EARN Research Institute
The promise of higher education as the equalizer of socio-economic status is being compromised by the debilitating debt that increasingly accompanies higher education. This EARN Research Institute report offers compelling new data on the landscape of education debt as it relates to economic mobility and offers tangible policy recommendations to leaders at the local, state, and federal level.
A nationwide poll commissioned by the EARN Research Institute revealed that more than half (54%) of American households across all income brackets do not feel they could meet their basic financial needs if income was disrupted for three months or more.
The Missing Link: Financial Self-Efficacy's Critical Role in Financial Capability
EARN's findings on the role of financial knowledge and financial self-efficacy provide an evidence-based guide for decision making on programmatic decision and investment in efforts to create economic prosperity for low-income Americans.
A Cognitive-Behavioral-Emotional model of financial life was developed during the present investigation that fit the data collected for a large number of people on a small set of variables, making this model a highly powerful one from a statistical perspective. The model was applied here to ascertain the effectiveness of the EARN Savers program for improving the financial lives of individuals.
In a nationwide survey commissioned by EARN, 36% of low-income families report having just enough money to meet basic financial needs for one month if their income were disrupted. The survey also finds hopeful signs regarding Americans' thoughts about future job prospects.
EARN’s qualitative research study finds that 83% of low-income workers continue saving after completing a matched savings program. This study answers the following questions: (1) Do workers who complete matched savings programs continue to save beyond the program? (2) What are the mechanisms and circumstances that allow for continued savings? (3) Does participation in a matched savings program correlate with increased civic engagement?
Financial coaching has emerged as a powerful tool with great promise to create prosperity for low-income Americans. This white paper explores mid-stream learnings, key questions, and recommendations for advancing the burgeoning field. Nearly two years into our work, EARN offers lessons and best practices that could improve the field of financial coaching for low-income people and advance the burgeoning national conversation on coaching.
Globally, mobile payments are accelerating as a significant method of money transfer. In the U.S., however, mobile financial services are still in their infancy, despite having enormous potential to help the underbanked enter and participate in the financial mainstream. This research brief explores the potential opportunities and challenges for developing mobile financial services for the underbanked in the United States.
This white paper offers a series of actionable strategies on homeownership policy for California's business, nonprofit, and government leaders. Its findings are partially based on a conversation started at the Assets and Homeownership Symposium, an event jointly convened by EARN and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's LA Branch and attended by leaders across multiple sectors and industries.
Download the Whitepaper and Executive Summary
Is your organization considering setting up an Individual Development Account Program (IDA)? If so, here are 10 key considerations to establishing and running a successful program.
