A comparative perspective on policies to support single-parent families
Past Event
In the last 50 years, single parenthood has become more prevalent in the United States and other countries. As compared to other high-income countries, the United States does little to support single-parent families and they fare poorly as a result.
On December 1, the Brookings Institution hosted an event marking the publication of the fall 2022 volume of The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, titled “Public Policy and the Socio-Economic Status of Single-Parent Families: The United States in Cross-National Perspective.” Featuring research in collaboration with the London School of Economics Phelan United States Centre, this volume extends the research evidence on the experiences of single parent families and the best approaches to support their well-being through a comparative lens.
After opening remarks by Professor Cecilia Rouse and an overview of the volume by editor Janet Gornick, the first panel featured insights from the volume’s authors on what’s most effective in supporting single-parent families, drawing from research evidence from the United States and abroad. The event concluded with a discussion on the implications for U.S. policy.
Viewers submitted questions by emailing events@brookings.edu or via Twitter with #ANNALS.
Agenda
Introduction
Opening remarks
Cecilia Rouse
Dean; Lawrence and Shirley Katzman and Lewis and Anna Ernst Professor in the Economics of Education - Princeton University
Overview of volume
Janet Gornick
Director of the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality; Professor of Political Science and Sociology - The Graduate Center, City University of New York
What does social science research tell us about what’s most effective in helping single-parent families?
Thomas Biegert
Assistant Professor in International Social and Public Policy - London School of Economics
Laura Cuesta
Assistant Professor of Social Work - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Zachary Parolin
Assistant Professor of Social Policy - Bocconi University
What are the prospects for policy reform in the United States?
Doug Besharov
Professor - University of Maryland
Irwin Garfinkel
Professor Emeritus - Columbia School of Social Work
Melissa S. Kearney
Nonresident Senior Fellow - Economic Studies, Center on Children and Families
Eric Rodriguez
Vice President, Policy and Advocacy - UnidosUS
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