Sprick, E. (with Despard, M., & Roll, S.). (2025). Moving forward from SECURE 2.0: Building on the law’s most effective provisions, closing the access gap, and reforming social security. Bipartisan Policy Center. https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Moving-Forward-from-SECURE-2.0-BPC-CSD-Report.pdf
Tag: Mathieu Despard
Building Financial Capability and Assets for All
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.
From Financial Struggle to Short-Term Financial Relief – An Exploratory Study on Small-Dollar Lending for Low-and Moderate-Income Employees
In this study, we examined HoneyBee, a service company that provides access to 0% APR loans and financial coaching through the workplace. HoneyBee aims to offer employees in need a more affordable credit alternative to payday and auto title loans and therefore help addressing significant cash flow emergencies. Data for this exploratory study included 65 […]
Financial Inclusion and Financial Access
Birkenmaier, J., Despard, M., Friedline, T., & Huang, J. (2019, February). Financial inclusion and financial access. In C. Franklin et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Social Work. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1331
Effects of Youth Savings Accounts on School Attendance and Academic Performance: Evidence from a Youth Savings Experiment
Ansong, D., Chowa, G., Masa, R., Despard, M. R., Sherraden, M., Wu, S., & Osei-Akoto, I. (2019). Effects of youth savings accounts on school attendance and academic performance: Evidence from a youth savings experiment. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 40(2), 269–281. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-018-9604-5
The Mediating Role of Assets in Explaining Hardship Risk Among Households Experiencing Financial Shocks
Despard, M. R., Guo, S., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Russell, B., Oliphant, J. E., & deRuyter, A. (2018). The mediating role of assets in explaining hardship risk among households experiencing financial shocks. Social Work Research, 42(3), 147–158. doi:10.1093/swr/svy012
Refund to Savings 2015–2016: Field Experiments to Promote Tax-Time Saving in Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Roll, S. P., Davison, G., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Despard, M. R., & Bufe, S. (2018). Refund to Savings 2015–2016: Field experiments to promote tax-time saving in low- and moderate-income households (CSD Research Report No. 18-28). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K72J6BD5
Policy Recommendations for Financial Capability and Asset Building by Increasing Access to Safe, Affordable Credit
Birkenmaier, J., Despard, M. R., & Friedline, T. (2018, May). Policy recommendations for financial capability and asset building by increasing access to safe, affordable credit (Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative Policy Brief No. 11-2). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare.
Policy Recommendations for Helping U.S. Households Build Emergency Savings
Despard, M. R., Friedline, T., & Birkenmaier, J. (2018, May). Policy recommendations for helping U.S. households build emergency savings (Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative Policy Brief No. 11-3). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare.
Policy Recommendations for Expanding Access to Banking and Financial Services
Friedline, T., Despard, M. R., & Birkenmaier, J. (2018, May). Policy recommendations for expanding access to banking and financial services (Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative Policy Brief No. 11-4). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare.
Effects of a Tax-Time Savings Experiment on Material and Health Care Hardship Among Low-Income Filers
Despard, M. R., Taylor, S. H., Ren, C., Russell, B. D., Grinstein-Weiss, M., & Raghavan, R. (2018). Effects of a tax-time savings experiment on material and health care hardship among low-income filers. Journal of Poverty, 22(1), 156–178. doi:10.1080/10875549.2017.1348431
Employee Financial Wellness Programs Project: Comprehensive Report of Findings
Frank-Miller, E., Covington, M., Despard, M. R., Hannon, G., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2017). Employee Financial Wellness Programs project: Comprehensive report of findings (CSD Research Report No. 17-31). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7S46RFZ
Effects of a Tax-Time Savings Intervention on Use of Alternative Financial Services Among Lower-Income Households
Despard, M. R., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Ren, C., Guo, S., & Raghavan, R. (2017). Effects of a tax-time savings intervention on use of alternative financial services among lower-income households. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 51(2), 355–379. doi:10.1111/joca.12138
Employee Financial Wellness Programs: A Review of the Literature and Directions for Future Research
Hannon, G., Covington, M., Despard, M. R., Frank-Miller, E., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2017). Employee financial wellness programs: A review of the literature and directions for future research (CSD Working Paper No. 17-23). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7WW7H5C
The Role of Parents in Introducing Children to Financial Services: Evidence From Ghana-YouthSave
Wu, S., Despard, M. R., & Chowa, G. (2017). The role of parents in introducing children to financial services: Evidence from Ghana-YouthSave. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 38(3), 453–462. doi:10.1007/s10834-017-9519-6
The Role of Choice Architecture in Promoting Saving at Tax Time: Evidence From a Large-Scale Field Experiment
