Community Development Research Briefs
Current Issue
Household Net Worth & Asset Ownership among the Economically Vulnerable
Households whose balance sheets were dominated by housing, particularly those in depressed markets and those exposed to high-cost predatory mortgages, were deeply exposed to the downside risk that became reality during the Great Recession. These households tended to be lower-income, minority, and have lower educational attainment, meaning they were already struggling with low net worth prior to the recession. This Research Brief examines household net worth and asset ownership in 2005 and 2011 across different demographic groups, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation. This Brief also provides an overview of some of the issues around household financial stability, why balance sheets mattered so much going into the recession, and how they are impacting the subsequent recovery. |
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Previous Issues
| 2012 |
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- Suburbanization of Poverty in the Bay Area
Despite its persistent association with the "inner city," poverty has shifted toward the suburbs in the San Francisco Bay Area over the past decade. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this research brief examines the changing geography of poverty in the Bay Area and its implications for the community development field.
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| 2011 |
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- Student Debt and Default in the 12th District
Postsecondary educational expenses and student loan balances have been trending steadily upward, but persistent unemployment and weak economic conditions have created an alarming new trend of rising student loan defaults. This Brief examines broad trends in student borrowing in the Federal Reserve's 12th District, with an emphasis on students from low- and moderate-income households. The rise of student borrowing has important community development implications as it directly impacts the present and future financial well-being of LMI individuals.
- The EITC in the 12th District
Within the Federal Reserve's 12th District, over 4 million families and individuals received the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for tax year 2007, totaling over $8 billion in credits. In this Research Brief, we examine trends in EITC usage across the 12th District, and look at how the EITC and tax time provide a unique opportunity to link lower-income households to financial services and other asset building initiatives.
- School Quality and Affordable Housing in the Bay Area
Everyone knows the old real estate adage that the three most important factors in determining the value of a given property are location, location, and location. This is to say that place matters; a neighborhood confers a bundle of amenities to its residents that are specific to that geography. This bundle can include proximity to parks, small-scale retail offerings, high quality schools, and a variety of transportation options, as well as low crime rates and clean air. These amenities are arranged in a variety of configurations across space, and most households determine which aspects are most important to them, and then choose their neighborhood accordingly.
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The views expressed are not necessarily
those of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco or the
Federal Reserve System. Material herein may be reprinted
or abstracted provided Community Investments is credited.
Please provide our Community Development Department with
a copy of any publication in which material is reprinted.
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