RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Julia B. Isaacs and Phillip Lovell, April 2008, First Focus
New research from Brookings and First Focus shows that nearly two million children will be directly impacted by the mortgage crisis. When forced from their homes, children’s education is disrupted, their peer relationships crumble, and the social networks that support them are fractured. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elisabeth Jacobs, April 24, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Americans are gloomy about the economy these days. Despite widespread economic malaise, writes Elisabeth Jacobs, little has been done to strengthen the safety net for American families in financial duress. And though some presidential candidates have begun to call for action, evidence suggests that the American people need action now. Read More
VIDEO
Bruce Katz and Martha Raddatz, April 24, 2008
Despite the fact that one-third of all Americans live in rental housing, rental policy often takes a back seat to home-ownership policy in Washington. To ensure that low- and moderate-income Americans can afford rental housing, Bruce Katz says that the next president needs to help supplement incomes, empower local governments to expand the supply of affordable housing and deal with the subprime mortgage crisis.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Leah Beth Curran, Hal Wolman, Edward W. Hill and Kimberly Furdell, March 17, 2008, The Brookings Institution
The authors of this report urge researchers and policymakers to closely examine how regional differences in the cost of living impact the adequacy of programs to boost incomes and reduce poverty. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes and Elizabeth Roberto, March 14, 2008, The Brookings Institution
A transportation survey conducted to better understand how commuting enhances both physical and economic mobility for a worker, this survey also assesses a workers' ability to find and retain employment. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Karen E. Dynan, Douglas W. Elmendorf and Daniel E. Sichel, February 2008, The Brookings Institution
Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) reveals that household income has become noticeably more volatile during the past thirty years. Senior Fellow Doug Elmendorf with Karen Dynan and Daniel Sichel from the Federal Reserve Board estimate that the standard deviation of percent changes in household income rose one-fourth between the early 1970s and early 2000s. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Gregg Easterbrook and Elizabeth Warren, January 11, 2008, American Public Media, Marketplace
Brookings Expert Gregg Easterbrook and Harvard Law School's Elizabeth Warren discuss the squeeze on the American middle class. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Matt Fellowes, July 23, 2007, Harvard Law & Policy Review
Matt Fellowes examines the higher prices lower-income workers pay for basic necessities--home loans, groceries, and financial services--and outlines a combination of initiatives that can bring down business costs. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Karen E. Dynan, Douglas W. Elmendorf and Daniel E. Sichel, June 2007, The Brookings Institution
Using data from the PSID, we find that household income has become noticeably more volatile during the past thirty years. We estimate that the standard deviation of percent changes in household income rose one-fourth between the early 1970s and early 2000s. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Matt Fellowes, August 07, 2006, The Detroit Free Press
Increasing in the minimum wage has to be paired with a national campaign to lower the higher prices being paid by the poor today. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Matt Fellowes, July 23, 2006, Los Angeles Times
Why are groceries, mortgages and banking more expensive in one of California's poorest cities? Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Matt Fellowes, December 02, 2005, The Consumer in the Financial Services Revolution, Annual Conference of the Consumer Federation of America
In this presentation at the annual conference of the Consumer Federation of America, Matt Fellowes discussed the growing number of alternative short-term loan providers in metropolitan areas, particularly in suburban, low-poverty areas. Matt also discussed the numerous public policy and market implications of that growth. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Alan Berube, July 19, 2005, National Council of La Raza Annual Conference
In this presentation delivered at the National Council of La Raza 2005 Annual Conference, Alan Berube discusses the role that income supplements like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) play in making housing more affordable for lower-income Latino families. He also highlights potential strategies for enhancing its capacity to reduce the housing cost burdens that these families face in many metropolitan areas. Read More