Building an Economy for All

Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.

A child holds hands with her father and mother, January 12, 2020. (Getty/The Washington Post/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades)

What We're Doing

Investing in a stronger and more equitable economy

We must continue to invest in research, technology, and innovation in a manner that ensures participation and benefits communities that are too often left behind. Only through such an approach can the United States remain at the cutting edge in an increasingly competitive global market.

Strengthening worker power and economic mobility

We need to increase wages, reduce poverty among working families, increase worker power, and create pathways to economic mobility for all.

Raising the floor for basic living standards

Working toward a stronger and more equitable economy for everyone involves rebuilding, expanding, and strengthening America’s social safety net to make it more comprehensive in eligibility and services as well as more flexible in how it can be accessed and used.

Creating a new social compact with business

A new social compact with business includes a regulatory vision that better aligns investors, companies, and the public interest on critical matters such as climate, workers’ rights, and equality.

Center for American Progress Action

Securing a Better Future for Generations To Come

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By the numbers

134K

An estimated 134,000 families are pushed into poverty each year by child care expenses.

CAP, “Child Care Expenses Push an Estimated 134,000 Families Into Poverty Each Year” (2024).

$3.9K

A 20 percent across-the-board import tax combined with an additional 40 percent tax on Chinese goods would amount to about a $3,900 tax increase for a middle-income family.

CAP Action, “Former President Trump Proposes an Up to $3,900 Tax Increase for a Typical Family” (2024).

10%

An estimated 10 percent wage premium is experienced by union members compared with similar nonunion members.

CAP, “4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger” (2024).

54%

Permanently extending the Trump tax cuts would increase the fiscal gap by 54 percent.

CAP, “Permanently Extending the Trump Tax Cuts Would Increase Upward Pressure on the Debt Ratio by More Than 50 Percent” (2024).

Recent work

Featured Experts

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Compact View

Harris’ Plan To Raise the Minimum Wage and Eliminate Tax on Tips Would Benefit Service and Hospitality Workers Article
Photo shows Kamala Harris smiling and gesticulating as she speaks behind a podium with the Vice President of the United States seal

Harris’ Plan To Raise the Minimum Wage and Eliminate Tax on Tips Would Benefit Service and Hospitality Workers

Crucially, the vice president’s proposal would provide guardrails to keep the policy aimed at low-paid workers, in contrast to Trump’s plan, which would allow the wealthy to skirt taxes.

4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger Article

4 Ways Unions Make Our Economy and Democracy Stronger

Unions raise wages for workers, reduce inequality, increase voter turnout, and advance middle-class interests; policymakers should make strengthening unions a top priority.

the Center for American Progress

Sachin Shiva

Viewpoint: Lansing’s growth momentum spurred by federal, state investments Personal Story

Viewpoint: Lansing’s growth momentum spurred by federal, state investments

Mayor Andy Schor (D) of Lansing, Michigan, writes about how federal investments are positively affecting citizens in his community, from the creation of new union jobs to the expansion of infrastructure for clean energy and electric vehicles.

the Lansing State Journal

Andy Schor

Project 2025 Would Undo the NLRB’s Progress on Protecting Workers’ Right To Organize Article

Project 2025 Would Undo the NLRB’s Progress on Protecting Workers’ Right To Organize

Workers are winning a greater percentage of NLRB-overseen union elections than at any point in the past 15 years as Biden administration appointees help protect workers' right to organize—but a conservative policy plan offers a blueprint for eroding the NLRB's ability to protect organizing workers.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass

Investing in infrastructure helps everybody Personal Story

Investing in infrastructure helps everybody

Cristian Cespedes, a union member from Las Vegas, shares how federal infrastructure investments and regulations help create jobs and drive up wages for both union and nonunion workers alike.

The Las Vegas Sun News

Cristian Cespedes

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