The rising cost of living is currently the top economic concern for voters in America. And yet neither party has proposed a serious policy agenda for bringing it down. We aim to fix that. Price controls and demand subsidies are well-intentioned – but only make the problem worse.
We believe Democrats should turn their attention to “supply-side progressivism.” In our Democratic Cost of Living Agenda, we offer specific recommendations for federal, state, and local policymakers that will make a difference for Americans’ wallets. The policy recommendations detailed in our agenda provide a low-cost roadmap for Democrats to tackle the rising cost of living without driving further growth in the deficit or more inflation through additional federal spending. We focus on five main areas, outlining the cause of the problem and offering evidence-based recommendations in each.
Our Democratic Cost of Living Agenda is focused on policies that will increase the supply of goods and services that have risen most in cost, while removing roadblocks that have hindered cost-saving innovation.
With our agenda as a roadmap, Democratic policymakers can build a world where Americans of all social classes have affordable housing, where climate action, economic growth, and affordability all go together, where medical services do not financially annihilate sick people, and where every family that wants a child can afford to raise them.
Let’s make the American dream an affordable reality.