Stephen Rose
Research Professor
George Washington University Institute of Public Policy
Dr. Rose is a nationally-recognized labor economist who has been doing innovative research and writing about social class in America for the last 30 years. His Social Stratification in the United States was originally published in 1978 and the seventh edition is due out in February, 2015. His recent book, Rebound: Why America Will Emerge Stronger from the Financial Crisis, addresses the causes of the financial crisis and the evolving structure of the US economy over the last three decades. Rose has held senior positions at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Educational Testing Service, the US Department of Labor, Joint Economic Committee of Congress, the National Commission for Employment Policy, and the Washington State Senate. His commentaries have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and other print and broadcast media. He has a BA from Princeton University and an MA and Ph.D in economics from The City University of New York.
Recent Publications
Is it Still Worth Growing the Economic Pie?
It has become widely accepted in the last several years that there has been a massive increase in income inequality in America, said to be behind the rise of populism on both the right and the left. It’s a compelling narrative, but is it borne out by evidence or simply accepted as true because it is a constant refrain?
Sensational, But Wrong: How Piketty & Co. Overstate Inequality in America
No one has done more to shape the narrative about income inequality in America than economist Thomas Piketty. But he and his colleagues have been making questionable methodological choices that maximize the jarring effect of their findings.
A Response to the Critics
In this blog post, Stephen Rose addresses critics of his report "The False Claim That Inequality Rose During the Great Recession."
The False Claim That Inequality Rose During the Great Recession
Notwithstanding claims to the contrary, income inequality has fallen, not increased, since the Great Recession.
Measuring Inequality Trends During the Great Recession
The richest 1 percent actually saw their incomes decline during the Great Recession.
Was JFK Wrong? Does Rising Productivity No Longer Lead to Substantial Middle Class Income Gains?
Productivity growth is needed to ensure a robust economy that benefits the average American worker.
Economic Growth, Inequality and the Middle Class
Those who argue growth only benefits the rich are wrong.
Does Technology Make Most Workers Worse Off?
We certainly have problems—particularly high inequality, but technology is a good thing that enlarges the economic pie.
Does Productivity Growth Still Benefit Working Americans?
In the last few years many have argued that the middle class has not been receiving its fair share of productivity income growth. As a result, the focus of many, particularly those on the left, has shifted from promoting productivity growth to redistribution as a way to raise living standards for this group of Americans. A new ITIF paper examines carefully the trends over the last 25 years in income growth and finds that, contrary to the conventional explanation embraced by many on the left, the historical link between productivity growth and wage growth is not broken and it would be a grave mistake for our future if our nation gave up on growth and the policies that can spur it.
Recent Events and Presentations
Do the Benefits of Productivity Growth Only Go to the Rich?
Join us for the release of a report by labor economist Stephen Rose that uses new data to show the benefits of productivity growth for all Americans.
Does Productivity Growth Still Benefit American Workers?
See video, presentation slides, and other details from ITIF debate to mark the release of new ITIF report.
