The Economic Opportunity Index

How much opportunity do Americans have today compared to 25 years ago? How does opportunity compare across gender and racial groups? What will matter most in ensuring opportunity in America in the future?

POLICY PAPER: Restoring Principles to the Housing Market: Proposals for Sub-prime Mortgage Reform

The fallout from the sub-prime mortgage crisis has put the American Dream of homeownership in jeopardy for millions of families and impacted many responsible homeowners and investors as well.  Hope Street Group offers a comprehensive solution that addresses market failures, consumer protection, and retirement security.

American Dreamers: 'Since Sliced Bread' and the Opportunity Economy

Since Sliced Bread was an online contest sponsored by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that solicited ideas from ordinary Americans on how to strengthen the economy and improve the lives of working men and women and their families. This essay looks at a sampling of the over 22,000 ideas submitted to the contest through the lens of Opportunity Economics. Hope Street Group argues that the American Dream, while alive and well in the hopes and aspirations of many Americans, is in need of retooling for the 21st Century.

Casting (Sliced) Bread Upon the Waters: Since Sliced Bread and the Concerns of Ordinary Americans

Americans are increasingly worried that the American Dream is slipping out of their grasp, and have anxieties about providing a better future for themselves and their families. This report, published on the Since Sliced Bread website, finds that contest participants share many common concerns, and want solutions that will empower and engage individuals, families, and communities. They also want a government that is more innovative, productive, and responsive to the aspirations of ordinary people.

POLICY PAPER: The Debt Tax

The United States federal government paid $332.5 billion in interest last year on the national debt. This payment, equal to 11% of the total federal budget, does not build roads, nor does it provide education, subsidize housing, or create any other service. It merely services the $6.6 trillion (and growing) national debt. These interest costs are equivalent to a "Debt Tax" - a tax that drains income but does not produce any corresponding service benefit for today's taxpayers.

POLICY PAPER: Building a Nation of Homeowners

Owning a home is an integral part of the American Dream. More than three in four American families say that home ownership is a priority for them. This should come as no surprise, since home ownership brings such varied and far-reaching benefits. Escaping the cycle of paying rent without building equity helps families accumulate wealth and achieve economic security. In short, buying a home is the main ticket to the middle class for millions of families.