Winter 2017
Combining Earnings with Public Supports: Cliff Effects in Massachusetts
Safety-net benefits decrease as recipients’ income increases, but the result can be an overall drop in resources—sometimes so sharp that it feels like falling off a cliff.
How Banks Can Support Workforce Development
When financial institutions partner with workforce development programs, the beneficiaries include job seekers, businesses, and the entire community.
Income Inequality and the Decision to Drop Out of High School
When inequality is high, does being at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder push students to work harder to climb the rungs, or do some just give up hope?
Lessons Learned in the First Year of the Invest in College Success Pilot
A pilot effort offering an incentivized savings program, financial education, and advising on paying for college takes stock of student uptake and retention rates after the first year.
Cliff Effects and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The harm to families, children, and society as a whole when SNAP benefits are reduced or eliminated too suddenly is multifaceted and far ranging.
The Next Chapter of Education Reform: Building a New Human Capital Engine
The Harvard Graduate School of Education and mayors of six U.S. cities are collaborating to build a better system of education for the 21st century.
Making the Case for Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs)
Policymakers are more likely to support CSAs when they understand the political and economic benefits attached to doing so.
Revaluing Black America
An undervaluing of people, communities, and assets results in underestimation of Black giving. This undervaluation has roots in racism and contributes to the persistence of the wealth gap between Whites and Blacks.
Immigrants: An Important Part of Maine’s Economic Development Strategy
Immigrants represent a small fraction of Maine’s population, but they are vital to the state’s economic future. A cross-sector group is finding ways to attract and integrate newcomers.
Race, Ethnicity, and Jobs in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s minority workers were hit harder by the Great Recession than their white counterparts and historically have experienced higher rates of unemployment and lower median wages.