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June 25, 2025
De-Skilling the Knowledge Economy
Key Points Despite the importance of mid-level workers to sectors like finance, business services, government, and health care, many of these workers are vulnerable to de-skilling, job loss, and forced…
January 30, 2025
Eliminating the Benefit Cliff and Achieving Savings for Taxpayers: A Reform Proposal for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Key Points The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the nation’s largest safety-net programs for low-income households in the US, distributing over $94 billion in food benefits in…
October 30, 2024
A Reform Framework for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Key Points The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) needs reform to remain an effective safety-net program that decreases food insecurity and supports self-reliance through employment and good health. SNAP policy…
October 23, 2024
Work Requirement Waivers Increased FoodShare Caseloads and Costs in Wisconsin
…In this report, Badger Institute Visiting Fellow Angela Rachidi explores how its usefulness has been blunted. Able-bodied adults without dependent children — abbreviated as ABAWDs — can receive SNAP benefits…
January 8, 2024
Dynamics of Families After a Nonmarital Birth
Abstract Despite known links between poverty rates and unmarried parenthood, we know little about how changes in family situations after a nonmarital birth affect poverty. This study explores Future of…
September 18, 2023
Overregulated Childcare: Wisconsin’s 2023-’25 Biennial Budget and the Path Ahead
Wisconsin’s legislative budget session ended in July 2023 with an increase in childcare funding in the 2023-’25 biennial budget. However, the final budget did not include $340 million requested by…
May 26, 2023
The Size and Census Coverage of the U.S. Homeless Population
Abstract Fundamental questions about the size and characteristics of the homeless population are unresolved because it is unclear whether existing data are sufficiently complete and reliable. We examine these questions…
April 28, 2023
The Evidence on Family Affordability
Key Points A narrative has emerged concluding that it has become too expensive in the US to afford a family. Although different measures of income show different trends, household and…
September 30, 2022
Off Track: An Assessment of Wisconsin’s Early Care and Learning System for Young Children
…and Badger Institute visiting fellow, Angela Rachidi, examines the current landscape, looking at how Wisconsin spends about $400 million a year in federal and state taxpayer money to subsidize childcare…