Research Session Descriptions
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Potomac IV
Near-poor US households earn too much to receive public benefits, but too little to be financially secure. Even middle-class income no longer provides economic security. This session presents several new studies that document alarming rates of financial insecurity among low and middle income households. Presenters will identify factors that undermine efforts to accumulate and preserve assets and discuss efforts needed to blunt the effects of a shrinking middle class.
Speakers:Thomas Shapiro (Institute on Assets and Social Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management), Shawn Fremstad (Center for Economic and Policy Research), Tatjana Meschede (Institute on Assets and Social Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management), Diane Bell-McKoy (Associated Black Charities)
I.8 BUILDING ASSETS IN NATIVE COMMUNITIES THROUGH EITC AND TAX PREPARATION
Fairfax
In recent years, the highest use of Refund Anticipation
Loans in the U.S. was near Native American reservations. This session
will highlight research conducted in these communities
to measure EITC contributions to community economic
development and to gain a better understanding of
consumer needs at tax time. Representatives from efforts
serving Native clientele will share results from a survey
conducted during filing season and discuss a variety of
innovative techniques and approaches to EITC campaigns and policy implications of their work.
Speakers: Kristen Wagner (Center for Social Development), Linda Austin (Ysleta del Sur Pueblo)
I.9 SEED Research: A Test of Children’s Development Accounts
Jefferson
Saving for Education, Entrepreneurship and Downpayment (SEED) is a major practice, policy and research initiative designed to test the efficacy of children’s savings accounts. The Center for Social Development at Washington University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Michigan are conducting studies of SEED. This session will focus on the Pre-School Demonstration and Impact Assessment, Youth In-Depth Interviews, Parent Surveys, Account Monitoring Research and the SEED for Oklahoma Kids Experiment.
Speakers: Margaret Clancy (Center for Social Development), Edward Scanlon (University of Kansas), Trina Williams Shanks (University of Michigan)
II.9 Asset Building and Low-Income Families
Fairfax
This will be the first presentation of a new book to be released at the conference. Asset Building and Low-Income Families, edited by Signe-Mary McKernan and Michael Sherraden, provides a comprehensive assessment and critique of the knowledge base and policy potential of asset building for the poor. Authors from the book will present key findings from the book and their policy implications.
Speakers: Signe-Mary McKernan (The Urban Institute), Trina R. Williams Shanks (University of Michigan, School of Social Work), Reid Cramer (New America Foundation)
II.10 Behavioral Economics and Asset Building: Insights and Applications
Potomac IV
How do people make financial decisions? The answers may be surprising. Research in the emerging field of behavioral economics suggests that small (and inexpensive) changes in program and policy design can yield large differences in participation and impact. This session will help practitioners and policymakers consider how they can incorporate lessons from behavioral economics to improve their own asset-building programs.
Speakers: Irene Skricki (Annie E. Casey Foundation), Eldar Shafir (Princeton University), Michael Barr (University of Michigan Law School)
II.11 Concentrated Poverty and the Community Context for Asset Development
Jefferson
Despite the overall lessening of poverty during the 1990’s, a new report by the Federal Reserve System and the Brookings Institution finds that many communities across the country continue to struggle with high-poverty neighborhoods and their associated challenges. The report contains 16 case studies of high-poverty communities across the country and helps deepen understanding of the relationships between poverty, people and place. Hear from the report's authors about their findings at this session.
Speakers: Alan Berube (Brookings Institution), David Erickson (Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco)
III.9 THE EFFECT OF IDAs ON ACCOUNT HOLDERS: RECENT RESEARCH
Potomac IV
What are the long-term effects of matched savings and asset purchases on IDA program participants? Several recently released studies examine this question on a national, state and program level. The authors of these studies will discuss the findings and their implications for IDA programs.
Speakers: Greg Mills (Abt Associates Inc.), Margot Rawlins (Center for Venture Philanphropy, Silicon Valley Community Foundation), Cäzilia Loibl (The Ohio State University)
III.10 Education IDAs: Creating Partnerships for Access to Education
Fairfax
Education IDAs are a relatively untapped opportunity for low-income individuals to finance the soaring cost of post-secondary education. Nationally, less than one-third of IDAs are spent on education and even fewer projects are designed to target and meet the needs of education IDA savers. This session will present findings of an ongoing research project, as well as practitioners’ outcomes in designing education IDA programs and partnerships to increase access to post-secondary education for low-income families.
Speakers: Maria Sison (Juma Ventures), Maggie Reilly (CASA of Oregon), Adrianna Kezar (University of Southern California), Vikki Frank (Credit Builders Alliance)
III.11 Preventing Asset Loss: The Role of Insurance
Jefferson
Health insurance and protection against asset loss were selected by participants in the 2006 Assets Learning Conference as their top policy priorities. This session will present research on the crucial role that access to health and other insurance products plays in helping families build and keep assets. Presenters will also suggest ways that practitioners and policymakers can more effectively deploy insurance products and policies to prevent asset loss by low- and moderate-income families.
Speakers: Robin Newberger (Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago), Sarah Axeen (New America Foundation), Genevieve Melford (CFED), Mark Rukavina (Access Project)
IV.7 DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A COMPREHENSIVE IDA PROGRAM EVALUATION
Potomac IV
This session will focus on practical steps to create and
implement a comprehensive evaluation strategy for an
IDA program, including attention to asset attainment
and retention, financial literacy, customer satisfaction and
stakeholder satisfaction. Participants will answer questions
such as 1) Who are the stakeholders and what do they want
to know? 2) What data and infrastructure are necessary? 3)
What barriers/challenges are anticipated? 4) Who should be
involved in the process?
Speakers: Catherine Solheim (University of Minnesota), Kate Ouverson (West Central Communities, Inc.), Andrea Ferstan (Greater Twin Cities United Way)
IV.8 RACE, ASSET OWNERSHIP AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY
Fairfax
Recent research exploring the relationship between race, asset ownership and economic mobility underscores the importance of asset-building and preservation strategies in overcoming racial wealth inequality. Speakers in this session will present a literature review of existing research, put forth a theoretical framework for understanding the causes of wealth disparity, and discuss the implications of the findings on policy and community practice.
Speakers: To be announced
IV.9 PREDATORY LENDING AND ASSET PRESERVATION
Jefferson
Recent innovations in mortgage lending products have resulted in the unprecedented expansion of consumer access to credit. Yet such innovations have not been met with commensurate consumer protections and policies to prevent predatory lending and asset-stripping practices. This session presents recent research that examines the extent to which innovations in credit products have spurred predatory lending practices and the effectiveness of targeted anti-predatory lending state laws.
Speakers: Keith Ernst (Center for Responsible Lending), Janis Bowdler (National Council of La Raza), Roberto Quercia (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), George McCarthy (Ford Foundation)