Auguste, D., Roll, S., & Despard, M. (2024). Democratizing the economy or introducing economic risk? Gig work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Work and Occupations, 51(4), 550–606. https://doi.org/10.1177/07308884231202032
Tag: COVID-19
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Housing Instability During the COVID-19 Pandemic: the Role of Assets and Income Shocks
Chun, Y., Roll, S., Miller, S., Lee, H., Larimore, S., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2023). Racial and ethnic disparities in housing instability during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of assets and income shocks. Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, 6(2), 63–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41996-022-00109-5
Coping with COVID-19: Differences in hope, resilience, and mental well-being across U.S. racial groups
Abstract Objectives To explore if the COVID-19 pandemic revealed differences across racial groups in coping, resilience, and optimism, all of which have implications for health and mental well-being. Methods We collect data obtained from four rounds of a national sample of 5,000 US survey respondents in each round from April 2020 to February 2021. Using […]
Disparate financial assistance support for small business owners
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 […]
Introducing the Disease Outbreak Resilience Index (DORI) Using the Demographic and Health Surveys Data from sub‑Saharan Africa
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
Paid Sick Leave Heading Into COVID-19: A Descriptive Account of Workers Who Lacked Paid Sick Leave
Rothwell, D., Fox-Dichter, S., Despard, M., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2021). Paid sick leave heading into COVID-19: A descriptive account of workers who lacked paid sick leave (Social Policy Institute Research Brief). Washington University, Social Policy Institute. https://www.doi.org/10.7936/53ct-2e59
Vaccine Hesitance During COVID-19: Exploring Motivations and Incentives
Brugger, L., Roll, S., Kristensen, K., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2021). Vaccine hesitance during COVID-19: Exploring motivations and incentives (Social Policy Institute Research Brief). Washington University, Social Policy Institute. https://www.doi.org/10.7936/b07b-ks62
CSD releases new tools for educators

As colleges and universities begin the new academic year, educators in social work and other human-service fields have new tools for equipping students with the knowledge needed to guide clients with financial problems.
COVID-19 Among Youth in Israel: Correlates of Decisions to Vaccinate and Reasons for Refusal
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 […]
Impact of COVID-19 on Households with Children
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 […]
Housing Hardships During COVID-19
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. […]
Impact of COVID-19 on Households With Children: Family Hardships and Policy Insights
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
Housing Hardships During COVID-19: Disparities Increased by Race/Ethnicity and Homeowner Status
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
Leadership for Volunteering: The COVID-19 Experience
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/
Reflections of a Central Bank Governor
Addison, E. (2021, July). Reflections of a central bank governor (CSD Perspective No. 21-18). Washington University, Center for Social Development.
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
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.
Building Financial Capability and Assets for Disadvantaged Entrepreneurs
Huang, J., & Guo, B. (2021, April). Building financial capability and assets for disadvantaged entrepreneurs (CSD Research Brief No. 21-10). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/8nyn-h137
Addressing the Burden of Education Financing in Low and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: The Role of Savings Accounts, Cash Transfers, and Other Income Sources
Ansong, D., Okumu, M., Otchere, F., Koomson, I., & Sherraden, M. (2021). Addressing the burden of education financing in low and lower middle income countries: The role of savings accounts, cash transfers, and other income sources. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 42(4), 745–756. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-021-09757-5
COVID-19 Educational Inequities: Shining a Light on Disparities in a Graduate School of Social Work
Despite its name, the Housing Choice Voucher (or Section 8) program does not always offer families much choice in where to live. Jenna Hampton, SPI practicum student, calls to expand the choices available to families who want the best for themselves and their children in an editorial with Community Builders Network in St. Louis.
Financial Capability and Asset Building in Social and Economic Development: Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals
Ansong, D., Okumu, M., Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., Johnson, L., & Zou, L. (2020, November). Financial capability and asset building in social and economic development: Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (CSD Perspective No. 20-27). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/vh44-x812
Income Loss and Financial Distress during COVID-19: The Protective Role of Liquid Assets
This study examines how demographic, financial, and intrinsic personality characteristics predict household participation in Israel’s Child Development Account (CDA) program, the Savings for Every Child Program (SECP).
COVID-19 and the Future of Volunteering for Development: Findings from a Study Conducted for the International Forum for Volunteering in Development
Perold, H., Mwathi Mati, J., Alum, C., Lough, B. J., (2021, February). COVID-19 and the future of volunteering for development: Findings from a study conducted for the International Forum for Volunteering in Development [Research Report]. International Forum for Volunteering in Development. https://forum-ids.org/2021/03/covid-19-and-the-future-of-volunteering-for-development-research-report/
As nation struggles, conference sets sights on equity and financial inclusion

From across a nation struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic and a generally difficult year, over 150 scholars and practitioners gathered virtually on September 21 for “FCAB Policies: Race and Inequality in the COVID-19 Era,” Part 1 of the two-part convening “Financial Capability and Asset Building: Achievements, Challenges, and Next Steps.” They gathered to set an […]
Strategies for fostering full inclusion, building statewide CDA policies, and engaging communities among highlights at conference

What would it take to ensure that every child in every state has an account accumulating assets for education beyond high school? How would those assets shape the children and their families? State officials, researchers, nonprofit leaders, program managers, and funders gathered July 16 to take up those questions.
Child Development Accounts Improve Parenting Practices, Particularly for Financially Vulnerable Families
Huang, J., Beverly, S. G., Clancy, M. M., & Sherraden, M. (2020, August). Child Development Accounts improve
parenting practices, particularly for financially vulnerable families (CSD Research Brief No. 20-15).
St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Navigating Research during a Pandemic: Pioneering Study of Child Development Accounts Successfully Gathers Crucial Data

Thirteen years after they began, researchers in a landmark study of asset building in Oklahoma are poised to receive new information gathered despite obstacles posed by COVID-19.
Child Development Accounts in the COVID-19 Crisis: Lessons from the Great Recession
Sherraden, M., Clancy, M. M., Huang, J., & Beverly, S. G. (2020). Child Development Accounts in the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons from the Great Recession (CSD Research and Policy Report No. 20-11). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/c5dg-qz60