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Urban Institute insights and analysis inform national reporting
A woman and her four young children unload grocery bags around a kitchen island.
Greg Acs, vice president for the Tax and Income Supports Division at the Urban Institute, spoke with Virginia Public Media about the risks of addressing affordability in a zero-sum context that focuses on who bears the short-term costs of a policy instead of its potential for growth.
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  • A close-up of an American Social Security Card fanned between an American $5, $100, and two $20 bills.
    Richard Johnson discusses why some claim Social Security benefits early
    Richard Johnson, a senior fellow for the Tax and Income Supports Division at the Urban Institute, spoke on NightSide News about how more people are claiming their Social Security benefits before full retirement age.
  • A severly flooded residential neighborhood with muddy water covering the streets and reaching up to the porches of houses, with trees, a stop sign, and electrical pole partially submerged as well.
    Andrew Rumbach explains flood-prone areas are often the most-affordable land
    Following devastating flooding in Central Texas, experts are assessing decisionmaking around development policies in disaster-prone areas.
  • A row of midsize, modern apartment buildings on a clear, sunny day.
    Laurie Goodman explains why it’s currently cheaper to rent than buy a home
    More people than ever are renting homes, partly because increased apartment construction in some areas of the country has caused an overall reduction in the median asking rent, and partly because homebuying costs are so high.
  • A middle-age and elderly woman sit in a sunny kitchen in front of a wooden table examining mail.
    Howard Gleckman discusses the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s effects on Social Security benefits
    In an emailed announcement praising the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Social Security Administration says the legislation will eliminate federal income tax on Social Security benefits, but the enhanced deduction actually reduces households’ taxes based on overall income.
  • An elderly woman in a blue shirt and white cardigan sits in her apartment in front of bills, a ledger, and her wallet examining receipts.
    Howard Gleckman discusses the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s senior tax deduction
    The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a new tax deduction for Americans ages 65 and older, but the benefits will vary based on their income and filing status.
  • A close-up of a pair of scissors cutting an American $1 bill in half
    Joseph Rosenberg on the tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
    For Americans with low incomes, reduced spending on safety net protections in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act may offset potential savings from the bill’s tax cuts, leading to a disproportionate benefit for some.