Recent Publications

Huang, J., Sherraden, M., Sherraden, M. S., & Johnson, L. (2022). Effective finance to increase financial well-being for low-income families: Empirical examination and policy implications. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 56(4), 1638–1657. http://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12484

Fang, S., & Huang, J. (2022). Social workers can help adults with complex needs with financial wellbeing. BMJ, 378, Article 1928. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1928

Abstract Economic disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic left many households without the income necessary to meet basic needs. We describe an innovative, community-based partnership between a financial services company, philanthropic funders, and employers to provide financial assistance to hotel workers in New Orleans who lost jobs and income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results […]

Abstract Though the COVID-19 pandemic required significant changes and adaptations for most Americans, parents faced acute challenges as they had to navigate rapidly changing schooling and child care policies requiring their children to spend more time at home. This study examines the effects of COVID-19 school and workplace policies as well as environmental and economic […]

Abstract As the cost of college continues to rise, it has become increasingly important for students to apply for financial aid. However, many students are unaware of the benefits of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). We launched a field experiment with a non-profit organization to explore how both informational- and testimonial-type text […]

Abstract The combined supply and demand shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic have created the largest consumer behavior shift in recent history, while exposing millions of households to material hardships like food insecurity and housing instability. In this study, we draw on national surveys conducted early in the pandemic to investigate the pandemic’s effects on self-reported […]

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides substantial financial support to low-income Universal basic income has gained renewed interest among policymakers and researchers in the U.S. While research indicates that unconditional cash transfers produce diverse benefits for households, public support lags in part due to the predicted unemployment and frivolous As policy-makers grapple with whether […]

Zou, L., & Sherraden, M. (2022, June). Child Development Accounts reach over 15 million children globally (CSD Policy Brief No. 22-22). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/yfyb-r646

Ferris, D., Roll, S., Huang, J., Mathews, K., Ragain, T., Simpson, K., Jabbari, J., Gilbert, K., Frank, T., & Rothman, S. (2022). Does a food insecurity intervention improve perinatal outcomes for mother and child? A randomized control study protocol of the Fresh Rx: Nourishing Healthy Starts program. Journal of Public Health Research, 11(2), Article 22799036221102496. https://doi.org/10.1177/22799036221102496

Birkenmaier, J., Huang, J., & Balu, A. (2022). Bank compliance with national transaction account standards: Evidence from a mid‐western metropolitan area. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 56(2), 982–1003. https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12428

Mason, L. R., Melton, C. C., Gray, D., & Swallow, A. L. (2022). Climate change, social work, and the transition away from fossil fuels: A scoping review. Sustainability, 14(12), Article 7086. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127086

Clancy, M. M., Beverly, S. G., Schreiner, M., Huang, J., & Sherraden, M. (2022, June). Financial facts: SEED OK Child Development Accounts at age 14 (CSD Fact Sheet No. 22-20). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/13ge-kt42

Elliott, W., III. (2022, May). Economic security from an asset perspective (CSD Perspective No. 22-19). Washington University, Center for Social Development, and University of Michigan, Center on Assets Education, and Inclusion.

Henly, J., Lein, L., Romich, J., Shanks, T. R., & Sherraden, M. S. (with Jones, R., & Tillotson, A.). (2022). Reducing extreme economic inequality. In R. P. Barth, J. T. Messing, T. R. Shanks, & J. H. Williams (Eds.), Grand challenges for social work and society (2nd ed., pp. 279–309). Oxford University Press.

Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., Johnson, E., Birkenmaier, J., Rothwell, D., Despard, M. R., Jones, J. L., Callahan, C., Doran, J., Frey, J. J., McClendon, G. G., Friedline, T., & McKinney, R. (2022). Building financial capability and assets for all. In R. P. Barth, J. T. Messing, T. R. Shanks, & J. H. Williams (Eds.), Grand challenges for social work and society (2nd ed., pp. 310–340). Oxford University Press.

Barth, R. P., Silk, K., Flynn, M. L., Uehara, E. Messing, J. T., Shanks, T. R., Sherraden, M., & Williams, J. H., (2022). Conclusions and looking forward. In R. P. Barth, J. T. Messing, T. R. Shanks, & J. H. Williams (Eds.), Grand challenges for social work and society (2nd ed., pp. 389–405). Oxford University Press.

