Where do the 2024 presidential candidates stand on economic policy, and how do those stances compare? How might their policies look if they win?

Subtopics

• Paid Leave
  • Family Leave
  • Sick Leave
• Minimum Wage
  • Universal Basic Income
• Affordable Housing
  • Housing Grants
  • Mortgage Relief
  • Down Payment Assistance
• Federal Budget
  • Deficit Spending

Paid Leave

Kamala Harris (D)

Harris has proposed allowing for up to six months of paid family and medical leave for workers in the US.

Donald Trump (R)

In his 2020 State of the Union, he became the first Republican president to advocate for paid family leave in an address; he did so in reference to a bill that allowed new parents to collect their child’s future tax credits early during leave. As part of the federal budget, he signed the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, which created a nationwide paid family leave plan and allowed up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave to care for a new child. 

Cornel West (Ind.)

He supports a “mandatory minimum of six months of fully paid parental leave ”

Minimum Wage

Kamala Harris (D)

Harris has proposed raising the federal minimum wage and eliminating federal income tax on tipped wages.

Donald Trump (R)

Trump’s stance on a $15 minimum wage is unclear. In 2019, he expressed he was “open” to such a federal minimum wage, but spoke out against House legislation that would raise it. He instead prefers that states decide the minimum wage for themselves, stating that “Alabama is different from New York, New York is different from Vermont, every state is different.” He has said that he would oppose an increase in the minimum wage if it would hurt small businesses: ““How are you helping your small businesses when you’re forcing wages?”

Cornel West (Ind.)

He hopes to “establish a federal Universal Basic Income commission” and enforce a “national $27 minimum wage with special considerations for specific geographies where $27/hour would not be a family-sustaining wage.” He further specifies that he wishes to ensure “family-sustaining and living wages for all disability benefits.”

Affordable Housing

Kamala Harris (D)

Harris' “Build the American Dream: Lowering the Costs of Renting and Owning a Home” plan calls for the construction of 3 million new housing units before 2028, the creation of a fairer rental market, and $25,000 in downpayment support for first-time homeowners.

Donald Trump (R)

He signed an executive order to remove obstacles that may interfere with the development of new affordable housing, such as restrictive local zoning. He also created Opportunity Zones intended to attract investment in underfunded neighborhoods. However, under his administration in 2020, he slashed the budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development by $9.6 billion when compared to fiscal year 2019. Trump garnered controversy after touting that his administration rescinded an Obama-era fair housing statute meant to combat housing discrimination in suburban neighborhoods: “You know the suburbs, people fight all of their lives to get into the suburbs and have a beautiful home. There will be no more low-income housing forced into the suburbs. … It’s been going on for years. I’ve seen conflict for years. It’s been hell for suburbia.” His administration justified the choice by stating it would alleviate burdens on local governments.

Cornel West (Ind.)

He wants to protect the “right to qualify for affordable housing by eliminating coverage gaps” and seek an “end to Wall Street mass real estate holdings and the marketization of human rights.”

Federal Budget

Kamala Harris (D)

Unclear.

Donald Trump (R)

Over his time in office, the national debt rose $6.7 trillion. However, this deficit spending during the COVID-19 pandemic was needed to avert an economic crisis. Still, some economists argue that the deficit was exacerbated by Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which resulted in a decrease in federal revenue. However, his tariffs brought in around $36 billion in additional revenue.

Cornel West (Ind.)

No stance found.

This blog was written by Harry Ding, content intern (Center bias). It was reviewed and edited by Henry A. Brechter (Center bias), Malayna Bizier (Right bias), and Joseph Ratliff (Lean Left bias).