The prosperity of the U.S. economy is inescapably linked to the opportunities available to entrepreneurs and small businesses all around the country. Pervasive racial gaps in business ownership, opportunity and wealth restrain the potential of the U.S. economy. To bridge these gaps, it is important to understand the vital role that Black entrepreneurs play in the aggregate economy, the challenges they face and what public policy can do to build a fairer climate that enables Black entrepreneurs to thrive.
Feb 18 2022
Economic Update - February 18, 2022
Feb 17 2022
The Economic Status of Black Americans
Despite significant improvements over the past few decades, Black Americans experience far worse economic conditions than white Americans and the population as a whole. Black workers and families lag behind other racial and ethnic groups in wealth, face ongoing disparities in income (across levels of educational attainment) and struggle to save for retirement and child care. At the same time, there have been marked progress in other measures like college and high school completion and rates of union participation. Recognizing both the progress that has been made over the last decades, as well as the challenges that remain, is essential to ensuring that every American has a positive opportunity to build and fully participate in an economy that is more inclusive and fair.
Feb 11 2022
Economic Update - February 11, 2022
Feb 04 2022
Economic Update - February 4, 2022
Feb 01 2022
Decades of Manufacturing Decline and Outsourcing Left U.S. Supply Chains Vulnerable to Disruption
The coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic crisis have highlighted how reliant the U.S. economy is on the web of global supply chains for manufactured goods. The decades-long decline of U.S. manufacturing meant that disruptions to the global market for semiconductors and other critical industrial goods led to acute shortages and higher prices for American families. Countering these damaging trends will require historic investments in American manufacturing, infrastructure and innovation.
Jan 28 2022
Economic Update - January 28, 2022
Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases national and state-level data on U.S. employment, which provide useful information about the state of the labor market and progress toward building back better.
Jan 21 2022
Economic Update - January 21, 2022
Social mobility, or the ability for an individual or group to improve their standing in society, has been faltering for decades as a result of declining public investment and rising inequality. Policy areas that are crucial for encouraging upward social mobility include childhood education and wellbeing, affordable housing, education and workforce development. However, in recent decades economic policy has not invested in these items that help those at the bottom and has instead focused on tax cuts for those at the top. Investing in key areas will have long-term positive impacts on social mobility and continue the American tradition of creating a better life through hard work.
