Disparate housing hardship among Latinx and Black households, results from the Socioeconomic Impact of COVID-19 Survey, are featured in this article.
Category: News
Study: Women with young kids vanishing from the workforce in Israel
Director, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, was interviewed by i24News.
A Message from the Director
As we are opening a near year, we are also experiencing the tragedy of the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It was a sad day in our nation’s history and highlights the ever-widening divisions within the country. Despite the shocking and unprecedented moment in American history, Congressional leaders were undeterred and […]
Women with young children are disappearing from the Israeli workforce
Women with young children (0-14 years old) are twice as likely to experience unemployment as compared to men in the same situation, according to the longitudinal Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel, administered by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis.
Housing inequality gets worse as the COVID-19 pandemic is prolonged
Kids, Families and COVID-19: A report from Annie E. Casey Foundation
A Dec. 14, 2020 report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation features evidence from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey from SPI related to child care and working parents.
In Israel, households with children are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic
Like many families across the globe, Israeli families have been facing the challenges of raising children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only do Israeli families have to adjust to large changes in their child(ren)’s schooling, but they are also forced to cope with the financial shocks, such as job and/or income loss that come with […]
School breakfast matters for Missouri students
Guest post by Sarah Ritter, manager of public policy, Operation Food Search Child nutrition programs are essential to ending hunger and supporting children’s health, learning and development. One important yet underutilized program is the School Breakfast Program (SBP). Students who eat breakfast at school consume more fiber, calcium and vitamin C – nutrients all children […]
The big victims: One in six mothers working for small children has stopped working
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, was interviewed for a story in The Marker, the leading economic publication in Israel, about COVID-19 related job loss and the mental well-being of working mothers in Israel.
Israeli Employers Don’t Forecast Vaccine Will Bring Jump in Hiring
Results from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey were published in Haaretz, an Israeli publication.
Uber made big promises in Kenya. Drivers say it’s ruined their lives.
NBC News cited a research done by Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, to demonstrate the impact of the gig economy on financial hardship among low-income families.
Operation Food Search expands study of food for health benefits
St. Louis Business Journal mentioned a new study conducted by SPI, Operation Food Search(OFS), and Medicaid Health Plan. The study aims to determine the effect of Medicaid in promoting food security.
7 Tips to Mitigate Hoarding Behavior
Mary Acri has seven tips to manage feelings of powerlessness, helplessness and fear without stockpiling toilet paper as the pandemic persists.
Guest opinion: How to help your employees avoid the perils of payday loans
WashU’s research with employee financial wellness programs, specifically related to employee loans, was featured in a recent op-ed with St. Louis Business Journal.
The Far-Reaching Impacts of COVID-19 on the Financial Lives of Israelis – Differences by Religion and Ethnicity
Press Release: October 25, 2020 With a COVID-19 death toll exceeding 2,000, Israel now has one of the highest per capita deaths in the world. Feelings of frustration and despair have resulted in the largest anti-government demonstrations since the establishment of the country, emphasizing that a central crisis during the COVID-19 is a growing divide […]
Moderna Monday – Another vaccine lifts the markets – Again
TheStreet cited Social Policy Institute findings of the effect of liquid assets on the likelihood of an individual to practice social distancing.
Three reasons young Israeli adults may face catastrophic, long-term financial burden from COVID-19

Press Release: September 25, 2020 The potentially catastrophic, long-term financial impacts of COVID-19 on young adults are highlighted in the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey[1] in Israel, which was administered between June 4 and July 1 by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis in partnership with Mastercard. The survey results found […]
A different dialogue: Lifting up community voices

By: Sarah Cowart, communications manager for Social Policy Institute; Pamela Chan, associate director for Social Policy Institute, and Daniel Barker, director of research and knowledge, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth If you attended “Building an Inclusive Economy” on October 7 with the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis (SPI) and Mastercard Center […]
Women in St. Louis worry about their careers as they step back to care for their families
St. Louis Public Radio highlighted survey results from Social Policy Institute’s Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in the U.S. to elevate evidence that child care concerns are driving job losses and the ability to return to work during the pandemic. Atia Thurman, associate director from the Clark-Fox Policy Institute at Washington University added commentary about policy solutions.
