Report on the Profile and Contributions of Heather Boushey

Professional Appointments and Background

Heather Boushey is an economist recognized for her work on the intersection of economic inequality, growth, and public policy. Her professional roles demonstrate a commitment to shaping economic discourse and policy implementation.

• Professor of Practice: Kleinman Center, University of Pennsylvania.
• Government Service: Served as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers and Chief Economist to the President’s Investing in America Cabinet in the Biden administration.
• Institutional Leadership: Co-founded the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, serving as its President & CEO from 2013 to 2020.
• Academic Fellowship: Non-resident fellow at the Reimagining the Economy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School.
• Policy Advising: Previously served as Chief Economist for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential transition team and held economist positions at the Center for American Progress, the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, the Center for Economic and Policy Research, and the Economic Policy Institute.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Professor Boushey’s work directly addresses several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through her focus on equitable economic structures and inclusive policy.

1. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Her core research and publications, including Unbound: How Economic Inequality Constricts Our Economy and the co-edited volume After Piketty, are dedicated to analyzing and proposing solutions for economic inequality, a central target of this goal.
2. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): By advocating for policies that ensure economic growth is equitable, her work supports the creation of inclusive and sustainable economic models that provide decent work for all. Her role in the “Investing in America” cabinet directly relates to this objective.
3. SDG 1 (No Poverty): Her policy focus on mitigating economic disparity contributes to the foundational goal of poverty eradication, as equitable growth is a critical component of lifting and keeping populations out of poverty.
4. SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Through publications such as Finding Time: The Economics of Work-Life Conflict, Boushey addresses the economic barriers and structural challenges that impede gender equality, particularly in the workforce.

Key Publications and Public Influence

Professor Boushey has authored and co-edited several influential books that contribute to economic thought and policy debates.

• Unbound: How Economic Inequality Constricts Our Economy and What We Can Do About It
• Finding Time: The Economics of Work-Life Conflict
• After Piketty: The Agenda for Economics and Inequality (Co-editor)

Her influence is recognized by major media outlets and extends to public discourse through regular contributions and appearances.

• Identified by The New York Times as being at the forefront of economists rethinking the discipline.
• Named by Politico as one of the top 50 visionaries transforming American politics.
• Regularly contributes to The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Democracy Journal.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, which profiles the work of economist Heather Boushey, connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on economic inequality, equitable growth, and work-life balance.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  This is the most prominent SDG related to the article. Heather Boushey’s work is described as focusing “on the intersection between economic inequality, growth, and public policy.” Her book, “Unbound: How Economic Inequality Constricts Our Economy and What We Can Do About It,” and her role as co-founder of the “Washington Center for Equitable Growth” directly address the core mission of SDG 10.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article links Boushey’s work to economic growth, but with a specific focus on equity and quality. The mention of her book, “Finding Time: The Economics of Work-Life Conflict,” connects her work to the “decent work” aspect of this goal, which emphasizes productive employment and fair working conditions for all.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The theme of “work-life conflict” discussed in Boushey’s book is a critical issue for gender equality. Historically, the burden of unpaid care and domestic work has disproportionately fallen on women, creating barriers to their full economic participation. Analyzing the economics of this conflict is directly relevant to achieving gender equality in the economic sphere.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the description of Heather Boushey’s work, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Targets under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

   • Target 10.1: By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average.
     
     Explanation: Boushey’s focus on “equitable growth” and how inequality “constricts our economy” directly implies a policy focus aimed at ensuring economic gains are more broadly shared, particularly benefiting lower-income segments of the population.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
     
     Explanation: Her extensive work in public policy, including serving as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers and chief economist for the President’s Investing in America Cabinet, is centered on developing and promoting policies to reduce economic disparities and ensure fairer outcomes.

2. Target under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
     
     Explanation: The book “Finding Time: The Economics of Work-Life Conflict” addresses the challenges of balancing professional and personal responsibilities, which is a core component of “decent work.” Addressing this conflict is essential for achieving full and productive employment for all, especially women.

3. Target under SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

   • Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.
     
     Explanation: Analyzing the “economics of work-life conflict” inherently involves recognizing the economic impact of unpaid care work. Boushey’s policy-oriented approach suggests an examination of social protection policies that can alleviate this conflict, aligning perfectly with this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention explicit numerical indicators. However, the nature of the economic issues discussed implies the use of specific metrics to measure progress.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 10

  To address Target 10.1, Boushey’s work would implicitly rely on Indicator 10.1.1: Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population. Her goal of promoting “equitable growth” would be measured by whether the income of the bottom 40% is growing faster than the average.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 8

  In relation to Target 8.5, the discussion of “work-life conflict” and economic inequality implies a focus on indicators that measure disparities in the labor market. This could include Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities, as well as metrics on working hours and labor force participation rates, especially for women.

• Implied Indicators for SDG 5

  For Target 5.4, the analysis in “Finding Time: The Economics of Work-Life Conflict” would necessitate measuring Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age and location. Understanding this distribution is fundamental to crafting economic policies that address the conflict.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu