Asset Building: Toward Inclusive Policy

A version of this Working Paper was published in 2018 in the online edition of the Encyclopedia of Social Work, and a revised version was published in 2021.
 
Since 1991, a new policy discussion has arisen in the United States and other countries. It focuses on building assets as a complement to traditional social policy based on income. In fact, asset-based policy has long existed in the United States (and continues), with large public subsidies. But the policy is regressive, benefiting the rich far more than the poor. The goal should be a universal, progressive, and lifelong asset-based policy. One promising pathway may be Child Development Accounts beginning at birth, with greater public deposits for the poorest children. If all children had an account, then eventually this could grow into a universal public policy across the life course.

Subsequent publications:

Sherraden, M., Johnson, L., Clancy, M., Beverly, S., Sherraden, M., Schreiner, M., Elliott, W., Shanks, T., Adams, D., Curley, J., Huang, J., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Nam, Y., Zhan, M., & Han, C. (2021, September 29). Asset building: Toward inclusive policy. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of social work. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.25

Sherraden, M., Johnson, L., Clancy, M. M., Beverly, S. G., Sherraden, M. S., Schreiner, M., Elliott, W., III, Williams Shanks, T. R., Adams, D., Curley, J., Huang, J., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Nam, Y., Zhan, M., & Han, C. K. (2018, March 28). Asset building toward inclusive policy. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of social work. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.25

Project: Global Assets Project