urban institute nonprofit social and economic policy research

Experts

To contact an expert for media interviews, call (202) 261-5709 or e-mail publicaffairs@urban.org.

 

 
 
Donald MarronAmerica Owes $10 Trillion! No, $50 Trillion! Let Me Explain.
Commentary from Donald Marron     Posted: January 26, 2012

In a contribution to the Christian Science Monitor, Donald Marron discusses the estimates of America's debt which vary by tens of trillions of dollars, depending on how you count. The bottom line: It's deep but not yet fatal.


Margaret SimmsOpportunity Still Has Racial Hue
Opinion from Margaret Simms     Posted: January 19, 2012

Children are more likely to succeed if they have a stable home environment, adequate nutrition and the opportunity to get a good education. Unfortunately, nearly 50 years after the march on Washington, opportunity still has a racial dimension, argues Institute fellow Margaret Simms in this commentary for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.


Elaine SorensenReaffirming the Work Requirement for Noncustodial Parents as Part of TANF Reauthorization
Commentary from Elaine Sorensen     Posted: December 22, 2011

Research shows that work programs for noncustodial parents can increase employment and child support payments. Yet very few state TANF programs provide these work activities even though the estimated cost of implementing a requirement is zero. Congress needs to reaffirm its intent to impose a work requirement on noncustodial parents through the child support program and clearly state that child support funds may be used to fund the work programs. 


Donald MarronTwelve Days of Christmas Hopes for Tough Economy, Deadlocked Congress
Commentary from Donald Marron     Posted: December 20, 2011

In a contribution to the Christian Science Monitor, Donald Marron discusses hopes for the global economy and the political leaders struggling to keep it on an even keel.


Olga KaganovaAsset Management: An International Perspective
Commentary from Olga Kaganova     Posted: November 01, 2011

This commentary reflects on a profound impact that the fiscal crisis has on management of public property and overall lack of advanced asset management practices at local governments even though 65-99 percent of the value of the wealth owned on the taxpayers' behalf is concentrated in public land, built-up property and infrastructure.


Donald MarronReal Tax Reform: Flat-Tax Simplicity with a Progressive Twist
Commentary from Donald Marron     Posted: November 28, 2011

In a contribution to the Christian Science Monitor, Donald Marron agrees that there are good reasons for a simpler tax system, as found in the flat-tax plans of GOP hopefuls Perry, Gingrich, and Cain. But they need to be made more progressive to amount to real tax reform that can pass muster politically.


Olga KaganovaAsset Management: An International Perspective
Commentary from Olga Kaganova     Posted: November 23, 2011

In this commentary for The Guardian - online, senior fellow Olga Kaganova discusses how local governments don't usually have advanced asset management practices even though 65-99 percent of the value of the wealth owned on the taxpayers' behalf is concentrated in land, built-up property and infrastructure.


Rudolph G. PennerCongress Begs a Crisis to Fix the Debt
Commentary from Rudolph G. Penner     Posted: November 28, 2011

In a contribution to the CNNMoney.com, Rudolph Penner discusses the super committee's failure to fix the deficit.


Sheila R. ZedlewskiThe Averages Can Be Misleading: Older Americans and Poverty
Commentary from Sheila R. Zedlewski     Posted: November 09, 2011

In this commentary for New York Times' Room for Debate, Institute fellow Sheila Zedlewski explains that many of the nation's 41 million seniors live in or very near poverty and many have assets mostly tied up in their houses. Policy makers must be ever mindful of that diversity when considering changes in policy that would affect retirement income security.


How the Government Can Solve the Housing Crisis
Commentary from Robert Cherry, Robert I. Lerman     Posted: November 04, 2011

Foreclosed homes are a major drag on the housing market and a reason why housing prices continue to fall and new housing construction is stalled. Institute fellow Robert Lerman and Brooklyn College's Robert Cherry explain, in a commentary for CNN.com, an innovative way a million of these properties could provide families with housing instead of sitting empty, take pressure off rental rates, and boost construction jobs.