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From cutting-edge policy research to illuminating analysis, we bring a racial equity lens to the most pressing issues facing our country. For our latest blog posts and media updates, visit our Media page.

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The Human Cost of Houseplants cover image

The Human Cost of Houseplants: Labor Conditions of Florida’s Plant Nursery Workers

This report exposes the hidden labor crisis behind America's booming houseplant industry and makes the case for a worker-driven accountability model that has already delivered real improvements for workers in other industries.

Research
Demos
WeCount!
Partners for Dignity and Rights
Woman voting at voting booth

The Costs of Implementing Documentary Proof of Citizenship Bills

As states across the country consider Documentary Proof of Citizenship (DPOC) requirements in the wake of the federal SAVE Act’s reintroduction, one fundamental issue has gone largely overlooked: What do these laws actually cost states?

Research
Lata Nott
Victoria Hammitt
Neda Khoshkhoo
Nick Harper
Joshua Harmon
Lucas Della Ventura
Demos
The Campaign Legal Center
State Voices
Woman voting

Language Access & State Voting Rights Acts

Effective language access is essential for ensuring that every voter can fully participate in our democracy. Our new case study examines how the Connecticut Voting Rights Act (CTVRA) has become a model for expanding language access beyond what federal law requires.

Research
Angelo Ancheta

New Mexico's Rising Economic Risks From Climate Change

New Mexico’s current political leadership is undoing state and regional policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even as the risks posed by global warming to the state’s economy and population become more evident.[1] Experts foresee even more difficult problems in the future unless steps are
Research

Economic Recovery and Social Investment: A Strategy to Create Good Jobs in the Service Sector

Today’s prolonged economic slump is fundamentally different from an ordinary recession. In the aftermath of a severe financial collapse, an economy is at risk of succumbing to a prolonged deflationary undertow. With asset prices reduced, the financial system damaged, unemployment high, consumer
Policy Briefs

Retail's Hidden Potential

How Raising Wages Would Benefit Workers, the Industry and the Overall Economy

Research
Catherine Ruetschlin

Democracy at Stake: Political Equality in the Super PAC Era

The extent of the money in politics problem, how we got here (from a legal perspective), and what we can do to create a democracy in which the strength of a citizen’s voice does not depend on the size of her wallet. 

Research
Adam Lioz
Liz Kennedy

2012 Election Lessons Learned

How Voters Stood Up Against  Suppression, ID, and Intimidation

Policy Briefs
Tova Wang

Election Spending 2012: Post-Election Analysis of Federal Election Commission Data

In 2012, just 61 large donors to Super PACs giving an average of $4.7 million each matched the $285.2 million in grassroots contributions from more than 1,425,500 small donors to the major party presidential candidates.

Policy Briefs
Adam Lioz
Blair Bowie

Employment Credit Checks: The Case for Requiring Employers to Use More Accurate and Fair Assessments

A core value of American society is the opportunity to work hard and get ahead. Yet today in the United States, willing job-seekers are facing a new barrier to employment—credit checks. Despite the lack of evidence connecting people’s credit histories to their on-the-job performance, a 2010 survey
Policy Briefs
Ben Peck

Election Spending 2012: A Pre-Election Analysis of Federal Election Commission Data

Outside spending organizations reported $1.11 billion in spending to the FEC through the final reporting deadline in the 2012 cycle. That’s already a 200% increase over total 2008 outside spending.

Policy Briefs
Adam Lioz
Blair Bowie

Why Are 51 Million Eligible Americans Not Registered to Vote?

An overview of the bureaucratic barriers to becoming—and remaining—registered to vote.

Policy Briefs
Brenda Wright

The Census Count and Prisoners: The Problem, The Solutions and What the Census Can Do

Demos is a national, non-profit, non-partisan public policy, research and advocacy organization committed to building an America where democracy is robust and inclusive, with high levels of electoral participation and civic engagement.  To that end, the Demos works to reduce barriers to voter
Testimony and Public Comment
Ben Peck