Related UI Researchers

Publications on Adolescents

Over the past 10 years, U.S. child poverty rates took two sharp turns: a major reduction from 1993 to 2000 followed by a slight hike from 2000 to 2004. This brief finds that the 1993 to 2000 drop in child poverty is largely due to improvements in the job market, especially for less-educated workers. The economic downturn beginning in 2000 hit all families, even those with more education, but the families of black children were hit hardest.

Report No. 1 of the Opportunity and Ownership Project. Financial services have become more free and accessible, but also increasingly complex. For new financial options to help most people, they must understand their options. Unfortunately, Americans have a weak grasp of basic finance. This paper emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and examines current financial education strategies. We explore two methods of financial education—broad financial curriculums and "teachable moments." After examining each, we suggest that a combination of the two perspectives, with the topics and strategies varying by target audience. We conclude by calling for a more rigorous evaluation of the effects of existing programs.

Many young black males are not celebrating the completion of high school or reaping the rewards of a diploma. Visiting fellow Harry Holzer explains why and offers a three-prong strategy for improving their lives.

Child poverty dropped dramatically from 1993 to 2000 and increased from 2000 to 2004; both trends were even more marked for black children. While work, education, and family structure, together with macroeconomic conditions, are all significant determinants of child poverty over the last twenty years, macroeconomic conditions dominate the explanation for the dramatic changes of 1993 to 2000 and 2000 to 2004. Specifically, the state unemployment rate and real minimum wage (especially interacted with educational attainment) explain most of the fall in child poverty during the 1990's and the more recent rise.

[First Tuesdays Transcript] Between 2 and 3 million young people age 16-24 are "disconnected" from society, removed from school and work for a year or longer. While young women have made progress in recent years, young men haven't. The problem is especially pressing for minority men, and most pressing for young black men. Panelists address what types of programs would help these groups, how financial incentives might help get young men into school or jobs, and what barriers face noncustodial fathers and former prisoners.