Rewriting the Rules of the American Economy

By Joseph Stiglitz, Nell Abernathy, Adam Hersh, Mike Konczal

The Roosevelt Institute, 5/12/15

INEQUALITY IS A CHOICE

Since the 1980s, trickle-down economics has shrunk the middle class and increased the concentration of wealth at the top. But it doesn’t have to be this way: We can rewrite the rules that structure our economy and society to promote both stronger growth and shared prosperity.

More and more Americans are stuck in low-paying jobs and burdened by heavy debt loads. Corporations and financial firms rig the system in their favor and chase short-term profits instead of long-term growth. Vulnerable groups including women and people of color face continued structural discrimination.

A piecemeal response will not suffice for problems at this scale. Led by Roosevelt Institute Chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz, Rewrite the Rules sets out a bold and comprehensive policy agenda to level the playing field for working Americans and small businesses in ways that would generate greater economic growth and rising incomes.

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