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Martin Carnoy | mcarnoy1@gmail.com
Michael Reich | michaelreich.prof@gmail.com

FOR RELEASE, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

MORE THAN 200 ECONOMISTS SIGN A SUPPORT LETTER FOR BIDEN-HARRIS

More than 200 economists have signed a letter of support for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Signers
include Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, Laura Tyson, William Spriggs, Claudia Goldin, Robert Reich,
Robert Gordon, Ebonya Washington, Jeff Sachs, and Emmanuel Saez. The letter contends that the U.S. is
facing a series of simultaneous major crises? health, economic, and political. ? and that only strong
national leadership from the Biden-Harris ticket supported by a grassroots democratic movement can
address these crises and create an economy that works for all Americans.
The letter states that the Coronavirus pandemic has exposed how unequal our society has become, that it
has exposed a frayed social safety net, the lack of workplace rights and protection for the lowest paid but
essential workers, an inadequate and unequal health system and the lack of supports for families and older
Americans, and the weakness of a go-it-alone approach in a world facing global challenges.
The letter was drafted and circulated by Professor Martin Carnoy of Stanford,
The Biden-Harris along with Professors Michael Reich of the University of California at Berkeley
program provides our and Derek Shearer of Occidental College. The letter was conceived and
best hope for signatures collected independently of the Biden-Harris Campaign.
promoting sustainable The highly diverse group of signers believe that a Biden presidency can and
economic security for will contain the Coronavirus, and therefore be able to implement the
all Americans. progressive economic policies in the Democratic Party. This platform will
revive the economy, reopen schools safely, establish greater equality, protect
the environment, stimulate American ingenuity and competitiveness, and build a more united and better
society.
The Biden-Harris program, they argue, provides our best hope for creating millions of sustainable new
21st century jobs, greatly expanding the middle class, and promoting sustainable economic security for all
Americans.
Beyond economic policy, the letter signers state:
?As economists, we understand the depth of the challenge that we face and recognize that all of us must
join Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in working for a better America. The perils of inaction are manifest. Too
much is at stake for our country and for the world to stand aside from this historical moment.?
 ECONOMISTS?LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS
This November?s election is the most consequential of the 21st century. The outcome will determine
America?s future as a democratic society.
America is in trouble. We are besieged by the Coronavirus, by unemployment and increasing inequality, by
ongoing racism, and attacks on democracy. We are faced with a health crisis, an economic crisis, and a
political crisis? all at the same time. Only strong national leadership supported by a grassroots democratic
movement can restore and reform the country.
The pandemic has exposed how unequal our society has become. It has exposed a frayed social safety net. It
has exposed the lack of workplace rights and protection for the lowest paid but essential workers. It has
exposed an inadequate and unequal health system and the lack of supports for families and older Americans.
It has exposed the weakness of a go-it-alone approach in a world facing global challenges.
A crisis is also a challenge. Strong leadership can contain the Coronavirus and can reopen the economy and
our schools safely. Progressive economic policies can revive the economy,
establish greater equality, protect the environment, stimulate American ingenuity The Biden-Harris
and competitiveness, and build a more united and better society. program will make
We believe that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will provide that leadership and that the economy work
like FDR, Jack Kennedy, and LBJ, Biden will rise to the moment. The Biden-Harris for all Americans
ticket is supported by a progressive Democratic Party economic platform that,
when implemented, will create millions of sustainable new 21st century jobs and
greatly expand the middle class. Biden and Harris deeply care about people and will fight for economic policies
that reduce inequality and discrimination, and promote sustainable economic security for all Americans.
The Biden-Harris Building Back Better program includes:
- Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and supporting worker rights
- Guaranteeing health care for every American by offering a public option and extending Medicare to
those 60 or over.
- Investing in roads, bridges, water systems, airports, and rail systems, creating tens of thousands of
well -paying jobs and assuring that federal procurement extends to minority owned businesses.
- Advancing racial equity as part of national economic recovery.
- Rolling back the Trump tax cut for big corporations, and making the wealthy pay their fair share of
taxes.
- Guaranteeing universal pre-school education and affordable quality day care, and supporting home care
for aging parents.
- Providing relief from student debt and expanding tuition-free public college for working and middle
class families.
- Increasing financing for black-owned small business and black home ownership.
- Establishing a green energy program that reduces carbon emissions, creates jobs, and makes the US a
global leader in renewable energy.
The Biden-Harris program is progressive and practical. It is good economics and good for the country.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris know how vital it is to build an economy that works for all Americans.
As economists, we understand the depth of the challenge that we face and recognize that all of us must join
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in working for a better America. The perils of inaction are manifest. Too much
is at stake for our country and for the world to stand aside from this historical moment.
 (SIGNED)

