Does Economic Growth Pass the Kitchen-Table Test?

<div class="header alignfull header--article header--min-height-full has-background has-tonal-black-background-color"> <div class="header__layout"> <div class="header__content"> <div class="header__metadata"><div class="header__metas"><div class="header__meta header__meta--taxonomy header__meta--tax-category"> Blog Posts, and Videos</div></div></div> <h1 class="header__title has-h2-variant">Archives</h1> <div class="header__metadata"><div class="header__metas"><div class="favorite-block"> <button class="favorite" data-id="322831" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" /></svg></button></div> <div class="header__meta header__meta--date"> October 27, 2026</div> <div class="header__meta header__meta--taxonomy header__meta--tax-program_tax"> Aspen Ideas</div></div></div> </div> </div> <figure class="header__media" role="presentation"> <img decoding="async" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-1635x1090.jpg" alt="Does Economic Growth Pass the Kitchen-Table Test?" width="1635" height="1090" srcset="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-1635x1090.jpg 1635w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-800x533.jpg 800w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-768x512.jpg 768w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-1600x1066.jpg 1600w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-1013x675.jpg 1013w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-1014x676.jpg 1014w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606185010_614b56dcbd_k.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1635px) 100vw, 1635px" loading="eager" class="header__image" style="object-position: 50% 50%"> <span class="header__overlay" style="opacity: 0.8"></span> </figure> </div> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Does economic growth pass the kitchen-table test? For households and communities, progress means stable work, affordable housing, financial security and opportunities to get ahead.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">At the 2026 Aspen Ideas: Economy in Tulsa, journalist John F. Dickerson brings together Texas Law professor A. Mechele Dickerson, former U.S. Rep. Mickey Edwards, CAMEO Network CEO Carolina Martinez, entrepreneur and financial educator Taylor Price, and Experience Tulsa’s Grant Bumgarner to explore what it takes to turn economic growth into a better daily life.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <iframe loading="lazy" title="Kitchen Table Conversation | 2026 Aspen Ideas: Economy" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0yyBEm7BxeA?list=PLEMUdVc3UQSQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div></figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Watch the conversation below, and explore more discussions in the full <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEMUdVc3UQSQ">Aspen Ideas: Economy playlist</a>.</p> <div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <div class="card-slider alignfull has-grid-spacing-small"><div class="card-slider__nav"> <h2 id="h-related" class="wp-block-heading has-h4-variant">Related</h2> <button type="button" class="card-slider__go card-slider__go--back" aria-label="Previous"> <svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-left" role="img" focusable="false" height="0" width="0"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-left"/></svg> </button> <button type="button" class="card-slider__go card-slider__go--forward" aria-label="Next"> <svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-right" role="img" focusable="false" height="0" width="0"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-arrow-right"/></svg> </button> </div> <div class="card-slider__content"><div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/ai-and-the-economy/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55612838227_dd622270a7_k-1500x1000.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Getting to Know You: AI Agents and Financial Well-Being at Aspen Ideas: Economy." style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> <span>Videos</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/ai-and-the-economy/">AI and the Economy</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Reflections from Aspen Ideas: Economy.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="323036" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 29, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/john-peabody/">John Peabody</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/an-oklahoma-perspective-on-growth-and-opportunity/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55606184070_39288f2179_k-1500x1000.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt joined ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Schulze for a conversation offering an Oklahoma perspective on the economy." style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> <span>Videos</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/an-oklahoma-perspective-on-growth-and-opportunity/">An Oklahoma Perspective on Growth and Opportunity</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt joined ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Schulze for a conversation offering an Oklahoma perspective on the economy.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322852" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 27, 2026</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/how-can-we-help-the-next-generation-build-wealth/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/55614314075_f74ccf4c2e_k-1500x1000.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Aspen Ideas: Economy in Tulsa" style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> <span>Videos</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/how-can-we-help-the-next-generation-build-wealth/">How Can We Help the Next Generation Build Wealth?</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">At the 2026 Aspen Ideas: Economy in Tulsa, a conversation about Trump Accounts explores how to help the next generation build wealth.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322839" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 27, 2026</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/usda-rule-ebt-security-investment/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="1080" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/RTTB-Graphic-1.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="A graphic with a green octagonal background and an image of a card and card reader." style="object-position: 50% 50%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/usda-rule-ebt-security-investment/">Modernizing EBT Security Is Long Overdue. Policymakers Can’t Just Mandate It; They Need to Pay for It.</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">USDA&#8217;s proposed rule is an important step toward protecting SNAP users and taxpayers from theft. But federal requirements alone won&#8217;t solve a problem that has long been constrained by funding.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322726" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 26, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/kira-tebbe/">Kira Tebbe</a></li><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/tim-shaw/">Tim Shaw</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/ownership-across-america-what-iowa-and-new-jersey-are-teaching-other-states/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Building-a-Workforce-That-Wants-to-Stay-Charlie-Arrindell-Lewis-Tree-Services-4.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Ownership Across America: What Iowa and New Jersey Are Teaching Other States" style="object-position: 52% 58%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/ownership-across-america-what-iowa-and-new-jersey-are-teaching-other-states/">Ownership Across America: What Iowa and New Jersey Are Teaching Other States</a></h2><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322669" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 23, 2026</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/whose-belief-counts-as-religion/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1080" height="608" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/photo-1763652230904-6970552b4c0e.jpeg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Whose Belief Counts as Religion" style="object-position:52% 100%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/whose-belief-counts-as-religion/">Whose Belief Counts as Religion</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Who gets to decide what counts as religion? Religious pluralism depends on protecting beliefs even when they fall outside the American majority&#8217;s understanding of faith. When outsiders are permitted to determine which beliefs are genuinely religious, the freedom of all religious communities is put at risk.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322653" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 23, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/asma-uddin/">Asma Uddin</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/sovereign-wealth-funds-financial-security/" tabindex="-1"> <div class="dyn-card__image-placeholder"> <span class="a11y">Placeholder</span> </div> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/sovereign-wealth-funds-financial-security/">Could Sovereign Wealth Funds Improve U.S. Households’ Financial Security?</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Sovereign wealth funds are a systemic and potentially scalable solutions to support Americans’ financial security in the face of rising wealth inequality and a declining labor share of income.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322451" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 22, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/katherine-lucas-mckay/">Katherine Lucas McKay</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/economic-opportunity-is-a-human-challenge-even-in-the-age-of-ai/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1500" height="844" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/header-5-1500x844.png" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Economic Opportunity is a Human Challenge, Even in the Age of AI" style="object-position:51% 66%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/economic-opportunity-is-a-human-challenge-even-in-the-age-of-ai/">Economic Opportunity is a Human Challenge, Even in the Age of AI</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">At last week’s Aspen Ideas: Economy in Tulsa, the tension between AI’s potential benefits and the pitfalls for economic opportunity was unavoidable.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322584" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 22, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/miguel-padro/">Miguel Padró</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/in-rural-missouri-a-student-run-coffee-shop-brews-belonging-across-generations/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="512" height="341" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/unnamed-4.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="In rural Missouri, a student-run coffee shop brews belonging across generations" style="object-position:46% 86%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/in-rural-missouri-a-student-run-coffee-shop-brews-belonging-across-generations/">In rural Missouri, a student-run coffee shop brews belonging across generations</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Students work at Firehouse Coffee Shop in St. James, Mo., as volunteers, and donate the shop’s profits to nonprofit causes.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322472" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 21, 2026</time></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card"> <div class="dyn-card__wrap"> <div class="dyn-card__media"> <figure class="dyn-card__image"> <a class="dyn-card__image-link" href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/chris-marquis-on-the-end-of-business-schools/" tabindex="-1"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/yale-som-3.webp" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="Chris Marquis on the end of business schools" style="object-position:47% 60%" /> </a> </figure> <div class="dyn-card__label"> <span class="has-meta-variant">Blog Posts</span> </div> </div> <div class="dyn-card__content"> <h2 class="dyn-card__title has-h5-variant"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/chris-marquis-on-the-end-of-business-schools/">Chris Marquis on the end of business schools</a></h2><div class="dyn-card__excerpt">Judy Samuelson reflects on how to revamp business schools.</div><p class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__date"><button class="favorite" data-id="322823" data-state="" title="Favorites are not currently available" disabled><span class="favorite__on">Unfavorite</span><span class="favorite__off">Favorite</span><svg class="svg svg--svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark" role="img" focusable="false" height="15" width="11"><use xlink:href="#svg-assets-svg-icon-bookmark"/></svg></button><time>October 19, 2026</time></p><ul class="dyn-card__meta dyn-card__people"><li class="dyn-card__person"><a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/people/judy-samuelson/">Judy Samuelson</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>The post <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/does-economic-growth-pass-the-kitchen-table-test/">Does Economic Growth Pass the Kitchen-Table Test?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org">Aspen Institute</a>.</p>