CSD Research, Expertise Showcased at SSWR 2025

The 29th annual conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) featured the work of 41 affiliates of the Center for Social Development (CSD) across 72 events. Faculty, staff, and associated researchers contributed to 11 symposia, three roundtables, 16 oral presentations, five flash talks, and 30 poster presentations. They convened five Special Interest […]

The Majority Report with Sam Seder (Links to an external site)

Stephen Roll, SPI assistant research professor, was interviewed by Sam Seder about his research on the impacts of student debt forgiveness on households. This content is only available to peacock.tv subscribers (ep 65). This article reflects work originally conducted by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. The Institute integrated with the Center for Social […]

Student debt forgiveness would impact nearly every aspect of people’s lives (Links to an external site)

With recent calls for student loan debt forgiveness by political leaders, SPI researchers investigated how debt relief could impact household spending and behaviors. Brooking Institute published recent findings on the implications for debt forgiveness on household economic stability and mobility.  This article reflects work originated by scholars with the Social Policy Institute at Washington University. […]

SPI researchers win awards for paper at ACCI Conference & VentureCafe STL Fellowship

Stephen Roll and Mathieu Despard, researchers at SPI, recently received the CFP© Board’s ACCI Financial Planning Paper Award for their paper on income loss and financial distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The award is given to a well-written paper that focuses on important financial planning issues which can be used by consumers, financial planning professionals, and policymakers […]

New: A guide to tax-time financial capability efforts

“A Toolkit for Expanding Financial Capability at Tax Time” is now available and free to download. The 70-page book presents the current evidence underpinning various tax-time efforts to expand financial capability among low- and moderate-income households.

Update: Financial Capability Month

Financial Capability and Asset Building for All is one of the 12 Grand Challenges for Social Work and a growing practice in the social work profession. The Center for Social Development is committed to working with its partners to increase the financial capability of individuals, families, and communities across the globe!

Study: Interventions can help families better save tax refunds

Motivational prompts to save tax refunds and suggested savings amounts for the tax refund can increase saving among low- and moderate-income households, finds a new experimental study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Study: Tax-return delay could hurt low-income families

Millions of low- and moderate-income Americans who claim certain tax credits will have to wait weeks longer than usual this year for their federal income tax refunds because of a new law aimed at reducing fraud.

Home delinquency rates lower among ACA households

Families who get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act are significantly more likely to make their rent and mortgage payments than are those who remain uninsured, suggests a new study from the Brown School and Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.