waiting for her case to be heard to avoid foreclosure from tax debts in Detroit on January 29, 2015. (AP/Paul Sancya)

New Data Illustrate the Failure of the Trickle-Down Experiment

Updated data from University of California, Berkeley, economist Emmanuel Saez illustrate how middle-class income growth is essential to promote healthy economic growth.

Brendan Duke

The Rich Can’t Save Retail Report
Customers shop at Nordstrom Rack in Schaumburg, Illinios, January 2015. (AP/Nam Y. Huh)

The Rich Can’t Save Retail

It’s time for the retail industry to support a policy agenda that helps its most important customers—the middle class.

Brendan Duke

Retailer Revelations Report
Back-to-school fashions are displayed at J.C. Penney's in New York's Times Square. (AP/Mark Lennihan)

Retailer Revelations

America’s retailers need a strong and expanding middle class. That’s why it’s time for retailers to back a policy agenda that addresses middle-class weakness and stagnant wages, which will boost the economy and grow corporate bottom lines.

Brendan Duke, Ike Lee

Innovations in Apprenticeship Report
Hanh Nguyen, an intern with the Immunogen Design Group, works at the AIDS Vaccine Design and Development Laboratory in New York City. (Chris Hondros)

Innovations in Apprenticeship

Forward-thinking employers across the country are demonstrating that apprenticeships can be used to build talent in growing, high-demand occupations.

Sarah Ayres Steinberg, Ethan Gurwitz

The Middle-Class Squeeze Report

The Middle-Class Squeeze

America's middle class is being squeezed by stagnant—and in many cases declining—incomes and rising costs. To address the middle-class squeeze, we need to enact policies that will both increase incomes and also address rising child care, higher education, health care, housing, and retirement costs.

Jennifer Erickson

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