Sustainable finance addresses social justice as COVID-19 raises the stakes
S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, cited Social Policy Institute findings related to COVID-19 and housing hardships in the U.S.
Long-term effects of the Coronavirus on the economic situation in Israel
Panet, an Israeli media site, cited SPI research of the long-term effects of the Coronavirus on the economic situation in Israel.
Housing mobility programs are an important piece of equitable community development
Despite its name, the Housing Choice Voucher (or Section 8) program does not always offer families much choice in where to live. Jenna Hampton, SPI practicum student, calls to expand the choices available to families who want the best for themselves and their children in an editorial with Community Builders Network in St. Louis.
SPI introduces new program with Brown School for students interested in data and statistics

Data and statistics are foundational to policy research and practice. As Social Policy Institute continues to grow, developing opportunities for people to increase knowledge and skills in these areas is a focus of our organization. One example of how we are doing this is a new opportunity led by the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and Social Policy Institute: Data and Statistics for Policy Practice.
Without work, savings – or future: the young people who pay the price of the crisis
13 News, an Israeli news channel, cited a study conducted by Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI.
SPI researchers featured at 2020 APPAM Conference
Seven Social Policy Institute researchers will present their papers and/or host discussions at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management conference on November 11-13.
Secular, ultra-Orthodox and Arab should spend NIS 2,000 – who will have a harder time?
Results from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel about ethnic and racial disparities were featured in The Marker, an Israeli news outlet.
Most of those injured by the corona: ultra-Orthodox and Arab
Results from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel about ethnic and racial disparities were featured in Israel National News, an Israeli news outlet.
More Arabs and ultra-Orthodox will be unemployed or experiencing difficulties
Results from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel about ethnic and racial disparities were featured in Bizzness, an Israeli news outlet.
Research: 25% of ultra-Orthodox have difficulty making payments; 28% – food insecurity
Results from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel about food insecurity were featured in Jewish Daily News, an Israeli news outlet.
Research: The Arabs and the ultra-Orthodox were hit harder by the economic crisis.
Results from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel were featured in Ice, an Israeli news outlet.
An epidemic of food insecurity in Israel
Davar Today, a newspaper in Israel, interviewed Michal Grinstein-Weiss about the impact of COVID-19 on food insecurity in Israel. The data presented is based on the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey in Israel.
Emergency savings are a potential lifeline for households in financial distress due to COVID-19
Many U.S. households have lost a job and/or income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These types of losses can influence an individual’s level of life satisfaction and thus, their overall health and well-being. One possible strategy to mitigate the impacts of economic volatility for U.S. individuals and households is to build a rainy-day fund. A […]
Hardship is greatest among vulnerable Israelis already struggling financially
By: Olga Kondratjeva, data analyst III, Social Policy Institute; Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director, Social Policy Institute; Talia Schwartz-Tayri, researcher, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; John Gal, professor, The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; senior researcher, the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel; & Stephen Roll, […]
Research found 16% of job loss or layoffs reported payment difficulties
The story below is a translation from an article printed in Hebrew in Israel Today, the largest newspaper in Israel, on Oct. 5, 2020. A new study published here for the first time examined the effect of the first lockdown on households using 2,300 Israelis from June 4 to early July. The data show that […]
The world will no longer belong to the young: 18 – 39-year-olds were financially affected the worst from the Coronavirus
This story was written by Tali Heruti-Sover and originally published on Oct. 1, 2020 in The Marker in Israel. According to a study conducted by Prof. Michal Grinstein-Weiss at the beginning of the crisis, young people, generations Y and Z, suffer from high unemployment, have difficulty providing basic needs for themselves and their debts are large
Safe, affordable child care is a right, not a privilege
As the United States nears the seventh month of weathering COVID-19’s impact, it has become clear that the economy will not recover simply by encouraging businesses to re-open or consumers to keep shopping. Working adults with children are being disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and will continue to struggle without stronger federal and state support for child care.
