Join us August 3 for a research seminar focused on issues related to the employment experiences of low-income workers during the pandemic and how to improve the financial security of these workers.
Seminar details
Millions of people experienced unemployment and other labor disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As people return to work and our economy begins to expand, the community development field—including the financial, government, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors—has an opportunity to collectively advance policies and actions that support an inclusive and equitable recovery. Come learn about the challenges workers face and how the community development field can play a role improving the financial security of our workforce.
This seminar is part of a Federal Reserve Community Development Research Seminar Series focused on supporting an inclusive recovery. Each seminar in the series will present research illuminating an issue critical to our economy, and presenters will discuss how the community development field can use these findings to support a recovery that benefits everyone.
Speakers
Governor Michelle W. Bowman, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Eric Belsky, Director of the Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Marianne Bitler, Professor of Economics at the University of California, Davis
Eliza Forsythe, Assistant Professor at the School of Labor & Employment Relations and Department of Economics at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Todd Greene, Institute Fellow at the Urban Institute, Executive Director of WorkRise
Claire Montialoux, Assistant Professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley
Jonathan Morduch, Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, Executive Director of the Financial Access Initiative
Angela Rachidi, Senior Fellow and Rowe Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
Christopher Rauh, University Lecturer at the University of Cambridge, Fellow at Trinity College Cambridge
Robert Valletta, Senior Vice President and Associate Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, moderator, Director of Special Projects and Strategic Support, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Agenda
2:00-2:15 pm ET
Welcome and introductory remarks
Eric Belsky, Federal Reserve Board of Governors Governor Michelle W. Bowman, Federal Reserve Board of Governors pre-recorded
2:15-3:30 pm ET
Panel 1: Labor Force Attachment
Labor markets during the COVID pandemic Eliza Forsythe, Assistant Professor at the School of Labor & Employment Relations and Department of Economics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Lessons from the UK and Germany Christopher Rauh, University Lecturer, University of Cambridge; Fellow at Trinity College Cambridge
Unemployment insurance policies Robert Valletta, Senior Vice President and Associate Director of Research, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Reflect on comments Todd Greene, Institute Fellow, Urban Institute; Executive Director, WorkRise
30-minute moderated Q&A
3:30-3:40 pm ET
Break
3:40-4:55 pm ET
Panel 2: Financial Security
Challenges from income volatility among low-wage workers Jonathan Morduch, Professor of Public Policy and Economics, Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University; Executive Director, Financial Access Initiative
Proposals for direct income supports Marianne Bitler, Professor of Economics, University of California, Davis
Minimum wage policies Claire Montialoux, Assistant Professor, Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley
Reflect on comments Angela Rachidi, Senior Fellow and Rowe Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
30-minute moderated Q&A
4:55-5:00 pm ET
Closing
Matuschka Lindo Briggs, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
This seminar will explore issues related to women’s economic declines during the pandemic and the ability of women to participate equally in existing markets, post-recession.
Increasing Housing Security of Vulnerable Renters through Rental Assistance
Date & time to be announced
This seminar will present research examining the effectiveness of rental assistance programs in reducing housing insecurity among renters during the COVID-19 pandemic.