Poverty Research & Policy

Rourke O'Brien on the Impact of Spending by Different Levels of Government

There has been a lot of research on the impact of levels of public expenditures on a variety of social outcomes, including health and economic mobility. But beyond the dollars spent, some researchers say that we should a

Luke Shaefer on the RX Kids Cash Transfer Program

Unconditional cash transfers programs are being piloted across the country. For this episode, Dr. Luke Shaefer shares his work with RX Kids —the nation's first-ever, community-wide, prenatal and infant cash prescription

IRP Book Talk: Diana Hernandez and Jennifer Laird on Energy Insecurity

Millions of households in the United States struggle to maintain access to the energy necessary to heat and cool their home, to have power to cook and have hot water, and to literally keep the lights on. And a disconnect

IRP Book Talk: Jane Waldfogel on Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America's Future

Alexandra Murphy on Measuring Transportation Insecurity

M aterial hardship like food or housing insecurity or inadequate access to medical care are routinely measured. But transportation insecurity has not been, despite its significance in the lives of people with low incomes

IRP Book Talk: Casey Nichols on Poverty Rebels: Black and Brown Protest in Post–Civil Rights America

The 1960s and 1970s were a time of tremendous change politically and culturally in the United States. Federal legislation and policy enshrined voting rights and implemented measures to increase equality, but there were s

Lucie Schmidt on How The Social Safety Net Has Changed Since Welfare Reform

The Clinton-era Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was a significant reform of the welfare system as it had been known. In this episode, Dr. Lucie Schmidt draws on her co-authored pap

Lisa Gennetian On The Landscape Of Direct Cash Aid Programs

Many countries use direct cash aid programs as an integral part of their social safety net. In the United States, there have been few national efforts, but more and more guaranteed income programs are being implemented a

IRP Book Talk: Robert Courtney Smith on "Dreams Achieved and Denied: Mexican Intergenerational Mobility"

There are many factors that influence whether Mexican immigrants to the United States are able to achieve upward mobility. In his new book, " Dreams Achieved and Denied: Mexican Intergenerational Mobility ," Robert Court

Molly Costanzo on Improving the Economic Well-being for Households with Children with Disabilities

Between 5% and 20% of children in the United States live with a disability. The definition and measurement of disability are constantly changing. Therefore, people with disabilities have been inadequately represented and

Kathryn Thompson on Quality of Care for Pregnant Black Medicaid Enrollees

There are many ways to assess the quality of care that pregnant people receive pre- and post-partum, as well as during delivery itself. Dr. Kathryn Thompson shares her findings on how the care that pregnant Black Medicai

Colleen Heflin on SNAP and Reauthorization of the Farm Bill

The federal Farm Bill expired at the end of September 2024 and was not reauthorized. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been extended through a Continuing Resolution, but that is a stopg

Anne Sebert Kuhlmann on the Impact of Menstrual Poverty on Vulnerable Individuals

Menstrual poverty, or unmet menstrual hygiene needs, is defined as a lack of appropriate menstrual products in necessary quantities; access to soap and water for proper hygiene; or ways to dispose of or wash used sanitar

Katherine Michelmore On Effects of the Expanded Child Tax Credit on Housing Stability for Low-Income Families

When the Child Tax Credit (CTC) was expanded in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 crisis, it provided more support to parents and on a monthly basis. In addition, some very low-income families were eligible to access the

Greg Wilson on Racialization in the Nonprofit Sector

Black-Led Organizations (BLOs) are organizations led by an Executive Director and have a majority of full-time employees identifying as African American. BLOs face challenges (e.g., limited funding, diminished agency, ex

Anna Godøy and Jennie Romich on the Impacts of Increasing the Minimum Wage for Working Parents and Child-Care Workers

Minimum wage workers, especially those with children, face barriers to affordable child care. Child care costs can prevent working parents who earn minimum wage from participating in the labor market. Alternately, many c

Carl Gershenson On Eviction and the Rental Housing Crisis in the Rural United States

There are more than 17 million renters in the rural Unites States. While popular perceptions of eviction may be that they are predominantly an urban issue, low-income rural renters face some unique challenges in finding

José Loya On How Race, Gender, And Age affect Access To Mortgage Credit And The Implications For Inequality

Homeownership is one of the most common ways to accumulate wealth and promote intergenerational economic mobility in the United States. But even with laws and policies designed to ensure equal access to housing and finan

Marci Ybarra on Challenges for Latina Mothers Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 interrupted life on multiple levels for many people regardless of race, economic class, or citizenship. For Latina mothers who either lacked legal status or were part of a mixed-status household, the pandemic in

Jesse Rothstein On Ways To Reduce Intergenerational Poverty

Experiencing poverty in childhood can hinder a person's opportunities throughout their own lifetime, and those of their children and grandchildren as well. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine re