Poverty and Inequality

Report

Expanding Work Requirements Would Make It Harder for People to Meet Basic Needs

March 15, 2023 | LaDonna Pavetti, Ph.D., Ed Bolen, Laura Harker, Allison Orris and Alicia Mazzara

Taking benefits away from people who don’t meet a work requirement does little to improve long-term employment outcomes. Instead, it substantially increases hardship.

State of the Union, Budget Offer Opportunities to Put Forward Vision for Stronger, More Prosperous Nation

February 2, 2023

Report

Robust COVID Relief Bolstered Economy and Reduced Hardship for Millions

March 6, 2023

Statement

President Biden’s 2024 Budget Moves Us Toward Nation Where Everyone Can Thrive

March 9, 2023

Blog

Hidden Housing Instability: 3.7 Million People Live in Doubled-Up Households

September 6, 2022 | Erik Gartland

Blog

Data Dashboard Shows Economic and Health Security Program Participation, Anti-Poverty Effects

March 24, 2022 | Claire Zippel

Report

Child Tax Credit Has a Critical Role in Helping Families Maintain Economic Stability

April 14, 2022 | Bradley L. Hardy

Report

Economic Security Programs Reduce Overall Poverty, Racial and Ethnic Inequities

July 1, 2021 | Danilo Trisi and Matt Saenz

New on this Topic

Statement

Important Investments, Significant Disappointments in Year-End Legislation

December 20, 2022

Blog

Mississippi Should Use TANF to Improve Financial Stability for Families Experiencing Poverty

October 7, 2022

Interactive

How States Fared on Racial and Economic Inequality During the Pandemic

September 15, 2022

Statement

In Pandemic’s Second Year, Government Policies Helped Drive Child Poverty Rate to a Record Low, Cut Uninsured Rate, New Census Data Show

September 13, 2022

Blog

Food Insecurity at a Two-Decade Low for Households With Kids, Signaling Successful Relief Efforts

September 9, 2022

Report

What to Know About Next Week’s Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance Figures for 2021

September 8, 2022

Policy Basics

Reducing poverty and inequality and improving opportunity are major national challenges.

We analyze economic developments affecting low- and moderate-income Americans, including trends in poverty and income inequality. In addition, we analyze the extent to which economic security programs reduce poverty and racial inequities and help children succeed.

Experts

Claire Zippel

Sharon Parrott

LaDonna Pavetti, Ph.D.

Arloc Sherman

Sharon Parrott

President

Expanding Work Requirements Would Make It Harder for People to Meet Basic Needs

Taking benefits away from people who don’t meet a work requirement does little to improve long-term employment outcomes. Instead, it substantially increases...

President Biden’s 2024 Budget Moves Us Toward Nation Where Everyone Can Thrive

President Biden’s 2024 budget invests in people and communities and creates a 21st century tax system that supports these investments to build toward an economy that works for...

Robust COVID Relief Bolstered Economy and Reduced Hardship for Millions

Three years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic began to take hold in the U.S., sending the economy into a downward spiral. Amid intense fear and hardship, federal policymakers responded, enacting five relief...

State of the Union, Budget Offer Opportunities to Put Forward Vision for Stronger, More Prosperous Nation

The forthcoming President’s budget is an opportunity for the President to lay out a vision of the country we want to be and the policy changes that will help us get...

Important Investments, Significant Disappointments in Year-End Legislation

Finalizing a year-end omnibus bill is an important accomplishment for Congress, and the bipartisan bill released today includes several key investments, including significant, permanent advances in...

Mississippi Should Use TANF to Improve Financial Stability for Families Experiencing Poverty

Update, October 13: We’ve updated this post. Cash assistance provided through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) helps families with no or very low income meet some of their...

In Pandemic’s Second Year, Government Policies Helped Drive Child Poverty Rate to a Record Low, Cut Uninsured Rate, New Census Data Show

Today’s Census figures show government policies prevented massively higher financial hardship and lack of health insurance in...

How States Fared on Racial and Economic Inequality During the Pandemic

The American Community Survey does not collect information on the value of tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit, stimulus payments, or in-kind benefits such as SNAP or housing assistance, among...

Food Insecurity at a Two-Decade Low for Households With Kids, Signaling Successful Relief Efforts

The latest annual Agriculture Department (USDA) report shows that some 13.5 million households with 33.8 million people were food insecure at some point during 2021. The data tell two stories: on one...

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