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March 01, 2007
The Prescription for Prosperity Agenda
In America and in Pennsylvania, the rising tide of a strong economy once lifted most boats. Today, a strong economy lifts only a few boats. The broken link between a strong economy and the well-being of most of the population threatens core Pennsylvania values—the belief that hard work should pay enough to support a family; the American dream of upward mobility and the idea that Americans are not separated by class; the notion that all children should grow up in safe communities and receive a quality education; even democracy itself, which becomes less responsive to ordinary Pennsylvanians as gaps in economic and political resources grow.
Experience has taught many Pennsylvanians that the link between a strong economy and the well-being has been broken. They also understand why. The economic world has changed, most visibly due to globalization and the fall in manufacturing jobs. Many families have been the victims of these changes.
What is needed to cope with the growing problem of economic inequality and global economic change is a long-term economic plan.
On February 28, 2007, The Keystone Research Center, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, PennFuture, The Pennsylvania Council of Churches, The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, and about 20 other organizations together with a number of individuals released The Prescription for Prosperity, a policy agenda aimed fostering more broadly shared prosperity in Pennsylvania.
KRC has invited public comment on the agenda and supporting documents. You can find the agenda on KRC's Prescription for Prosperity web page. Video of the press conference is also available.
Posted by Publius at March 1, 2007 04:29 PM