NAME AFFILIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY NAME AFFILIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY

Daron Acemoglu Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sarah Cohodes Teachers College Columbia University

Liaquat Ahamed Pulitzer Prize Author David Cooper Economic Policy Institute

Sylvia Allegretto University of California Berkeley Sean Patrick Corcoran Vanderbilt University

Treb Allen Dartmouth College Carlos Davidson San Francisco State University

Donna M. Anderson, University of Arizona Carmen Diana Deere University of Florida

Kathryn H. Anderson Vanderbilt University Brad DeLong University of California, Berkeley

Eileen Appelbaum Center for Economic and Policy Research William Dickens Northeastern University

Michael Ash University of Massachusetts at Amherst Rafael Dix Carneiro Duke University

Bevin Ashenmiller Occidental College Peter Doeringer Boston University

Ragui Assaad University of Minnesota Arindrajit Dube University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Lee Badgett Amherst, MA Kevin Duncan Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Ron Baiman Benedictine University Gary Dymski University of California, Riverside.

Dean Baker Center for Economic and Policy Research Alex Eble Teachers College Columbia University

Radhika Balakrishnan Rutgers University Richard Edwards University of Nebraska

Nina Banks Bucknell University Sebastian Edwards University of California at Los Angeles

William Barclay Chicago Political Economy Group Gerald Epstein University of Massachusetts Amherst

Peter Barnes Co-founder Credo Mobile Chris Erikson University of California at Los Angeles

Peter W. Belenky U.S. Department of Transportation (retired) Alexander J. Field Santa Clara University.

Lourdes Beneria Cornell University Sean Flaherty Franklin and Marshall College

Günseli Berik University of Utah Belton Fleisher Ohio State University

Alexandra Bernasek Colorado State University Maria S. Floro American University

Cihan Bilginsoy University of Utah Nancy Folbre University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Emily J.Blanchard Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth Richard Fowles University of Utah

Emily Celia Blank Howard University Richard G. Frank Harvard University

Robert A. Blecker American University Barbara M. Fraumeni University of Southern Maine

Nicholas A. Bloom Stanford University Gerald Friedman University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Barry Bluestone Northeastern University Kevin P. Gallagher Boston University

Samuel Bowles Santa Fe Institute Paul Gertler University of California at Berkeley

Ralph Bradburd Williams College Malcolm Getz Vanderbilt University

Elissa Braunstein Colorado State University Teresa Ghilarducci The New School

Clair Brown University of California, Berkeley Richard Gilbert University of California at Berkeley

Robert Buchele Smith College Herbert Gintis Santa Fe Institute

Jim Campen University of Massachusetts, Boston Laura Giuliano University of California Santa Cruz

Martin Carnoy Stanford University Paul Glewwe University of Minnesota

Christopher Carpenter Vanderbilt University Lonnie Golden Penn State University, Abington

Manuel Castells University of Southern California Claudia Goldin Harvard University

Howard Chernick City University of New York Robert J. Gordon Northwestern University

Menzie D. Chinn University of Wisconsin, Madison Laura Grant Claremont McKenna College

Kimberly Clausing Reed College Daphne Greenwood University of Colorado

Steve Cohn Knox College Deborah Ann Haas-Wilson Smith College

 (SIGNED)

NAME AFFILIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY NAME AFFILIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY

Eric Hake Catawba College Edward J. Lincoln New York University

Jessie Handbury University of Pennsylvania Susanna Loeb Brown University

Douglas Harris Tulane University George Loewenstein Carnegie Mellon University

Heidi Hartmann American University Nora Lustig Tulane University

Joni Hersch Vanderbilt University Arthur MacEwan University of Massachusetts, Boston

Bridget Hiedemann Seattle University Nicole Maestas Harvard University

Joan Hoffman John Jay College, City University of New York Ann Markusen University of Minnesota

Michelle Holder John Jay College, City University of New York Patrick L. Mason Florida State University

Barbara Hopkins Wright State University Gabriel Mathy American University

David Howell The New School Elaine McCrate University of Vermont

Candace Howes Connecticut College Susan McElroy University of Texas at Dallas

Hilary Hoynes University of California at Berkeley Patrick McEwan Wellesley College

Thomas L. Hungerford National Academy for Social Insurance Ted Miguel University of California at Berkeley

Jennifer Hunt Rutgers University John Miller Wheaton College

Doreen Isenberg University of Redlands Lawrence Mishel Economic Policy Institute

Sarah Jacobson Williams College Frank Mulvey Surface Transportation Board (retired); Iter Associates

