IASP releases a new improved measure of asset poverty. This research and policy brief details the new measure, the Asset Security and Opportunity Index, and presents findings and implications for different household types and racial/ethnic groups.
Paul Willen, Senior Economist and Policy Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston discussed the incentives lenders have which may answer the question of why more of them are not renegotiating troubled mortgages.
In "Community Assets - Expanding Beyond Individual Asset Ownership," IASP's Hannah Thomas and Thomas Shapiro build a case for the asset field to look to not only individual forms of ownership, but also to community forms of ownership.
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Barbara Ehrenreich and Dedrick Muhammad cite the IASP report "The Downslide before the Downturn: Declining Economic Security Among Middle Class African Americans and Latinos, 2000-2006" to illustrate the tenuous economic status of black middle class families before the current recession.
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Tatjana Meschede and Laura Sullivan were awarded funding for their study, "Negative Health Events and Wealth Trajectories for Working Age Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis and Exploration by Race and Ethnicity". This study investigates the impact of negative health events on life cycle savings and wealth building.
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston - July 23, 2009
As foreclosures continue to have impacts on communities across the country, ten researchers working on foreclosure research in Massachusetts met to share details of their projects. The event was organized by IASP, the Federal Reserve Bank and Citizen's Housing and Planning Association.
State Commission report supported by IASP research recommends promising policy and programmatic changes 
to move families up the economic ladder.
The Massachusetts Asset Development Commission recommends ways to better assist low and moderate-income families to build and retain assets. The report, prepared by IASP, was released at a State House event with Governor Patrick and legislative leaders.
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IASP Director Tom Shapiro's commentary, "Close the Racial Wealth Gap," is featured as part of CNN's Black in America series. Dr. Shapiro frames racial wealth inequality as the hidden fault line of American democracy, arguing for a new civil rights movement for the 21st century that focuses on economic opportunity, inclusion and closing the racial wealth gap.
The Institute on Assets and Social Policy is a research institute at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, dedicated to promoting a better understanding of how assets and asset-building opportunities improve the well-being and financial stability of individuals and families left out of the economic mainstream.
IASP pursues its mission through original research, policy analysis, program evaluation, technical assistance, community engagement, organizational capacity building, and leadership development to:
The Institute on Assets and Social Policy, in collaboration with our partner Demos , embarked on a three-year project, funded by the MacArthur Foundation, examining the economic security and stability of America's middle class. The series to-date includes:
November 2007
By a Thread: The New Experience of America's Middle Class
By a Thread recommends policies to help open access to, and strengthen America's middle class. Legislative proposals in this report cover a range of important issues, including asset building and debt reduction, making higher education more accessible and affordable, and addressing the healthcare crisis. Report
February 2008
Economic (In)Security: The Experience of the African-American and Latino Middle Classes
By a Thread recommends policies to help open access to, and strengthen America's middle class. Legislative proposals in this report cover a range of important issues, including asset building and debt reduction, making higher education more accessible and affordable, and addressing the healthcare crisis. Report
November 2008
From Middle to Shaky Ground: The Economic Decline of America's Middle Class, 2000-2006
According to this new report, the third in a series based on the Middle Class Security Index, 76% of American middle class households are not financially secure. As the economy continues to rell, 4 million American households are either borderline or at high risk of falling out of the middle class altogether. Report
January 2009
Living Longer on Less: The New Economic (In)Security of Seniors
The new report by IASP and Demos finds 78% of all senior households are financially vulnerable when it comes to their ability to meet essential expenses and cover projected costs over their lifetime. Economic insecurity is particularly pronounced for single senior households - with 84% among them facing financial insecurity. Those sobering stats serve as an economic distress signal for older Americans and a wake-up call for younger and middle-aged Americans. Report
The Downslide before the Downturn: Declining Economic Security Among Middle Class African Americans and Latinos, 2000-2006
According to this new IASP and Demos report, households of color suffer dramatic declines in middle class economic security. Report
© 2009, Institute on Assets and Social Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. All rights are reserved.
