Urban across the Country

Urban’s researchers partner with state and local leaders to provide the evidence, tools, and support they need to improve lives and strengthen communities. This work includes strategic advising to translate research into action, program evaluations to measure effectiveness, and research and data analysis to inform decisionmaking. Our experts develop custom data tools and modeling to support equitable resource allocation and lead community-engaged research and convenings to ensure policies reflect local priorities.

Use this page to explore Urban’s work. Search by region to see examples of our research, and filter by evidence and products to narrow results by topic or type of work.

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Brief What Does Fixing Social Security Actually Fix?
This essay applauds policymakers for finally addressing the growing gap between Social Security revenues and its promised future benefits, but it points out that policymakers are using inadequate tools to tackle the problem. Instead of simplified accounting devices, the brief argues that
Brief The Distributional Implications of Reductions in Social Security COLAs
The general aging of the population and the impending retirement of the large post-World War II birth cohorts are straining the Social Security system. Social Security actuaries estimate that Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits paid by Social Security will consume 6.8
Brief How Well Can Urban Labor Markets Absorb Welfare Recipients?
As welfare time limits approach, local labor markets will need to accommodate a growing demand for jobs by former welfare recipients. This report examines 20 cities and compares the ability of each to employ welfare recipients. Findings take into consideration the number of welfare recipients
Research Report The Administration's USA Account Proposal (Part 2 of 3)
Senior Fellow Eugene Steuerle argues that there are advantages to the administration's USA account proposal. It would attempt to use some general revenues to fortify and build up the private pension system. He concludes that with luck, it would develop and reinforce better saving patterns by
Brief No Simple Solutions For Housing The Poor
[Chicago Tribune] Over the next 10 years, nearly all of the CHA's high-rise developments are slated for demolition and redevelopment, displacing more than 11,000 of the city's poorest families. CHA plans call for these families to receive Section 8 vouchers to make the transition to better housing
Testimony Medicare Matters: The Value of Social Insurance
Combining a population that will increasingly be over the age of 65 with health care costs that will likely continue to rise over time is certain to mean an increasing share of national resources devoted to this group. How will the burden of that expense be shared and what role will Medicare play in