Demos - Ideas & Action

June 22, 2010

Emission Reduction Incentives

A Proposal to Use Tariff Cuts to Assist Climate Change Mitigation by Developing Countries [Summary]

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Wealthy nations, led by the United States, should move to reduce or eliminate all tariffs on imports from developing countries as one way to help offset the extraordinary costs these countries face in confronting climate change. If U.S. tariff policy continues on the current trajectory, the U.S. is likely to collect about $90 billion in import duties on products from developing countries, excluding China, by 2020.1 The combined total collected by the European Union, Japan, and other wealthy countries may exceed that amount. These projected duties constitute a vast pool of funds that can and should be tapped to help mobilize a decisive global response to climate change.

June 22, 2010

Environmental country reports

A Proposal for U.S. Global Environmental Monitoring [Summary]

By David Callahan

& Chris DeVito

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May 18, 2010

Likely Impact of the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement on Workers

Guidance for how the U.S. should go forward to ensure that trade agreements with Colombia improves labor standards and worker rights.

By Lauren Damme

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As Congress considers the ratification of the U.S. - Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, Colombia's labor situation has become the central obstacle to its passage. While most analysts agree that the FTA is relatively unimportant to the U.S. and will have "minimal to no effect on output or employment," it could have strong effects on Colombian workers. The following brief provides guidance for how Congress and the Obama Administration should go forward to ensure that the trade agreement with Colombia improves labor standards and worker rights in Colombia.

May 13, 2010

Risking Our Future Middle Class

Young Americans Need Financial Reform

By Demos, U.S. PIRG, United States Student Association

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Young adults have an enormous stake in the financial regulatory reform debate. They have paid a high price for a banking crisis caused by lax regulation, and their economic futures will depend on rebuilding strong public structures for financial regulation going forward. This briefing paper addresses some of the key reforms and the impact of both the banking crisis and unregulated lending practices on young Americans' financial futures.

May 12, 2010

Reforming the Rating Agencies

A Solution that Fits the Problem

By James Lardner

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The major credit rating agencies, Moody's, Standard & Poors, and Fitch, bear a heavy burden of responsibility for the financial meltdown. It was their seal of approval that enabled Wall Street to develop a multi-trillion-dollar market for bonds resting on a foundation of tricky loans and bubbly housing prices. Institutional investors around the world were seduced into buying these high-risk securities by credit ratings that made them out to be as safe as the most conventional corporate and municipal bonds.

May 6, 2010

Talking about Government

Summary of Findings

By Patrick Bresette Marcia Kinsey

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Public Works began this far-reaching effort with groundbreaking analysis and thorough, multifaceted research that examined Americans' attitudes toward the public sector. This research, which was originally conducted in 2004–2005 by the FrameWorks Institute and re–tested in 2008–2009 by the Topos Partnership, was designed to uncover the dominant frames or stereotypes to which Americans default when they think about government and how those frames affect public choices. Ultimately, we wanted to know how to best reframe the concept of government in order to evoke a different way of thinking, one that advances collective understanding of – and support for – public sector solutions to society's challenges.

The research revealed both good news and significant challenges. Negative views of government are indeed dominant. While the roots of this cynicism run deep, the good news is that these views are not as entrenched as many believe. The public is open to–in fact hungry for–a more mission-driven, "common good" sense of the public sector and its role. The research reveals that focusing on enduring public values, talking about the systems and structures of government, and evoking “civic” thinking are productive and powerful ways to move Americans toward this more receptive and supportive view of government's role in society.

March 23, 2010

Paving the Way Through Paid Internships

A Proposal to Expand Educational and Economic Opportunities for Low-Income College Students

By Kathryn Anne Edwards, Alex Hertel-Fernandez (Preface by Nancy K. Cauthen)

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In an increasingly competitive labor market, internships provide important and often necessary credentials for prospective job applicants. In spite of their value, the opportunity to pursue an internship is often limited by a student's socioeconomic status. The vast majority of non-profit and governmental internships are unpaid. For a student of modest means, this price tag--having to meet living expenses without an income--is often too great, particularly since some of the most prestigious unpaid internships are located in expensive cities.

In this brief, the authors outline the limitations of the current college internship system and lay out a proposal (The Student Opportunity Program) that would enable low-income college students to pursue paid internships at either non-profit organizations or in government.

