I agree that the Abundance agenda is promising, but it is lacking in opening up pathways to success for the working class and poor youths. This is vital for widespread political support.
I think your list is a good start, but I think it is going to require much more.
I recently published a book on the topic that is quite a bit more radical than yours, including:
1) An Upward Bound to provide a clear pathway and financial incentives for poor youths to enter the working class
I don't think you'll find a better articulation of Abundant Worker Policy than what's been put forward by American Compass. I guess I'd want to know what EIG thinks they get wrong?
They advocate for wage subsidies. They advocate for reshoring. They advocate for immigration reform. For elimination of BA requirements; for labor organizing protections; for workforce training to renew the defense industrial base; for antitrust to reduce monopsony; for pell grants to non-college education.
Great piece, as always. I agree. I would only add that job opportunities go beyond the usual areas. What happens to the areas where folks are not interested or cannot move? Or is the abundance concept only for propserous places? See article below from Tim Bartik:
I agree that the Abundance agenda is promising, but it is lacking in opening up pathways to success for the working class and poor youths. This is vital for widespread political support.
I think your list is a good start, but I think it is going to require much more.
I recently published a book on the topic that is quite a bit more radical than yours, including:
1) An Upward Bound to provide a clear pathway and financial incentives for poor youths to enter the working class
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/the-case-for-upward-bound-accounts
2) A Working Family Tax credit to reward following that pathway.
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/the-case-for-a-working-family-tax
3) Phasing out very expensive social programs for the poor and near-poor that waste money and give the poor and near-poor very bad incentives.
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/we-should-phase-out-most-means-tested
I see all the above turbo-charging your proposed reforms.
I don't think you'll find a better articulation of Abundant Worker Policy than what's been put forward by American Compass. I guess I'd want to know what EIG thinks they get wrong?
They advocate for wage subsidies. They advocate for reshoring. They advocate for immigration reform. For elimination of BA requirements; for labor organizing protections; for workforce training to renew the defense industrial base; for antitrust to reduce monopsony; for pell grants to non-college education.
1. More STEM education starting early
2. Apprenticeships and skilled labor programs
3. More skilled immigration
Agree with licensing reform for sure! Universal recognition is a very promising reform that most states have adopted: https://edwardjtimmons.substack.com/p/universal-recognition-april-2025
"Think of the Economy!" (without thinking about any other consequences.)
Great piece, as always. I agree. I would only add that job opportunities go beyond the usual areas. What happens to the areas where folks are not interested or cannot move? Or is the abundance concept only for propserous places? See article below from Tim Bartik:
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-abundance-movement-needs-to-help-distressed-places-not-just-booming-ones/