Second-Generation Individual Development Account Research: Preliminary Findings

Abstract

Historically, the poor have been excluded from asset-building policies, and consequently have accumulated very little wealth. The discrepancy between those with the highest incomes and those with the lowest continues to widen dramatically, with little hope of change unless asset-building polices are created to include the poor. Not only is this an issue of economic inequity, but of social and personal inequities as well. This paper describes the first year of a bi-state, longitudinal study that compares and contrasts specific measures of well-being between participants in Individual Development Account programs and low-income and low-wealth individuals who are not participating in an Individual Development Account program.

KEYWORDS:

• Individual Development Account research
• poverty research
• well-being

Notes

The authors wish to acknowledge the generous support of the Ford Foundation for making this research possible.

Note. *Annual income has 8 categories:

1 = $0–4,999

2 = $5,000–9,999

3 = $10,000–14,999

4 = $15,000–19,999

5 = $20,000–24,999

6 = $25,000–29,999

7 = $30,000–34,999

8 = ≥$35,000