Skip to main content

Big Questions

Theme 3 of 8

Economy & work

Sign in to track your progress

All themes →
Humanity's big questions (United States) Economy & work Wave 1 Browse all discussions
Save Discussion

Sign in to save & get updates.

Big questions for the US: The economy, taxes, and who gets ahead

Economy
United States
Started April 17, 2026

Minimum wage, student debt, the tax code, and whether the American Dream is accessible.

How to read these statements

Vote on your current views first. The references in this box are optional background — they are not a test, and we surface more perspectives and analysis after you participate (consensus map and journey recap).

References aim for institutional variety (for example official data, legislatures, international bodies, and independent research). Inclusion is not endorsement; external sites set their own editorial standards.

Your vote records what you think today — you are not expected to read the optional references below first. They explain how we frame statements. After you vote, use Consensus analysis (when it unlocks) and your journey recap for follow-up reading.

Structural questions on taxes, wages, unions, and trade.

Optional references: CBO · Bureau of Labor Statistics · Census Bureau — income & poverty · Federal Reserve — economic research

Economic Policy Institute Tax Policy Center ILO — US labour standards context World Bank — poverty & inequality data
Statement — of 7

Vote on the statement above: agree, disagree, or unsure
Consensus map. It unlocks after 5 votes in this theme (you’re at 0). The map is for this topic only — not a single left–right score across the whole journey.
Need to find a specific claim? Search all statements.
CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
The carried interest tax preference for private equity and hedge fund managers should be eliminated.
Vote options for this statement: agree, disagree, or unsure
💬 View Discussion
Be first to respond
Vote to see results
CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
A wealth tax on fortunes above $50 million would raise significant revenue without materially harming productive investment.
Vote options for this statement: agree, disagree, or unsure
💬 View Discussion
Be first to respond
Vote to see results
CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Right-to-work laws weaken collective bargaining and should be repealed at the federal level.
Vote options for this statement: agree, disagree, or unsure
💬 View Discussion
Be first to respond
Vote to see results
CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
US trade agreements must include binding, independently enforceable labour and environmental standards.
Vote options for this statement: agree, disagree, or unsure
💬 View Discussion
Be first to respond
Vote to see results
CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
The federal minimum wage should be raised to $15 an hour and automatically indexed to inflation thereafter.
Vote options for this statement: agree, disagree, or unsure
💬 View Discussion
Be first to respond
Vote to see results
CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
The United States needs a federal paid family and medical leave programme — it is the only OECD country without one.
Vote options for this statement: agree, disagree, or unsure
💬 View Discussion
Be first to respond
Vote to see results
CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Federal student loan forgiveness should be expanded substantially, prioritising borrowers from programmes with poor labour market outcomes.
Vote options for this statement: agree, disagree, or unsure
💬 View Discussion
Be first to respond
Vote to see results