Boosting Wages for U.S. Workers in the New Economy

The U.S. labor market is shackled by decades of wage stagnation for the majority of workers, persistent wage disparities by race, ethnicity, and gender, and sluggish economic growth. These labor market ills particularly affect women and workers of color due to decades of gender inequality and structural racism erecting barriers to opportunities. There is increasing evidence that broad structural inequality leads to a misallocation of talent and the undervaluation of different types of work, which contributes to anemic economic growth and slower productivity gains.

Creating an economy that works for everyone and serves those who are historically marginalized requires addressing underlying economic structures that form the foundation for U.S. labor market policies. Equitable Growth’s new book, Boosting Wages for U.S. Workers in the New Economy—a joint effort with the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at the University of California, Berkeley—presents a series of essays from leading economic thinkers, who explore alternative policies for boosting wages and living standards, rooted in different structures that contribute to stagnant and unequal wages. These essays demonstrate that efforts to improve workers’ access to good jobs do not need to be limited to traditional labor policy. Policies relating to macroeconomics, to social services, and to market concentration also have direct relevance to wage levels and inequality, and can be useful tools for addressing them.

Boosting Wages

New Equitable Growth book presents broad structural changes to boost U.S. wages for more equitable and sustainable economic growth

Inequality & MobilityFamiliesLabor
Boosting Wages

Foreword: Boosting Wages for U.S. Workers in the New Economy

Inequality & MobilityFamiliesLabor
Boosting Wages

Broad structural change is needed to boost wages in a U.S. economy that is more equitable to produce strong, sustainable economic growth

LaborInequality & MobilityFamilies
Boosting Wages

Strategic enforcement and co-enforcement of U.S. labor standards are needed to protect workers through the coronavirus recession

Labor
TOPICS: 1
TOPICS: Minimum Wage
Boosting Wages

Transforming U.S. supply chains to create good jobs

Labor
Boosting Wages

Boosting wages when U.S. labor markets are not competitive

CompetitionLaborInequality & Mobility
Boosting Wages

Collective bargaining as a path to more equitable wage growth in the United States

LaborTax & Macroeconomics
Boosting Wages

U.S. labor markets require a new approach to higher education

Inequality & MobilityFamiliesLabor
Boosting Wages

Public investments in social insurance, education, and child care can overcome market failures to promote family and economic well-being

FamiliesLabor