Johnson, L., Butts, S. C., Manderscheid, R., Sherraden, M., & Lewis, C. E. (2022). Commentary. In R. P. Barth, J. T. Messing, T. R. Shanks, & J. H. Williams. J. H. (Eds.), Grand challenges for social work and society (2nd ed., pp. 406–414). Oxford University Press.

Small business owners experienced a drastic economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Government pandemic assistance failed to reach many small business owners, especially those historically underserved by financial institutions. Drawing on a 2021 survey of 246 small business owners, the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis descriptively examined the extent to […]

Abstract We examine individuals’ decisions to attend protests during the summer of 2020. Our analysis examines two simultaneous movements: Black Lives Matter along with protests calling for less stringent public health measures to combat the COVID-19 (e.g., for swifter reopening of businesses). Our analysis is made possible by a unique staggered panel data set that […]

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 […]

The 2021 temporary expansion of the child tax credit (CTC) was unprecedented in its reach, lifting 3.7 million children out of poverty as of December 2021. It provided families with up to $3,600 for every child in the household under the age of six and up to $3,000 for every child between the ages of […]

Approximately 60 million American children living in 35 million households received monthly payments from the federal government as part of the temporary Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion. Discourse over whether or not the expanded CTC caused parents to leave the workforce emerged during the period of the expanded credit. On one side, a large number […]

Mason, L. R., Minnick, D. J., Tercero, S., Cummings Melton, C., & Greenfield, J. C. (2022). Policy mapping of US congressional proposals on climate change: Informing social work advocacy. Journal of Policy Practice and Research, 3, 221–240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42972-022-00055-4

Birkenmaier, J., Maynard, B., & Kim, Y. (2022). Interventions designed to improve financial capability: A systematic review. Research on Social Work Practice, 32(6), 651–677. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315221080127

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 […]

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., & Ansong, D. (2022, February 24). Financial capability. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Work (Online ed.). https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1201

Flynn, M. L., Barth, R. P., Uehara, E., & Sherraden, M. (2022, February 24). Grand Challenges for Social Work. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Work (Online ed.). https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1458

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 […]

Fergus, D., & Shanks, T. R. (2022). The long afterlife of slavery in asset stripping, historical memory, and family burden: Toward a third Reconstruction. Families in Society, 103(1), 7–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894211061283

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 […]

Finsel, C., Watson Grote, M., Libby, M., Mahon, C., & Sherraden, M. S. (2022). Financial capability and asset building with a racial- and gender-equity lens: Advances from the field. Families in Society, 103(1), 86–100. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894211063133

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., Jones, J. L., & Callahan, C. (2022). Building financial capability and assets in America’s families [Special issue introduction]. Families in Society, 103(1), 3–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894211066464

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., Jones, J. L., & Callahan, C. (Eds.). (2022). Building financial capability and assets in America’s families [Special issue]. Families in Society, 103(1). https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/fisa/103/1

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 […]

Beverly, S. G., Huang, J., Clancy, M. M., & Sherraden, M. (2022, January). Policy design for Child Development Accounts: Parents’ perceptions (CSD Research Brief No. 22-03). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/nbdq-xa08

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.

Koomson, I., Okumu, M., & Ansong, D. (2022). Introducing the Disease Outbreak Resilience Index (DORI) Using the Demographic and Health Surveys data from sub‑Saharan Africa. Social Indicators Research, 162, 1149–1175. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-022-02881-1

Ferris, D., Jabbari, J., Chun, Y., Sandoval, J.S. (2022). Increased school breakfast participation from policy and program innovation: The community eligibility provision and breakfast after the bell. Nutrients, 14(3), Article 511. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030511

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. […]

Sun, S., Chen, Y.-C., Ansong, D., Huang, J., & Sherraden, M. S. (2022). Household financial capability and economic hardship: An empirical examination of the financial capability framework. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 43(4), 716–729. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-022-09816-5

Sherraden, M. (2022, January). Financial capability and asset building in social work practice (CSD Perspective No. 22-01). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/a6jt-bb86

Sherraden, M. S. (2022, January). Preparing social workers to improve people’s finances (CSD Perspective No. 22-02). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/w45g-2b72

