The Trump administration’s claim it can double long-term GDP growth is unrealistic (Isabel V. Sawhill, Eleanor Krause, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-trump-administrations-claim-it-can-double-long-term-gdp-growth-is-unrealistic/

Low-maintenance birth control: Gaining popularity, but barriers remain (Eleanor Krause, Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2016/12/07/low-maintenance-birth-control-gaining-popularity-but-barriers-remain/

Should we try to live like the French? (Eleanor Krause, Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2016/11/10/should-we-try-to-live-like-the-french/

Clinton’s Child Tax Credit proposal: A good start on helping low- and middle-income families (Isabel V. Sawhill, Edward Rodrigue, Brookings)

Hillary Clinton’s proposed changes to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) would help poor and middle class families, especially those with young children. Although important design challenges remain, in broad terms the plan is a positive step towards reducing income inequality.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2016/10/13/clintons-child-tax-credit-proposal-a-good-start-on-helping-low-and-middle-income-families/

The poor and the middle class need jobs, jobs, and more jobs (Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

Our nation’s middle class has not fared well in recent decades and those at the bottom of the ladder have fared the worst of all. Although the latest Census data show that the average family’s income rose sharply between 2014-2015 and that the gains disproportionately benefitted those at the bottom of the ladder, inflation-adjusted incomes still have not recovered to the levels achieved before the last recession or even to the levels achieved in the late 1990s. Although there are many reasons why most families are struggling, the most important by far is the lack of good jobs, a problem that is especially serious for those without the skills needed to find such jobs in a knowledge-based economy.

https://www.brookings.edu/research/jobs-jobs-jobs/

Money for nothing: Why a universal basic income is a step too far (Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2016/06/15-universal-basic-income-is-step-too-far-sawhill

Modeling equal opportunity (Isabel V. Sawhill, Richard V. Reeves, Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2016/06/13-modeling-equal-opportunity-sawhill-reeves

To help low-income American households, we have to close the "work gap" (Isabel V. Sawhill, Nathan Joo, Edward Rodrigue, Brookings)

When Franklin Roosevelt delivered his second inaugural address on January 20, 1936 he lamented the “one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished.” He challenged Americans to measure their collective progress not by “whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; [but rather] whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” In our new paper, One third of a nation: Strategies for helping working families, we ask a simple question: How are we doing?

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2016/05/31-help-low-income-close-work-gap-sawhill

Creating jobs: Bill Clinton to the rescue? (Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

At an event this past week, Hillary Clinton announced that, if elected, she planned to put Bill Clinton in charge of creating jobs. If he becomes the “First Gentlemen” -- or as she prefers to call him, the “First Dude,” – he just might have some success in this role. The country’s very strong record of job creation during the first Clinton administration is a hopeful sign. (Full disclosure: I served in his Administration.)

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2016/05/25-creating-jobs-bill-clinton-to-the-rescue-sawhill

Time for a shorter work week? (Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

Throughout the past year, we have heard paid leave debated in state houses and on the campaign trail. I am all in favor of paid leave. As I have argued elsewhere, it would enable more people, especially those in lower-paid jobs, to take time off to deal with a serious illness or the care of another family member, including a newborn child. But we shouldn’t stop with paid leave. We should also consider shortening the standard work week. Such a step would be gender neutral and would not discriminate between the very different kinds of time pressures faced by adults. It might even help to create more jobs

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2016/05/13-time-for-a-shorter-work-week-sawhill

Does pre-K work—or not? (Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

In this tumultuous election year one wonders whether reasoned debate about education or other policies is still possible. That said, research has a role to play in helping policymakers make good decisions – if not before than after they are in office. So what do we know about the ability of early education to change children’s lives? At the moment, scholars are divided. One camp argues that pre-k doesn’t work, suggesting that it would be a mistake to expand it. Another camp believes that it is one of the most cost-effective things we could do to improve children’s lifetime prospects, especially if they come from disadvantaged homes.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2016/04/19-does-pre-k-work-or-not-sawhill

Taking the long view: Budgeting for investments in human capital (Beth Akers, Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

Tomorrow, President Obama unveils his last budget, and we’re sure to see plenty of proposals for spending on education and skills. In the past, the Administration has focused on investments in early childhood education, community colleges, and infrastructure and research. From a budgetary standpoint, the problem with these investments is how to capture their benefits as well as their costs.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2016/02/08-budgeting-investments-human-capital-akers-sawhill

The case for 'race-conscious' policies (Isabel V. Sawhill, Richard V. Reeves, Brookings)

The injustices faced by African Americans are high on the nation’s agenda. “Black Lives Matter” has become a rallying cry that has elicited intense feelings among both supporters and detractors. As William Julius Wilson has pointed out on this blog, the focus on policing and criminal justice is necessary but not sufficient. Concerted action is required to tackle systematic racial gaps in everything from income and wealth to employment rates, poverty rates, and educational achievement.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2016/02/04-case-for-race-conscious-policies-sawhill-reeves

The District’s proposed law shows the wrong way to provide paid leave (Harry J. Holzer, Isabel V. Sawhill, Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2016/01/19-paid-leave-district-holzer-sawhill

The end of laboring days? (Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2015/09/08-end-laboring-days-work-sawhill

Does money matter? (Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2015/09/08-does-money-matter-education-sawhill