Fiscal Health
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.

Money in Politics
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.

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.

Early Learning
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 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 works to advance early education throughout the country. CED collaborates with local business leaders, policymakers, and like-minded organizations to increase the quality of, and access to, early education through public and private initiatives.

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 19 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.

Postsecondary Education
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.

College- and Career-Ready
CED is supporting the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) to ensure that our nation’s students are successfully developing the knowledge and skills to be college and career ready in the 21st century. The CCSS are standards in English language arts and mathematics which are voluntarily adopted by states, and provide a clear, consistent framework for what students should know and be able to perform at each grade level throughout their K-12 education.

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

Health Care Reform
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.