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Wednesday November 19, 2008

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U.S. Poverty

UPCOMING EVENT

Save to My PortfolioThe Scouting Report: Decrease Poverty and Increase Opportunity

Wednesday, November 26, 2008
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Reuters/Cheryl RaveloToo many Americans leave school with inadequate skills, and too many working families struggle to make ends meet. Greater investments in economic opportunity are needed to reduce poverty and increase future economic mobility for today’s poor children. On Wednesday, November 26, at 12:30 PM, Brookings Senior Fellow Rebecca Blank will be on hand to answer questions in a live web chat with Politico about poverty in the United States and creating opportunities for American families. Read More

The Presidential Transition, U.S. Poverty, U.S. Economy, Economic Mobility, Concentrated Poverty

UPCOMING EVENT

Save to My PortfolioDecrease Poverty and Increase Opportunity

Monday, November 24, 2008
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Washington, DC

Reuters/Tami ChappellA major economic slowdown adds to the problems of lower-income Americans, who have not shared in the economic growth of the last decade. On November 24, Brookings senior fellow Rebecca Blank will offer policy solutions and priorities for the president-elect to make greater investments in economic mobility and opportunity. Read More

U.S. Poverty, U.S. Economy, Economic Mobility

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioMemo to the President: Decrease Poverty and Increase Opportunity

Rebecca M. Blank, November 24, 2008, The Brookings Institution

Memo to the President: Decrease Poverty and Increase OpportunityA major economic slowdown adds to the problems of lower-income Americans, who have not shared in the economic growth of the last decade. Greater investments in economic mobility and opportunity are needed. Read More

U.S. Poverty, U.S. Economy, Economic Mobility

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Enduring Challenge of Concentrated Poverty in America

Alan Berube and Elizabeth Kneebone, October 24, 2008, The Brookings Institution

The Federal Reserve System and its 12 member banks partnered with the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program to produce a new, in-depth look at concentrated poverty in America. The two-year study profiles 16 high-poverty communities across the United States, investigating the historical and contemporary factors associated with their high levels of economic distress. Read More

Concentrated Poverty, Working Poor, U.S. Poverty, Earned Income Tax Credit, Inequality

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioPoverty Reduction Strategies for the Next Decade

Monday, September 29, 2008
9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC

Poverty Reduction Strategies for the Next DecadeOn 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

U.S. Poverty, U.S. Economy, Children & Families, Concentrated Poverty, Cost of Living

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHow Can We Reduce the Rising Number of American Families Living in Poverty?

Rebecca M. Blank, September 25, 2008, Joint Economic Committee

In this testimony, Rebecca Blank argues for the need to modernize our poverty statistics so that we may have a better understanding of who is poor and how these numbers are changing over time. She discusses anti-poverty strategies for the next decade. Read More

U.S. Poverty, U.S. Census, Children & Families, Earned Income Tax Credit, U.S. Department of Commerce

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioGetting More from Low-Income Housing Assistance

Edgar O. Olsen, September 2008, Hamilton Project Discussion Paper

In this paper, Edgar Olsen argues that the two most serious structural shortcomings of the current system of low-income housing assistance are (1) its excessive reliance on unit-based assistance and (2) its failure to provide housing assistance to all of the poorest eligible families who ask for help. Read More

Housing, U.S. Poverty, Mortgage Market, Income Distribution

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioSupporting Young Children and Families: An Investment that Pays

Julia B. Isaacs, September 2008, First Focus

Julia B. Isaacs details how the growing evidence about the importance of children’s early years is changing public attitudes toward early childhood programs. Adopting a well-designed package of investments in children from birth to five will improve children’s health, school achievement, and opportunities for future economic success. Read More

Children & Families, Education, Health Care, Intergenerational Equity, Head Start

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioMaking Work Pay – Again

Ron Haskins, September 2008, First Focus

Ron Haskins offers ways policymakers could create an entitlement to housing assistance that would more fairly distribute housing benefits and convert housing into a more effective element in the nation’s work support system. The goal of reform would be to get the most out of the resources now devoted to housing by providing at least some benefit to all eligible families that want a housing subsidy. Read More

Working Poor, Labor, Children & Families, U.S. Poverty, Housing

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHow We Measure Poverty

Rebecca M. Blank, September 15, 2008, Los Angeles Times

How We Measure PovertyThe U.S. government's method of measuring poverty, established in 1964, is badly outdated and leads to an inaccurate picture of who is, and is not, poor in America. If we want to debate new policies to help the poor, Rebecca Blank argues that we first need a poverty measure that shows us who they really are. Read More

U.S. Poverty, Economic Mobility, U.S. Economy

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioA Plan for Reducing Poverty

Ron Haskins, August 2008, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Project

A host of demographic and economic trends in the United States are making it difficult for the nation to make progress against poverty and income inequality. However, Ron Haskins argues, government policies that raise work levels and provide public benefits to supplement earnings have proven to be effective in fighting poverty among female-headed families. But further progress against poverty and economic inequality seems unlikely unless more poor adults work, reduce the number of births outside marriage, and marry at higher rates. Read More

