Issues
About
Recent and ongoing work includes:
- Examining vulnerabilities and strengths of the existing middle class and publishing a biennial index to monitor its stability, starting with the first report, By a Thread: The New Experience of America's Middle Class. Future research will examine the race, age and income demographics of today's middle class.
- Conducting comprehensive research on the growth of credit card debt and its effect on families' ability to save and build assets, and working to put the issue front-and-center in the public debate and on the national legislative agenda.
- Identifying the economic challenges facing young adults and creating a broad policy agenda to reform student financial aid, develop career ladder and employment opportunities, promote asset-building, and address other related issues.
- Working with federal and state policy makers and advocates to advance a legislative strategy that will strengthen and grow today's middle class and make it accessible, stable and diverse in the future.
Staff
- Lucy Mayo - Interim Director of the Economic Opportunity Program
- Jose Garcia - Associate Director for Research and Policy
- Robert Hiltonsmith - Policy Analyst
- Viany Orozco - Policy Analyst
- Jennifer Wheary - Senior Fellow
Economic Opportunity Program
Demos Supports Elizabeth Warren to Head New Consumer Protection Bureau "The appointment of, and a vote for, Elizabeth Warren," says Demos President Miles Rapoport, "...will be a vote for America's Middle Class. Read More | Jul 20, 2010 |
Congressional Committee Promises to Overhaul Credit Ratings Agencies A House-Senate conference committee agreed yesterday to eventually provide an answer to the basic problem of the credit-rating agencies--their built-in conflict of interest.
Read More | Jun 16, 2010 | Related Resources The Rating Agencies and the Franken Amendment: Questions & Answers Learn More about Financial Reform |
Senate Turns the Page on Three Decades of Misguided Deregulation The Senate's passage of comprehensive financial reform establishes new rules for Wall Street and safeguards for consumers that are critical to rebuilding America's Middle Class. Read More | May 21, 2010 |
Senate Votes to Clean Up Credit Ratings Market By a bipartisan vote of 64 to 35, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) to the financial reform bill to establish a self-regulatory body that will administer the assignment of credit ratings to the private credit rating agencies. Read More | May 14, 2010 | Related Resources READ: Reforming the Rating Agencies Watching the Watchers Don't Nibble Around the Edges of Financial Reform |
Students and Young Adults Hit Hard by Financial Crisis Young Americans face "lasting damage" from the dual crises in the financial sector and in personal finance, according to a new brief, making it urgent that Congress pass strong financial reform legislation. Read More | May 13, 2010 | Related Resources Risking Our Future Middle Class Learn More about the Economic Challenges of Young People |
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