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This page has been archived.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

Ties that Bind Article

Ties that Bind

David Madland and Nick Bunker explain why rebuilding the American middle class is an important step toward rebuilding America’s infrastructure.

David Madland, Nick Bunker

Rebuilding Our Middle Class Article
President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, January 24, 2012. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rebuilding Our Middle Class

Gadi Dechter and Michael Ettlinger analyze the president’s forceful defense of the middle class as our economy’s engine of economic growth and prosperity.

Gadi Dechter, Michael Ettlinger

The Top 10 Middle-Class Acts of Congress Article
El presidente Lyndon Johnson firma el Acta de Derechos Civiles (CRA por sus siglas en ingles) en el Salón Este de la Casa Blanca en Washington, el 2 de julio, 1964. El CRA, junto con la Ley de Seguro Social y la Ley de Educación Superior, fueron leyes claves para la clase media. (AP)

The Top 10 Middle-Class Acts of Congress

Congress would do well to reflect on passage of key middle-class legislation as it considers how to strengthen our economy, writes Nick Bunker.

Nick Bunker

President Obama’s Bridge to a Better Economy Article
President Barack Obama speaks about the economy, Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at Osawatomie High School in Osawatomie, Kansas. (AP/Carolyn Kaster)

President Obama’s Bridge to a Better Economy

Michael Ettlinger details the two policy threads that define the president’s approach toward immediate but also sustainable economic recovery in 2012.

Michael Ettlinger

Economic Inequality Is Not Sustainable Article

Economic Inequality Is Not Sustainable

Heather Boushey examines why growing income inequality helped boost the wealth of the few and how reversing course is imperative to our nation’s economic well-being.

Heather Boushey

A Strong Middle Class Is Key to Getting Our Economy Moving Article
President Barack Obama speaks about the economy, Tuesday, December 6, 2011, at Osawatomie High School in Osawatomie, Kansas. (AP/Carolyn Kaster)

A Strong Middle Class Is Key to Getting Our Economy Moving

Michael Ettlinger explains why a growing and prosperous middle class was and is the prerequisite to strong and sustainable economic growth.

Michael Ettlinger

The Middle Class Is Key to a Better-Educated Nation Article

The Middle Class Is Key to a Better-Educated Nation

Examining test scores in all 50 states, David Madland and Nick Bunker find that a stronger American middle class is associated with higher levels of academic achievement.

David Madland, Nick Bunker

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