Rebalancing the Economy Toward the Working Class

I’m pleased to share my latest TIME op-ed and television appearance on Fox Business advocating for pro-worker, pro-growth policies benefiting the working class, as well as the Harvard Business Review piece I wrote a few months ago.  Of course, these reflect my personal views, but I thought they might be of interest to you as we navigate the work of the Council in the coming years.

Since founding the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, our mission has remained steadfast: to harness the power of markets and business leadership to create an economic system that truly works for everyone.  My latest op-ed, which I also discussed in an appearance on Fox Business, speaks directly to that mission at a pivotal moment in America’s economic journey – which, in many ways, also reflects the experiences of workers and communities across the globe.

The 2024 U.S. election revealed a striking reality: 56% of working-class voters – over 50 million Americans – supported President Trump, an increase from around 50% in 2020. While many debate President Trump’s tariff policies, I believe we must look beyond this single tool to address the deeper economic challenges facing America’s working class.

In my TIME piece, I outline four concrete steps the administration – whose stated goal is to put Main Street before Wall Street – can take to provide greater support to working Americans:

• Stop taxing those who earn below the federal poverty level
• Provide workers the skills they need with innovative workforce development
• Expand employee ownership opportunities
• Develop a worker-centric AI strategy

These steps build on the ideas I explored earlier this year in the Harvard Business Review.  Now, I believe there is a great opportunity for private sector leaders across sectors to join the U.S. administration in expanding opportunity and delivering an economy that rewards work, strengthens communities and creates long-term value. Many of you are already advancing similar ideas within your own organizations, and I hope this piece resonates with and supports that work.

I invite you to read, watch and share with your networks. I hope these spark meaningful conversations about how we, as business leaders, policymakers and concerned citizens, can take concrete action to rebalance the economy for working families – and demonstrate that America can serve as a model of opportunity and fairness for the world.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback.

Lynn Forester de Rothschild