Has the Great Recession changed the way we live? Given the severity of the economic downturn and the slow recovery, it's a good question to ask. The experience has certainly given pause to those previously expected to be purchasing homes or heading out on their own. Home values remain depressed...

Newt Gingrich doesn't shy away from taking dramatic policy positions. But he doesn't always stick with them. For instance, he no longer supports limiting carbon emissions through a system of cap and trade permits. Nor is his proposal to execute anyone convicted of bringing two ounces of pot...

It's a busy time of year. Perhaps you didn't hear President Obama's December 6th speech in Osawatomie, Kansas. It's worth a closer look--both for its specific language and general themes. The speech was a billed as a thematic statement of Obama's vision for the economy and if that's the case,...

The Occupy Wall Street protests that have popped up across the country may lack a uniform set of demands, but they undoubtedly possess a singular and powerful critique. High finance has been allowed to assume a disproportional role in our society and, as a result, we see widespread and debilitating...

Today, we spend roughly $30 billion dollars a year in rental housing assistance to benefit almost 5 million households. It is a primary part of our social safety net. But millions of eligible families don't receive any support. To get the most out of our resources, we should...

Our social policy system is riddled with inequities. I often focus on the disparities between how we incentivize savings and encourage families to build wealth. While those on the upper half of the income ladder are able to access tax incentives as homeowners and when they contribute to a range...

Tax day is a few days late this year. The procrastinators among us are thankful. But for those expecting a refund, they likely filed long ago. This is especially true for millions of families with low or modest earnings. Thanks to the Earned Income Tax Credit, the tax refund may...

The Great Recession has functioned like a large wrecking ball. One object of destruction has been the housing market. Price declines, loan defaults, and an unprecedented level of foreclosures have created a mess and left the housing finance system in shambles. This past Friday, the Obama Administration released its

By this point in the year, almost everybody with a job has gotten a paycheck. Did you notice the latest tax cut brought to you by President Obama?

The tax deal cut during the lame duck session of Congress included a provision to provide a payroll tax cut for 2%...

As 2010 is getting ready to wrap up, I remain pretty worried about the prospects for 2011. I just don't see evidence that a strong economic recovery is ready to take hold. Job growth still looks anemic and waves of foreclosures continue to sweep across large swaths of the country....

Take a look at the poverty numbers recently released by the Census Bureau. Almost 44 million Americans were reported to live in poverty last year. That's the highest number (with the largest yearly increase) since the Census Bureau began tracking poverty in 1959. In some ways, these numbers are depressing,...

Without the proverbial crystal ball, it is hard to know if the Dodd-Frank financial reform law can prevent the next financial meltdown. But a more vital question for most families is whether it is capable of transforming the marketplace for financial services. It has gotten pretty ugly out there. Expensive...

While there has been debate about whether the bill goes far enough and addresses some the conditions that brought on the Great Recession, my belief is that a presidential signature will actually go a long way to create a necessary but not sufficient basis for meaningful reform. At many turns,...

Led by Tory Leader David Cameron in partnership with the Liberal Democrats and Nick Clegg, a new government has taken power in the UK, ending the Labour Party's 13-year run. Last week, the new coalition government announced a series of budget cuts to existing programs that were expected to save...

In Washington these days, not much is assured. Senate Republicans have ended their filibuster of financial reform, but this just allows debate on the bill to go to the Senate floor. There remains plenty of opportunity for opponents to make more mischief. Still, all signs point to a deal.

For most policymakers, it is never a good time to talk about poverty. When times are flush, their constituents are doing well. When recession hits, everyone is hurting. But as economic hardship continues to impact a greater number of families and communities, this may be the time to redouble our...

Given the financial sector's leading role in the Great Recession, it is not hard to justify a complete re-write of their rules of conduct. Last spring the Obama Administration offered their framework for reform and in December the House passed a sweeping reform bill that included, among many...

President Obama has previously declared that the long-term health of the economy is dependent on moving from an era of "borrow and spend" to one where we "save and invest." Since the mid-1990s, after decades of thrift and economic prosperity, Americans had a falling out with savings and began a...

While the burst of the housing bubble recedes into the past, its echo continues to reverberate throughout the economy and in communities across the land. The U.S. housing market remains a mess. Home values remain down and defaults and foreclosures remain up. Looking back in hindsight, it seems many that...

Once Congress closes the door on health care reform, the next legislative fight on deck is how to reform the financial sector that led us to the precipice of economic catastrophe. I'm sorry but business as usual is not really an acceptable option. We have the right to expect a...