First brief analyzes the decline in middle-class security
Read the Issue Brief
American Compass today launched āIssues 2024,ā a new series of policy briefs aimed at shaping the debate around major issues in the 2024 election. The first brief in the series spotlights the declining economic security of the American middle class over recent decades. It explains how stagnating wages have made making ends meet more difficult for families, how politicians should talk about the issue, and what solutions to consider.
Key facts include:
- In 1985, the typical male worker could provide a family of four with healthcare, housing, transportation, food, and college savings on just 40 weeks of income. Today it requires 62 weeks.
- 90% of Republican voters say middle-class life has gotten more expensive while wages lag behind. Just 10% say itās easier than ever to attain security.
- 59% of parents believe relying on two incomes to make ends meet is a big problem, wishing they had the option of a middle-class life on one income as in decades past.
The Issues 2024 series will release regular policy briefs highlighting major topics in the national debate and provide ideas for policymakers to explore and the media to cover.
Click here to read the Issues 2024 brief on Middle-Class Security.
Read the Issue Brief
Issues 2024: Middle-Class Security
Stagnating wages have prevented workers from keeping up with the costs of attaining middle-class security in America.
