Urban Institute

About: Urban Institute is a nonprofit organization based out in Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Medicaid & Population. The organization has 927 authors who have published 2330 publications receiving 86426 citations.

National and State-Level Estimates of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibles and Program Reach, 2011

Abstract: The opinions expressed reflect those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Urban Institute. This study was conducted under Contract number AG-3198-B-10-0016 with the Food and Nutrition Service. This report is available on the Food and Nutrition Service web site: http://www.fns.usda.gov/research-and-analysis

Does household debt influence the labor supply and benefit claiming decisions of older americans

Abstract: Americans’ indebtedness has increased dramatically since the 1980s – a trend likely to have important implications for retirement security. This study finds that older adults with debt are 8 percentage points more likely to work and 2 percentage points less likely to receive Social Security benefits than those without debt. Not only does the presence of debt influence older adults’ behavior, but so do the amount and type of debt – particularly outstanding mortgages. Increasingly, retirement security will depend on having enough income and assets to pay for basic living expenses and to service debt.

Race and home ownership: is discrimination disappearing?

Abstract: Racial differentials in home ownership rates are examined using data on households in the twenty-four largest metropolitan areas. considerable recent reduction in racial discrimination is indicatd, in contrast to the findings of a previous analysis of the St. Louis housing market. The results are maintained under a number of modifications of the model and estimation technique.

School Choice: Do We Know Enough?

Abstract: Martin Carnoy's article (\"School Choice? Or is it Privatization?\" October 2000 Educational Researcher) is an informative, well-constructed piece that complements my earlier review of the literature on school choice (\"School Choice: An Examination of the Empirical Evidence on Achievement, Parental Decision Making, and Equity,\" December 1999 Educational Researcher). In particular, Carnoy asks many important questions about how publicly funded, privately delivered education (e.g., through a voucher system) would impact educational achievement and equity. The issues raised in Carnoy's article on privatization are important in informing the policy debate about vouchers. However, given the paucity of evidence on the impact of vouchers, I disagree with Carnoy's view that increased school choice and competition \"likely does little or nothing to improve overall student achievement\" (p. 19). I do not necessarily think that increased choice and competition would lead to better outcomes; rather I maintain that we do not know enough about how different voucher designs would impact educational and social outcomes in various contexts to form a conclusion pro or con. In this response to the Carnoy article, I argue that it is premature to judge choice and competition, and further, that we should not be bounded by perceived political constraints when analyzing public policies designed to increase choice and competition.

What the 2008 Stock Market Crash Means for Retirement Security

Abstract: The 2008 stock market crash raises concerns about retirement security, especially since the increased prevalence of 401(k) and similar retirement saving plans means that more Americans are now stakeholders in the equity market than in the past. Using a dynamic microsimulation model, this paper explores the ability of alternate future stock market scenarios to restore retirement assets. The authors find that those near retirement could fare the worst because they have no time to recoup their losses. Mid-career workers could fare better because they have more time to rebuild their wealth. They may even gain income if they buy stocks at low prices and get above-average rates of return. High-income groups will be the most affected because they are most likely to have financial assets and to be invested in the stock market.