Ben Ritz is the Vice President of Policy Development for the Progressive Policy Institute, a center-left think tank based in Washington, DC with satellite offices in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. In this capacity, he helps PPI’s policy experts develop analysis and “radically pragmatic” ideas consistent with the organization’s mission of supporting innovation, economic opportunity, and the enduring values of liberal democracy.
Ben also directs PPI’s Center for Funding America’s Future, which develops fiscally responsible policy proposals to strengthen public investments in the foundation of our economy, modernize health and retirement programs to reflect an aging society, transform our tax code to reward work over wealth, and put the national debt on a downward trajectory.
With more than a decade of experience shaping economic debates in Washington, Ben’s policy recommendations have been incorporated into major legislation including the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He also works to hold political candidates accountable for their promises, such as by publishing the only comprehensive fiscal impact estimates of all the leading candidates’ economic agendas during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries. Ben’s expert analysis has been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Forbes, and other national news outlets.
Prior to joining PPI, Ben staffed the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on Retirement Security and Personal Savings, where he helped develop its proposed reforms to make Social Security sustainably solvent and promote retirement savings through the tax code. Ben also worked on other federal budget issues at BPC including sequestration, budget process reform, and the federal debt limit. Before joining BPC, Ben worked to educate members of Congress and their constituents about fiscal policy as Legislative Outreach Director for The Concord Coalition.
Ben earned his Master’s of Public Policy Analysis; a Graduate Certificate of Public Finance; and a BA in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government from American University.
Area of Expertise: Budget, Taxes, Retirement, Social Security, Medicare, Public Investment
