Maretta McDonald on Wealth Inequality and Housing Values of Black Meccas in the New South
Release Date: 02/23/2024
Luke Shaefer on the RX Kids Cash Transfer Program
Poverty Research & Policy
Unconditional cash transfers programs are being piloted across the country. For this episode, shares his work with —the nation’s first-ever, community-wide, prenatal and infant cash prescription program, which is taking place in Michigan. This innovative model uses a mix of TANF funds in combination with philanthropic dollars to offer support to all expecting and new moms in several low-income Michigan communities. Luke Shaefer is the Hermann and Amalie Kohn Professor of Social Justice and Social Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. He is...
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IRP Book Talk: Diana Hernandez and Jennifer Laird on Energy Insecurity
Poverty Research & Policy
Millions of households in the United States struggle to maintain access to the energy necessary to heat and cool their home, to have power to cook and have hot water, and to literally keep the lights on. And a disconnection—or even the threat of having your power turned off—can be devastating. For this episode, and join us to discuss their new book, “.” They share their research on the impact of energy insecurity and provide detailed policy and practice recommendations to address it. Diana Hernandez is an associate professor of sociomedical sciences at in the Mailman School of Public...
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IRP Book Talk: Jane Waldfogel on Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America’s Future
Poverty Research & Policy
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Alexandra Murphy on Measuring Transportation Insecurity
Poverty Research & Policy
Material hardship like food or housing insecurity or inadequate access to medical care are routinely measured. But transportation insecurity has not been, despite its significance in the lives of people with low incomes, and the likelihood that it intersects with other forms of hardship. For this episode, joins us to discuss her recent co-authored paper, titled, “” She shares her work constructing and implementing the Transportation Insecurity Index, and explains how it is being used across the country. Alex Murphy is a sociologist at the University of Michigan where she is...
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IRP Book Talk: Casey Nichols on Poverty Rebels: Black and Brown Protest in Post–Civil Rights America
Poverty Research & Policy
The 1960s and 1970s were a time of tremendous change politically and culturally in the United States. Federal legislation and policy enshrined voting rights and implemented measures to increase equality, but there were still many areas in which those changes fell short for people of color and those living in poverty. In her new book, “,” examines the history and legacy of local, state, and national activism through the lens of Black and Brown communities in Los Angeles between 1964 and 1979. Casey D. Nichols is assistant professor of history at Texas State University. She is also an IRP...
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Lucie Schmidt on How The Social Safety Net Has Changed Since Welfare Reform
Poverty Research & Policy
The Clinton-era Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was a significant reform of the welfare system as it had been known. In this episode, draws on her co-authored paper, “,” to describe the safety net landscape before 1996, and how specific programs and overall coverage have changed since welfare reform was put in place. Lucie Schmidt is the Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College and is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. She is also an IRP Affiliate.
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Lisa Gennetian On The Landscape Of Direct Cash Aid Programs
Poverty Research & Policy
Many countries use direct cash aid programs as an integral part of their social safety net. In the United States, there have been few national efforts, but more and more guaranteed income programs are being implemented at state, county, and local levels. In this episode, draws on her co-authored paper, “,” to provide an overview of cash assistance programs both in the US and in other countries, with a particular focus on programs aimed at families with children. Lisa Gennetian is the Pritzker Professor of Early Learning Policy Studies in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke...
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IRP Book Talk: Robert Courtney Smith on “Dreams Achieved and Denied: Mexican Intergenerational Mobility”
Poverty Research & Policy
There are many factors that influence whether Mexican immigrants to the United States are able to achieve upward mobility. In his new book, “,” shares research conducted over twenty years and involving nearly one hundred children of Mexican immigrants in New York City. He examines how being documented or not acts as a master status, and how that is expressed through choices about education, employment, social networks, expressions of masculinity, and romantic and familial relationships. Robert Courtney Smith is a Professor of Sociology, Immigration Studies and Public...
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Molly Costanzo on Improving the Economic Well-being for Households with Children with Disabilities
Poverty Research & Policy
Between 5% and 20% of children in the United States live with a disability. The definition and measurement of disability are constantly changing. Therefore, people with disabilities have been inadequately represented and understudied in research. In this episode, Molly Costanzo shares her research on the and recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to improve their quality of life. Molly Costanzo is a scientist at the Institute for Research on Poverty. She has a PhD in social welfare from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research focuses broadly on policies that...
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Kathryn Thompson on Quality of Care for Pregnant Black Medicaid Enrollees
Poverty Research & Policy
There are many ways to assess the quality of care that pregnant people receive pre- and post-partum, as well as during delivery itself. shares her findings on how the care that pregnant Black Medicaid enrollees receive compares to their more affluent white peers, and the policy and practice opportunities for addressing the social determinants of health that are involved. Kathryn Thompson is an Assistant Professor at Boston University’s School of Public Health in the departments of Community Health Sciences and Health Law, Policy, and Management. She is also an IRP 2024–2025 Visiting...
info_outlineBlack Meccas are cities where it appears that Black communities thrive more-so than other places in the United States. However, the housing values of Black-owned properties in these areas are substantially lower compared to their white counterparts, revealing the presence of wealth inequality even in cities where Black people are thought to experience better overall economic well-being. In this episode, Dr. Maretta McDonald discusses her recent co-authored paper “Wealth Matters: Home Ownership, Housing Values, and the Model Minority Myth of Black Meccas in the New South.”
Maretta McDonald is a 2022-2024 IRP National Poverty Fellow and an Affiliate Faculty of Sociology at Virginia Tech. Her teaching and research focus on racial inequality, criminology, family, gender, and public policy.