Long regarded as the premier investigator of policies designed to improve the lives of low-income families on welfare, MDRC is bringing its research skills and reputation for methodological rigor to the new challenge of learning what works best to improve the economic and social health of low-income workers and communities.  more

Paying the Poor to Do Right Doesn’t Work. Or Does It? In this article reprinted from True/Slant, Chicago-based journalist Megan Cottrell takes a second look at MDRC’s recent report on early findings from New York City’s conditional cash transfer demonstration, Opportunity NYC-Family Rewards. Why Has the Poverty Rate Not Fallen Since the Early 1970s? Charles Michalopoulos Named MDRC’s Chief Economist New America Foundation Paper Profiles AutoSave and SaveUSA Projects Free Video: Forum on Financial Incentives in Public Policy

Providing Earnings Supplements to Encourage and Sustain Employment Lessons from Research and Practice This 12-page practitioner brief offers lessons for policy and practice from MDRC-conducted random assignment studies of five programs that provided earnings supplements to low-income parents to encourage employment and increase the payoff of low-wage work. Breaking the Low-Pay, No-Pay Cycle Final Evidence from the UK Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) Demonstration Learning Together How Families Responded to Education Incentives in New York City’s Conditional Cash Transfer Program Career Advancement and Work Support Services on the Job Implementing the Fort Worth Work Advancement and Support Center Program