This working paper from the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research examines the effects of receipt of the federal Pell Grant on future earnings of low-income students and a cost-benefit analysis for the program. Researchers found that Pell Grant…

This IMPAQ study for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy identifies trends in entrepreneurship programs in low-income communities by comparing the characteristics of self-employed workers and of small businesses (such as…

The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund released the results of an evaluation of a three-year investment in free, one-on-one financial counseling to residents in five cities. This project was based on a model that originated in New York City, in…

Almost half of American families are financially insecure, and financial capability programs have the potential to provide solutions. This brief from The Pew Charitable Trusts analyzes four different types of financial capability programs for…

Many American families experience significant shifts in income from one year to the next. These shifts, known as income volatility, make it difficult for families to balance paying expenses and planning for the future. This report from The Pew…

Many States offer low- and moderate-income families an additional Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in addition to the Federal EITC. In this brief from the University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy, the effect of these additional…

This report from Brookings discusses the impact of tax refunds—primarily the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit—on helping families out of poverty. Research indicates that the EITC benefits recipients in a variety of…

Assets for Independence (AFI) helps provide families with individual development accounts (IDAs) that allow them to save by matching their personal savings for specific investments, such as buying a home or enrolling in higher education and training…

In this report from the Urban Institute, the authors identify and discuss 13 building blocks that they deem fundamental to advancing the economic mobility of low-income Americans. The building blocks include: family formation and stability;…

This Administration for Children and Families resource defines financial literacy and provides detailed information on ten key financial capability services: financial education, financial coaching, financial counseling, credit counseling, credit…