Press Release: April 14, 2021 St. Louis (April 14, 2022)— In a new report published with the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings Institution, researchers at the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis and Appalachian State University found that families who were eligible for the child tax credit (CTC) experienced improved nutrition, decreased […]
Category: News
Many parents relying on the Child Tax Credit left the workforce after payments expired (Links to an external site)
Yahoo Money interviewed Stephen Roll, research assistant professor at SPI, about the spike in unemployment in parents following the termination of the CTC payments.
Study Finds Employment Declined for Parents After Ending Monthly CTC Payments (Links to an external site)
Basic Income Today featured results from an SPI study on the child tax credit, finding that the termination of the CTC was followed by households experiencing decreased employment.
Study Counters Claims That the Child Tax Credit Increased Unemployment (Links to an external site)
The National Interest cites a recent SPI study by Stephen Roll, Yung Chun, and Leah Hamilton, that found no evidence that the increased payments led to parents leaving their jobs.
SPI sessions at Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)
Three Social Policy Institute researchers will present their papers and host discussions at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) conference on March 28-29, 2022. Below are the papers and discussions presented by the SPI team. 10:15 a.m. (CT) on Monday, March 28, 2022 “Precarious Homeownership and Housing Inequity During the COVID-19 Pandemic” […]
Child Tax Credit helped some parents start their own business, study finds (Links to an external site)

Stephen Roll, associate director of research at the Social Policy Institute, was interviewed by Yahoo! Money about a recent survey that found that employment did not decline during the period that the Child Tax Credit was in effect.
With the support of the child tax credit, some parents launched businesses last year (Links to an external site)

CNBC News interviewed Stephen Roll, SPI research assistant professor, about the effects of the child tax credit on families and the workforce.
Study: Enhanced Child Tax Credit Helped Parents Start Own Businesses (Links to an external site)
The Center for the National Interest highlighted SPI’s study finding that the Child Tax Credit supported parents to start their own small businesses.
Study finds more entrepreneurship among Child Tax Credit recipients (Links to an external site)
AS news summary featured an SPI study which found no evidence that the child tax credit payments negatively affected employment.
Murphy: I’m 25. I don’t have children. But I know the Child Tax Credit is an opportunity we can’t afford to miss. (Links to an external site)
Loudoun Times-Mirror cites results from a recent SPI study which examined the impact of the CTC on employment.
Money on the table: child credit $ available via tax returns (Links to an external site)
Business Insider shared research from SPI that found that the Child Tax Credit hasn’t changed employment.
Analysis: Child Tax Credit Did Not Cause Labor Force Exit (Links to an external site)
The Center for the National Interest discussed SPI’s recent Child Tax Credit (CTC) study which found that the CTC did not create a significant change in the labor force.
Study: Expanded child tax credits did not reduce employment (Links to an external site)
Phys Org published an article from The Source which shared results from an SPI study finding that the child tax credit payments did not affect employment.
Expanded Child Tax Credit didn’t cut labor force (Links to an external site)

Futurity shared a recent analysis by researchers at SPI and Appalachian State University which found no evidence that the child tax credit payments encouraged unemployment.
Expanded child tax credits did not reduce employment, study finds (Links to an external site)
The Source shares results from a recent SPI study which shows that employment among parents did not decrease following the child tax credit payments.
The expanded child tax credit briefly slashed child poverty. Here’s what else it did (Links to an external site)

NPR highlights a recent SPI study which analyzed spending data to find the ways in which families utilized their child tax credit payments.
Apprenticeships increase employment, earnings, and optimism in the technology sector (Links to an external site)

Given the novel and rapidly changing nature of the labor market, learning new skills quickly will become an increasingly important aspect of workforce development and social mobility. The Social Policy Institute investigates LaunchCode, a St. Louis boot camp with an apprenticeship model, as a viable option to increase wealth-building opportunities and upskill a more diverse labor […]
How Wealth Inequality Shapes Life in the St. Louis Region (Links to an external site)
Yung Chun, data analyst III at SPI, and Selina Miller, postdoctoral research assistant, were interviewed by the St. Louis Public Radio on wealth inequality in the U.S.
Put partisan politics aside — The Child Tax Credit must be renewed immediately (Links to an external site)
The Hill shares results from an SPI study which shows the benefits of the CTC for low-income families.
Congress must renew expired child tax credit (Links to an external site)
The Baltimore Sun highlights a recent SPI study which analyzed how unemployment was affected by the child tax credit payments.
Joe Manchin worried child tax credit would lead to smaller workforce, but job numbers rose (Links to an external site)
Newsweek highlights a recent study from SPI and Humanity Forward which found that most parents planned to keep working after receiving the CTC.
New Year greetings from the director

