Poverty and Inequality

Inequality Trends Economic Security Program Successes

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

Report

Social Security Lifts More People Above the Poverty Line Than Any Other Program

June 2, 2023

Blog

TANF Provisions in House Republican Bill Could Increase Families’ Risk of Child Welfare Involvement

May 12, 2023

Report

TANF Provisions in House Republicans’ Debt-Ceiling-and-Cuts Bill Would Harm Families and Deepen Poverty Among Children

May 4, 2023

Statement

House Debt-Ceiling-and-Cuts Bill Cuts Health Coverage, Food Assistance, Income Support, and Other National Priorities, Gives Billions to Wealthy Tax Cheats

April 26, 2023

Report

TANF Provisions in McCarthy Bill Give States Incentives to Take Cash Benefits Away From Families With the Most Significant Needs

April 26, 2023

Statement

Important Investments, Significant Disappointments in Year-End Legislation

December 20, 2022

Policy Basics

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

We analyze economic developments affecting low- and moderate-income people, 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

TANF Provisions in House Republican Bill Could Increase Families’ Risk of Child Welfare Involvement

The House Republican debt-ceiling-and-cuts bill would put more families at risk of involvement with the child welfare system by jeopardizing cash assistance for 540,000 families with very low...

TANF Provisions in House Republicans’ Debt-Ceiling-and-Cuts Bill Would Harm Families and Deepen Poverty Among Children

The bill’s provisions could well mean that families face more barriers to finding and maintaining stable employment that can help them move out of...

House Debt-Ceiling-and-Cuts Bill Cuts Health Coverage, Food Assistance, Income Support, and Other National Priorities, Gives Billions to Wealthy Tax Cheats

The bill would only raise the debt ceiling through early next year, creating a new opportunity for House Republicans to use the next deadline for another round of...

TANF Provisions in McCarthy Bill Give States Incentives to Take Cash Benefits Away From Families With the Most Significant Needs

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provisions in House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt-limit-and-cuts bill double down on TANF’s already expansive, rigid, and ineffective...