Economic Policy
The Joint Center’s Economic Policy Program identifies challenges and opportunities for advancing the economic status of Black communities. See below for research, analysis, and activities related to economic policy.
The State of the Black Labor Market
The brief, The State of the Black Labor Market, analyzes U.S. labor market data for Black workers from January to August 2026. The first eight months of 2026 produced three…
Washington Informer Highlighted Joint Center Retirement Analysis
The Washington Informer highlighted the Joint Center’s policy brief “The Reality of Racial Economic Inequality for Black Retirees.” From the article: “The Reality of Racial Economic Inequality for Black Retirees(opens…
Inside Black Policy: Econ – August 2026
Opening a Retirement Account Is Not Enough to Close the Black Retirement Divide
Racial economic inequality follows Black Americans across the life course. In 2022, 22 percent of Black children lived in poverty, compared with 10 percent of white children. Among adults ages…
C-SPAN Published Joint Center Testimony at Senate Banking Committee Hearing
Joint Center Senior Researcher Cantrell Dumas provided remarks at the Senate Banking Committee hearing. He argued that these disparities in financing between Black- and white-owned firms show why capital markets…
POLITICO Highlighted Joint Center Appearance at Senate Banking Committee Hearing
Joint Center Senior Researcher Cantrell Dumas provided remarks at the Senate Banking Committee hearing. He argued that these disparities in financing between Black- and white-owned firms show why capital markets…
Joint Center Testifies During Congressional Hearing ‘To Examine Empowering Main Street By Unlocking Access To Capital’
Joint Center Senior Researcher Cantrell Dumas testified during a Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing titled “Hearings To Examine Empowering Main Street By Unlocking Access To Capital.” Other…
Inside Black Policy: Econ – July 2026
Op-Ed: The Head of Household Illusion: The Tax Break That Skips the Mothers It Was Built For
Beverly Moran, Professor Emerita of Law at Vanderbilt University and Dr. LaToya B. Parker, Senior Researcher for the Tax and Wealth Policy Program at the Joint Center, penned an opinion…
How OBBBA is Changing Higher Ed Access for Black Students
In July 2025, Congressional Republicans passed, and President Donald Trump signed, a partisan budget reconciliation package that will reshape the American economy and further erode the social safety net. These…