Mason, L. R., Kemp, S. P., Palinkas, L. A., & Krings, A. (2021). Social responses to a changing environment. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of social work. National Association of Social Workers & Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1431

Pettus, C. (2021). Smart decarceration. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of social work. National Association of Social Workers & Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1295

Mason, L. R. (2021). Where to for climate justice and social work advocacy? Connect, dialogue, and multisolve. Journal of Policy Practice and Research, 2(4), 258–263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42972-021-00038-x

Center for Social Development. (2021, December). Financial facts from the SEED OK Child Development Account experiment (CSD Fact Sheet No 21-42). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/b5y6-jg13

Tiessen, R., & Lough, B. J. (2021). Introduction: Innovations in gender equality and women’s empowerment: Understanding the role of international development volunteers as transnational actors. Voluntaris, Special issue, 7–43. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748924951-7

Tiessen, R., Lough, B. J., Laursen, T., & Sadat, K. (Eds.). (2021). Innovations in gender equality and women’s empowerment: Understanding the role of international development volunteers as transnational actors [Special issue]. Voluntaris.

Tiessen, R., Laursen, T., & Lough, B. J. (with Mirza, T.). (2021). Gender-focused social innovation and the role of international development volunteers in promoting women’s economic empowerment. Voluntaris, Special issue, 91–107. https://doi.org/10.5771/9783748924951-91

Ekenga, C. C., Mason, L. R., & Mustapha, A. (2021, December). Environment and health in Nigeria: Capacity and research development (CSD Research Brief No. 21-38). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/ae45-hd66

Joe, S., Clifton, M., & Carlton-Brown, D. (2021, December). HomeGrown StL 4th Annual Regional Summit on the State of Opportunities for Black Boys and Young Men: Closing the healing, growth, and opportunity gaps (CSD Conference Report No. 21-34). Washington University, Center for Social Development, Race & Opportunity Lab, HomeGrownStL. https://doi.org/10.7936/cej1-ds84

DeCecco, A., Peachey, J., & Clancy, M. M. (2021, November). Targeted deposits in Pennsylvania’s Keystone Scholars Child Development Account program (CSD Policy Brief No. 21-36). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/5qg9-4191

Lough, B. J. University Press. (2021). Social development. In C. Franklin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of social work. National Association of Social Workers & Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.362

McLaughlin, M., & Rank, M. R. (2018). Estimating the economic cost of childhood poverty in the United States. Social Work Research, 42(2), 73–83. doi:10.1093/swr/svy007

The primary aim of the present study is to examine the reasons for adolescents’ refusal to get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, and examine correlates of vaccination among adolescents aged 12–18 years in Israel. A total of 150 youth aged 12–18 years participated in the study. Following parental consent (30% response rate) from an online internet […]

Households in the U.S. regularly experience unexpected negative income or expense shocks, and low- and moderate-income households experience these shocks at disproportionately high rates. Relatively little is known about the impact these shocks have on households’ subjective sense of financial well-being, and how access to different types of liquidity (e.g., liquid assets, credit cards, social […]

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Israel quickly introduced aggressive social distancing measures to curb the virus spread and adapted its unemployment insurance program in response to rising unemployment rates. This study examines the relationship between household income and the experience of material hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel and […]

Jabbari, J., Chun, Y., Nandan, P., McDermott, L., Frank, T., Moreland-Russell, S., Ferris, D., Roll, S. (2021). How did school meal access change during the COVID-19 pandemic? A two-step floating catchment area analysis of a large metropolitan area. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21), Article 11350. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111350

Huang, J., Sherraden, M., & Sherraden, M. S. (2021). We have clean water and clean air: Why not clean finance, too? A vision for inclusion and equity. In R. Boshara & I. Rademacher (Eds.), The future of building wealth: Brief essays on the best ideas to build wealth—for everyone (pp. 83–89). Federal Reserve Bank and Aspen Institute. https://futureofwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sec-2.pdf

Sherraden, M. S., Huang, J., & Jones, J. L. (2021). Human service professionals: A ready workforce for financial capability. In R. Boshara & I. Rademacher (Eds.), The future of building wealth: Brief essays on the best ideas to build wealth—for everyone (pp. 193–199). Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis & Aspen Institute. https://futureofwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sec-3.pdf

Sherraden, M., & Clancy, M. M. (2021). Transforming 529 college savings plans: grow assets for everyone, grow the country. In R. Boshara & I. Rademacher (Eds.), The future of building wealth: Brief essays on the best ideas to build wealth—for everyone (pp. 251–257). Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis & Aspen Institute. https://futureofwealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sec-5.pdf

Pettus, C., Veeh, C. A., Renn, T. R., & Kennedy, S. C. (2021). The Well-Being Development Model: A theoretical model to improve outcomes among criminal justice system–involved individuals. Social Service Review, 95(2), 413–468. https://doi.org/10.1086/715852

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. (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

Birkenmaier, J. M. & Janssen, A. (2021). A policy mapping analysis of goals related to bank accounts in federal legislative proposals. Journal of Policy Practice and Research, 3, 96–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42972-021-00037-y

The 2021 temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) is unprecedented in its reach and is predicted to cut American child poverty by more than half. The expanded CTC provides families with $3,600 for every child in the household under the age of six and $3,000 for every child between the ages of six […]

Bufe, S., Roll, S., Kristensen, K., Zhao, D., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2021). Use of public benefits over the first year of pandemic: Exploring access, delays and outcomes (Social Policy Institute Research Report). Washington University, Social Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.7936/h45c-kc86

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruptions in employment, child care and education. As a result, both parents and children experienced a variety of hardships in their work and education. While these hardships had reverberating effects throughout households, they were not equally distributed across families with children. In this brief, we explore the effects of COVID-19 […]

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. unemployment peaked at 14.4%. While some workers have returned to payrolls, others have been left behind. This brief examines the nuances of employment changes over the course of the pandemic and the impact of those changes on household financial well-being. Our study finds that the proportion of employees who […]

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. households were burdened by the cost of rental and mortgage payments, burdens which disproportionately fell on Black and Hispanic families. Using a 5-wave survey, we examined whether disparities in housing cost burden continued throughout the pandemic and trends in how households fell behind on rent and mortgage payments. […]

The temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) is projected to cut American child poverty by more than half. The CTC expansion provides families with $3,600 for every child in the household under the age of six and $3,000 for every child between the ages of six and 17. The vast majority of U.S. […]

Ferris, D., Jabbari, J., Chun, Y., Sandoval, N. (2021). Serving students: Increased free and reduced-price school meal access in Missouri (Policy Brief). Saint Louis University, Prime Center. https://www.primecenter.org/policy-brief-database/srf-meals

Roll, S., Bufe, S.., Chun, Y., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2021). The Socioeconomic Impacts of COVID-19 Study: Survey methodology report (Social Policy Institute Research Report). Washington University, Social Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.7936/r4cj-5041

Tiessen, R., & Lough, B. J. (2021). International development volunteering as alternative public diplomacy. In H. Zafarullah & A. S. Huque (Eds.), Handbook of Development Policy (pp 283–293). Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839100871.00032

We explore whether gritty individuals are better savers by virtue of their wealth or due to diligent choices that benefit their long-term economic health. We test these competing hypotheses by examining the ways in which grit influences how LMI tax filers report spending or saving their tax refund in the months following tax filing. We […]

Muñoz-Rivera, A., Jabbari, J., Roll, S., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on households with children: Family hardships and policy insights (Social Policy Institute Research Report). Washington University, Social Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.7936/1m6t-7y41

Fox-Dichter, S., Chun, Y., Roll, S., Kristensen, K., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2021). Housing hardships during COVID-19: Disparities increased by race/ethnicity and homeowner status (Social Policy Institute Research Report). Washington University, Social Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.7936/52dc-wx52

Mati, J. M., Allum, C., Perold, H., Lough, B. J., Tiessen R. (2021). Leadership for volunteering: The COVID-19 experience [Report]. International Association for Volunteer Effort International. https://leadership4vol.iave.org/

The Social Policy Institute (SPI) at Washington University in St. Louis partnered with PerkUp Financial Health LLC, a financial services technology company, to study an emergency financial assistance program offered to employees of three hotels in New Orleans, LA who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. PerkUp serves as a technology hub for a […]