March 1, 2010

Why We Need An Independent Consumer Protection Agency

With financial regulatory reform pending, Congress has the opportunity to rebuild the structures that will prevent another crisis and ensure broad-based economic growth.

By Heather C. McGhee Tamara Draut

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The time has come for the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency. For thirty years, Washington has been captive to a governing philosophy that eschewed regulation in almost any form, arguing that the hand of government was best kept behind its back. But the era of deregulated finance has shown that without public structures to ensure accountability and fairness, the system can not sustain itself. The result of this failed experiment in deregulation has been a crisis costing Americans $11 trillion in family wealth, $14 trillion in taxpayer bailouts and over 8 million jobs.

Tags: Financial Reform | Wall Street

December 2, 2009

Subpriming Our Students

Why We Need a Strong Consumer Financial Protection Agency

By Demos and U.S. PIRG

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America's students are facing a serious threat from subprime private loans, and the situation could worsen unless Congress votes to close a potential loophole in the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), according to a new study published by Demos, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG), and the United States Students Association.

November 17, 2009

Environmental Standards and the GSP

A Policy Brief

By David Callahan Cristina Vasile

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The United States has long granted trade preferences to developing countries that meet various criteria. These criteria, which are stipulated by the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), have changed with time--reflecting U.S. economic and foreign policy priorities.

While the criteria include non-support for terrorism, enforcement of intellectual property rights, and respect for internationally recognized worker rights, the GSP does not include an environmental provision.

With the current U.S. GSP program set to expire at the end of December, the following brief lays out a proposal for the ratification and implementation of environmental standards into U.S. trade agreements.

November 10, 2009

A Brief History of the Glass-Steagall Act

A Background Paper

By James Lardner

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Ten years ago, a Republican-led Congress and a Democratic White House rolled out the red carpet for a new age of global, "full service," too-big-to-fail financial institutions. The move repealed the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, a set of reforms responsible for the longest crisis-free period in U.S. financial history.

As Washington debates the best way to prevent future crises, it is helpful to understand how public policy helped bring about the current one.

November 10, 2009

Six Principles for True Systemic Risk Reform

A Policy Brief

By Nomi Prins Heather C. McGhee

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Ten years after the capstone of financial industry deregulation--the Financial Modernization, or Gramm-Leach-Bliley, Act--the United States is facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The following policy brief outlines six key principles for comprehensive and meaningful systemic risk reform, which are neccessary to undo many of the ill-advised deregulatory measures of the past 20 years, including the four key changes wrought by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

Demos is working to restore common sense financial regulations that would have pre-vented the current crisis and will pave the way for a more prosperous and stable economy in the long-term.

October 21, 2009

Women Lead the Way Research Presentation Before the Families and Work Institute

Corporate Leadership Circle Web-Conference

By Linda Tarr-Whelan

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Tags: Women's Leadership Initiative

July 24, 2009

Democracy in a Mobile America

By Scott Novakowski

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High rates of geographic mobility in the United States, combined with requirements for reregistration that often accompany an address change, contribute significantly to America's low rates of voter registration and turnout.

As this briefing paper shows, people of color, low-income people and the young are more likely to move in America's already highly mobile society, and are among the least likely to be registered or to turnout to vote. Straightforward policies like automatic voter registration, voter registration at public agencies, and Same Day Registration can help ensure that the move to a new home, for a new job, or for schooling does not result in a lost opportunity to vote.

February 18, 2009

Living Longer on Less Brief

By Jennifer Wheary

& Thomas M. Shapiro, Tatjana Meschede

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Economic security for seniors was built on the three-legged stool of retirement (Social Security, pensions, and savings) at the core of the social contract that rewards a lifetime of productivity. Economic security of seniors, however, is being challenged by two simultaneously occurring trends: a weakening of the three legs of retirement security income and dramatically increasing expenses, such as for healthcare and housing.

October 24, 2008

Provisional Ballots

Where to Watch in 2008

By Scott Novakowski

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With predictions of record turnout, including millions of first-time voters, as this briefing paper shows, provisional ballots may play a significant role in the 2008 election describing some of the common problems experienced with provisional ballots, emerging issues, and states to watch in 2008.

