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This page has been archived.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.

Latest

Compact View

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

National Standards for Strong Apprenticeships Report
Construction workers prep wire for installing in Denver, Colorado. In April, the Associated General Contractors of America announced a plan to deal with the shortage of construction workers, which includes establishing apprenticeship programs. (AP/Brennan Linsley)

National Standards for Strong Apprenticeships

Employer-written national guideline standards can strengthen America’s apprenticeship system.

Sarah Ayres Steinberg

The Underuse of Apprenticeships in America Article
Apprentices with Ocean Spray Cranberries attend a ceremony at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Flickr/Gateway Technical College)

The Underuse of Apprenticeships in America

The United States lags behind its European counterparts in the use of apprenticeships, a proven workforce training tool that would help American businesses, workers, and the U.S. economy as a whole.

Sarah Ayres Steinberg, Ethan Gurwitz

Policies States Can Enact to Promote Apprenticeship Article
President Barack Obama speaks about job training at General Electric's Waukesha, Wisconsin, gas engine plant. (AP/Jeffrey Phelps)

Policies States Can Enact to Promote Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is a time-tested worker-training model that is gaining traction as a possible solution to America’s workforce challenges. Here are some steps that states can take to expand apprenticeships.

Sarah Ayres Steinberg, Ethan Gurwitz, Ben Schwartz

Apprenticeship Expansion in England Report
Marketing materials for Britain's

Apprenticeship Expansion in England

England demonstrates that there are policies lawmakers can enact to dramatically expand apprenticeships, win industry support, and improve outcomes for workers and businesses.

Sarah Ayres Steinberg, Ethan Gurwitz

Progressive Pro-Growth Principles for Trade and Competitiveness Report
 (United Auto Workers members hold a prayer vigil at the General Motors plant in Warren, Michigan, where almost 300 workers will be laid off, February 2019.)

Progressive Pro-Growth Principles for Trade and Competitiveness

The United States must develop the international relations and domestic foundations to make trade work for the United States and global middle classes.

Adam Hersh, Jennifer Erickson

5 Reasons Expanding Apprenticeships Will Benefit Millennials Article
An apprentice works at a British Rolls-Royce plant. Apprenticeships can create promising new pathways for young workers to well-paying, middle-class jobs. (Flickr/Apprenticeships)

5 Reasons Expanding Apprenticeships Will Benefit Millennials

Lawmakers should expand apprenticeship opportunities to give young Americans access to well-paying, middle-class jobs that do not require a four-year degree.

Sarah Ayres Steinberg

Promoting Good Jobs for Millennials Report
Demonstrators outside a McDonald's in New York City's Union Square show their support for hundreds of striking fast-food workers across the county in July. The workers were demanding higher wages, better benefits, and the right to form a union without retaliation. (AP/John Minchillo)

Promoting Good Jobs for Millennials

Young Americans have the most to gain from raising the minimum wage and enhancing worker protections.

Sarah Ayres Steinberg

Load More

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Default Opt Ins

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

Variable Opt Ins

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.