The Center for Poverty & Inequality Research hosts an annual
seminar series on poverty issues. We are pleased to welcome
faculty, researchers, and thought leaders to the UC Davis campus.
Most of our seminars are located in Andrews Conference Room, 2203
Social Sciences and Humanities Building, unless otherwise noted.
Directions to Andrews Conference Room:
Enter the Social
Sciences & Humanities Building through the Letters & Science
Dean’s Office entrance (arch and glass doors). Stairs and
elevator are located just inside; proceed to the second floor.
Andrews is on the right side of the hall, 2203 SS&H.
Abstract: Though Social Security is typically considered a
program to support retirees, nearly one in ten children live in a
home with Social Security income. Children are substantially more
likely to live with an older adult than they were two decades
ago, and are twice as likely to report Social Security income in
their household than traditional cash welfare. We use the sharp
increase in eligibility for Social Security benefits at age 62 to
investigate the role played by the Social Security program in
childhood economic outcomes among children who live with older
adults.
Community-engaged research is a powerful strategy for gaining a
deeper understanding of lived experiences of poverty and economic
hardship, assessing services and programs, and informing systemic
change (Bertram & Bullock, 2023). Focusing on the Center for
Economic Justice and Action’s (CEJA) research collaborations with
nonprofit organizations, this presentation illuminates the
transformative potential of community-engaged research to advance
anti-poverty initiatives.
How does unconditional income for families in poverty affect
parental investments for their young children? Mothers in four
U.S. metropolitan areas were randomized to receive a monthly
unconditional cash transfer of either $333/month (high) or
$20/month (low) for the first several years after child birth.
During the first three years, high-cash gift households spent
more money on child-specific goods and more time on
child-specific early learning activities than the low-cash gift
group.
Rene Crespin is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of
Economics at Michigan State University. His research focuses on
examining levers that lessen or exacerbate inequality,
specifically in terms of schools, housing, and neighborhoods.
Among his ongoing projects, he studies the economic and social
impacts of education and immigration policies.
Dr. Crespin will be joining us for a week through the Institute
for Research on Poverty Visiting Scholar Program.