Publications
The Hamilton Project produces and commissions policy proposals and analyses to promote broad-based economic growth by embracing a significant role for well-designed government policies and public investment.
Papers
Changes in the safety net over recent decades and their impact
This paper examines the U.S. safety net's evolution, effectiveness, and critiques.
Economic Security & Inequality
Social Insurance
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Papers
A primer on SNAP work requirements
Economic Security & Inequality
Employment & Wages
Social Insurance
Posts
Work permit applications suggest prior immigration is still pushing up labor supply—for now
Employment & Wages
Immigration
Posts
Higher new Census population estimates will affect the employment report
Employment & Wages
Immigration
Explore All Publications
Graduated reintegration: Smoothing the transition from prison to community
High recidivism rates—some 50 percent of released prisoners return within three years—constitute a major factor driving both high crime rates and high incarcer…
The economics of private prisons
Recently, private prisons have become the focus of considerable attention. This economic analysis explores the growth of the private prison industry and provid…
Twelve facts about incarceration and prisoner reentry
In this set of economic facts, The Hamilton Project explores the characteristics of the populations of the currently incarcerated and individuals reentering th…
An update on who is poor in the United States
In order to address poverty, we must know who is poor and how the composition of who is poor is changing. This analysis describes who was living in poverty in …
Who is poor in the United States?
Understanding the characteristics of the poor is crucial for crafting effective anti-poverty policies. In this Economic Analysis, The Hamilton Project document…
Twelve facts about food insecurity and SNAP
One in seven households was food insecure in 2014—meaning that at some time during the year the household had difficulty providing enough food for all of their…
Strengthening SNAP to reduce food insecurity and promote economic growth
The persistent and troubling problem of food insecurity impacts a wide range of Americans, including the struggling lower-middle class, and has far-reaching im…
Building on what works: A proposal to modernize retirement savings
Workers rely more than ever on individually directed retirement savings vehicles, such as defined-contribution plans and IRAs, to provide the income necessary …