Cisneros, J., Clancy, M. M., Elliott, W., III, Feinstein, A., Kanter, M., Karcher-Ramos, M., Kugler, C., Peachey, J., Quint, C., Shapiro, T. M., & Sherraden, M. (2021, August). The case for a nationwide Child Development Account policy: A policy brief developed by CDA experts and researchers (CSD Policy Brief No. 21-20). Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Cisneros, J., Clancy, M. M., Elliott, W., III, Feinstein, A., Kanter, M., Karcher-Ramos, M., Kugler, C., Peachey, J., Quint, C., Shapiro, T. M., & Sherraden, M. (2021, August). Redesigning college savings (529) plans to achieve inclusive Child Development Accounts: A policy brief developed by CDA experts and researchers (CSD Policy Brief No. 21-21). Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Mason, L. R., & Ekenga, C. C. (2021). Keeping each other safe: Who checks on their neighbors during weather extremes in summer and winter? Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2021.175

Zhou, L., Wang, J., & Huang, J. (2021). Brief report: Health expenditures for children with autism and family financial well-being in China. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05214-2

Addison, E. (2021, July). Reflections of a central bank governor (CSD Perspective No. 21-18). Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Center for Social Development. (2021, July). FCAB Africa: Advancing financial stability, security, and well-being (CSD Fact Sheet No. 21-12). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/gmwt-0238

Center for Social Development. (2021, July). FCAB Africa: Summary of achievements as of July 2021 (CSD Fact Sheet No. 21-13). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/j5rd-tr36

Huang, J., Sherraden, M., Clancy, M. M., Beverly, S. G., Shanks, T. R., & Kim, Y. (2021). Asset building and child development: A policy model for inclusive Child Development Accounts. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, 7(3), 176–195. https://doi.org/10.7758/RSF.2021.7.3.08

Bawumia, M. (2021, July). Lessons on policies that strengthen household financial resilience to overcome shocks: A keynote address by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana (CSD Perspective No. 21-17). Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Birkenmaier, J., Lane, L. B. Callahan, C.,, & Hageman, S. A. (2021). Teaching note—Course models for increased competency for practice integrated with financial capability and asset building. Journal of Social Work Education, 57(3), 604–611. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2020.1714522

Pitzer, K. McClendon, G. G., & Sherraden, M. (2021). Voting infrastructure and process: Another form of voter suppression? Social Service Review, 95(2), 175–209. https://doi.org/10.1086/714491

Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., Sherraden, M., & Johnson, L. (2021). Experimental effects of Child Development Accounts on financial capability of young mothers. Journal of Family & Economic Issues, 43,36–50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-021-09774-4

The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides substantial financial assistance to low- and moderate-income workers and has been shown to reduce poverty and encourage employment. Many U.S. states have also implemented their own EITCs to supplement the federal tax credits. Leveraging unique administrative and survey data and employing a difference-in-differences approach, this study investigates […]

Lower-income households are at risk for material hardship, particularly amidst the economic fallout of COVID-19. Where one lives (e.g., suburb, small town) may affect this risk due to variable access to resources, yet the evidence is mixed concerning the influence of place. We used a pooled, national cross-sectional sample of 66,046 lower-income tax filers to […]

To inform the Data Science for Social Impact initiative, SPI hosted a series of public roundtable discussions in partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, data.org, and the St. Louis Regional Data Alliance in 2021. This report documents the information gathered at the first two discussions.

Johnson, L., Sherraden, M. S., McClendon, G., Birkenmaier, J., Frey, J., Callahan, C., Huang, J., & Rothwell, D. (2021). Financial Capability and Asset Building: Achievements, challenges, and next steps (CSD Conference Report No. 21-11). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/vnr6-ys64

Heist, Daniel H., Cnaan, Ram A., & Lough, Benjamin J. (2021). Determinants of serving a mission: Senior volunteering among Latter-day Saints. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality 13(2), 147–159. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000246

Tiessen, R., Cadesky, J., Lough, B. J., Delaney, J. (2021). Scholar/practitioner research in international development volunteering: benefits, challenges and future opportunities. Canadian Journal of Development Studies, 42(3), 394–415. https://doi.org/10.1080/02255189.2020.1841606