News & Stories

Tune in now to KUOW 94.9 FM for a discussion on the cost of college, with: John Burbank, executive director of the Economic Opportunity Institute, Anthony P. Carnevale, director and research professor of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, and  Jill Wakefield, chancellor of Seattle Community Colleges. The Cost Of College: College students […]

Republican leaders like Speaker Boehner have suggested that increasing tax rates on the wealthiest one percent of Americans would be a mistake, alleging that the top one percent are the preeminent job creators and entrepreneurs in our economy. In fact, it turns out that the top one percent create only about one percent of businesses […]

Happy Birthday America! “[T]hese truths are self-evident…all men are created equal…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…among these…Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…Governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed…” That’s our democracy, challenging the English monarchy with a new concept of equality for all. We continue to live […]

The more education you have, the better your prospects in both recession and recovery – but Washington state is putting higher ed further out of reach While the Great Recession officially ended three years ago, millions of workers and their families nationwide are still struggling. Overall employment remains far below pre-recession levels, and the Congressional […]

Did you see this bit in The Onion? WASHINGTON – A team of leading archaeologists announced Monday they had uncovered the remains of an ancient job-creating race that, at the peak of its civilization, may have provided occupations for hundreds of thousands of humans in the American Northeast and Midwest. According to researchers, these long- […]

These two graphs go a long way toward explaining why the U.S. economy is still in the doldrums. 1) Wages, as a share of economic activity (GDP) have never been lower: 2) While corporate profits (as a share of GDP) have never been higher: High profits are sweet nectar, but when workers are paid too […]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szZsKdJYR-A] Even a superhero can’t change public policy alone. That’s why we need your help right now. Make any gift to EOI during our ReCapture the Flag campaign between now and July 31st, and it will be matched dollar-for-dollar – up to $10,000! Every contribution will help advance public policies that represent the best of […]

The head of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and an executive of big-box wholesaler Costco endorsed a minimum wage increase just last week. John Levesque, editor of Seattle Business magazine, wrote in favor of the idea earlier this year. And communities like San Francisco and Santa Fe have seen improvements in their business […]

Today’s Supreme Court ruling clears the way for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide a twin boost to local economies across Washington. When fully implemented in 2014, more than 800,000 uninsured residents will gain access to health coverage[i], and federal funding will create new jobs in the health care sector – the majority of […]

Congress is debating how to keep low interest rates for college loans available – but why are all those loans necessary in the first place? Not so long ago, higher education wasn’t just a way to train future scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders – it was a path to equal opportunity, something good for our economy […]

Prior to Mr. Penttila’s appointment to the post of Deputy Mayor, he served as Chief Engineer for the Ministry of Environment and Executive Director of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council. He is currently president of the Finnish Housing Reform Association and the European Metropolitan Transport Authorities. Hannu Penttila has presented twice in Seattle, once on […]

Washington’s broken tax system is taking a huge toll on our students and families – and endangering our democracy and economy to boot. It doesn’t have to be this way. Two members of the University of Washington Board of Regents are sounding the alarm bell: The cost of educating a student at the University of […]

As it has done at least once a decade for the past 40 years, the media seems intent on pitting women against each other in a “Having it All” debate about work inside and outside the home. Author and organizer Ellen Bravo explains why the discussion defies reality. When Anne Marie Slaughter wrote her article […]

Traditional summer jobs are losing luster as teens pursue better opportunities elsewhere. But will lobbyists use historic lows in teen employment to lead a new attack on Washington’s minimum wage? Fewer than three in 10 American teenagers are projected to hold jobs between June and August this year. A still-weak economy has something to do […]

Last weekend was the 40th anniversary of Title IX, an Education Amendment that prohibits sex discrimination in federally-funded education programs – including admissions, curriculum, athletics, and even faculty and staff. While this law protects both males and females, it is most widely recognized for its role in increasing athletic opportunities for girls and women. Since […]

Seattle is one step closer to becoming the first city in the nation to officially embrace the Caring Across Generations campaign. At a recent meeting of the City Council’s Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee, members voted unanimously in favor of Resolution 31388, which expresses the city’s support of the movement’s goal to transform […]

Washington has fallen behind other states in our commitment to funding our K-12 public education system. Data just released by the U.S. Census Bureau show Washington slipped to 46th place among the 50 states plus the District of Columbia in public school spending  in the 2009-10 school year, one spot lower than last year. When measured against total […]

To hear some pundits describe it, the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is important because of its implications for the presidential election this fall. But for many small business owners, it’s a matter of treating workers fairly and doing right by their community. Business owners from Florida to Illinois to […]

I was talking to a doctor the other day. Somehow we got onto the intake forms you fill out when you have an appointment. It includes questions about your health history, smoking and drinking — but also whether or not there are guns in your house. Why does the doctor care about guns and whether […]

Teddy Roosevelt knew our economy must create opportunity for all Americans, not just help a few at the expense of the many. Help put American values back at the heart of our economy by joining the campaign to ReCapture the Flag. Thanks to a generous donor, every gift EOI receives between now and July 31st […]

Mounting evidence indicates shady business practices are rife among big banks foreclosing on homeowners. But new evidence shows some foreclosures were not only improper or unnecessary – they may have been outright illegal. Last year, consumer attorneys accused five major banks of filing tens of thousands of wrongful foreclosures each year. State and federal prosecutors […]

Updated 10/26/2012 An editorial in my local paper is a good example of how we trivialize our public discussion of globalization and trade policy. The editorial follows this logic: Trade is good. All trade is good. More trade is better than less trade. Maximum possible trade! Anyone who disagrees is protectionist or resentful. I can […]

There’s nothing more enticing than a good meal, but a recent report released by the Food Chain Workers Alliance might make your next feast a little less appealing. The report, The Hands That Feed Us, is an unnerving account of this country’s food industry and the state of its workers – a place where just […]

From the Washington Post: If the Supreme Court overturns the health reform law’s individual mandate — a decision that could come as soon as Monday — it won’t be totally unknown territory. For Washington state, it would be quite familiar. In 1993, Washington also passed a law both guaranteeing all residents access to private health insurance, regardless […]

Every parent wants their child to get a strong start in life and learn to his/her full potential – which is why today’s moms and dads want more than a daytime babysitter. They want their child(ren) to develop critical social and personal skills – exactly what an experienced professional early childhood educator is trained to […]

The principle of liberty and justice for all is at the heart of the American Dream. But today, our nation’s promise is at risk. We’re losing the opportunity to make things better for ourselves and our children in a system rigged to favor the few at the expense of everyday people. It’s time we put American values back at […]

Standing inside a crater, it looks like mountains surround you. But if you climb out to get a better view, you can see it’s actually a huge hole in the ground. That’s pretty analogous to what the Wall Street implosion of 2007 did to the American middle class. According to a new Federal Reserve report, […]