On September 28, 2023, distinguished scholars met at Baruch College to discuss a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS), which recommended updates for the Supplemental Poverty Measure to better reflect household needs and resources, including medical care, childcare, and housing costs.

The event featured five members of the NAS committee, including Center on Poverty and Social Policy (CPSP) researcher Jane Waldfogel, to present their assessment of the current Supplemental Poverty Measure, how best to account for basic needs and resources when measuring poverty, and what a change to the report's recommended new Principal Poverty Measure could accomplish. A distinguished panel, including CPSP director Christopher Wimer, discussed the report's recommendations.

Program

Cosponsors and Collaborators

• Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Baruch College, CUNY
• Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University
• Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University of Social Work
• Columbia Population Research Center
• CUNY Institute for Demographic Research

Presentations by Authors

• Chair: James P. Ziliak, Gatton Endowed Chair in Microeconomics, University of Kentucky

• Ingrid Gould Ellen, Paulette Goddard Professor of Urban Policy and Planning, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University

• David Johnson, Senior Program Officer, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Sanders Korenman, Professor and Interim Associate Dean, Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Baruch College, CUNY

• Jane Waldfogel, Compton Foundation Centennial Professor for the Prevention of Children’s and Youth Problems and co-Director of the Columbia Population Research Center, School of Social Work, Columbia University

Panel Discussion

• Moderator: Sherry Glied, Dean, Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University

• Carolyn Barnes, Associate Professor, University of Chicago Sheldon Danziger, President, Russell Sage Foundation

• Christine D’Onofrio, Director of Poverty Research, NYC Office of Economic Opportunity

• Liana E. Fox, Assistant Division Chief, U.S. Census Bureau Dahlia K. Remler, Professor, Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Baruch College, CUNY

• Christopher Wimer, Director, Center on Poverty and Social Policy, Columbia University of Social Work