BOOK
Ron Haskins and Isabel V. Sawhill, September 15, 2009
Creating an Opportunity Society examines economic opportunity in the United States and explores how to create more of it, particularly for those on the bottom rungs of the economic ladder. Read More
BOOK
William G. Gale, J. Mark Iwry, David John and Lina Walker, July 01, 2009
Automatic argues for a fresh approach to increase saving, simplify retirement planning, and help manage the risks associated with today's individual account environment. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, September 29, 2008
9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC
On September 29, several prominent scholars and policy advocates outlined their key recommendations for improving the quality of life for people at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, including proposals to improve employment and earnings, strengthen families, enhance opportunities for children, and improve neighborhoods. Discussions of the proposals were followed by comments from policy experts. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Washington, DC
On August 26, the day the Census poverty report was released, the Brookings Center on Children and Families held its sixth annual briefing to discuss the new figures and their implications for families and policy-makers. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Julia B. Isaacs, August 21, 2008, The Brookings Institution
Julia Isaacs details the evidence supporting the long-term benefits of investment in early childhood education, along with prenatal care and greater access to health care for very young children in impoverished families. In a new Opportunity 08 paper, she proposes federal policies for the next President that will provide big returns. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Rebecca M. Blank, July 17, 2008, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the House Committee on Ways and Means
Rebecca Blank testified before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the House Committee on Ways and Means on the need for an improved measure of poverty in the United States. She stated that our current poverty line is based on data more than 50 years old and our poverty count does not measure the actual resources that many families have available to them.
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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
J. Mark Iwry and David C. John, July 16, 2008, Senate Special Committee on Aging
Fully half of America’s working families lack any employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. Testifying before a Senate panel, J. Mark Iwry and David C. John called for a common strategy to preserve and expand retirement savings in a manner that transcends partisan differences, an approach that includes preserving employer-sponsored retirement plans and broadening participation and coverage options. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Julia B. Isaacs and Phillip Lovell, May 01, 2008, First Focus
In a new paper from Brookings and First Focus, Julia Issacs and Phillip Lovell show 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
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
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
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 01, 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
William H. Frey, December 28, 2007, The Brookings Institution
William Frey's analysis of the new Census Bureau annual estimates of state population changes for 2006-7 shows that the sinking housing market has yanked back high-flying states like Nevada and Arizona. An even bigger tug in growth occurred in Florida, another housing-boom driven state. With credit harder to get and the disappearance of housing deals, the allure of these states appears to have dimmed. Read More