Abstract Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, parents reported that their children spent the majority of their time at home, which can dramatically change their activities and negatively impact their social skills. However, research has yet to uncover the relationships between changes in activities during the pandemic and children’s social skills, nor the degree to which […]
Abstract Prior research shows unemployment has a negative effect on mental health, yet whether this relationship is affected by financial factors is unknown. For example, having money in savings may mitigate the impact of job loss on mental health. We use structural equation modeling with data from the Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19 Survey with a […]
Abstract The number of individuals with student loan debt who do not earn their degrees is on the rise; nevertheless, there is little research that demonstrates their current circumstances and future aspirations. We address this knowledge gap by comparing the financial distresses and re-enrollment aspirations of student debt-holders who started college but did not earn […]
West Virginia Public Broadcasting interviewed Leah Hamilton, associate professor at SPI, about the effects of the child tax credit on families, highlighting SPI’s finding that 52% of West Virginian parents reported spending the payment on food.
Marketplace references an SPI study on the expanded child tax credit which examined the ways in which CTC recipients used the payments.
Deseret News highlights a recent SPI study on the expanded child tax credit, examining the ways in which parents used the payments.
The Intelligencer highlighted the recent SPI study looking at how parents used the payments not only for basic needs, but also to invest in their children’s futures.
HuffPost highlights findings from an SPI study on the CTC that show the payments enabled many parents to stop resorting to risky ways to make ends meet.
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 […]
Yahoo Money interviewed Stephen Roll, research assistant professor at SPI, about the spike in unemployment in parents following the termination of the CTC payments.
Abstract While supports for people with disabilities have increased, significant healthcare and financial barriers persist. State-administered Medicaid Buy-In programs for working people with disabilities, distinct from broader buy-in discussions that have emerged as some states consider expanding access to health insurance, are intended to incentivize employment and protect against a loss of Long-Term Services and […]
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.
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.
Thanks for joining us for the event on May 4, 2022! Find resources and the recording to learn more about cultivating a data culture that centers on collaboration and equity.
Join us at 1 p.m. on April 6, 2022, to connect with social sector colleagues around actionable tools for crafting a data strategy aligned with your mission and values
Abstract Objectives To explore the associations between vaccine hesitancy and demographic and socio-economic characteristics, as well as perspective towards the COVID-19 and its vaccines. Methods Data were collected through four online surveys on Israel’s representative sample in March (3/2 to 3/7, n = 1517), August (8/10–8/11, n = 925; 8/18–8/22, n = 1054), and September (9/22-9/24; n=1406), 2021. We employ a […]
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” […]
The launch of a series of free learning opportunities for increasing social sector impact, capacity and connection around data. About this event Social sector organizations can increase their impact and advance their missions by cultivating effective, ethical, and equitable data practices. Based on St. Louis social sector input, the Data for Social Impact initiative is […]
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.
CNBC News interviewed Stephen Roll, SPI research assistant professor, about the effects of the child tax credit on families and the workforce.
The Center for the National Interest highlighted SPI’s study finding that the Child Tax Credit supported parents to start their own small businesses.
AS news summary featured an SPI study which found no evidence that the child tax credit payments negatively affected employment.
Loudoun Times-Mirror cites results from a recent SPI study which examined the impact of the CTC on employment.
Abstract Objectives To explore the associations between vaccine hesitancy and demographic and socio-economic characteristics, as well as perspective towards the COVID-19 and its vaccines. Methods Data were collected through four online surveys on Israel’s representative sample in March (3/2 to 3/7, n = 1517), August (8/10–8/11, n = 925; 8/18–8/22, n = 1054), and September (9/22-9/24; n=1406), 2021. We employ a […]
Abstract The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides substantial financial support to low-income workers in the USA, yet around a quarter of EITC payments are estimated to be erroneous or fraudulent. Beginning in 2017, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 requires the Internal Revenue Service to spend additional time processing early EITC […]
The Associated Press shared research from SPI that found that the Child Tax Credit hasn’t changed employment.
Abstract Many people in the United States have achieved economic stability through self-employment and are often seen as embracing the entrepreneurial spirit and seizing opportunity. Yet, research also suggests that self-employment may be precarious for many people in the lower socioeconomic strata. Drawing on a unique dataset that combines longitudinal survey data with administrative tax […]
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.
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.
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.
The Source shares results from a recent SPI study which shows that employment among parents did not decrease following the child tax credit payments.
Abstract Despite the array of public programs offered to help households mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, many still needed to rely on savings, credit, or other assets to make ends meet. This reality may exacerbate existing social and economic inequities because racial and ethnic minorities often have lower access to assets and […]
The COVID-19 pandemic affected nearly every aspect of household health, as well as the social and economic well-being of individuals and communities across the United States. Many in our society have faced and continue to face unprecedented challenges. Specifically, the pandemic put a microscope on inequities such as racial disparities in housing, health care, and […]
Abstract The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has not been shouldered equally by American families. Black and Hispanic communities have been hit the hardest, with the pandemic often exacerbating existing disparities. Using nationally representative data, we assess the economic and public health effects of the pandemic among different socioeconomic groups and whether typical sources of […]
Who benefits from economic growth in St. Louis? Despite promises of job creation, increasing home values, new businesses, and representative leadership in St. Louis, the benefits of economic growth have not been equally, nor equitably, distributed. As the economy rebuilds itself from COVID-19 devastation, now is the time to consider how St. Louis can become […]
Forbes interviewed Dr. Leah Hamilton, SPI faculty affiliate, about the additional benefits of the CTC due to its lack of work requirement conditions for parents.
A 6-part event series, Inclusive Growth in St. Louis investigated who is left out of St. Louis’ economic growth benefits, the policies that have led to the unequal distribution of opportunities, and actionable recommendations to become a more inclusive economy. This report summarizes those discussions and recommendations.
NPR highlights a recent SPI study which analyzed spending data to find the ways in which families utilized their child tax credit payments.
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 […]
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.
Purpose In this paper, the authors explore the relationship that slack resources and technology-mediated human capital investments can have on individuals’ entrepreneurial intentions. Focusing on human capital investments that individuals make through education and work, the authors analyze the relationship among formal online learning opportunities, informal skill development in the gig economy and entrepreneurial intentions. […]
Abstract School meals provide significant access to food and nutrition for children and adolescents, particularly through universal free meal mechanisms. Alongside added nutritional meal requirements under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (2010), schools can utilize meal program and policy mechanisms such as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Breakfast after the Bell (BATB) to increase […]
Newsweek highlights a recent study from SPI and Humanity Forward which found that most parents planned to keep working after receiving the CTC.
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 […]
The Cleveland Jewish News highlighted results from a recent SPI study which found an increased number of children suffering from anxiety after the pandemic.
The Algemeiner shared a recent SPI study showing a significant increase in anxiety in children following the pandemic.
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.
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.
Deseret News highlighted results from an SPI study analyzing the impact of the child tax credit payments.
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.