The Economic Policy Institute

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a non-profit, non-partisan think tank, was created in 1986 to broaden discussions about economic policy to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers. EPI believes every working person deserves a good job with fair pay, affordable health care, and retirement security. To achieve this goal, EPI conducts research and analysis on the economic status of working America. EPI proposes policies that protect and improve the economic conditions of low- and middle-income workers and assesses policies with respect to how they affect those workers.

EPI was founded by economists who felt that the story of the economy is best told through the lens of working people and their families: if they are suffering, the economy is suffering, no matter how high the stock market soars. This is why the Institute has always focused attention on trends in living standards, including employment, income growth, work hours, wage and benefit trends. The emergence of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the realities of inequality this movement highlights, has put these issues—long the focus of EPI—smack in the middle of the national dialogue on the economy. EPI is working tireless through this site and related projects to keep these issues on the national agenda until they are truly addressed. Help us succeed by making a tax-deductible donation to EPI today.