An Economy Measured by how People are Doing
The Biden Administration has a new and better definition of what “the economy” is and should be.
Founded by veteran communications strategists Axel Aubrun and Joe Grady of Cultural Logic, and Meg Bostrom of Public Knowledge, Topos has as its mission to explore and ultimately transform the landscape of public understanding where public interest issues play out. Our approach is based on the premise that while it is possible to achieve short-term victories on issues through a variety of strategies, real change depends on a fundamental shift in public understanding. Topos was created to bring together the range of expertise needed to understand existing issue dynamics, explore possibilities for creating new issue understanding, develop a proven course of action, and arm advocates with new communications tools to win support.
The Biden Administration has a new and better definition of what “the economy” is and should be.
Why is it that accusations of corruption do not seem to stick to Donald Trump?
To serve we-the-people, we need strong laws and processes to keep government on track.
Law should determine the timing of a Supreme Court nomination, not one man’s whimsy.
Fundamental to every public policy is the ability to fund that policy. And yet, issue advocates typically avoid communicating about taxes and budgets, leaving that challenging work to budget policy experts. Recognizing the need for a broad and ongoing culture shift that breaks out of issue silos, Topos has made tax and budget policy a […]
Topos strategic paradigm shift for the arts focuses on how to shift people’s thinking about the arts from a private good to a public good. Our research finds that according to the Cultural Common Sense “the arts” is an elite pursuit, a luxury, that should be paid for through ticket prices (as a market good) […]
Embedded in the popular imagination as “the world’s oldest profession,” prostitution continues to be very visible in our society. Yet there had been little research into how the public actually thinks about this issue and what, if anything, they think we can or should do about it. Topos research provides the most comprehensive view of […]
For nearly two decades, Topos has been raising the alarm about Americans’ distance from government and working with advocates to reclaim it. Not only have Americans lost confidence in government’s ability to act effectively to solve problems, they no longer see government as representing them. They don’t feel like citizens in a democracy, but like […]
Race is centered in all of our work. No matter the issue, race influences how people understand the problem and solution, and people of different backgrounds bring their own perspectives and life experiences to the dialogue. On a challenge as deeply rooted and complex as racism, multiple strategies are necessary. Different goals require different approaches: […]
Science and evidence-based decision-making have been under assault in recent years. Dueling scientists and propaganda cause confused citizens to opt out of the debate. A clear, simple understanding of the basic mechanism under debate goes a long way toward building public support for the right actions. Once people have learned something new, they can’t unlearn […]
Topos’ recommended approach is the leading strategy for anti-privatization advocates, resulting in scores of wins. Our investigation determined that the existing cultural common sense advantages those who seek to expand privatization of public services and structures. The CCS says: Private companies have to be efficient and innovative to survive, while governments are inefficient and waste […]
Topos’ new mental model for how the economy actually works, is providing advocates with the tool they need to win progressive economic policies. While Americans reject the phrase “trickle-down economics,” our research shows the way they think about the flow of money in the economy has continued to reflect that supply-side model: People with money […]
Determining how new ideas hold up in public discourse.
Measuring whether ideas last.
Quantifying what can be, rather than simply reporting what is.
The ultimate test—can a concept be embraced and passed along?
Identifying dominant frames and missing ideas in public discourse.
Eliciting how people think, not just what they know.
Authentic conversations where people live, work and play.
Adding solutions to the protest narrative.
What hasn’t been heard? Obstacles as well as contributions — ideas that combat stereotypes and lead to lasting change.
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