Sanford Jacoby University of California at Los Angeles Richard J. Murnane Harvard University

Charles Jeszeck U.S. Government Accountability Office (retired) Ellen Mutari Stockton University

Elizabeth Jensen Hamilton College Samuel Myers, Jr. University of Minnesota

Derek C. Jones Hamilton College Julie A. Nelson University of Massachusetts Boston

Linda Kamas Santa Clara University Diana Ngo Occidental College

Lawrence Katz Harvard University Plamen Nikolov The State University of New York at Binghamton

Richard Kaufman Former Chief Economist, Joint Economic Comm. Laurie Nisonoff Hampshire College

Farida Khan University of Wisconsin, Parkside Seamus O?Cleireacain Columbia University

Mary C. King Portland State University Carol O?Cleireacain Columbia University

Steven Klees University of Maryland Jennifer Olmsted Drew University

David Kotz University of Massachusetts Amherst Martha Olney University of California at Berkeley

Haydar Kurban Howard University Paul Ong University of California at Los Angeles

Mordecai Kurz Stanford University Paul Osterman Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Harry Kypraios Rollins College Spencer Pack Connecticut College

Helen Ladd Duke University Richard Parker Harvard University

Thea Lee Economic Policy Institute Manuel Pastor University of Southern California

Ronald Lee University of California Karen Pfeifer Smith College

Stephan Lefebvre Bucknell University Peter Philips University of Utah

Henry M. Levin Teachers College Columbia University Anne M. Piehl Rutgers University

David I. Levine University of California Robert Pollin University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Mark Levinson Service Employees Union Cristian Pop-Eleches Columbia University

Deborah Levison University of Minnesota Elizabeth T. Powers University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Frank Levy Massachusetts Institute of Technology Anne Preston Haverford College

David Lewin University of California at Los Angeles Mark Price Pennsylvania State Education Association
 (SIGNED)

NAME AFFILIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY NAME AFFILIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY

Randall Reback Barnard College Jack Ventura Surface Transportation Board (retired)

James B. Rebitzer Boston University Eric Verhoogen Columbia University

Michael Reich University of California at Berkeley Tom Vogl University of California at San Diego

Robert Reich University of California at Berkeley Norman J. Waitzman University of Utah

Tom Riddell Smith College Neil Wallace Penn State University

Maya Rockeymoore Global Policy Solutions Ebonya Washington Yale University

Dani Rodrik Harvard University Thomas E. Weisskopf University of Michigan

Stephen Rose George Washington University John V. Wells U.S. Department of Transportation (retired).

Samuel Rosenberg Roosevelt University Glen Weyl Microsoft OCTOPEST; Harvard University

Stephen Ross University of Connecticut Charles K. Wilber University of Notre Dame

Jesse Rothstein University of California at Berkeley Barbara L. Wolfe University of Wisconsin at Madison

Scott Rozelle Stanford University Marty Wolfson University of Notre Dame

Christopher Ruhm University of Virginia Myrna Wooders Vanderbilt University

Jeffrey Sachs Columbia University Gavin Wright Stanford University

Emmanuel Saez University of California at Berkeley Brenda Wyss Wheaton College

Jean Shackelford Bucknell University Danny Yagan University of California at Berkeley

Nasrin Shahinpoor Hanover College David Zalewski Providence College

John Schmitt Economic Policy Institute Andrew Zimbalist Smith College

Markus Schneider University of Denver Gabriel Zucman University of California at Berkeley

Henning Schwardt University of Denver

Elliott Sclar Columbia University

Judith Scott-Clayton Columbia University

Stephanie Seguino University of Vermont

M. Najeeb Shafiq University of Pittsburgh

Derek Shearer Occidental College

Heidi Shierholz Economic Policy Institute

Timothy M. Smeeding University of Wisconsin at Madison

Todd Sorenson University of Nevada, Reno

William Spriggs Howard University

Stephen Stamos Bucknell University

David Stern University of California at Berkeley

Joseph Stiglitz Columbia University

Michael A. Stoll University of California at Los Angeles

Myra Strober Stanford University

Woody Studenmund Occidental College

Frank Thompson University of Michigan

Stephen Trejo University of Texas at Austin

Lesley J. Turner Vanderbilt University +++

Contact:
Laura Tyson University of California at Berkeley
Martin Carnoy | mcarnoy1@gmail.com
Yana van der Muelen Rutgers University Michael Reich | michaelreich.prof@gmail.com
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