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Table of Contents Introduction: The Future of the Social Safety Net Triumph and TribulationHenry Aaron When Public Opinions CollideAndrew Levison Social Insurance: The Real CrisisRobert Kuttner Thoughts on a Center-Left Entitlements StrategyWilliam Galston Fiscal Policy, the Long-Term Budget, and InequalityDean Baker “Entitlements” Are Just […]

The CBO released a report today about the effects of a minimum wage increase on employment and family income. In the report, they analyzed a $9.00 minimum wage proposal and a $10.10 minimum wage proposal. read more

Economy & Opportunity Since the days of Diner’s Club, credit cards have evolved to become a key element of American household finances. When emergency strikes we may not have cash in hand, but with access to credit cards a broken arm, a busted furnace, or a last-minute plane ticket doesn’t have to leave our families […]

The right-wing’s basic move is to pretend that the economic institutions they prefer just exist ex nihilo. From that pretension, they then remark that they are merely against government involvement in the economy. Because they pack into the phrase “the economy” all of their preferred government-constructed economic institutions (property, contract, corporations, and so on), this […]

This is a good question, and one that gets asked less than you might think. It being President’s Day, let’s go through the list since 1945 and see who comes out looking best. My report card may surprise you. Harry Truman I’m not a big fan. Truman allowed hawks in his administration, led by Dean […]