A Nonpartisan Economic and Social Policy Research Organization

… a well-run public [health insurance] plan could constrain private spending because private insurers would have to compete on price. —Linda Blumberg in The New York Times, Jan. 8.

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The Urban Institute

GATHERS data,

CONDUCTS research,

EVALUATES programs,

OFFERS technical ASSISTANCE overseas, and

EDUCATES Americans on social and economic issues

— to foster sound public policy and effective government.

January 16, 2009

Which Children Should Be Eligible?

Where should income eligibility thresholds be set for SCHIP? Insurance premiums are less affordable for families at 300% of poverty level now than they were for families at 200% in 1996, suggesting the need to adjust thresholds for costs of living and growth in health care costs. Read more

Senior Unemployment Hits 31-Year High

Unlike most previous recessions, the current economic slowdown has substantially increased the unemployment rate for older Americans. In December, 5.1 percent of workers age 65 and older were unemployed, the highest share since March 1977. This factsheet provides the latest information on the employment situation of older Americans. Read more

Policymaking and the New President

Urban Institute experts offer their advice on evidence-based policymaking and the domestic issues ahead for President Obama and the 111th Congress.

Len Burman on tax and budget policy in year one
Elizabeth Boris on financial relief and community service
Margery Austin Turner on housing segregation and diversity
Robert I. Lerman on expanding apprenticeship
Eric Toder on tax priorities
Harry Hatry on governing for results
Margery Austin Turner on rental housing
Jesse Jannetta, Nancy LaVigne, Amy Solomon, and Laura Winterfield on ex-offenders
Charles Cadwell on foreign aid

Jeffrey Rohaly, director of tax modeling for the Tax Policy Center (TPC), unpacks and explains how the Center’s state-of-the-art microsimulation model works. This powerful tax model allowed TPC to produce the only comprehensive and objective analysis of the 2008 presidential candidates’ tax plans—revealing each plan’s effects on economic growth, the national debt, and families’ tax burden.

Read the interview

recent interviews:
|| Rudolph Penner || G. Thomas Kingsley || Richard Johnson || more ||

Prospects for Reducing Uninsured Rates among Children: How Much Can Premium Assistance Programs Help? (Policy Briefs/Timely Analysis of Health Policy Issues) January 16, 2009

Integrating Public Property in the Realm of Fiscal Transparency and Anti-Corruption Efforts (Book Chapter) January 16, 2009

Introducing More Transparent and Efficient Land Management in Post-Socialist Cities (Policy Report) January 16, 2009

Massachusetts Health Reform: Solving the Long-Run Cost Problem (Policy Briefs/Timely Analysis of Health Policy Issues) January 15, 2009

more new research

Most-requested publications (last 30 days)

Get up to speed on the key issues facing the nation and the new administration.

ten centers focus on critical research areas

Public Housing
and the
Legacy of Segregation

Margery Austin Turner, Susan J. Popkin, and Lynette Rawlings

more titles from UI Press

Policy Jargon Decoder
Fact Sheets: data at a glance
Issues in Focus: facts and findings on key issues
Data Methods
UI Databases: justice and charitable statistics, transfer income model, family data and more