Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility
Income policy
The Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) project is designed to comprehensively examine the financial vulnerability of low-wage workers in the U.S. We are exploring how employer benefits, public benefits (including benefits cliffs and administrative burdens), conditions of work (e.g., irregular scheduling), changes in employment status, taxes, caregiving responsibilities, financial shocks, and the use of financial services like “Buy Now Pay Later” relate to financial and mental health. The cornerstone of the WEIM project is a three-wave survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage workers (data collection completed in December, 2024). The research will contribute to identifying public and private sector innovations that improve financial security and economic mobility for low-wage workers in the U.S.
Through the WEIM project, we are also studying the impacts of cash transfer programs on low-wage workers in the U.S. and U.K., doing comparative, policy-oriented research with the Centre on Household Assets and Savings Management (CHASM) at the University of Birmingham. We are also providing research and evaluation technical assistance to three nonprofit organizations that support low-wage workers: Neighborhood Trust, Undue Medical Debt, and Leap Fund. We are partnering with the Aspen Institute’s Financial Security Program to share our findings and engage with key decision makers.
Funding Partner: JPMorganChase
Investigators