Children & Families, U.S. Poverty, Education, Unemployment, U.S. Department of Education

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHigh Priority Poverty Reduction Strategies for the Next Decade

Rebecca M. Blank, August 2008, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Project

The poor in American cut across all groups, but are disproportionately represented by single mothers and their children, by persons of color, by immigrants, by less-skilled individuals, or by those with physical or mental disabilities. Many working poor and near-poor families face problems with low wages or unstable jobs. This paper by Rebecca  Blank outlines three strategic areas where policy and research attention should focus over the next decade. Read More

U.S. Poverty, Children & Families, Unemployment, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor

VIDEO

Save to My PortfolioU.S. Poverty in 2007

Ron Haskins and Rebecca M. Blank, August 26, 2008

The Brookings Center on Children and Families held its sixth annual briefing on the new Census poverty figures and their implications for families and policy-makers. The nation’s poverty rate held steady for in 2007 as median household income edged upward and the number of Americans without health insurance decreased by more than 1 million.

Children & Families, Cost of Living, Income Distribution, U.S. Poverty

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioPoverty and Income in 2007: A Look at the New Census Data and What the Numbers Mean

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

Children & Families, Cost of Living, Income Distribution, U.S. Poverty

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioSupporting Young Children and Families: An Investment Strategy That Pays

Julia B. Isaacs, August 2008, The Brookings Institution

Supporting Young Children and Families: An Investment Strategy That PaysJulia 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

Children & Families, Education, U.S. Poverty, Health Care, Cost of Living

In Brief

Nearly 20 percent of America’s children–and 13 percent of all Americans–live in poverty. Although the nation has made some progress against poverty, particularly among the elderly and female-headed families, a great deal remains to be done to move people out of poverty and up the ladder towards the middle class.

Featured Experts

Isabel V. Sawhill

Isabel V. Sawhill

Senior Fellow, Economic Studies
The Cabot Family Chair

A nationally known budget expert, Isabel Sawhill focuses on domestic poverty and federal fiscal policy. She is also co-director of the Center on Children and Families at Brookings.
Read More

Julia B. Isaacs

Julia B. Isaacs

Child and Family Policy Fellow, Economic Studies

Julia Isaacs focuses on public investments in children and how children are affected by national budgetary policies. A former federal budget analyst, she also researches the economic mobility of children and families across the income spectrum.
Read More

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Spotlight

ExpertMauricio Cárdenas

Mauricio Cárdenas is a senior fellow and director of the Latin American Initiative. Formerly minister of Economic Development and Transportation, and director of National Planning of Colombia, his research focuses on international and development economics. He is also the president of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA).

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  She is completing a project on the politics of advice and consent, and is at work on the politics of how Congress responds to financial crises.

ExpertRebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank is an expert on the interaction between the macroeconomy, government anti-poverty programs, and the behavior and well being of low-income families. She has just been named the Robert S. Kerr senior fellow at Brookings.

ExpertJulia B. Isaacs

Julia Isaacs focuses on public investments in children and how children are affected by national budgetary policies. A former federal budget analyst, she also researches the economic mobility of children and families across the income spectrum.

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ExpertMark B. McClellan

A medical doctor and economist, Mark McClellan works on promoting high-quality, innovative and affordable health care. Once commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. McClellan now directs the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.

ExpertCarlos Pascual

Carlos Pascual is a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. As vice president and director of Foreign Policy, he focuses on post-conflict stabilization and international security policy.

TOPICThe Presidential Transition

During the 77 days from the election to the Inauguration, Brookings experts will offer 12 "Memos to the President" on top policy priorities across the spectrum of domestic and global challenges, plus additional advice on transitioning from campaigning to governing.

ExpertDouglas W. Elmendorf

Doug Elmendorf, whose government posts have included the Federal Reserve, Treasury, Council of Economic Advisors, and CBO, focuses his research on macroeconomics and fiscal policy. He is co-editor of the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity and director of The Hamilton Project, which develops proposals for shared growth.

ExpertEswar Prasad

Eswar Prasad, the Tolani Senior Professor of Trade Policy at Cornell University, is a senior fellow in Global Economy and Development. He was previously head of the Financial Studies Division and the China Division at the IMF.

ExpertHugh B. Price

Former president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League, Hugh Price is an expert on education, civil rights, equal opportunity and criminal justice. His 40-year career spans journalism, philanthropy, the law, and social advocacy.

ExpertDarrell M. West

Darrell M. West is the vice president and director of Governance Studies at Brookings. His studies include campaigns and elections, political advertising, mass media, public opinion, technology policy and electronic government.

Research ProjectThe Hamilton Project

The Hamilton Project produces research and policy proposals on how to create a growing economy that benefits more Americans. Their agenda also focuses on enhancing individual economic security and effective public investments. 

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers.