Fiscal Health Project
CED advocates for bipartisan solutions to the nation's long-term debt crisis in forums and other events around the country and at key points in the political debates. CED's work on the budget and economic policy is tied to our central mission of improving sustained economic growth and development for all Americans. Learn more >>

Money In Politics Project
CED believes that the success of American business is dependent on fair and impartial courts and strong democratic institutions. CED has engaged in research and advocacy for campaign finance reform for more than 45 years. In 1968 CED’s report, Financing a Better Election System, stressed the need for greater transparency and increased voter participation. CED’s subsequent, nonpartisan reports and recommendations have maintained the call for transparency and disclosure in financing elections, maintaining fair and impartial courts, and increasing voter participation in elections. Learn more >>

Education
Our Members have long urged the nation to view education as an investment, producing numerous policy ideas to structure education as a vital process from early childhood, through K-12, and to postsecondary education and beyond., and encompasses all aspects of individual and workforce development. Learn more >>

Early Learning Project
A high-quality early education instills a strong foundation of cognitive and social skills in children, making them more likely to graduate high school, stay out of crime, attend college, and achieve high earnings. But far too many, particularly in underserved communities, remain without access to it, and thus run the risk of facing challenges now and down the road. Because of what’s at stake for both children and society at large, CED is working to advance early education throughout the country, with recent efforts targeted in the states of Georgia, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi. There, CED is collaborating with local business leaders, policymakers, and like-minded organizations to increase the quality of, and access to, early education through public and private initiatives. At the national level, CED and its Members routinely join coalitions in support of investments in early learning to promote its social and economic benefits. CED’s Early Learning project is made possible through a generous grant from the Alliance for Early Success. Learn more >>

Sustainable Capitalism Project
A program launched in coordination with CED’s upcoming 75th anniversary to renew a founding principle. Learn more >>

Health Care Reform Project
The newly reconvened Healthcare Reform Subcommittee is expanding upon past CED research to provide a deeper and more detailed vision of the feasibility of a health insurance system with market-based competition among private insurance plans. Learn more >>

Women’s Economic Contribution
Women make up half of the population and the majority of college graduates – a huge economic resource. Yet women occupy only 17 percent of Fortune 500 corporate board seats today, a percentage that has moved at a snail's pace in the last decade. This disparity is inconsistent with corporations’ desire to utilize all sources of expertise and insight for deliberations, as one means for a company to compete in the global marketplace. CED’s policy reports measure this disparity, and make recommendations for companies to harness women’s valuable economic contributions. CED’s subcommittee on Women’s Economic Contribution is led by Beth A. Brooke-Marciniak, Global Vice Chair of Regulatory and Public Policy at EY, and Debra Perry, Non-Executive Director at Korn Ferry. Learn more >>

Teacher Effectiveness Project
CED’s main program outcomes include: Examining and highlighting each community’s efforts to improve teacher quality. Focusing the attention of business, education, and labor stakeholders on the current teacher-effectiveness agenda, evidence-based reform projects, and the potential for system improvement. Building and strengthening partnerships with business and education, reaching out to include labor representation (where applicable), and linking these efforts to state-level policy reforms. Developing and supporting the implementation of policies and strategies for strengthening the teacher quality system. Learn more >>

Postsecondary Education Project
Postsecondary degree attainment has been a major factor in driving America's economic gains over the last 40 years. But after decades as the international leader, the United States is falling behind other nations in providing students with the higher education credentials that have value in the workplace. To help close this skills gap so the nation remains globally competitive, CED has embarked on an 18-month research project to survey employers and non-employers about the methods they are using – and also the challenges and impediments – to support the higher degree attainment and skills certification of employees. Focus groups and interviews are being held in the metropolitan areas of New York (New York City), Tennessee (Memphis), Florida (Miami), and Michigan (Detroit). A comprehensive report on the project’s findings will be published in winter 2015. CED’s Postsecondary Education project is made possible through a generous grant from the Lumina Foundation. Learn more >>