"From Middle to Shaky Ground: The Economic Decline of America's Middle Class, 2000 - 2006" was published by the policy center Demos and the Institute for Assets and Social Policy (IASP) at Brandeis University.
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 reel, 4 million American households are either borderline or at high risk of falling out of the middle class altogether. The report, co-developed by Demos and the Institute for Assets and Social Policy, uses government data to measure the financial security of the middle class by rating household stability across five core economic factors: assets, educational achievement, housing costs, budget and healthcare.
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IASP's Middle Class Work Featured on NBC Nightly News
IASP's work on the middle class was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams Wednesday night, using the findings from our recent Economic (In)Security report - in collaboration with Demos - providing insight into how the middle class is faring.
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Sub-Prime as a Black Catastrophe: Thomas M. Shapiro writes about predatory lending practices and its effects
First came racial redlining. Then came racial targeting of toxic and predatory loans. Both spelled economic disaster for African Americans.
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IASP Associate Director Janet Boguslaw and Mary Ellen Boyle of Clark University recently published the chapter "Investments at the base of the pyramid: reducing poverty through sustainable asset development." (Ed, Kandachar & Halme; Greenleaf: 2008)
The chapter examines the role of Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) business investment strategies in poverty reduction.
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IASP Receives Rockefeller Foundation Innovation Award to Strengthen Social Security for Vulnerable Groups
A proposal submitted by IASP researchers is among twelve policy projects selected by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) to compose policy papers identifying specific ways to improve Social Security for a range of vulnerable groups.
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Meeting of Emerging and Developed State Asset-Building Coalitions
IASP joined other national organizations to host the first ever strategy meeting for 28 state asset-building coalitions.
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Thomas Shapiro Presents Introductory Remarks to Massachusetts Asset Development Commission
The Institute will support the Commission as it conducts research, engages constituencies, and makes policy recommendations to ensure low and moderate income Massachusetts residents have opportunities to develop assets throughout life for sustainable economic security.
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New "By A Thread" Report: Economic
(In)security: The Experience of the African-American and Latino Middle Classes
IASP and Dēmos report features major findings demonstrating that three out of four African-American and four out of five Latino middle class families are either borderline or at high risk of falling out of the middle class altogether.
Boston Globe cites IASP/Dēmos report in feature article, "Middle class families struggling to make ends meet."
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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.
Our Work: IASP pursues its mission through original research, policy analysis, program evaluation, technical assistance, community engagement, organizational capacity building, and leadership development to:
Create New Measures and Evidence of Asset Well-Being
Generate Analysis of Asset Formation Opportunities
Evaluate and Improve the Scope and Delivery of Asset Building Programs and Services
Form Partnerships and Collaborations with Policy-Makers, Constituency Organizations, and Communities
Disseminate Resources, Tools, and Products to Expand Knowledge, Practice, and Action
Train Future Leaders in Asset Development
© 2008, Institute on Assets and Social Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. All rights are reserved.
