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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.
The decline of unions over the past 30 years has contributed to the falling share of middle-class workers.
Wisconsin’s middle class is falling behind. Unions can help by raising wages and reducing the pay gap.
Different data sources concur that middle-class market incomes have grown slowly, if at all, despite significant growth in the economy at large.
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.
Updated data from University of California, Berkeley, economist Emmanuel Saez illustrate how middle-class income growth is essential to promote healthy economic growth.
It’s time for the retail industry to support a policy agenda that helps its most important customers—the middle class.
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.
Forward-thinking employers across the country are demonstrating that apprenticeships can be used to build talent in growing, high-demand occupations.
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.
Employer-written national guideline standards can strengthen America’s apprenticeship system.