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Ben Ritz

Vice President of Policy Development

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 Brussels, Kyiv, and the United Kingdom. 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 Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Hill, 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

Recent Work

In the News  |  June 18, 2025

Ritz on SiriusXM POTUS: The Julie Mason Show

  • Ben Ritz
Podcast  |  June 18, 2025

Ritz on The New Liberal Podcast: Breaking Down the Big Beautiful Bill

  • Ben Ritz
Budget Breakdown  |  June 18, 2025

Senate Changes to House Reconciliation Bill Are a Mixed Bag

  • Ben Ritz Nate Morris
Budget Breakdown  |  June 13, 2025

There Can Be No Certainty In Unsustainable Tax Policy

  • Ben Ritz Alex Kilander
Budget Breakdown  |  May 22, 2025

House Republicans Pass ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Despite Several Big Red Flags

  • Ben Ritz Alex Kilander
Op-Ed  |  May 22, 2025

Ritz for Forbes: House Republicans Pass ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Despite Big Red Flags

  • Ben Ritz
Podcast  |  May 21, 2025

Ritz on the Concord Coalition’s Facing the Future Podcast: Is Trump Repeating Biden’s Mistakes?

  • Ben Ritz
In the News  |  May 20, 2025

Ritz on SiriusXM POTUS: The Briefing

  • Ben Ritz

Related Projects

Center for Funding America’s Future

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