Inclusive Growth

Inclusive Economy

We are focused on building an inclusive economy by expanding worker power, investing in families, and advancing a social compact that encourages sustainable and equitable growth.

A subway train pulls into the Flushing Avenue station in Brooklyn.
A subway train pulls into the Flushing Avenue station in Brooklyn on February 2, 2019, in New York City. (Getty/Gary Hershorn)

What We're Doing

Investing in people

We seek to eliminate poverty and ensure every American, regardless of their ZIP code, can live a life of dignity by developing, protecting, and expanding vital economic security policies and safety net programs.

Achieving sustainable growth

We work to address structural issues in the economy by promoting bold public investments, progressive tax reforms that require the wealthy to pay their fair share, and sound fiscal policies to support broad-based economic growth.

Expanding worker power

We work to ensure executive actions and legislation, promote high-quality jobs, increase worker power, and raise standards for government contract workers. As part of this effort, we are pushing for a federal $15 minimum wage and strengthening workers’ voices in their workplace.

Championing a new social compact

We need a new social compact with business that reimagines their obligations to society on issues such as environmental and climate matters, economic opportunity for workers, paying their fair share in taxes, and racial equality in the pursuit of more sustainable, innovative growth.

Latest

Compact View

Working-Class Voters, the Economy, and the Democratic Party Past Event

Working-Class Voters, the Economy, and the Democratic Party

Please join the Center for American Progress Action Fund for an event featuring Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and an expert panel on how the economy and economic policy shape the preferences of working-class voters.

Online via Zoom

Industrial Policy Projects Boosted Harris and Hurt Trump in the 2024 Election, but Not by Much Report

Industrial Policy Projects Boosted Harris and Hurt Trump in the 2024 Election, but Not by Much

A county-by-county analysis finds that additional IIJA, CHIPS and Science Act, and IRA investments were associated with higher vote share for Kamala Harris compared with Joe Biden and a lower vote share in 2024 for Trump compared with 2020—but the differences are slight.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass, David Madland

7 Ways State Lawmakers Can Build Public Sector Union Power Report

7 Ways State Lawmakers Can Build Public Sector Union Power

State lawmakers can adopt new policies to empower workers across the public sector to come together in strong unions, negotiate for fair pay and working conditions, and train the next generation for public service.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass, Karla Walter

Donald Trump Cannot Deliver the Change U.S. Trade Policy Needs In the News

Donald Trump Cannot Deliver the Change U.S. Trade Policy Needs

In an op-ed published by The National Interest, Ryan Mulholland explains the need for thoughtful and knowledgeable leadership on trade issues—as opposed to that of the Trump administration.

The National Interest

Ryan Mulholland

Explaining Young Workers’ Support for Unions In the News

Explaining Young Workers’ Support for Unions

Young workers today feel like they're starting from behind. For them, unions may be the answer to getting ahead.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass

4 Lessons on Creating Good Manufacturing Jobs Through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Industrial Investments In the News

4 Lessons on Creating Good Manufacturing Jobs Through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Industrial Investments

The Biden-Harris administration's industrial investments from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act are creating U.S. manufacturing jobs and often result in high-quality union jobs, but policymakers can go further to uphold job quality on projects that receive federal investments.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass, Karla Walter

Don’t Be Fooled by Trump’s Rhetoric on Trade In the News

Don’t Be Fooled by Trump’s Rhetoric on Trade

In an op-ed published by Newsweek, Ryan Mulholland explains why President Donald Trump’s “tariff-and-tax-cut” approach to economic policy failed.

Newsweek

Ryan Mulholland

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.

Marc Jarsulic, Brendan Duke, Emily Gee, 1 More Kennedy Andara

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

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

Unions Give Workers a Voice Over How AI Affects Their Jobs Report

Unions Give Workers a Voice Over How AI Affects Their Jobs

Collective bargaining is a powerful tool workers can use to ensure artificial intelligence and algorithmic technology improve their jobs instead of make working conditions worse, and workers have won several recent contracts that give them power over how AI will affect their working lives.

the Center for American Progress

Aurelia Glass

8 Ways the Biden Administration Is Improving the Lives of Service Workers Article

8 Ways the Biden Administration Is Improving the Lives of Service Workers

The Biden administration is raising pay, building power, and improving living standards for service workers across the economy—including fast-food cooks, call center workers, teachers, home care workers, and federal employees.

the Center for American Progress

Karla Walter

It’s time for local policymakers to cement the Biden administration’s workforce gains In the News

It’s time for local policymakers to cement the Biden administration’s workforce gains

Karla Walter writes in Route Fifty about the need for policymakers to build on the Biden administration’s historic federal infrastructure investments, arguing that one of the best ways to cement these workforce gains is for local jurisdictions to strengthen their job quality standards.

Route Fifty

Karla Walter

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