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Cryder, C., Despard, M. R., Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J. E., & Ariely, D. (2017). The role of choice architecture in promoting saving at tax time: Evidence from a large-scale field experiment (CSD Working Paper No. 17-29). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Do Tax-Time Savings Deposits Reduce Hardship Among Low-Income Filers? A Propensity Score Analysis
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Despard, M. R., Guo, S., Russell, B., Key, C., & Raghavan, R. (2016). Do tax-time savings deposits reduce hardship among low-income filers? A propensity score analysis. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 7(4), 707–728. doi:10.1086/689357
Student Debt and Hardship: Evidence From a Large Sample of Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Despard, M. R., Perantie, D. C., Taylor, S. H., Grinstein-Weiss, M., Friedline, T., & Raghavan, R. (2016). Student debt and hardship: Evidence from a large sample of low- and moderate-income households. Children and Youth Services Review, 70, 8–18. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.09.001
Policy Recommendations for Meeting the Grand Challenge to Build Financial Capability and Assets for All
Huang, J., Sherraden, M. S., Clancy, M. M., Sherraden, M., Birkenmaier, J., Despard, M. R., … Rothwell, D. (2016, September). Policy recommendations for meeting the Grand Challenge to Build Financial Capability and Assets for All (Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative Policy Brief No. 11). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare. https://doi.org/10.7936/K7057FG8
The Role of Health Insurance in the Financial Lives of Low- and Moderate-Income Households
Despard, M. R., Roll, S. P., Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J. E., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2016, July). The role of health insurance in the financial lives of low- and moderate-income households (CSD Research Brief No. 16-26). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Characteristics and Hardships Associated With Bank Account Ownership Among Refund to Savings Participants
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J. E., deRuyter, A., & Despard, M. R. (2016, March). Characteristics and hardships associated with bank account ownership among Refund to Savings participants (CSD Research Brief No. 16-09). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Use of Alternative Financial Services Among Low- and Moderate-Income Households: Findings From a Large-Scale National Household Financial Survey
Despard, M. R., Perantie, D. C., Luo, L., Oliphant, J., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2015, November). Use of alternative financial services among low- and moderate-income households: Findings from a large-scale national Household Financial Survey (CSD Research Brief No. 15-57). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Impacts of Financial Inclusion on Youth Development: Findings From the Ghana YouthSave Experiment
Chowa, G., Masa, R., Osei-Akoto, I., Ansong, D., Despard, M. R., Afranie, S., … Sherraden, M. (2015). Impacts of financial inclusion on youth development: Findings from the Ghana YouthSave experiment (CSD Research Report No. 15-35). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Do EITC Recipients Use Their Tax Refunds to Get Ahead? Evidence From the Refund to Savings Initiative
Despard, M. R., Perantie, D. C., Oliphant, J., & Grinstein-Weiss, M. (2015, July). Do EITC recipients use their tax refunds to get ahead? Evidence from the Refund to Savings initiative (CSD Research Brief No. 15-38). St. Louis, MO: Washington University in St. Louis, Center for Social Development.
Testing a Measurement Model of Financial Capability Among Youth in Ghana
Despard, M. R., & Chowa, G. (2014). Testing a measurement model of financial capability among youth in Ghana. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 48(2), 301–322. doi: 10.1111/joca.12031
The Influence of Parental Financial Socialization on Youth’s Financial Behavior: Evidence From Ghana
Chowa, G. A. N., & Despard, M. R. (2013). The influence of parental financial socialization on youth’s financial behavior: Evidence from Ghana. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 35(3), 376–389. doi:10.1007/s10834-013-9377-9
Youth and Saving in Ghana: A Baseline Report From the YouthSave Ghana Experiment
Chowa, G. A. N., Ansong, D., Masa, R., Despard, M. R., Osei-Akoto, I., Richmond, A.-A., Agyei-Holmes, A., & Sherraden, M. (2012). Youth and saving in Ghana: A baseline report from the YouthSave Ghana Experiment (CSD Research Report No. 12-56). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Financial Knowledge and Attitudes of Youth in Ghana
Chowa, G. A. N., Despard, M. R., & Osei-Akoto, I. (2012, July). Financial knowledge and attitudes of youth in Ghana (YouthSave Research Brief No. 12-37). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Youth Saving Patterns and Performance in Ghana
Chowa, G. A. N., Despard, M. R., & Osei-Akoto, I. (2012, July). Youth saving patterns and performance in Ghana (YouthSave Research Brief No. 12-36). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Does Banking Experience Matter: Differences of the Banked and Unbanked in Individual Development Accounts
Grinstein-Weiss, M., Yeo, Y. H., Despard, M. R., & Zhan, M. (2008). Does banking experience matter: Differences of the banked and unbanked in Individual Development Accounts (CSD Working Paper No. 08-08). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.