July 10, 2024

Last summer, we launched the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity (CESO) at Brookings. Our mission is to offer data-driven analysis on critical U.S. social policy issues, serving as a trustworthy source for the information and tools policymakers need to build an economy that works for everyone.

We’ve approached this work with gusto over the past year, with a particular focus on education, immigration, and the social safety net. As we complete our first trip around the sun, below are some highlights.

This edition was written by Tara Watson and Gabriela Goodman.

 🎓 Affirmative action and alternatives to increasing diversity in higher education

The 2023 Students for Fair Admissions vs Harvard Supreme Court case prohibited race-based affirmative action in college admissions, fueling heightened concerns about diversity in higher education. Over the past year, we investigated the prevalence of affirmative action prior to the Court’s decision, explored the intersection between legacy admissions and affirmative action, and analyzed the viability of using class-based affirmative action as a replacement for race-based affirmative action.

Our research illustrated that race-based admission policies were concentrated among the most selective colleges, so most colleges and students aren’t directly impacted by the Court decision. However, the decision does have substantial implications for America’s elite colleges. While ending legacy admissions and adopting class-based affirmative action both can improve racial diversity, these policies are unlikely to fully counteract the end of affirmative action.

💰 College affordability and returns to higher education

Because of financial aid, most college students end up paying less than the listed tuition price. Still, many families struggle to afford college. Phillip Levine explained how much students are actually paying for college and how these prices have changed over time. He also advocated for increased federal funding to bridge the gap between what students can reasonably afford and what they’re currently asked to pay for their education.

In response to factors such as expensive tuition, there’s been an increase in debate over whether college is “worth it.” Phillip Levine and Luke Pardue argued that it is worth it, at least for most students. We also hosted a virtual panel to discuss the value of higher education and returns to obtaining a college degree.

Of course, there are ways the higher education system can better serve students. Zachary Bleemer, Amelia Davidson, and Aashish Mehta wrote about one possible improvement: reducing barriers to certain lucrative majors. Major restrictions tend to push students from disadvantaged backgrounds into majors with lower financial returns.

📈 Immigration trends and implications

Recent immigration rates have far surpassed previous projections. Earlier this year, we explored the immigration landscape and how it helps explain the surprisingly strong recent economic performance in the United States. In another report, we examined which state and local governments need support in welcoming new immigrants. While immigration benefits the overall economy, it can put short-term financial strain on state and local governments, especially when there is an influx of non-dependent immigrants without a college degree.

Additionally, we released a policy brief arguing that immigration can alleviate two major challenges as the U.S. population ages: funding for old age support programs (i.e., Social Security and Medicare), and a shortage of direct care workers.

🗺️ Safety net differences over time and across states      

While the federal government provides some social safety net support to low-income families, states play a major role in determining benefit levels for their residents. We calculated the benefits theoretically available to a fixed group of single-parent families if they lived in different states and years. Our analysis illustrates growth in safety net generosity over time and significant disparities across states. Although blue states generally provide more benefits to their residents, the federal government offsets state benefit differences through food assistance payments.

To learn more about state safety net differences, check out our interactive map. You can also watch the recording of a panel that we hosted on the topic.

📚 Poverty and workforce development    

Greg Duncan and Harry Holzer released a piece discussing factors driving poverty persistence, including educational attainment, healthcare access, and exposure to the criminal justice system. We also hosted an event to discuss a National Academies report about intergenerational poverty.

The U.S. funds a wide range of workforce development efforts, including higher education, job search assistance, and technical education programs. Harry Holzer reviewed the evidence about which workforce development programs increase employment. He also discussed upcoming workforce challenges and how the U.S. presidential candidates might address them.

💡 Policies to support families

When the bipartisan tax bill including an expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) was introduced, we released an explainer describing the proposed reform and outlining key issues in the CTC debate. We’ve also been thinking about other ways to support Americans. For example, since 2000, the percentage of children in the U.S. living with a grandparent has grown by over 36%. We researched trends in children’s living arrangements and discussed implications for safety net policy. In addition, we wrote about disproportionate mental health struggles among single mothers and evidence suggesting that the social safety net can alleviate psychological distress.  

We hosted an event highlighting the Convergence Collaborative’s initiative that brought people together from across the political spectrum to build consensus on pathways to support working families.

📝 And more!  

Richard Reeves and Ember Smith provided a framework for understanding opportunity gaps and the importance of investing in young adults, particularly those ages 14 to 24, as they navigate life experiences and make important decisions.

We hosted a discussion about Melissa Kearney’s book titled “The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind.” The book focuses on the benefits that children tend to receive when living in a two-parent household, including increased financial resources and time spent with parents.

We highlighted a missed opportunity to aid domestic violence survivors: connecting survivors to support services during medical appointments. We also released a primer about the abortion landscape.

We also facilitated conversations about the care economy by bringing together policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders. See some video highlights here: a keynote from Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin moderated by Brookings President Cecilia Rouse, a fireside chat with Ai-jen Poo and Tara McGuiness, and a conversation between Jocelyn Frye and Senator Tammy Duckworth.

🗓️ What’s next?

The scope of our work will expand over the coming year. We’ll be delving more into the care economy and the child welfare system. And we’ll continue to have a lot to say about issues like education, immigration, and the safety net. Amid all of the noise, our commitment to trustworthy, data-driven analysis is stronger than ever. 

We’re grateful you’ve been with us over CESO’s first year. Have a suggestion for us? Fill out the feedback form here.

About the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity at Brookings

The Center for Economic Security and Opportunity (CESO) produces data-driven, nonpartisan analysis to address the United States’ most challenging social policy questions. In a noisy and polarized world, the Center is a trustworthy source for the information and tools policymakers need to build an economy that works for everyone.