Publications
The Hamilton Project produces and commissions policy proposals and analyses to promote broad-based economic growth by embracing a significant role for well-designed government policies and public investment.
Posts
Proposed SNAP cuts would permanently undermine recession readiness and responsiveness
Changes proposed in the budget bill would undermine SNAP's role as an automatic stabilizer during recessions.
Economic Security & Inequality
Social Insurance
Tax Policy & Budget
Read More
Posts
Will the reconciliation bill’s Child Tax Credit changes leave out children in low-income working families?
Economic Security & Inequality
Tax Policy & Budget
Posts
Work requirements penalize workers in volatile occupations
Employment & Wages
Social Insurance
Tax Policy & Budget
Papers
Changes in the safety net over recent decades and their impact
Economic Security & Inequality
Social Insurance
Explore All Publications
Posts
June 10, 2020
To target aid to the neediest families, we need to strengthen TANF
During the COVID-19 pandemic, broad-based income support through both direct checks and unemployment insurance have been essential in limiting the income losse…
Posts
May 6, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis has already left too many children hungry in America
In this blog post, Lauren Bauer documents new evidence from two nationally representative surveys that were initiated to provide up-to-date estimates of the co…
Posts
March 23, 2020
COVID-19 and the US economy: FAQ on the economic impact & policy response
Jay Shambaugh offers answers to frequently asked questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. economy and the implementation of various fisc…
Posts
March 2, 2020
What should a fiscal response to a COVID-19 outbreak look like?
Hamilton Project Director Jay Shambaugh comments on the COVID-19 virus and how economic policies with automatic triggers can alleviate the financial burden of …
Posts
February 26, 2020
Examining the Black-white wealth gap
A close examination of wealth in the U.S. finds evidence of staggering racial disparities.
Posts
December 5, 2019
Who was poor in the US in 2018?
The Hamilton Project analyzes the characteristics and labor force participation of Americans who were living in poverty in 2018. Researchers found that althoug…
Policy Proposals
March 15, 2019
Addressing modern debtors’ prisons with graduated economic sanctions that depend on ability to pay
The use of monetary sanctions to punish crimes ranging from minor traffic or public order offenses to the most serious felonies is ubiquitous in the United Sta…
Economic Facts
March 15, 2019
Nine facts about monetary sanctions in the criminal justice system
Interacting with the criminal justice system is an expensive proposition. Its reliance on bail to encourage return after pretrial release, on fines to punish a…