Isabel V. Sawhill - Mentions and Appearances

We’ve been telling... students and their families for years that college is the only way to succeed in the economy these days and of course there’s a lot of truth to that. On average it does pay off... But if you load up on a whole lot of student debt and then you don’t graduate, that is a very bad situation.

What should we say to younger people who haven't made these decisions yet... is that it is better for them and their future kids if they find a stable committed relationship before they have kids.

[The fiscal cliff is] much larger than anything in the original stimulus package, except it’s going in the wrong direction. It’s slowing the economy instead of boosting it.

Because differences in income in the U.S. are believed to be related to skill and effort, and because social mobility is assumed to be high, inequality seems to be more acceptable than in Europe.

What people care about is their after-tax income, not their actual tax bill, and on that basis, the Bush tax cuts helped the rich more than the middle class or the poor.

I would not argue as an economist that the Buffett rule is great tax policy. However, it does speak clearly to the concern that is out there in the public about fairness.

Family structure is a new dividing line in American society.

[V]oters are more inclined to focus on something 'simple' like Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan. That seems sexier in terms of politics.

I support providing general assistance to low income families but I think we have too many special purpose programs in our arsenal.

It's just a bunch of flatlanders up on the Hill. They are ignoring all sound economic advice.