Thank you for being a valued member of the Social Policy Institute community this past year. I am extremely proud of our team—staff, faculty affiliates, funders and community partners—who work so hard to make the world more equitable for everyone. Our mission to make the world more equitable by applying innovative, evidence-based solutions to complex social problems […]
Study shows spike in COVID-related depression, anxiety among Israeli teens (Links to an external site)
The Cleveland Jewish News highlighted results from a recent SPI study which found an increased number of children suffering from anxiety after the pandemic.
Eating Disorders, Depression Increased Among Israeli Teens During Covid-19 Pandemic, Study Finds (Links to an external site)
The Algemeiner shared a recent SPI study showing a significant increase in anxiety in children following the pandemic.
Timely research from the Social Policy Institute influences policy in Israel (Links to an external site)
Researchers at SPI have worked hard throughout the pandemic to study the socioeconomic effects of COVID-19, both in the U.S. and in Israel. Global highlights how this work has informed public policy.
Beyond the Buzzwords: What is “Data for Social Impact,” and why does it matter?
Social sector organizations can increase impact, both individually and collectively, by being more strategic in how they engage with data. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but rather a range of processes and practices for individuals and organizations to consider as they grapple with complex challenges in their communities.
Monthly child tax credit payments have stopped. Will they be back? (Links to an external site)
Deseret News highlighted results from an SPI study analyzing the impact of the child tax credit payments.
People want to change professions but cannot afford it (Links to an external site)
Michal Grinstein-Weiss, director of SPI, and Oren Heller, postdoctorate researcher, were interviewed by Ynet about a study on access to new vocational training in Israel.
Six months of advance CTC payments have dramatically reduced childhood poverty and improved family finances (Links to an external site)
A Joint Economic Hearing Report highlighted SPI’s study on the usage and impacts of the Child Tax Credit in the U.S.
Celebrating the Inclusive Growth in St. Louis Advisory Committee
After an incredible 18-month engagement and 6-part event series, the Social Policy Institute and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth honored the Inclusive Growth in St. Louis advisory committee on Dec. 7, 2021, at Justine Petersen’s Greencubator.
Innovative Practices Can Help Feed Students and Improve FRP Meal Usage in Missouri Schools
After a year of online learning, new research from the Social Policy Institute found a decline in school-provided free and reduced-price (FRP) breakfasts and lunches served by Missouri schools in the 2019-2020 school year. To combat food insecurity, 9% of FRP breakfasts and 12% of FRP lunches were reduced in price, with the remainder being […]
The Child Tax Credit is helping Clevelanders, but some families have missed out (Links to an external site)
Ideastream Public Media highlighted SPI’s study showing that the most common way Ohioan families are spending the CTC payments is on essential items.
Clalit Health Services: 30% increase in immunization among 5-11 year olds (Links to an external site)
Clalit Health Services cited SPI in a printed article about the increase in vaccinations among young children in Israel.
GOP senator wants to strip child tax credit from nonworking parents (Links to an external site)
The American Independent quoted an SPI study on the usage of the expanded child tax credit in an article combatting criticism of the payments.
Anxious men, depressed women: Welcome to the dark side of working from home (Links to an external site)
The Marker discussed SPI findings on the impacts of working from home on the Israeli workforce.
To achieve their full potential, enhanced child tax payments must remain monthly – Press Telegram (Links to an external site)
Leah Hamilton, SPI faculty affiliate, discusses SPI findings while arguing for the continuation of CTC payments in an article for the California News Times.
Child tax credit close to lapsing as December checks go out (Links to an external site)
CBS 12 reports on the future of the CTC while highlighting SPI’s study on families’ usage of the payments.
‘People Feel Protected’: Why Are 1 Million Israelis Not Getting the Booster Shot? (Links to an external site)
Haaretz interviewed Dr. Oren Heller, SPI research associate, about hesitancy in Israel to get the COVID-19 booster shot.
COVID-expanded child tax credit benefit nears lapse – Boston 25 News (Links to an external site)
Boston 25 News reports SPI findings that families in New Mexico spent almost 46% of their CTC payments on food. This article was syndicated by Westport News.
Child tax credit benefit launched during COVID nears lapse (Links to an external site)
PBS highlights SPI’s findings on the ways in which families in New Mexico are using the expanded CTC payments.
Child tax credit close to lapsing as December checks go out (Links to an external site)
California News Times cited SPI’s study on the usages of the CTC by families in New Mexico in an article about the future of the expanded payments.
Allowing the expanded child tax credit to expire would be a major mistake (Links to an external site)
Vox cites Stephen Roll, SPI research professor, about the potential consequences of ending the CTC payments.
“It’s not burning anymore”: what motivates a million Israelis who refuse a third vaccine (Links to an external site)
Haaretz cites an SPI survey explaining why many Israeli citizens are not receiving the COVID-19 booster shot.
What we can learn from Israel’s COVID-19 vaccination of children (Links to an external site)
As many parents are still unsure whether or not to immunize their children against COVID-19, regardless of whether they themselves have received the shot, Oren Heller, Yaniv Shlomo, and Michal Grinstein-Weiss discuss the need for increased governmental transparency to increase the number of vaccinated children.
Building a better safety net for small businesses (Links to an external site)
In an op-ed by Michal Grinstein-Weiss, SPI, and Salah Goss, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, SPI research suggests that more equitable financial policies and services are needed to support small businesses.
U.S. Census Data Shows Child Tax Credit Promotes Work, Entrepreneurship (Links to an external site)
Yahoo references an SPI study whose findings show that the CTC has enabled low-income families to work.
Check if the vaccines in the periphery are accessible (Links to an external site)
YNet highlights an SPI study in a printed article on the accessibility of the COVID-19 vaccine in Israel’s less-populated areas.
Child Tax Credit is Driving Americans Toward Entrepreneurship, Has little Effect On Workforce (Links to an external site)
SPI’s latest Child Tax Credit research, released in an exclusive with the Daily Caller, suggests that the expanded CTC payments have little to no impact on the workforce. This contradicts predictions that the payments would exacerbate the labor shortage. This article was syndicated by Shore News Network.
Is COVID-19 the spark for Palestinian violence spike? – three takes (Links to an external site)
The Jerusalem Post shares SPI findings that link quarantine to increased violent behavior in children in a discussion about surges in crime between Israelis and Palestinians.
People with disabilities were hit harder financially in Corona (Links to an external site)
CTech discusses a recent SPI study which found that almost half of all households with a person with disabilities suffered loss of income during the pandemic. Whereas employment rates for other households have increased, employment rates for households with a person with disabilities have not yet recovered.