Tags: Provisional Balloting

November 27, 2006

Young Adult Economic Series, Part 1

Higher and Higher Education

By EOP Staff

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In today's knowledge-based economy, a college degree is a necessary qualification for entry to the middle class. Over the last 30 years, as real wages for workers with only a high school diploma have fallen, the life outcomes for those with college degrees have diverged from those with only high school degrees. In 1977, for example, there was only a 6 percentage-point difference in home ownership rates between those with college educations and those without. Today, there is a 20 percentage-point difference.

November 27, 2006

Young Adult Economic Series, Part 2

Paycheck Paralysis

By EOP Staff

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Job security and stability were defining characteristics of the U.S. labor market from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. A large portion of the workforce was unionized, and workplace benefits such as health insurance and pensions were standard. Today, young workers can no longer expect to work at a company with the intention of staying until retirement. Union membership has dropped to just 8.6 percent of the private-sector workforce, and benefits are becoming increasingly rare. Job instability is the new reality.

November 27, 2006

Young Adult Economic Series, Part 3

Generation Debt

By EOP Staff

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Debt has become a generation-defining characteristic for today's young adults. The problem often begins with student loan debt, which today affects both community college and university students. In addition, today's young adults are relying more on credit to cover basic living expenses, particularly during those first few years in the workplace. As starting salaries have failed to keep pace with rising student loan bills, housing costs or health care costs, for many young adults the credit line becomes a lifeline.

November 27, 2006

Young Adult Economic Series, Part 5

And Baby Makes Broke

By EOP Staff

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Most parents with children under the age of 6 are in their late 20s or early 30s, making issues of family leave, child care, and work flexibility of core concern to young adults under the age of 34.

Young families across the income spectrum are financially and emotionally stressed by the demands of work and family, yet our nation has failed to address these issues in any systematic or holistic fashion.

November 27, 2006

Young Adult Economic Series, Part 4

The High Cost of Putting a Roof Over Your Head

By EOP Staff

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Over the past decade, rents and home prices in major cities across the country have escalated rapidly. As young adults transition from college into the workforce, already owing an average of $20,000 in student loan debt, securing affordable housing in the current market can pose an overwhelming challenge.

Because our nation's largest cities contain the best prospects for high-paying jobs and professional career paths, young professionals still migrate to major metropolitan areas like New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston. The high cost of rent, however, often leaves them trapped in a prolonged rental cycle, unable to save enough money for a down payment on a home, or prompts them to become financially overextended by taking on large, risky home mortgages.

March 1, 2006

Mission Possible

By Patrick Bresette Marcia Kinsey

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Public Briefing is an occasional white paper series by the Public Works program of Demos. These papers include summaries of research and reports as well as essays and articles related to the work of the program.

Survey results offer additional support for a new and positive conversation about government.

March 1, 2006

Public Structures

By Patrick Bresette Marcia Kinsey

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Public Briefing is an occasional white paper series by the Public Works program of Demos. These papers include summaries of research and reports as well as essays and articles related to the work of the program.

A constructive model for government.

November 10, 2005

Primroses and Politics

By Patrick Bresette Marcia Kinsey

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Public Briefing is an occasional white paper series by the Public Works program of Demos. These papers include summaries of research and reports as well as essays and articles related to the work of the program.

An essay on Colorado's Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR).

October 28, 2005

A Focus On Government

By Patrick Bresette Marcia Kinsey

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Public Briefing is an occasional white paper series by the Public Works program of Demos. These papers include summaries of research and reports as well as essays and articles related to the work of the program.

Key findings from focus groups.

October 17, 2005

Making It Real

By Patrick Bresette Marcia Kinsey

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Public Briefing is an occasional white paper series by the Public Works program of Demos. These papers include summaries of research and reports as well as essays and articles related to the work of the program.

Key findings from the second round of cognitive interviews about public perceptions of government.

October 6, 2005

A Window On Government

By Patrick Bresette Marcia Kinsey

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Public Briefing is an occasional white paper series by the Public Works program of Demos. These papers include summaries of research and reports as well as essays and articles related to the work of the program.

An analysis of the images of government in the public mind.

September 26, 2005

Thinking About Government

By Patrick Bresette Marcia Kinsey

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Public Briefing is an occasional white paper series by the Public Works program of Demos. These papers include summaries of research and reports as well as essays and articles related to the work of the program.

Key findings from the first round of cognitive interviews.