The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

We recognize that race, gender, and place intersect with and intensify the challenge of economic inequality and we address these dynamics by advancing an inclusive vision of economic justice. For over 25 years, EOP has focused on expanding individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, start businesses, and build economic stability that provides the freedom to pursue opportunity.

We collaborate with national and local leaders across the United States – nonprofit leaders, policymakers, labor leaders, business leaders, educators, academics, and more – and we actively seek input and ideas from individuals and communities affected by proposed approaches to address economic opportunity challenges. Through our leadership and fellowship programs; applied research and evaluation; data and analysis; and dialogue with diverse stakeholders, we work at both local and national levels to build understanding and galvanize action to address the challenge of economic opportunity in America.

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Fact Sheet on the Federal Minimum Wage
Publications

Fact Sheet on the Federal Minimum Wage

Learn more about the federal minimum wage with this fact sheet, produced in early 2013.

US Microenterprise Census Highlights, Fiscal Year 2011
Publications

US Microenterprise Census Highlights, Fiscal Year 2011

Released in 2013, the US Microenterprise Census Highlights of 2011 include data from 207 microenterprise organizations across the country.

Microenterprise Development as Job Creation
Publications

Microenterprise Development as Job Creation

Outcomes data demonstrate the power of very small businesses to produce jobs for their owners and others.

Income Patching among Microentrepreneurs
Publications

Income Patching among Microentrepreneurs

How are microentrepreneurs combining self- and wage employment in today’s economic context?

Asset Building through Credit Pilot
Publications

Asset Building through Credit Pilot

This paper presents the first set of findings from the Asset Building through Credit Pilot program, a demonstration that explored the use of secured credit card, teamed with credit coaching, as a tool to help entrepreneurs to build their credit.

Catching Fire: The University Microenterprise Movement in 2012
Publications

Catching Fire: The University Microenterprise Movement in 2012

Over the last few years, university student-powered microenterprise organizations have emerged offering direct services to low-income individuals and small businesses in their local communities.

Leading the Pack, On Par or Shaky?: Benchmarking Loan Program Performance
Publications

Leading the Pack, On Par or Shaky?: Benchmarking Loan Program Performance

One of the hallmarks of a high-performing organization is that its decision-making is informed by data.

Building Businesses by Building Credit
Publications

Building Businesses by Building Credit

With the continued challenge of poor credit quality stemming from the financial crisis, many organizations have looked to new approaches to serve clients who want to grow or start a business but are hampered by poor or nonexistent credit.

Workforce Development, Inc. (Southeastern Minnesota)
Publications

Workforce Development, Inc. (Southeastern Minnesota)

This document is a profile of a sector initiative and provides detailed description of the initiative that may include information about program design, funding, worker outcomes, partners and much more.

Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago – Health Care Sector Strategies (Northeast Economic Development Region of Illinois)
Publications

Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago – Health Care Sector Strategies (Northeast Economic Development Region of Illinois)

This document is a profile of a sector initiative and provides detailed description of the initiative that may include information about program design, funding, worker outcomes, partners and much more.

Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (Rio Grande Valley, Tex.)
Publications

Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (Rio Grande Valley, Tex.)

This document is a profile of a sector initiative and provides detailed description of the initiative that may include information about program design, funding, worker outcomes, partners and much more.

About the Economic Opportunities Program

The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy.

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More from the Economic Opportunities Program

Foundational Skills: National Survey Findings
Publications

Foundational Skills: National Survey Findings

This publication examines how fragmented skills, credentialing, and workforce data systems limit the potential of skills-based hiring and advancement, and outlines a shared vision for building the interoperable infrastructure needed to create a connected skills ecosystem that benefits workers, employers, educators, and governments.

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Podcasts Videos

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers

This conversation is part of our Opportunity in America series, where we take a look at the economy, what’s working, what’s broken, and really how we fix it to make sure that everyone can succeed in today’s economy.

Resource Roundup: Wages and Affordability
Blog Posts
Room for Growth: A Survey of Upskilling Approaches — 2026 Analysis
Publications

Room for Growth: A Survey of Upskilling Approaches — 2026 Analysis

This publication examines how fragmented skills, credentialing, and workforce data systems limit the potential of skills-based hiring and advancement, and outlines a shared vision for building the interoperable infrastructure needed to create a connected skills ecosystem that benefits workers, employers, educators, and governments.

Building Economic Security: A Book Talk with Arindrajit Dube and Carrie Joy Grimes
Podcasts Videos

Building Economic Security: A Book Talk with Arindrajit Dube and Carrie Joy Grimes

Economic security shouldn’t be a lottery. Yet for millions of working families, stagnant wages and precarious jobs collide with the daily grind of managing money on shaky ground — leaving stability feeling less like a plan and more like a gamble. Fixing that takes more than one lever. It takes structural reform and the tools people need to take control of their financial lives, working together.

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers
Publications

What Employee Ownership Means to Workers

Insights from Focus Groups with Employee Owners