Launching in January 2023, this project (funded by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Foundation) will examine a range of policy-salient issues and challenges confronting lower-wage workers in the U.S. via a 3-wave survey using a probabilistic panel via AmeriSpeaks/NORC, in-depth interviews with workers, and field work with three national nonprofits based in NYC, including Neighborhood Trust, RIP Medical Debt, and Leap Fund.

Among the many topics we’ll be exploring:

• Medical debt
• Healthcare utilization
• Health insurance coverage gaps
• Housing cost burden
• Access to employer benefits
• Public benefits cliffs
• “Gig” work
• Self-employment taxes
• Wage and scheduling volatility
• Use of “fintech” (e.g., crypto, Marketplace loans, micro-investing)