Coping with COVID-19: Implications of Differences in Resilience across Racial Groups for Mental Health and Well-being
Data obtained from the Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey indicate that, despite extreme income and health disparities before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, Black and Hispanic people remain more resilient and optimistic than their white counterparts.
Lee twice recognized as leader in field
Hedwig Lee, professor of sociology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and faculty affiliate for Social Policy Institute, was elected to the prestigious Sociological Research Association. The highly selective honor society elects up to 14 new members each year; the sole criterion for selection is excellence in research.
Apply Now for the 2020-2021 Graduate Policy Scholar Program
If you are interested in policy, community organizing, advocacy and more, the Graduate Policy Scholar Program is a great match for you! The Graduate Policy Scholar Program is committed to building a community of policy-interested graduate students at Washington University. Over this coming academic year, Scholars-in-Training will supplement their coursework with skill-building and networking experiences designed […]
An immersive course about the design of segregation helps bring change to St. Louis neighborhoods

Why is St. Louis segregated? Some say it is by design. Catalina Freixas, assistant professor of architecture at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) agrees. She and her students study segregation’s design, impact and strategies for mitigation in St. Louis neighborhoods in the course, Segregation by Design.
Michal Grinstein-Weiss and Marla Blow: Masks aren’t the only answer to keeping workers safe
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director, SPI, and Marla Blow, vice president, Center for Inclusive Growth, co-author an op-ed highlighting the need for better workplace policies to mitigate exposure to COVID-19. “By addressing longstanding inequalities that have undervalued essential workers, these measures would ensure that no one is put in a position of choosing health over a paycheck.”
Covid-19: Time to look at where we are going
SPI research about job loss is featured in this article on BizNews in which Alan Whiteside, OBE, Chair of Global Health Policy, BSIA, Waterloo, Canada & Professor Emeritus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, looks at the long-term impact of COVID-19.
Did CARES Act benefits reach vulnerable Americans? Evidence from a national survey
It’s not enough to simply offer COVID-19 relief, policymakers must also simplify how households access payments or pair payments with funding support for government agencies facing increased demands.
How to Deal With Debt While Unemployed
Stephen Roll, research assistant professor at SPI, was interviewed for a story with OppLoans about debt during unemployment.
Quarantine Envy Got You Down? You’re Not Alone
Some groups may also be better than others at resisting envy. A recent Brookings Institution study showed that African-American and Hispanic people, especially those with low incomes, remained more optimistic than their white counterparts, despite facing physical and economic challenges from the pandemic.
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Stephen Roll and Olga Kondratjeva receive grant for COVID-19 research in Israel
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI and principal investigator, and Olga Kondratjeva, postdoctoral research assistant at SPI, were awarded a grant from McDonnell Academy to examine the economic impacts of and policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students Share their Experiences with the Graduate Policy Scholars Program
The Graduate Policy Scholars program provides students from all fields of study with impactful opportunities and training outside of their curriculum. Offered by the Clark-Fox Policy Institute in partnership with the Social Policy Institute, the yearlong program inspires students to pursue their unique interests. Nearly 120 students have completed the GPS program through its first […]
Low-income households falling further behind on student debt due to COVID-19
COVID-19 is widening the achievement gap
Parents shouldn’t have to choose between their children’s’ health and their academic success—between surviving and thriving. While the choice to attend school in-person or virtually may ultimately be up to parents in some cases, we should ensure that both options allow for academic success—especially for the most vulnerable learners.
Call for papers: The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science special issue on COVID-19
The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science announces a special issue on The COVID-19 Shock to Our Deep Inequities: How to Mitigate the Impact Submission deadline for proposals: August 31, 2020Submission deadline for full manuscripts: October 31, 2020 More information at AAPSS View and download the call for proposals as a […]