Issues

Asset Building

Poverty is calculated by income, but many studies have found that a greater share of Americans are in asset poverty. Almost half of Americans lack the savings to handle an unexpected financial setback like a lost job or a broken car. Recently, policymakers and researchers have increasingly focused on asset building – savings, investments, homeownership, retirement savings and other assets that help build secure economic futures. Asset building can help people gain economic stability, plan for the future and engage in opportunities (such as higher education or homeownership) that make upward mobility possible. This section of the Spotlight website gathers the latest research, news and opinion on asset building.